Before I Sleep: 60 Days with the ZSA Moonlander: Review

[utterances-bot]

Before I Sleep: 60 Days with the ZSA Moonlander: Review

https://milesmcbain.com/posts/zsa-moonlander-review/

[2disbetter]

Miles, I too have a Moonlander keyboard, and while I was worried some about ergonomics, my main concern was the impact it was gong to have on my typing speed. Turns out that this was nothing to worry about as a feel VERY comfortable on the Moonlander now. I really prefer the linear layout. Once you get comfortable with it, I felt a significant overall reduction in finger strain from stretching to hit keys. I should note that I ONLY use QWERTY and have not tried nor am I interested in other layouts.

One keyboard I would suggest to you that offers the same sort of things you like with a mouse and key thumb cluster add on that should greatly appeal to you. I would suggest that you look at the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. (The name is horrible) From a productivity stand point I feel like the UHK really has that as the first priority with improving ergonomics on a traditional layout next. Their approach is, you've spent your life learning and using this sort of keyboard, let's just improve it and not change it too much.

The mouse module is so good (but also the keyboard based mouse emulation is so much better than the Moonlanders acceleration based emulation) that I keep moving back to from the Moonlander just because I'm so impressed with it. Sadly I have Kailh blue switches on my UHK and it is quite loud, and inferior to the Cherry Browns on the Moonlander.

Anyway, hope you are finding luck in your search, and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!!

[accordionnoir]

, I do think the placement of the thumb pad keys will not work for everyone. But I have printed out the paper layout sheets that they have on their site now so that’s a good thing.

I think the flexible thumb cluster was a attempt to work with people who had some problems on their similar flat version.

It seems like having a way to move that first thumb key closet might be high on the list for another revision.

Your ideas about how staggering and changing the position of the keys affecting alternative keyboard layouts is really smart. That reach for the N is quite long. If I get one of these, I’ll keep my eye on that.

Do you remember what headphone case you found that worked?

Really helpful review. Also, the only moonlander review that didn’t mention (or get distracted by?) the colored lights 🌈. 😹

[accordionnoir]

More folks looking for a rigid case:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ergodox/comments/oawc86/recommendations_for_a_rigid_moonlander_case/

Do you recall which one you had? If you still have it, maybe somebody will buy it off you.

[Navgeet]

Miles have you looked into keyboard.io? Not sure if it'll fit your hand shape or typing style, and it doesn't run QMK AFAIK, but it runs very similar software.