ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard • Hacker News Board

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#241

Post by phaus » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 1:55 AM UTC

tharne wrote: post #214

phaus wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you use now? The Dactyl was partly modeled after the Kinesis. It has the key wells and a curved thumb cluster. Still, the thumb cluster isn't perfect and its hard for most people to reach all of the keys. However, the Dactyl Manuform keeps the amazing key wells and has a completely redesigned thumb cluster. Its also designed to be easily customizable. There are versions with 2,3,4,5 and 6 keys per thumb clust…

The Dactyl is a beautiful piece of design and engineering, I've been thinking about getting one. What variation of Dactyl Manuform are you using, i.e. 4x6, 5x6?

I'm using the 5x6 layout. For me it seems like the fewest amount of keys (64) I can drop to without having to use layers. I pretty much only use layers for the function keys.

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#242

Post by jdhawk » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 1:55 AM UTC

patal wrote: post #192

jdhawk wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I transitioned over to the ergo k680, and have really enjoyed it. The only keyboard I've stuck with after the MS4000

Thanks for the tip! Haven't seen this yet, and collegues complain about the MS4000's loudness when I type.

There was a slight learning curve, as things are just...a tad different, but I would not go back now.

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#243

Post by xellisx » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 2:30 AM UTC

I've been working on redesigning one of my own. https://gitlab.com/EllisGL/glt-esokb1/-/tree/development

I do plan on making a normal staggered version of this, along with the other 40% in both normal and staggered columnar.

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#244

Post by spalynx » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 2:31 AM UTC

Is there something like this that is wireless between the two halves? Split ergo keyboards look really neat, but like to keep my desk as clean looking as possible.

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#245

Post by knowmad » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 4:13 AM UTC

rayshan wrote: post #77

I've been eyeing the Ergodox-EZ for a few months and this was an instant buy for me. Lately I've been rotating between TKL keyboards and the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic, but my right wrist is still getting worse. I looked at over a dozen split keyboard options. Seems like no matter if you build or buy, it'll cost around $300. I decided I didn't want to also buy a soldering kit and wait months for parts to arrive. Here…

If you're eyeing the EZ but want a more ergonomic split version and to save money, check out the Nyquist/Levinson from Keebio. I built my current keyboard for less than $120 and I love it!

Full Disclosure: - soldering the switches is required (I didn't include the price of the soldering iron or solder in the $120) - I used Gateron Brown switches which are some of the cheapest mechanical switches - I got blank DSA keycaps from Amazon(I bought special deep dish caps for the f and j keys from pimp my keyboard)

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#246

Post by armadsen » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 6:02 AM UTC

nonbirithm wrote: post #165

tom_ wrote: post #76

I wish people would just copy the MS Natural Ergonomic 4000, but with better keyswitches. As things stand, every split keyboard with nice keyswitches has a different layout from every other, which is odd, considering how much this type of device relies on muscle memory to work. (Also, most of them miss one or more of F keys, symmetrical meta keys, standard navigation cluster layout, volume buttons - it's like they wa…

I want a more ergonomic keyboard since I may be developing wrist problems, but I don't understand why none of them seem to have function keys. I use the function keys all the time and when I switch to a 40% layout I get seriously annoyed by the lack of them and end up going back to a full layout keyboard because of it. I spent twenty minutes searching for a split keyboard with function keys and found only one thread…

https://keeb.io/collections/sinc/products/sinc-split-stagger...

Keeb.io has a split keyboard with F keys on top, and macro keys on the left. Not a full layout with a numpad, but getting closer. I built a Quefrency by them and like it a lot.

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#247

Post by replwoacause » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 6:35 AM UTC

Looks nice, but good luck getting me to part with my Kinesis Advantage 2!

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#248

Post by Too » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 7:23 AM UTC

nextos wrote: post #92

tom_ wrote: post #76

I wish people would just copy the MS Natural Ergonomic 4000, but with better keyswitches. As things stand, every split keyboard with nice keyswitches has a different layout from every other, which is odd, considering how much this type of device relies on muscle memory to work. (Also, most of them miss one or more of F keys, symmetrical meta keys, standard navigation cluster layout, volume buttons - it's like they wa…

I love mechanical keyboards. My favorite switch is ALPS. But IMHO, the most ergonomic switches are low-travel ones. They increase my typing speed, reduce latency and make long sessions effortless. Luckily, low-travel versions of many good quality keyboard switches are being produced and developed more often now to cater the gaming market. For a simple, readily available option, I find the Apple Magic Keyboard more th…

For a low-travel and ergonomic keyboard, check out the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic. It's wireless and has a standard layout which doesn't require any learning, including a real row of function-keys, full size arrow-block and pg-up/down. And it just cost 1/4 of the Moonlander. No per-key dedicated backlight, no programmable ARM Cortex or any other thrills, it's just a simple, comfortable, plug in and start using keyboard. I wish they offered an even cheaper version without the silly Mouse in the package.

It has a reputation for bad build quality but i've been lucky with mine. Also be careful to not loose the wireless dongle as the keyboard becomes a brick without it.

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#249

Post by P4wl0w » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 7:31 AM UTC

When I see this I am really looking forward to just talking to my computer like to a real person :P

Keyboards are nice and in many cases a far superior input interface compared to a mouse/touchpad but in my opinion it is just a stepping stone towards "the real deal".

After voice interface there will be thought interfaces and then we can be productive if the hardware, apps and os-es are good enough.

Re: ZSA Moonlander: A next-generation ergonomic keyboard

#250

Post by IshKebab » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 7:56 AM UTC

andrewla wrote: post #52

One thing I have never been able to understand about split keyboard designs is why they don't put the characters on the split ("Y/T G/H V/B/N") on _both_ sides of the keyboard. I mean, are key caps a high cost? There's a correct way to type, but it doesn't need to be so strict. Sometimes (often) the natural use of a keyboard (like holding down a control character for a sequence of keys) makes it so that we type on th…

Yeah when I tried split keyboards I found the exact same problem. I don't touch type perfectly using the "official" method. I press B with both hands.

We can't be the only ones surely? It's such an obvious problem and they all get it wrong.