Yeah, it sure is. I managed to snag that one in the end. They are more than 400, the prices that they quote on their website don't include VAT. Once you put it in your cart the total price 522!!!fossala wrote:I really want a dvorak one but they are around 400 gbp. Is the one without trackball the same one that was on ebay a couple of weeks ago?
Are you pursuing this one that the moment?cactux wrote:half price of my future datahand
Hmmm, when I posted this over at GeekHack, one of the guys suggested that it would be a good idea to replace the controller in the Maltron with either a Teensy or a controller from the Kinesis.MarkWilliamson wrote:My Maltron is, I think, a little older and looks much the same. I enjoy it to type on, despite mine having some age-related switch problems that I've not quite got around to fixing.
It seems a bit flimsy at first but the shape is really rather nice to type on and I find it quite acceptable for programming also. I've swapped Left Ctrl and Caps Lock.
The main problem, layout-wise, is that AFAICT there's no way to completely remap it in PC-side software. This is because the controller actually handles layouts in order to produce different shifted/unshifted pairings to a standard keyboard (and in some cases, to ensure a key only has an unshifted scancode). I've not been able to find out a way of stopping it from doing this, which leaves me reliant on the built-in layouts - a shame, although I should probably learn the proper Maltron layout some time anyhow.
Back to the subject of the innards - I'd quite like to pop the switches out of mine and put Cherry Blues in, although I think with the large resonator of the contoured case that could be pretty loud. I'd also quite like to fashion a more modern controller board that would solve my remapping problems and give native USB - doesn't seem like it should be so hard, if I find sufficient time.
Yeah, I'm not sure if the Chameleon Keyboard Controller would be a better option for this project? I'm not sure what is happening with the group buy on here?MarkWilliamson wrote:Ah - I had always thought that I'd use a variant of the Model M replacement controller that one of the guys on Geekhack had designed. But thinking about it maybe a Teensy would do better for my Model M as well as the Maltron. It would indeed be nice to have the Maltron fully configurable; I'd actually quite like to be able to have Dvorak layout on here and that's not possible right now, either via software remapping or the keyboard's firmware.
The reason I think a Kinesis controller would work so well, is that you can re-map and re-program on the fly, no software is needed, Mac/PC compatible, and it's PS/2 and USB. It's pretty bulletproof. I'm not terribly familiar with the Teensy, and I have not been around much so I have not seen what the Chameleon controller is about. The Maltron is screaming to be programmable.Jim66 wrote:Hmmm, when I posted this over at GeekHack, one of the guys suggested that it would be a good idea to replace the controller in the Maltron with either a Teensy or a controller from the Kinesis.MarkWilliamson wrote:My Maltron is, I think, a little older and looks much the same. I enjoy it to type on, despite mine having some age-related switch problems that I've not quite got around to fixing.
It seems a bit flimsy at first but the shape is really rather nice to type on and I find it quite acceptable for programming also. I've swapped Left Ctrl and Caps Lock.
The main problem, layout-wise, is that AFAICT there's no way to completely remap it in PC-side software. This is because the controller actually handles layouts in order to produce different shifted/unshifted pairings to a standard keyboard (and in some cases, to ensure a key only has an unshifted scancode). I've not been able to find out a way of stopping it from doing this, which leaves me reliant on the built-in layouts - a shame, although I should probably learn the proper Maltron layout some time anyhow.
Back to the subject of the innards - I'd quite like to pop the switches out of mine and put Cherry Blues in, although I think with the large resonator of the contoured case that could be pretty loud. I'd also quite like to fashion a more modern controller board that would solve my remapping problems and give native USB - doesn't seem like it should be so hard, if I find sufficient time.
I guess it would be very nice to have a fully customisable Maltron.
It's still on my list of things to do.
Yeah, both of them look and feel brand new/perfect (I can't see a mark on them, and they come with all of the documentation and training manuals).input nirvana wrote:I understand that for certain. The boards look in great condition and I think they are fairly modern? Are they usb or still ps/2? I didn't check other than noting the keys are labelled for qwerty.
I used a Maltron 10 years ago for a couple days and really liked it. I never got to use a Maltron and Kinesis within a short period of time to compare the feel
Maybe next summer I can have my life back on track and I can finally get a Maltron to: 1) compare it with Kinesis and 2) if I like it go ahead and replace the controller with a SUPER-CONTROLLER!!!!
What is a price range of your units?
. The worst part is I have no income for MONTHS into the future, and that is not yet determined when and how much. I'm hunkering down. Yeah, this is exactly what I thought. I don't mind,I'm not in any rush to sell them, I would just be nice to sell it (or them) to someone who had been looking for one for a while. As you said, they are quite rare second hand.input nirvana wrote:The single handed units are downright cheap as used units, but that doesn't have much bearing on the 3D dual handed units. Yours are a premium, close to the top of the price tier, you may have a couple month sale period though.
GO HOGGY! 
