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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: Jim66 on Sun, 24 April 2011, 10:09:06

Title: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: Jim66 on Sun, 24 April 2011, 10:09:06
I noticed that in this thread:

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?9501-Maltron-and-Kinesis-any-known-bad-history (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?9501-Maltron-and-Kinesis-any-known-bad-history)

The first post briefly mentions the Ergomatic keyboard but then it isn't really taken up again...

(http://www.ergo-comp.com/homeimage.jpg)

I was just wondering anyone from here had any experience of this board? It looks nearly identical to the Maltron.. Only it is much cheaper (especially if you live in the states).

Anyone heard anything about it? The website isn't great..

http://www.ergo-comp.com/index.html (http://www.ergo-comp.com/index.html)
Title: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: Input Nirvana on Sun, 24 April 2011, 11:59:02
They have/had a license to make knockoff keyboards here, but have not for quite a while. I spoke with them about 2 years ago and they were effectively dead-in-the-water.

Sorry, I think it's end of story with them since Maltron has distribution in the U.S.
Title: Re: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: Treknology on Sun, 05 February 2017, 20:07:29
I have just acquired one of these and hope that someone out there has technical instructions regarding the additional sockets on the back and the DIP switches.

For review purposes, ergo-comp is dead. The site name is now owned by a tree pest-control company.

While it has individual switches wired in, and a more robust construction than the native Maltron, the switches are rubber domes (with Cherry-compatible stems.

I know this is a stale post, but hopefully someone out there has a user/technical PDF that I can download.

Mic
Title: Re: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: LuX on Mon, 06 February 2017, 06:34:08
I have just acquired one of these and hope that someone out there has technical instructions regarding the additional sockets on the back and the DIP switches.

For review purposes, ergo-comp is dead. The site name is now owned by a tree pest-control company.

While it has individual switches wired in, and a more robust construction than the native Maltron, the switches are rubber domes (with Cherry-compatible stems.

I know this is a stale post, but hopefully someone out there has a user/technical PDF that I can download.

Mic

Quote
Ports and Switches
Ports and switches on the back side of the keyboard are set to either PC or Mac uses and appear when viewed right to left as you face the back side:

Left of the cable are: An extra PS-2 port for any other PS-2 device like a second keyboard; a switch directing control to the second PS-2 if moved in that direction or opposite to use the primary unit - the Ergomatic keyboard; PC reset switch for it; then reset for the ADB end of the cable for the Mac and finally the bit switches- all set to for Mac; or 1 & 2 up and for PC per factory setting. The other bit switches are for factory use or spares.

Dunno if that helps. You can use the wayback machine to view snapshots of the page. https://web.archive.org/web/20120717094933/http://www.ergo-comp.com/ergomatic/features.html
Title: Re: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 06 February 2017, 14:30:56
Cool! It seems to be quite a rare keyboard. I have only seen it be mentioned here in passing. Please do post pictures of it and your thoughts on it.
Title: Re: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: buckyballs on Tue, 07 February 2017, 01:10:30

For review purposes, ergo-comp is dead. The site name is now owned by a tree pest-control company.


That is very weird.
Title: Re: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: buckyballs on Tue, 07 February 2017, 01:12:59
the website link is dead but the link findecanor posted shows a kb that looks like ergodox with numpad in the middle.
Title: Re: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 07 February 2017, 07:21:36
Ergodox
Title: Re: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: hoggy on Tue, 07 February 2017, 15:31:16
Nice find!  I'm glad one has made its way to this community.
Title: Re: Ergomatic keyboard: a cheaper alternative to the Maltron?
Post by: Input Nirvana on Tue, 07 February 2017, 21:51:04
Ergodox

SETTLE THE F DOWN, TP!

You gotta document that thing...I haven't come across one of those. PICS PICS PICS!