User Comments - Dual hand keyboards
Jessica from Lancaster University
I have been using the keyboard since 1993 and I am very happy with it. It took me a couple of months to become fully used to the shape and since then I have never looked back. It is clearly more comfortable to use than a conventional keyboard and I no longer worry about RSI as a serious threat whereas before, I did.
I am convinced that the Maltron keyboard has made my working life a lot less stressful and enabled me to be a lot more productive. I still occasionally use a conventional keyboard when I have to, but I would never undertake a substantial piece of work without the Maltron, which is why I currently have three of them - one at home and one in each of my offices on the campus of Lancaster University (I have two part-time jobs there).
Everyone who comes into my offices for the first time says, "That's a strange keyboard you have", so after all these years I still have the sales patter ready to trot out.
June 2011
Betty from Mercer Island, WA
This is what Betty had to say about her Maltron dual-hand keyboard:
I love it.
I don't remember how long I have had it, but well over two years. You were not particularly easy to find at the time. I tend to be a little compulsive about research, so came across you as I shopped. But there were several other brands promoting themselves as ergonomic, so had I stopped earlier I still would have had several from which to choose (although they all pale in comparison to yours). I actually started looking for customized keyboards before I found yours.
I took me a couple of months to get up to speed with the keyboard. Now I am much faster on it than I ever was on QWERTY.
My hands always hurt before. They stopped hurting after a week. My goal was and is to preserve my hands. I have Reynauds as well as a full family history of osteoporosis.
They have not hurt since!
The fact that it is plug and play makes it very easy to swap out when IT or my assistance needs to use my station. We just keep a QWERTY under my desk.
After knowing QWERTY so well for over 35 years, I completely lost it after only two months on the Maltron. So when I am forced to go back--i.e. cell phone, public places, etc. I am very slow. I make it a point to hunt and peck so I don't corrupt my maltron keying. Even so, if I have to be on it very much, my maltron slows down. But I just go to the website and do some of the training exercises again and it is fixed. It only takes about 15 minutes of practice, but I find the training exercises bring me back to speed faster than just regular keyboarding. I guess that means the way the exercises are organized is very effective.
Also, I was concerned about laptop use. Most of the keyboard conversion software programs do not let you change the space bar, enter keys, etc. So it was hard to get the laptop laid out as closely resembling the maltron as I wanted. BUT! I found a program for under $40 that lets me reassign all of my laptop keys. My space bar is my "e" key. Then I found a company that sells packets of individual key stick on labels for under $25 so I could re-label my laptop keys. They fit perfectly and stick well. The key converter program can easily be disabled and it can have more than one layout.
Unexpected but wonderful benefit is that it cuts down on requests by other family members and co-workers to use my laptop.
About a year after getting my Maltron, I had to send it back for repair of a key. It was gone for a month. In that time I never did get back any speed on the QWERTY. When I got the Maltron back, I was up to speed in under a week. Even though I had only known it for a few months whereas I had brain and muscle memory of 35 years on the QWERTY. So the keyboard is more intuitive.
I did pay the extra money to buy the track ball version. I wish I had not. I never use it. The little ball keeps falling out when the keyboard gets tipped (for cleaning under, etc) and then I have to look for it. When I did the initial rent for a month to see if I wanted to buy it, it was the board with the double labels--QWERTY and Maltron on each key. I HATED it!! I did not help anybody. Made it harder to learn the keyboard, made the QWERTY keyboarders unhappy. Appearance wise it just looks over crowded and hard to read. I solved that problem with an Evoluent mouse. It works well.
The number pad in the middle was hard to get used to. But once I did, I found that I actually use the number table more than I did on my other keyboard. I tended to use the top number line more, which surprised me because I spend a significant portion of each day working in Excel. Although, after all this time, I still find it feels a little odd to go to the upper middle part of my keyboard for the number pad. If I did a lot of ten keying on the number pad I think I would have to slide the keyboard to my right and would get impatient with having to adjust the position between the alpha and the number. But since I don't do a lot of 10 keying, I don't know that for sure.
Thanks for your help! The price tag is high but worth it. I think the biggest barrier is to not be able to escape the QWERTY. Cell phones, entry screens on other devices, public testing stations, etc. It is worth it to me because I already had pain. For others who could maybe prevent the pain in the future, the benefit is not as compelling. But increasing speed is another benefit--maybe you could concentrate on that angle.
I never see any ads for the maltron. It would be good to see more. Addressing the laptop compatibility--maybe by bundling the labels and the conversion software I got from the other two companies and giving it as a bonus with purchase would be good.
Are you working on something with laptops? I don't know how significant it is for your total market, but it sure seems like a lot of businesses and individuals are using laptops instead of rather than in addition to workstations.
One last comment that might be relevant. I am on the computer a lot for work. But there are periods of days in a row, even a week or two where I use the keyboard very little. Once the first couple months passed, I never have trouble coming back to it. The only time I ever slow down is when I've been forced to use QWERTY, and then, as I mentioned, 10 to 15 minutes repeating random exercises from your training manual is all it takes to fix it.
January, 2011
Note from Maltron: Although Betty did not get on well with the built-in trackball mouse, it's worth mentioning that many of our customers do find it a great improvement over a conventional mouse. As with many things, it's a matter of personal preference and we hope that these unbiased reviews will help you in your decision-making process!
Louise - Marketing Executive
I’ve used a Maltron keyboard since 1996 when I developed Tendonitis in both hands due to lifting something incorrectly. As I was experiencing a lot of pain using a standard keyboard and mouse, the company physiotherapist suggested that I try a Maltron keyboard along with a ‘trackball’ mouse (not a Maltron product).
Once I had gone through the training disk I was able to use the keyboard quite easily within the 2 week trial. I did have to switch back to my standard keyboard when I needed to do some urgent work, but then went back over to the Maltron when I was able to work more slowly and eventually progressed to using the keyboard full time within another week or two.
As they keyboard I have is a standard ‘querty’ version which is the same layout as a normal keyboard, except for the differences on the ‘enter/return’ button and the space bar, as a touch typist I did not find it too difficult to transfer over to this keyboard.
I wouldn’t voluntarily change back to a standard keyboard now as it feels ‘wrong’. The Maltron keyboard makes my arms and hands sit at a proper position, whereby I feel that my arms and hands are ‘hunched’ together using a standard keyboard now. I don’t think I would have managed to keep working in my admin role if I hadn’t moved over to this keyboard. I spend most of my working day in front of a computer and now I rarely suffer from pains in my hands and arms unless I’m really overworking.
