Strange jumbled keyboard from Japan

The uTron is two halves of a keyboard, set into a new layout. The basic, no-frills implementation is pleasing, but if one is going to embark on learning a new keyboard, something more radical, like the frogpad, is in order. Frogpads are also not $500.

μTRON Keyboard by Japan's Personal Media for $536 [Luxury Launches]

[#1 posted by Anonymous , December 2, 2008 8:27 AM]

Designed for FPS games?

Looks pretty good for a WASD set-up

[#2 posted by gwax , December 2, 2008 9:18 AM]

I accomplish very nearly the same thing by using two keyboards, with one 45° to my left and the other 45° to my right. Sure it takes up a bit more space but it only cost me an extra $20 and it sure is a lot more comfortable than using just one keyboard.

[#3 posted by Pieps , December 2, 2008 7:08 PM]

Seems like a perfect (and outrageously overpriced) candidate for Mirrorboard.

[#4 posted by Luc , December 3, 2008 1:27 AM]

Just get a Kinesis Ergo Elan, it's cheaper at $360 and much better for your wrists than this sawed in two keyboard.

[#5 posted by jtegnell , December 3, 2008 1:55 AM]

Looking at the Frogpad, I can't for the life of me see how it works. Each key controls six or seven different things, and the FAQ doesn't give a hint about how they are selected, nor is there anything obvious on the pad itself.

Not a very informative FAQ if it doesn't clear up how such an odd interface actually works.

Anyone have one?

[#6 posted by dculberson , December 3, 2008 8:24 AM]

Luc's 100% right. A Kinesis is the solution for what ails wrists. Switching to one eliminated my RSI symptoms 100%.

There's no wrist movement while typing, a convenient and safe place to rest your wrists while typing, and all letters, function keys, and numbers in convenient reach without shifting.

It took me about a week, maybe two to learn it. Then I rocketed past my old typing speed. I don't know what it is, but it's high. And I don't even need to look at the keyboard for numbers, symbols, etc.

[#7 posted by jtegnell , December 6, 2008 7:42 AM]

How can the Kinesis be $360? I've seen regular USB keyboards on sale for under twenty bucks. Are these guys making a massive profit on these, or am I missing something obvious?

[#8 posted by dculberson , December 6, 2008 9:50 AM]

Their volume is very, very low, and it's completely custom. Every part. And the quality competes with the likes of an Alps keyboard, which you are not going to see on sale for $20. They're more like $150 or so, and they're a more mass market keyboard than the Kinesis.

In addition, they're infinitely serviceable. I tore the function key strip on mine, and they sold me a replacement for like $5-$10. I took that opportunity to clean it up and it's like new. Mine's actually a Model 100 and is about 15 years old. Still use it every single day.