where can i buy uTron keyboard?

[xahlee]

hi, am wondering where can i buy uTron keyboard?

i mean, it's probably in Japan. So my question is, if there's any distributor in USA. But probably not, my second question is whether it is still sold in Japan, at what place or online shop (any links), so i might ask a Japanese friend to buy it for me.

Thanks a lot.

[webwit]

I bought mine from the official website, using a shopping service.
http://www.personal-media.co.jp/utronkb/

[xahlee]

O, thank you so much webwit! You have so many nice photos and i benefited a lot! and actually was going to ask you but not too familiar with the site so didn't actually find you. Thank you for the answer!

[HaaTa]

I went to Japan and bought it from Cleverly (Akihabara):

http://www.clevery.co.jp/

[xbb]

so pricey
what's special about the palmrest? looks like the same kind of foam used on mattress/pillows or it's different?

[webwit]

It's a piece of foam. I got a box full of it from package filling material.

[Jim66]

I have really come around to the benefits of the uTron keyboard; shame it's so expensive to get out of Japan.

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[Gilgam]

Topre ?

[Jim66]

^ what is the benefits compare to a m15 or mx5000?

This quote is from webwit; I thought it was a particularly good explanation of the uTron's ergonomic features. As webwit says, it is the reverse stagger of the left hand that really makes sense. There is nothing with staggering on the right hand as this is the way that the fingers naturally flow, however on a regular keyboard, it obviously causes problems for the left hand. Matrix layout is an improvement, but if the halves of the board are not far enough apart or they are not angled enough (e.g., TE) the keyboard is pseudoergonomic at best.

The uTron is a real ergonomic keyboard, unlike the Typematrix, which is probably the worst "ergo" keyboard in my collection (strong competition from the Apple ergo keyboard here). The vertical lines of the keyboard follow the position of your hands and the lines your fingers move perfectly, hence the special key width. The shifts are placed in close reach of the strong index fingers instead of way out there for the weak pinkies, and the whole keyboard can be operated without hand travel, just finger travel. It's very smart. It can have any slant you want because it is adjustable, for example straight vertical like the Typematrix. My only complaint is the Japanese style layout elements with lack of importance of Space, but those extra modifiers default to space when using a western layout.

Like the Datahand, the designers threw away most of the heritage of typewriters and started anew. This also means choices of habit are thrown out and new design choices and a learning curve are introduced. This is what the TRON project is about, don't get held back by the past, and do it exactly right. So when the TRON project is designing the shift keys for this keyboard, naturally they choose a better location near stronger fingers with less travel, but also one which will be different and introduces a learning curve. It is exactly this lack of will to compromise and only going for the highest quality, in design, implementation and material (such as using Topre switches) that makes the uTron a very interesting exercise with very interesting results, which made me want this keyboard. Most other keyboards are exercises in compromise, in layout, material and price, to find a sweat spot of profit maximization. Whether it is a practical keyboard for day to day usage depends on what you're looking for - it is a keyboard that only works if you dedicate yourself to it like the Datahand.

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[Jim66]

you can buy them for less in here http://www.amazon.co.jp/Personal-Media- ... B004BZ2TOA

You would still need a buying agent for that right?

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[Jim66]

Still soooooooo expensive.

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[rominronin]

Talk about reviving an old thread. Anyone know where o can get one today? I know they have been discontinued.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[Menuhin]

The alignment philosophy of its keys is a bit similar to Katana isn't it?