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Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

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Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#11

I have had literally this exact same experience with the Glove80. I like everything about it except for the thumb cluster. it is, amazingly, worse than the Ergodox EZ. I wish the author would spring for a wireless Dygma Defy and tell us how that thumb cluster compares :)

Not the author, I did that transition myself and so far I'm pretty satisfied with the Defy.

thanks! I'm not convinced I really care about the concavity - I got the Glove80 because it was cheaper for wireless and ZMK seemed like a safer bet than the Dygma custom layout engine. You're happy with that side of things?

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not the author, I did that transition myself and so far I'm pretty satisfied with the Defy.

thanks! I'm not convinced I really care about the concavity - I got the Glove80 because it was cheaper for wireless and ZMK seemed like a safer bet than the Dygma custom layout engine. You're happy with that side of things?

I only have the wireless version. The keyboard management software Dygma makes is spectacular, I was quite pleased. It's quite a step up from the janky web editor Moergo provides, requiring downloading a file and then doing a keyboard re-flashing dance.

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#13
I transitioned from a "normal" keyboard to a Glove80 last year. I immediately didn't like using the standard layout, so I switched to Colemak-DH which I've found pretty comfortable.

The thumb clusters are definitely a pain, I find myself only really using the 3 closest buttons one each side. Even then, the closest button on the upper row requires a stretch that gets uncomfortable after a while. It hasn't been bad enough for me to consider trying other keyboards though--the prices are too high for me to feel comfortable buying something I might not like.

To anyone that switches to a split keyboard, I strongly recommend also getting a trackball mouse (I use a Ploopy Adept). It lets you center the keyboard in front of you without needing to stretch too far while manipulating the mouse.

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#14

You reference Kinesis in the article so I assume you've seen the Kinesis Advantage 360? I've been a happy Kinseis Advantage user for two decades, and the 360 is pretty much perfect. It has dedicated keys for activating layers, you can remap and configure on a website using web serial, and it is extremely premium looking/feeling. And of course it's very comfortable without the thumb key problem discussed in this artic…

The Kinesis Advantage literally saved my career. I have lived in fear for a long time that the company would go out of business. So every chance I can justify I send them another $400 for their latest keyboard so I help keep them in business and increase my stockpile.

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#15
While it's missing the concavity of either the Glove80 or the Maltron, I've been so happy with the Keyboardio's thumb cluster (and palm keys) that I'm more than willing to overlook that regression. The Keyboardio's also got a very nice build, and the wood looks great.

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#16
I use a Lily58 split/lightly bowled keyboard and it has been a big improvement in many regards. The thumb cluster is a much different approach to the Glove or Maltron, and I think it would benefit people with shorter thumb reach but might feel cramped for those with more mighty talons.

I do bouldering, and I have broken two of my fingers over the years in cycling accidents, and both are ultimately inconsequential compared using/abusing a bad keyboard. If you are thinking about trying a new keyboard design, and you use a keyboard for at least a few hours a day, it will be money well spent.

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#17
post #16

I use a Lily58 split/lightly bowled keyboard and it has been a big improvement in many regards. The thumb cluster is a much different approach to the Glove or Maltron, and I think it would benefit people with shorter thumb reach but might feel cramped for those with more mighty talons. I do bouldering, and I have broken two of my fingers over the years in cycling accidents, and both are ultimately inconsequential com…

Placement somewhere between the lily58 and the glove80 with a drop like the maltron would be perfect.

Edit: looks like the keyboardio someone else mentioned gets it right.

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#18
Did I just drop acid?

What about Maltron in Colemack?

https://colemak.com/

Or the Dactyl Manuform?

https://nathanfriend.com/2023/06/26/i-built-a-weird-keyboard...

Or Keyzen:

https://store.azeron.eu/azeron-keypads#keypad=keyzen

I just want an MC Escher keyboard, so I can type upside down and sideways.

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#19
> I analysed a full day of my keystrokes with xkbcat, which was very useful: my most frequently pressed keys are not what I would have guessed! For example, I discovered that I type ‘>’ far more often than ‘Excellent approach, though rarely used in layout design, at most you'd get frequency distribution of typed text instead of pressed keys

> Both hands need access to each of these modifiers, because using a modifier and typing a key with the same hand often involves painful contortions.

While home row mods is a better solution, another alternative is "sticky" mods that would remove the need to hold, so you can use the same hand without pain

> On a normal keyboard, if I press ‘f’ then ‘g’ I can roll from one to the other and press ‘g’ while ‘f’ still hasn’t been released – ‘fg’ will be sent to the computer. With home row mods, this ends up sending ‘G’.

This might be config issue. With a roll you release F before G (your fingers roll off the first key before rolling off the second), so this should type regular FG in properly configured home row mods instead of just capitalized G.

> The practical effect of this is that ‘f’ isn’t sent to the computer as soon as you press down, but only when you release the key.

Are there implementations that send F immediately, but send backspace to delete F if you hold?

Re: Comparing the Glove80 and Maltron Keyboards

#20
I kind of regret my glove80 purchase after getting on the ortholinear ergo bandwagon to replace a microsoft sculpt. It's solidly built, happy to support and I'm using it to type this currently as a sunk cost fallacy... but similar concerns re: the inner thumb clusters being difficult to reach without repositioning palms. I've mapped them as: alt and space on the inner left and alt+space (power toys search) and layer on the inner right with another space on the right closer to my thumb. That's the biggest game changer vs. another keyboard: having backspace accessible with the left thumb and space with the right thumb is amazing. I also cannot reach the bottom outer 2/3 buttons with my pinkies and have 'medium' glove hands. Also for the cost, I was disappointed that one can't individually control/map the RGB LEDs so what is the bloody point of having them.
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