I know it looks funny and the IT department come and look at my ‘starship enterprise’ say, oh you have one of ‘those keyboards’ and then ask me to type things in to the computer as they don’t want to go near it, but I wouldn’t be without it.
January 2011
Luke J.M.
English Language Teaching and Services
"I first used a Maltron keyboard (a dual-hand 3D keyboard) in 2007, after trying various mass-market ergonomic keyboards in an attempt to counter the crippling pain I was left in after developing nerve and musculature problems from using my laptop’s integral keyboard. I haven’t used anything but my Maltron keyboard since, and can’t envisage ever changing: this keyboard gave me back the use of a computer, and – as my profession involves a great deal of computer work – greatly reduces the amount of pain I experience on a daily basis. All of my contact with the people at Maltron has been excellent from start to finish: friendly, professional, and genuinely determined to help, everyone I have spoken to at this small company has exercised the highest standard of customer service – particularly refreshing compared to the impersonality of typical customer service call-centres I have encountered with other companies. I could not recommend Maltron keyboards highly enough."
January 2011
Keyboard Pains Banished by Maltron
Workstation ergonomic assessments, reduced working hours and reminders to take breaks are three minor tools in the battle against keyboard-induced pain. All three take a back seat when compared with Maltron’s record of returning keyboard operators to work after typical diagnoses of “You will never work on a keyboard again” or simply “We advise a change of job to safeguard against RSI”
Maltron have documented many cases where keyboard operators have been returned to work after typically suffering pains in fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and back. These include the following report –
“My problems have virtually disappeared. Recommend it? My answer would have to be yes. I can honestly say that I now enjoy typing again, and of course, the best benefit is no pain. I have not had one day's pain since using the keyboard, which is amazing.”
“I have been using my Maltron keyboard for work everyday and I thought I would mention just what a wonderful keyboard it is. I rarely have any pain in my wrists now, and I am most grateful for it”
“Before my Maltron keyboard entered my life I had to have carpal tunnel surgeries on both hands; had to soak my hands in warm/cold water at least twice a day; had to wear wrist supports to bed every night; massage my fingers with special ointments; and take pain killers daily just to keep the pain from becoming unbearably crippling”.
Maltron dual handed keyboards are specifically designed to fit hands and minimise or eliminate stress and pain. They have been given a Four-Star award by the prestigious PC Magazine based in New York. This supports the previous Five Mouse rating awarded by Mac User magazine with the comment “Perfect for those suffering from or trying to elude RSI”.
Maltron’s service team changes UK keyboard layout to US standard for Australian John
Australian John M. had a problem. He had bought a Maltron fully-ergonomic keyboard with a UK layout in the UK but really wanted a US layout for work in Australia. He also wanted a second keyboard to use at home. Maltron arranged to provide him with a new US layout version within ten days and asked him to return his UK version. On receipt, the UK version was reprogrammed, fitted with new key tops and sent back within three days.
Since converting to a Maltron keyboard John has found that RSI is “no problem, and fingers no longer sore” This was in contrast to his pre-Maltron days when he experienced pains in wrists, forearms, shoulders as well as sore finger joints and “fizzy fingers”. He only needed two days to realise that this was a “good keyboard”, two weeks to be “happy “and a little longer “to become proficient” and report that it works beautifully
Star gazer RSI victim Sharmila finds keyboard restores pain-free and rapid work rate
Sharmila G. had studied for over ten years to achieve a final qualification in astronomy but was continuously plagued by keyboard-induced RSI. During her studies she had tried switching to a trackball mouse, got a gel wrist rest and tilted the keyboard towards the monitor without much success despite a wrist brace and physiotherapy as pain levels continued to rise. Using a conventional split keyboard had also provided some relief but not enough to continue keyboard work. The situation became critical as she came to the full realisation that without keyboarding skills she could not pursue a chosen career in astronomy.
She switched to a Maltron fully-ergonomic keyboard in 2006 after “managing” for three weeks on a flat keyboard and being “on the point of disability and stopping all computer work”. She found Maltron’s keys “an absolute dream to work with because of the soft touch and bought another for home use. In fact she says, “As far as I am concerned, it is Maltron or nothing”. She can now continue her career as an astronomer as being unable to use a computer would have led to a radical career change.
Karen
Karen is a litigation assistant in the Personal Injury Department of a Shropshire Solicitors. Diagnosed as suffering from CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) RSI in both wrists, she is now pain free when typing, just six weeks after the delivery of her Maltron keyboard.
"My problems have virtually disappeared. Recommend it? My answer would have to be yes. I can honestly say that I now enjoy typing again, and of course, the best benefit is no pain. I have not had one day's pain since using the keyboard, which is amazing."
Dr Lara Marks D.Phil
University Lecturer, Imperial College, London.
"I am writing to update you on the progress that I have made in using the Maltron Keyboard which I bought from you four years ago.
I originally purchased the keyboard because I was suffering incapacitating pain in my neck and shoulders after having typed an enormous amount on a computer to prepare a book manuscript. I was also experiencing some numbness in my arms and hands. The problem was so acute that I had been forced to take three months leave from work and to experiment with writing by hand instead of on the computer. As an academic historian and university lecturer who does a lot of research and writing, I feared that my career would be cut short by the problem. At the time I was trying many different techniques in order to resolve the problem, including osteopathy and physiotherapy. In the end I found the pain was relieved by a combination of factors: doing Alexander Technique to improve my posture, learning self-hypnosis to relax, buying an ergonomic chair with special swinging arms that carry the weight of my elbows and shoulders, and buying the Maltron keyboard.
The Maltron keyboard was the last thing that I tried, and I must admit that I think it made a major contribution to my recovery. I chose the Maltron layout to the keyboard because I realised that part of my problem was that my previous typing technique was very heavy. With the Maltron layout I knew I would be forced to relearn to type which I saw as positive.
When I first tried the keyboard it felt very strange, but after a month I had totally adjusted to the new shape of the board and the place of the letters. In fact the Maltron keyboard seemed to improve both the speed and technique of my typing.
Over the past four years I have sometimes had to type again on an ordinary Querty keyboard which I seem to still be able to do. Nonetheless, the Querty keyboard still gives me pain and I am limited in the amount of time that I can spend typing on it. I therefore have made sure that I have a Maltron keyboard both at my office and at home."
Mrs J Batterson
James Rennell Centre for Ocean Circulation, Southampton.
