Glove80: First Impressions — the Typing Reset

I said I’ll do it, and I did. I got my Glove80 early! I looked at my emails yesterday afternoon, and there they were, waiting for me in the mailbox.

I was surprised at how light the box felt, even though Xah mentioned it several times in his review. I knew it was made of plastic, but this light? Yep. The other thing that surprised me was the size: they are smaller than I thought, which in my case is excellent (I have small hands).

I still need to pair it (or them? as in both parts? the gloves?) with Bluetooth to both my Mac and my Linux desktop, since I only used them connected (to charge them). There is a lot to like about this keyboard, but first the big caveat: getting used to it. Them. The thing. Ugh, take your pick.

Thankfully, this was not a surprise. It’s the big issue with this keyboard: it smashes your finger memory to bits and you need to start from zero again. I couldn’t get a single sentence through my journal yesterday, and I’m typing this post here with my old Kinesis keyboard because I want to put it up today — but I’m working on it with tangent, which is designed for the Glove80 and even has an option to choose which layout I use, as it has several (I chose to stick with the default one, even though they have a macOS-dedicated one with two command keys).

I estimate it will take me about a week to 10 days of learning before I can start typing normally with it, and then another week or so to build speed and maybe add additional customizations. But that’s the main idea here: this keyboard feels right.

Even if ergonomics is not something you care about, having a keyboard that you can customize with buttons that work for your needs (and let’s be honest: Emacs, Linux and macOS come with their own unique needs when it comes to keyboards) can probably turn you into a better typist. Xah might sound a bit like a keyboard preacher, but one of the points I definitely got from him is that standard keyboards are designed after old typewriters (including the brick-like pattern of the keys), which does not make sense on modern computers. If I could go back to when I started learning to type on a computer, I would have taught myself to use columnar keyboards the same way we learn a second language.

It’s the same principle: your fingers won’t forget the old layout as long as you use it. I’m typing this on my Kinesis, and I’m fine. Meanwhile, this Kinesis keyboard is split wide apart (I have a mouse with a mouse pad separating both halves) in such a way that typing on a regular full-size keyboard (which is one board) does introduce typos I do not have on my MacBook’s keyboard, because I still use it enough. So take this to heart — I think this second language example I use is pretty spot on.

Besides the customized buttons (which can be done with many keyboards today), I like how it’s built and shaped. It makes sense when you look at it: the keyboard should fit your hands, not your hands fit the keyboard. And while the lightness and the plastic might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I do find that I like it.

The keyboard is very easy to pack in the included case and carry with you: It practically weighs nothing, and there are no wires to stuff in the case (it’s meant to be completely wireless). It’s easy to clean, and the palm rests (not the wrist rests, which is another thing, which might introduce a problem of its own) can be wiped off easily. The keycaps come off easily if you want to replace them with others, and I’m learning to appreciate the soft, quiet keys. I might miss the heavier, clicky switches on the Kinesis, but I ask myself whether that’s more nostalgia than a real need. After all, if this keyboard were loud and clicky, I’d think twice about bringing it to the office and annoying everyone around me. But hey, to each their own.

There’s a lot to like here, but I’m definitely still in the honeymoon phase. Give me a week, and I’ll probably write more about the issues I’ve encountered and why this keyboard might not be for everyone.

1. This is, by the way, one of the reasons I did not want to start using special modifier layers like Xah Fly Keys or god mode. These can work, but they introduce another level of learning, like another dialect of English or similar. I might get there, but first I want to learn to use the Glove80 properly.