Maltron Keyboard Review
The Maltron keyboard, made by a company in UK.
This is the first ergonomic keyboard with bowl shaped concave typing surface. The company was founded in 1977.
“The company was founded by Stephen Hobday as a result of a meeting between himself and Lillian Malt” [https://www.maltron.com/maltron-history.html]
Here's the Maltron in action.
If you type a lot, do not buy the flat version. Because you'll get wrist pronation problem. [see Is Keyboard Tenting Important?]
The Maltron comes with QWERTY or Dvorak keyboard layouts, but also available is its own Maltron keyboard layout.
Note that the Maltron layout may in fact be more efficient than Dvorak, simply because it placed E on the thumb. See:
Following is a Maltron review, by a professional typer (the stenography typer in the video above). This means, if you are a programer, even if you work 60 hours weeks, the actual typing done by this guy is probably few times more than you. (i myself was once a data-entry clerk) His article is a very good one.
[Most Ergonomic and efficient keyboard By Joe. At http://mostergonomickeyboard.blogspot.com/ , accessed on 2011-12-28 ]
See also: How Many Keystrokes Programers Type a Day?
Maltron vs Kinesis Size Comparison
Ergonomic Keyboards Size Comparison
Maltron vs Kinesis
The Maltron is similar to Kinesis Contoured Keyboard.
Maltron is about $200 more than Kinesis, because each Maltron is individually ordered and crafted, not mass produced. Maltron is also ugly.
If price doesn't matter, i think Maltron is functionally better than Kinesis. because:
- The thumb keys seems more comfortable. (i have not verified this myself)
- For each thumb cluster, it has one more key.
- Full-sized function keys. (above the number row)
- The middle keypad gives you 28 extra keys! You have multimedia keys and number pad if you need it. If you don't need it, you can remap them as extra function keys. All single button press to switch to {browser, emacs, workspace, windows, apps}. [see Why Function Keys Are Useful]
Here's a review, more about the physical characteristics of the keyboard. [Review of Kinesis vs Maltron By Hoggy. At http://deskthority.net/photos-f62/some-more-ergonomic-keyboards-t1731.html , accessed on 2014-08-29 ]
Another review, by a programer. [Change is Good (Maltron vs Kinesis review) By Brian Fitzpatrick. At http://fitz.blogspot.com/2007/06/change-is-good.html , accessed on 2011-11-23 ]
Who use Maltron?
Many emacs users use Maltron. I know the following:
- Nick Alcock https://plus.google.com/115849739354666812574/posts (emacs oldbie from 1980s) [see Emacs Screen Tour: Emacs Oldbie Nick Alcock]
- Noah Friedman https://plus.google.com/+NoahFriedman/posts (emacs oldbie from 1980s with code in GNU Emacs)
- Brian Fitzpatrick https://plus.google.com/+BrianFitzpatrick/posts
Maltron Inside
This review is for keyboard connoisseurs.
Where to Buy
Note: as of 2017-04-29, the one on amazon sold by Maxi-Aids is 3 hundred dollars more than the price on the company's site.
Maltron Keyboard Gallery
One Thousand Keys
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