"I just thought I would write to you to say that I think your Maltron keyboard is brilliant. I have only been using it for 2 weeks and I can feel the benefits already...Having now had the experience of your keyboard I would recommend it to anyone and can only hope that in the future the flat keyboard that has caused so much suffering for so many people will be replaced by yours."
Sue Welford
Warwick University physiotherapist
... reports that for a tenosynovitis case, using a Maltron keyboard was of more benefit than treatment!
Roger Bisson, BSc (Hons)
" Further to our various discussions over the years relating to my first dual handed, QWERTY/Maltron layout keyboard, I thought I would write to let you know firstly the background to my original problems with Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), and the improvements I have seen through the use of your keyboard over the 2 (two) years I have been using it full-time.
I have been using a computer for some 20 years now, despite my relatively young age (28).
However, the first obvious signs of Repetitive Strain Injury started showing up for me in November of 1998 – just a couple of months after I started a new contract as a software engineer. Looking back, my workstation was poorly designed, and partly through typing with my elbows resting on the desktop with the keyboard some 6-8 inches from the edge of the desk to allow for a notebook in front of the keyboard, the symptoms of RSI developed quickly. Not that I took a great deal of notice at the time; working under pressure, and without the full awareness of the crippling ability of RSI, I tended to dismiss early aches and pains and ignore many of the tell-tale signs such as the apparent weakness of my forearms when taking part in sports.
Over the Christmas break in 1998, however, the aches and pains persisted and, when I returned to work after the Christmas break, the pain had developed from simply aches in my hands to an agonising burning sensation in my forearms.
After enduring two or three weeks of this burning sensation in my forearms while working, I thought I ought to go see my doctor – as advised by the many health- and RSI-related websites. On my first visit, he seemed sympathetic to the problem and gave me a prescription some NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – in the form of Voltarol (or, I think, Ibuprofen). At various times, the pain developed from forearm burning sensations, to wrist pains and back again.
The drugs did seem to help a little, but, after a number of repeat prescriptions, I asked my doctor whether he thought that physiotherapy might help as I felt that the drugs were simply masking underlying problems either in my neck, shoulder, arm, or forearm muscles, or in the relationship between the various muscle groups. He agreed – though why he did not suggest physiotherapy in the first place, I do not know.
At this point, rather than continue taking the NSAIDs, I undertook regular physiotherapy sessions – roughly 13, at a cost of around £30.00 each. My physiotherapist was particularly good, providing me with a series of exercises for various muscle groups that may contribute to my RSI problem, including the shoulder muscles and neck muscles in particular; although RSI symptoms may indicate problems in the wrists and forearm, many of these problems actually stem from the neck and shoulders.
At the time, the end of my physiotherapy treatment roughly coincided with the completion of my contract, and the projects I was working on in late 1999. After this, I went on holiday and essentially took the rest of the year “off” to give the RSI problem an opportunity to improve, as I could not realistically continue working in IT as a software engineer given the amount of pain this caused.
This was obviously very worrying as most work these days involves a significant amount of typing and computer work with even physical (manual) work being out-of-the-question.
In early 2000, I undertook a new piece of work, having given myself some time to recover through much less usage of my computer and by regular exercise of my shoulder muscles at the local swimming pool. However, within a couple of days of working, I found that the pain was, again, becoming unbearable. At this point, I sought to try out some other “remedies” such as acupuncture and kinesiology (RSI sufferers will try anything to get better, you see). Although both had some effect – and acupuncture was, itself, quite relieving neither treatment represented anything other than a temporary improvement for as soon as I started work, within less than an hour, the pain was back in full force.
At this time, I just happened to watch a new film; I think it was “the Bone Collector” which in one scene appeared to feature some oddly shaped “ergonomic”-looking keyboard. This got me thinking – are there any keyboards available to help RSI problems. There were various solutions: one that featured half a keyboard on each hand at =right angles to the desk; various designs with split keyboards linked by a pivot; and “ergonomic” keyboards such as the one produced by Microsoft. Among all of these, one stood out: “The Maltron”.
Now, I knew about the Maltron from roughly 20 years ago (I was probably about 8 or 10 at the time) when this was featured in a book of mine, which described the Maltron as “a futuristic keyboard”, featuring a new key layout that was designed to increase typing speed using the Maltron keyboard design (as opposed to QWERTY which was designed specifically to slow typists down).
The other thing that made it stand out was the price – £375.00 – for a piece of hardware, which, functionally, does the same thing as a £5-50 flat keyboard. At the time, I had no idea =whether this keyboard, albeit ergonomically designed, would have any impact on my, now chronic, RSI problem but in the absence of other ideas, I decided to buy one to see if it made any difference.
When I received the keyboard however, I only started using it at home; I was concerned that taking a keyboard I couldn’t use into work with me would raise a few issues both with my customer and my colleagues, so for the next 6 months – until the end of my contract – I persevered with my normal flat laptop keyboard at work.
When I completed this contract, I was wary of seeking new work where I would have to either type on a flat keyboard, or continue learning to use the Maltron keyboard, which by nature of its shape and design, is likely to attract attention so instead, I decided to concentrate on a development project of my own and, in the process I would try to use my Maltron keyboard exclusively for a period.
In the first couple of months or so of my working with the Maltron, I found I could type proficiently using the keyboard within about a month to six weeks. This is bearing in mind that I could not touch type properly beforehand as I often found that I would try to use the wrong finger to press a given key.
Normal typing was relatively quick to “learn” whereas I found that software coding – in C++ for example – was harder to learn due to the mixture of upper and lowercase letters, braces and “greater than” signs that programmers use, which requires better co-ordination.
Throughout my early use of the Maltron keyboard, my symptoms tended to improve for a period then got worse, then improve, then got worse and so on. On some occasions, this was probably my fault; trying to type while resting my hands on the palm rests, for example, or typing without regular breaks. On other occasions, the reason was not so clear.
However, after roughly three months, I found I could type more quickly and accurately using the Maltron keyboard than I ever could using a normal, flat keyboard and with much less pain.
Some two years on since starting to use my Maltron keyboard properly, on a daily basis, I find that although my RSI symptoms have not gone, they are at least at a level that is acceptable for every-day work. I get the odd bad day, but this is usually when I have been doing a great deal of typing work, or whenever I have used a flat keyboard for any length of time, so I guess it is my own fault.
In conclusion, I find that my Maltron keyboard represents the difference between my working, and my not working: I simply could not tolerate the kind of pain that using a flat keyboard day-in day-out meant, and quite frankly, my career in IT would be finished.
I am therefore writing to thank you: your perseverance over the last 20 or more years that has meant that an idea you, and Mrs. Malt had to design a product to help relieve the stresses and strains of keyboard work is still be available today, for my benefit.
At a cost of less than £0.50 per day (after 2 years), my Maltron keyboard has represented one of the best investments I have ever made in trying to alleviate my RSI problems to date and, given that the keyboard is still in perfect condition, I expect this cost to come down further over time.
Going beyond recommending the keyboard to only RSI sufferers, I would say that anybody who uses, or employs staff that use a keyboard for any length of time – particularly touch typing – would do well to try a Maltron keyboard; after an initial learning curve, you will probably see a significant increase in typing efficiency and accuracy. "
Maria L. Madrid
Dear Stephen,
I am always elated to utter nothing but the loudest praises for my Maltron dual handed keyboard! This keyboard has enabled me to continue using my hands, period. Yes, it's that simple! It's given me my hands back!
Before my Maltron entered my life I had to have carpal tunnel surgeries on both hands; had to soak my hands in warm/cold water at least twice a day; had to wear wrist supports to bed every night; massage my fingers with special ointments; and take pain killers daily just to keep the pain from becoming unbearably crippling.
Typing had become almost impossible and I knew that the biggest culprit for my condition was my common $99 keyboard--it was damaging my fingers every day. The pain on my hands had become a way of life that I knew was unsustainable for much longer, especially as a consultant who depends on her keyboard to do her job. To boot, my neurologist kept speaking of the need to have yet another surgery...
But Alas! One desperate day I decided to devote an entire day to researching the types of keyboards available. This is how I found my Maltron! After reading quite extensively about it in your Web site I simply knew that being able to extend my fingers fully while typing would assuage the pain and make a huge difference. And I was right, because it's concave key design has made the difference from all other ergo keyboards I had ever used.
I also love the keys themselves--always a crunchy strike after 15 months of intense daily use. The keyboard itself is of the highest quality!! It did take me 1 month to get used to the new key layout but it was well worth it and I actually prefer it much more to the conventional keyboard layouts. Maltron definitely offers me a smarter way to utilize my finger strokes!! Thankfully, I am able to use the Maltron's layout and the traditional keyboard layout of laptops just as well. The human brain is capable of committing both layouts to memory and I feel the richer for it.
I clean my Maltron weekly and simply feel so proud and fortunate to own one. It's also a great conversation piece when friends come into my home office and notice my Maltron as the centerpiece of my home office. What I need now is a portable Maltron that I could take with me during my business trips when I have to use my laptop. It needs to have the same concavity and layout but somehow it has to have a much thinner depth. How about it Maltron Ergonomists? I'd be one of your first customers!
Anytime you want to refer anybody to me to convince them that Maltron is the way to go, just holler and I'll be glad to share. Also, now that I received a phone call from a Maltron Specialist in England 8 minutes after I sent the company an email requesting some technical assistance, I am even more impressed with Maltron's commitment to serve and truly establish a new generation of keyboard technology and support! Maltron--I salute you!!
February 2, 2005
Alexandria, VA USA
Karl Fogel
"I bought my first Maltron as a college student in 1992. I'd been having some minor wrist pains with regular computer keyboards, and as a pianist felt it was important to keep my hands, arms, and back as comfortable as possible. It took me about a month to get up to speed with the Maltron layout, and I've been using it ever since. Now when an occasion arises where I have to use a regular (flat) keyboard, it feels like I'm typing with boxing gloves on. This is not because my QWERTY touch-typing has gotten worse -- it hasn't: it was fluent before I started using Maltrons, and has remained so. The "boxing glove" feeling comes solely by contrast with the ease and efficiency I enjoy on Maltrons."
"Since college, I've been working as a computer programmer and writer on open source software. I've written two books with Maltrons, one in 1999 and the other in 2005. I know I could never have done this (and continued to play piano) if traditional computer keyboards were my only option. Maltrons are not a luxury for me now: without them, I would simply have to find a job not involving computers."
"Thanks to Maltron, I have not had to give up my work to continue making music."
7 January 2006, USA.
Yang-Wah Hew
Dear Stephen,
I have been using my Maltron keyboard for work everyday and I thought I would mention just what a wonderful keyboard it is. I rarely have any pain in my wrists now, and I am most grateful for it, even if it does make it a bit more difficult to play some computer games!
The included training program was most useful and really did help me adjust to it much more quickly than I'd expected. I'm probably now typing at approximately 90% of the speed I used to type at and with approximately 95% of my previous accuracy - much better than I'd expected!
It also draws a lot of admiring comments.
It was an expensive purchase, but I think it was definitely worth it. Keep up the great work and I hope that your company goes from strength to strength.
Hong Kong - February 2006
Elaine Houseby
"I began to suffer these symptoms (of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) two years ago...if I did not stop typing, my earning power would ultimately be limited to invalidity benefit...which would have put me in an extremely difficult financial position...the Maltron keyboard has paid for itself many times over...I am free from all discomfort in my arms...Conventional keyboards now seem quite ridiculous to me. I hope that they will eventually disappear altogether..."
Fay Higginbottom
"After approximately six weeks of use...I wouldn't like to lose it...I really feel it is enabling me to continue my secretarial work despite tenosynovitis which I've now suffered from for nearly 11 months...I'm beginning to be hopeful that I will recover eventually...I must say that for the first few days I thought I would never get used to the odd shape, but I'm glad I persevered!..."
Sheila Peacock
"I am really pleased with it. My hands are aching less while I type and the pain and stiffness subside much more quickly afterwards...I am beginning to feel that your wonderful keyboard will enable me to continue with my job..."
Mrs Rowena Verrall
"I have been using your Maltron ergonomic keybaord for about two months and have found it of great benefit...Since using your keyboard I have found that I can type all day...I have opted to stay with the QWERTY layout...I would recommend your new keyboard to anyone..."
Lee Seaman
Technical Translator
"I am writing to tell you how pleased I am with the Maltron keyboard. By this Spring I could type on my QWERTY keyboard for less than 30 minutes a day without further worsening my wrist and forearm complaint. I could not use a manual can opener, and hearty business handshakes were agonising.
After four months of using your keyboard, my hands are much better. The carpal bones in my wrists stay in their normal position now, rather than being pulled out of alignment. My daily typing time is measured in hours rather than minutes, and my grip strength is returning. Enclosed is a cheque for a second Maltron keyboard for my husband. We find your keyboards an excellent investment in preventative medicine"
I have been using the keyboard since 1993 and I am very happy with it. It took me a couple of months to become fully used to the shape and since then I have never looked back. It is clearly more comfortable to use than a conventional keyboard and I no longer worry about RSI as a serious threat whereas before, I did.
I am convinced that the Maltron keyboard has made my working life a lot less stressful and enabled me to be a lot more productive. I still occasionally use a conventional keyboard when I have to, but I would never undertake a substantial piece of work without the Maltron, which is why I currently have three of them - one at home and one in each of my offices on the campus of Lancaster University (I have two part-time jobs there).
Everyone who comes into my offices for the first time says, "That's a strange keyboard you have", so after all these years I still have the sales patter ready to trot out.
June 2011
Betty from Mercer Island, WA
This is what Betty had to say about her Maltron dual-hand keyboard:
I love it.
I don't remember how long I have had it, but well over two years. You were not particularly easy to find at the time. I tend to be a little compulsive about research, so came across you as I shopped. But there were several other brands promoting themselves as ergonomic, so had I stopped earlier I still would have had several from which to choose (although they all pale in comparison to yours). I actually started looking for customized keyboards before I found yours.
I took me a couple of months to get up to speed with the keyboard. Now I am much faster on it than I ever was on QWERTY.
My hands always hurt before. They stopped hurting after a week. My goal was and is to preserve my hands. I have Reynauds as well as a full family history of osteoporosis.
They have not hurt since!
The fact that it is plug and play makes it very easy to swap out when IT or my assistance needs to use my station. We just keep a QWERTY under my desk.
After knowing QWERTY so well for over 35 years, I completely lost it after only two months on the Maltron. So when I am forced to go back--i.e. cell phone, public places, etc. I am very slow. I make it a point to hunt and peck so I don't corrupt my maltron keying. Even so, if I have to be on it very much, my maltron slows down. But I just go to the website and do some of the training exercises again and it is fixed. It only takes about 15 minutes of practice, but I find the training exercises bring me back to speed faster than just regular keyboarding. I guess that means the way the exercises are organized is very effective.
Also, I was concerned about laptop use. Most of the keyboard conversion software programs do not let you change the space bar, enter keys, etc. So it was hard to get the laptop laid out as closely resembling the maltron as I wanted. BUT! I found a program for under $40 that lets me reassign all of my laptop keys. My space bar is my "e" key. Then I found a company that sells packets of individual key stick on labels for under $25 so I could re-label my laptop keys. They fit perfectly and stick well. The key converter program can easily be disabled and it can have more than one layout.
Unexpected but wonderful benefit is that it cuts down on requests by other family members and co-workers to use my laptop.
About a year after getting my Maltron, I had to send it back for repair of a key. It was gone for a month. In that time I never did get back any speed on the QWERTY. When I got the Maltron back, I was up to speed in under a week. Even though I had only known it for a few months whereas I had brain and muscle memory of 35 years on the QWERTY. So the keyboard is more intuitive.
I did pay the extra money to buy the track ball version. I wish I had not. I never use it. The little ball keeps falling out when the keyboard gets tipped (for cleaning under, etc) and then I have to look for it. When I did the initial rent for a month to see if I wanted to buy it, it was the board with the double labels--QWERTY and Maltron on each key. I HATED it!! I did not help anybody. Made it harder to learn the keyboard, made the QWERTY keyboarders unhappy. Appearance wise it just looks over crowded and hard to read. I solved that problem with an Evoluent mouse. It works well.
The number pad in the middle was hard to get used to. But once I did, I found that I actually use the number table more than I did on my other keyboard. I tended to use the top number line more, which surprised me because I spend a significant portion of each day working in Excel. Although, after all this time, I still find it feels a little odd to go to the upper middle part of my keyboard for the number pad. If I did a lot of ten keying on the number pad I think I would have to slide the keyboard to my right and would get impatient with having to adjust the position between the alpha and the number. But since I don't do a lot of 10 keying, I don't know that for sure.
Thanks for your help! The price tag is high but worth it. I think the biggest barrier is to not be able to escape the QWERTY. Cell phones, entry screens on other devices, public testing stations, etc. It is worth it to me because I already had pain. For others who could maybe prevent the pain in the future, the benefit is not as compelling. But increasing speed is another benefit--maybe you could concentrate on that angle.
I never see any ads for the maltron. It would be good to see more. Addressing the laptop compatibility--maybe by bundling the labels and the conversion software I got from the other two companies and giving it as a bonus with purchase would be good.
Are you working on something with laptops? I don't know how significant it is for your total market, but it sure seems like a lot of businesses and individuals are using laptops instead of rather than in addition to workstations.
One last comment that might be relevant. I am on the computer a lot for work. But there are periods of days in a row, even a week or two where I use the keyboard very little. Once the first couple months passed, I never have trouble coming back to it. The only time I ever slow down is when I've been forced to use QWERTY, and then, as I mentioned, 10 to 15 minutes repeating random exercises from your training manual is all it takes to fix it.
January, 2011
Note from Maltron: Although Betty did not get on well with the built-in trackball mouse, it's worth mentioning that many of our customers do find it a great improvement over a conventional mouse. As with many things, it's a matter of personal preference and we hope that these unbiased reviews will help you in your decision-making process!
Louise - Marketing Executive
I’ve used a Maltron keyboard since 1996 when I developed Tendonitis in both hands due to lifting something incorrectly. As I was experiencing a lot of pain using a standard keyboard and mouse, the company physiotherapist suggested that I try a Maltron keyboard along with a ‘trackball’ mouse (not a Maltron product).
Once I had gone through the training disk I was able to use the keyboard quite easily within the 2 week trial. I did have to switch back to my standard keyboard when I needed to do some urgent work, but then went back over to the Maltron when I was able to work more slowly and eventually progressed to using the keyboard full time within another week or two.
As they keyboard I have is a standard ‘querty’ version which is the same layout as a normal keyboard, except for the differences on the ‘enter/return’ button and the space bar, as a touch typist I did not find it too difficult to transfer over to this keyboard.
I wouldn’t voluntarily change back to a standard keyboard now as it feels ‘wrong’. The Maltron keyboard makes my arms and hands sit at a proper position, whereby I feel that my arms and hands are ‘hunched’ together using a standard keyboard now. I don’t think I would have managed to keep working in my admin role if I hadn’t moved over to this keyboard. I spend most of my working day in front of a computer and now I rarely suffer from pains in my hands and arms unless I’m really overworking.
I know it looks funny and the IT department come and look at my ‘starship enterprise’ say, oh you have one of ‘those keyboards’ and then ask me to type things in to the computer as they don’t want to go near it, but I wouldn’t be without it.
January 2011
Luke J.M.
English Language Teaching and Services
"I first used a Maltron keyboard (a dual-hand 3D keyboard) in 2007, after trying various mass-market ergonomic keyboards in an attempt to counter the crippling pain I was left in after developing nerve and musculature problems from using my laptop’s integral keyboard. I haven’t used anything but my Maltron keyboard since, and can’t envisage ever changing: this keyboard gave me back the use of a computer, and – as my profession involves a great deal of computer work – greatly reduces the amount of pain I experience on a daily basis. All of my contact with the people at Maltron has been excellent from start to finish: friendly, professional, and genuinely determined to help, everyone I have spoken to at this small company has exercised the highest standard of customer service – particularly refreshing compared to the impersonality of typical customer service call-centres I have encountered with other companies. I could not recommend Maltron keyboards highly enough."
January 2011
Keyboard Pains Banished by Maltron
Workstation ergonomic assessments, reduced working hours and reminders to take breaks are three minor tools in the battle against keyboard-induced pain. All three take a back seat when compared with Maltron’s record of returning keyboard operators to work after typical diagnoses of “You will never work on a keyboard again” or simply “We advise a change of job to safeguard against RSI”
Maltron have documented many cases where keyboard operators have been returned to work after typically suffering pains in fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and back. These include the following report –
“My problems have virtually disappeared. Recommend it? My answer would have to be yes. I can honestly say that I now enjoy typing again, and of course, the best benefit is no pain. I have not had one day's pain since using the keyboard, which is amazing.”
“I have been using my Maltron keyboard for work everyday and I thought I would mention just what a wonderful keyboard it is. I rarely have any pain in my wrists now, and I am most grateful for it”
“Before my Maltron keyboard entered my life I had to have carpal tunnel surgeries on both hands; had to soak my hands in warm/cold water at least twice a day; had to wear wrist supports to bed every night; massage my fingers with special ointments; and take pain killers daily just to keep the pain from becoming unbearably crippling”.
Maltron dual handed keyboards are specifically designed to fit hands and minimise or eliminate stress and pain. They have been given a Four-Star award by the prestigious PC Magazine based in New York. This supports the previous Five Mouse rating awarded by Mac User magazine with the comment “Perfect for those suffering from or trying to elude RSI”.
Maltron’s service team changes UK keyboard layout to US standard for Australian John
Australian John M. had a problem. He had bought a Maltron fully-ergonomic keyboard with a UK layout in the UK but really wanted a US layout for work in Australia. He also wanted a second keyboard to use at home. Maltron arranged to provide him with a new US layout version within ten days and asked him to return his UK version. On receipt, the UK version was reprogrammed, fitted with new key tops and sent back within three days.
Since converting to a Maltron keyboard John has found that RSI is “no problem, and fingers no longer sore” This was in contrast to his pre-Maltron days when he experienced pains in wrists, forearms, shoulders as well as sore finger joints and “fizzy fingers”. He only needed two days to realise that this was a “good keyboard”, two weeks to be “happy “and a little longer “to become proficient” and report that it works beautifully
Star gazer RSI victim Sharmila finds keyboard restores pain-free and rapid work rate
Sharmila G. had studied for over ten years to achieve a final qualification in astronomy but was continuously plagued by keyboard-induced RSI. During her studies she had tried switching to a trackball mouse, got a gel wrist rest and tilted the keyboard towards the monitor without much success despite a wrist brace and physiotherapy as pain levels continued to rise. Using a conventional split keyboard had also provided some relief but not enough to continue keyboard work. The situation became critical as she came to the full realisation that without keyboarding skills she could not pursue a chosen career in astronomy.
She switched to a Maltron fully-ergonomic keyboard in 2006 after “managing” for three weeks on a flat keyboard and being “on the point of disability and stopping all computer work”. She found Maltron’s keys “an absolute dream to work with because of the soft touch and bought another for home use. In fact she says, “As far as I am concerned, it is Maltron or nothing”. She can now continue her career as an astronomer as being unable to use a computer would have led to a radical career change.
Karen
Karen is a litigation assistant in the Personal Injury Department of a Shropshire Solicitors. Diagnosed as suffering from CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) RSI in both wrists, she is now pain free when typing, just six weeks after the delivery of her Maltron keyboard.
"My problems have virtually disappeared. Recommend it? My answer would have to be yes. I can honestly say that I now enjoy typing again, and of course, the best benefit is no pain. I have not had one day's pain since using the keyboard, which is amazing."
Dr Lara Marks D.Phil
University Lecturer, Imperial College, London.
"I am writing to update you on the progress that I have made in using the Maltron Keyboard which I bought from you four years ago.
I originally purchased the keyboard because I was suffering incapacitating pain in my neck and shoulders after having typed an enormous amount on a computer to prepare a book manuscript. I was also experiencing some numbness in my arms and hands. The problem was so acute that I had been forced to take three months leave from work and to experiment with writing by hand instead of on the computer. As an academic historian and university lecturer who does a lot of research and writing, I feared that my career would be cut short by the problem. At the time I was trying many different techniques in order to resolve the problem, including osteopathy and physiotherapy. In the end I found the pain was relieved by a combination of factors: doing Alexander Technique to improve my posture, learning self-hypnosis to relax, buying an ergonomic chair with special swinging arms that carry the weight of my elbows and shoulders, and buying the Maltron keyboard.
The Maltron keyboard was the last thing that I tried, and I must admit that I think it made a major contribution to my recovery. I chose the Maltron layout to the keyboard because I realised that part of my problem was that my previous typing technique was very heavy. With the Maltron layout I knew I would be forced to relearn to type which I saw as positive.
When I first tried the keyboard it felt very strange, but after a month I had totally adjusted to the new shape of the board and the place of the letters. In fact the Maltron keyboard seemed to improve both the speed and technique of my typing.
Over the past four years I have sometimes had to type again on an ordinary Querty keyboard which I seem to still be able to do. Nonetheless, the Querty keyboard still gives me pain and I am limited in the amount of time that I can spend typing on it. I therefore have made sure that I have a Maltron keyboard both at my office and at home."
Mrs J Batterson
James Rennell Centre for Ocean Circulation, Southampton.
"I just thought I would write to you to say that I think your Maltron keyboard is brilliant. I have only been using it for 2 weeks and I can feel the benefits already...Having now had the experience of your keyboard I would recommend it to anyone and can only hope that in the future the flat keyboard that has caused so much suffering for so many people will be replaced by yours."
Sue Welford
Warwick University physiotherapist
... reports that for a tenosynovitis case, using a Maltron keyboard was of more benefit than treatment!
Roger Bisson, BSc (Hons)
" Further to our various discussions over the years relating to my first dual handed, QWERTY/Maltron layout keyboard, I thought I would write to let you know firstly the background to my original problems with Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), and the improvements I have seen through the use of your keyboard over the 2 (two) years I have been using it full-time.
I have been using a computer for some 20 years now, despite my relatively young age (28).
However, the first obvious signs of Repetitive Strain Injury started showing up for me in November of 1998 – just a couple of months after I started a new contract as a software engineer. Looking back, my workstation was poorly designed, and partly through typing with my elbows resting on the desktop with the keyboard some 6-8 inches from the edge of the desk to allow for a notebook in front of the keyboard, the symptoms of RSI developed quickly. Not that I took a great deal of notice at the time; working under pressure, and without the full awareness of the crippling ability of RSI, I tended to dismiss early aches and pains and ignore many of the tell-tale signs such as the apparent weakness of my forearms when taking part in sports.
Over the Christmas break in 1998, however, the aches and pains persisted and, when I returned to work after the Christmas break, the pain had developed from simply aches in my hands to an agonising burning sensation in my forearms.
After enduring two or three weeks of this burning sensation in my forearms while working, I thought I ought to go see my doctor – as advised by the many health- and RSI-related websites. On my first visit, he seemed sympathetic to the problem and gave me a prescription some NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – in the form of Voltarol (or, I think, Ibuprofen). At various times, the pain developed from forearm burning sensations, to wrist pains and back again.
The drugs did seem to help a little, but, after a number of repeat prescriptions, I asked my doctor whether he thought that physiotherapy might help as I felt that the drugs were simply masking underlying problems either in my neck, shoulder, arm, or forearm muscles, or in the relationship between the various muscle groups. He agreed – though why he did not suggest physiotherapy in the first place, I do not know.
At this point, rather than continue taking the NSAIDs, I undertook regular physiotherapy sessions – roughly 13, at a cost of around £30.00 each. My physiotherapist was particularly good, providing me with a series of exercises for various muscle groups that may contribute to my RSI problem, including the shoulder muscles and neck muscles in particular; although RSI symptoms may indicate problems in the wrists and forearm, many of these problems actually stem from the neck and shoulders.
At the time, the end of my physiotherapy treatment roughly coincided with the completion of my contract, and the projects I was working on in late 1999. After this, I went on holiday and essentially took the rest of the year “off” to give the RSI problem an opportunity to improve, as I could not realistically continue working in IT as a software engineer given the amount of pain this caused.
This was obviously very worrying as most work these days involves a significant amount of typing and computer work with even physical (manual) work being out-of-the-question.
In early 2000, I undertook a new piece of work, having given myself some time to recover through much less usage of my computer and by regular exercise of my shoulder muscles at the local swimming pool. However, within a couple of days of working, I found that the pain was, again, becoming unbearable. At this point, I sought to try out some other “remedies” such as acupuncture and kinesiology (RSI sufferers will try anything to get better, you see). Although both had some effect – and acupuncture was, itself, quite relieving neither treatment represented anything other than a temporary improvement for as soon as I started work, within less than an hour, the pain was back in full force.
At this time, I just happened to watch a new film; I think it was “the Bone Collector” which in one scene appeared to feature some oddly shaped “ergonomic”-looking keyboard. This got me thinking – are there any keyboards available to help RSI problems. There were various solutions: one that featured half a keyboard on each hand at =right angles to the desk; various designs with split keyboards linked by a pivot; and “ergonomic” keyboards such as the one produced by Microsoft. Among all of these, one stood out: “The Maltron”.
Now, I knew about the Maltron from roughly 20 years ago (I was probably about 8 or 10 at the time) when this was featured in a book of mine, which described the Maltron as “a futuristic keyboard”, featuring a new key layout that was designed to increase typing speed using the Maltron keyboard design (as opposed to QWERTY which was designed specifically to slow typists down).
The other thing that made it stand out was the price – £375.00 – for a piece of hardware, which, functionally, does the same thing as a £5-50 flat keyboard. At the time, I had no idea =whether this keyboard, albeit ergonomically designed, would have any impact on my, now chronic, RSI problem but in the absence of other ideas, I decided to buy one to see if it made any difference.
When I received the keyboard however, I only started using it at home; I was concerned that taking a keyboard I couldn’t use into work with me would raise a few issues both with my customer and my colleagues, so for the next 6 months – until the end of my contract – I persevered with my normal flat laptop keyboard at work.
When I completed this contract, I was wary of seeking new work where I would have to either type on a flat keyboard, or continue learning to use the Maltron keyboard, which by nature of its shape and design, is likely to attract attention so instead, I decided to concentrate on a development project of my own and, in the process I would try to use my Maltron keyboard exclusively for a period.
In the first couple of months or so of my working with the Maltron, I found I could type proficiently using the keyboard within about a month to six weeks. This is bearing in mind that I could not touch type properly beforehand as I often found that I would try to use the wrong finger to press a given key.
Normal typing was relatively quick to “learn” whereas I found that software coding – in C++ for example – was harder to learn due to the mixture of upper and lowercase letters, braces and “greater than” signs that programmers use, which requires better co-ordination.
Throughout my early use of the Maltron keyboard, my symptoms tended to improve for a period then got worse, then improve, then got worse and so on. On some occasions, this was probably my fault; trying to type while resting my hands on the palm rests, for example, or typing without regular breaks. On other occasions, the reason was not so clear.
However, after roughly three months, I found I could type more quickly and accurately using the Maltron keyboard than I ever could using a normal, flat keyboard and with much less pain.
Some two years on since starting to use my Maltron keyboard properly, on a daily basis, I find that although my RSI symptoms have not gone, they are at least at a level that is acceptable for every-day work. I get the odd bad day, but this is usually when I have been doing a great deal of typing work, or whenever I have used a flat keyboard for any length of time, so I guess it is my own fault.
In conclusion, I find that my Maltron keyboard represents the difference between my working, and my not working: I simply could not tolerate the kind of pain that using a flat keyboard day-in day-out meant, and quite frankly, my career in IT would be finished.
I am therefore writing to thank you: your perseverance over the last 20 or more years that has meant that an idea you, and Mrs. Malt had to design a product to help relieve the stresses and strains of keyboard work is still be available today, for my benefit.
At a cost of less than £0.50 per day (after 2 years), my Maltron keyboard has represented one of the best investments I have ever made in trying to alleviate my RSI problems to date and, given that the keyboard is still in perfect condition, I expect this cost to come down further over time.
Going beyond recommending the keyboard to only RSI sufferers, I would say that anybody who uses, or employs staff that use a keyboard for any length of time – particularly touch typing – would do well to try a Maltron keyboard; after an initial learning curve, you will probably see a significant increase in typing efficiency and accuracy. "
Maria L. Madrid
Dear Stephen,
I am always elated to utter nothing but the loudest praises for my Maltron dual handed keyboard! This keyboard has enabled me to continue using my hands, period. Yes, it's that simple! It's given me my hands back!
Before my Maltron entered my life I had to have carpal tunnel surgeries on both hands; had to soak my hands in warm/cold water at least twice a day; had to wear wrist supports to bed every night; massage my fingers with special ointments; and take pain killers daily just to keep the pain from becoming unbearably crippling.
Typing had become almost impossible and I knew that the biggest culprit for my condition was my common $99 keyboard--it was damaging my fingers every day. The pain on my hands had become a way of life that I knew was unsustainable for much longer, especially as a consultant who depends on her keyboard to do her job. To boot, my neurologist kept speaking of the need to have yet another surgery...
But Alas! One desperate day I decided to devote an entire day to researching the types of keyboards available. This is how I found my Maltron! After reading quite extensively about it in your Web site I simply knew that being able to extend my fingers fully while typing would assuage the pain and make a huge difference. And I was right, because it's concave key design has made the difference from all other ergo keyboards I had ever used.
I also love the keys themselves--always a crunchy strike after 15 months of intense daily use. The keyboard itself is of the highest quality!! It did take me 1 month to get used to the new key layout but it was well worth it and I actually prefer it much more to the conventional keyboard layouts. Maltron definitely offers me a smarter way to utilize my finger strokes!! Thankfully, I am able to use the Maltron's layout and the traditional keyboard layout of laptops just as well. The human brain is capable of committing both layouts to memory and I feel the richer for it.
I clean my Maltron weekly and simply feel so proud and fortunate to own one. It's also a great conversation piece when friends come into my home office and notice my Maltron as the centerpiece of my home office. What I need now is a portable Maltron that I could take with me during my business trips when I have to use my laptop. It needs to have the same concavity and layout but somehow it has to have a much thinner depth. How about it Maltron Ergonomists? I'd be one of your first customers!
Anytime you want to refer anybody to me to convince them that Maltron is the way to go, just holler and I'll be glad to share. Also, now that I received a phone call from a Maltron Specialist in England 8 minutes after I sent the company an email requesting some technical assistance, I am even more impressed with Maltron's commitment to serve and truly establish a new generation of keyboard technology and support! Maltron--I salute you!!
February 2, 2005
Alexandria, VA USA
Karl Fogel
"I bought my first Maltron as a college student in 1992. I'd been having some minor wrist pains with regular computer keyboards, and as a pianist felt it was important to keep my hands, arms, and back as comfortable as possible. It took me about a month to get up to speed with the Maltron layout, and I've been using it ever since. Now when an occasion arises where I have to use a regular (flat) keyboard, it feels like I'm typing with boxing gloves on. This is not because my QWERTY touch-typing has gotten worse -- it hasn't: it was fluent before I started using Maltrons, and has remained so. The "boxing glove" feeling comes solely by contrast with the ease and efficiency I enjoy on Maltrons."
"Since college, I've been working as a computer programmer and writer on open source software. I've written two books with Maltrons, one in 1999 and the other in 2005. I know I could never have done this (and continued to play piano) if traditional computer keyboards were my only option. Maltrons are not a luxury for me now: without them, I would simply have to find a job not involving computers."
"Thanks to Maltron, I have not had to give up my work to continue making music."
7 January 2006, USA.
Yang-Wah Hew
Dear Stephen,
I have been using my Maltron keyboard for work everyday and I thought I would mention just what a wonderful keyboard it is. I rarely have any pain in my wrists now, and I am most grateful for it, even if it does make it a bit more difficult to play some computer games!
The included training program was most useful and really did help me adjust to it much more quickly than I'd expected. I'm probably now typing at approximately 90% of the speed I used to type at and with approximately 95% of my previous accuracy - much better than I'd expected!
It also draws a lot of admiring comments.
It was an expensive purchase, but I think it was definitely worth it. Keep up the great work and I hope that your company goes from strength to strength.
Hong Kong - February 2006
Elaine Houseby
"I began to suffer these symptoms (of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) two years ago...if I did not stop typing, my earning power would ultimately be limited to invalidity benefit...which would have put me in an extremely difficult financial position...the Maltron keyboard has paid for itself many times over...I am free from all discomfort in my arms...Conventional keyboards now seem quite ridiculous to me. I hope that they will eventually disappear altogether..."
Fay Higginbottom
"After approximately six weeks of use...I wouldn't like to lose it...I really feel it is enabling me to continue my secretarial work despite tenosynovitis which I've now suffered from for nearly 11 months...I'm beginning to be hopeful that I will recover eventually...I must say that for the first few days I thought I would never get used to the odd shape, but I'm glad I persevered!..."
Sheila Peacock
"I am really pleased with it. My hands are aching less while I type and the pain and stiffness subside much more quickly afterwards...I am beginning to feel that your wonderful keyboard will enable me to continue with my job..."
Mrs Rowena Verrall
"I have been using your Maltron ergonomic keybaord for about two months and have found it of great benefit...Since using your keyboard I have found that I can type all day...I have opted to stay with the QWERTY layout...I would recommend your new keyboard to anyone..."
Lee Seaman
Technical Translator
"I am writing to tell you how pleased I am with the Maltron keyboard. By this Spring I could type on my QWERTY keyboard for less than 30 minutes a day without further worsening my wrist and forearm complaint. I could not use a manual can opener, and hearty business handshakes were agonising.
After four months of using your keyboard, my hands are much better. The carpal bones in my wrists stay in their normal position now, rather than being pulled out of alignment. My daily typing time is measured in hours rather than minutes, and my grip strength is returning. Enclosed is a cheque for a second Maltron keyboard for my husband. We find your keyboards an excellent investment in preventative medicine"