Very happy owner of a moonlander. Can't recommend it enough.
Let's say you want to get into split keyboards but are worried about the learning curve.
The best thing you can do to prepare is ensure you can touch type correctly. "Crossing", or typing a key with the wrong hand, just simply won't be possible anymore.
Once you can get that down, your keyboard will have shipped and you can start practicing the thumb cluster once it arrives.
Don't bother with the fancy stuff, like layers or custom layouts, until you've mastered the two fundamentals above.
I'm new to mechanical and split keyboards, but so far the moonlander has been great. Well, in the beginning it was a bit of a learning curve, but coming from the ergodox that shouldn't be an issue for you. Not being wireless is the only complaint that I have.
Yup, I used to have a split. I looked around and decided to get a Moonlander. Couldn't get used to it, felt overly awkward and terrible for my fairly small hands.
I'm building one now using the wonderful Cosmos Keyboard Configurator [0], from the same author of the older Dactyl generator [1].
There is a lot of hype on this thread about the Moonlander keyboard.
The hype is real.
The author has a neat hack, but seriously, just get yourself a split keyboard that supports the QMK firmware, customize the crap out of it, and your hands will thank you forever.
I recently switched from a standard layout to split by purchasing a Koolertron programmable keyboard.
Main reason I bought it vs the Moonlander:
- Cheaper
- On Amazon
- got it in <1 week vs the 5 for the Moonlander.
Overall, I would recommend it as an intermediary step if you are looking to test out a decent and easily purchasable/returnable split mechanical keyboard.
I built a split keyboard recently (Sofle) and it's made a huge positive impact for me. Having halves at shoulder width and full control over the layout with QMK is great, and it finally got me to learn to touch type. If you're considering a Moonlander or Ergodox, and you're handy with an iron, look into building one first.
It generally works out cheaper than prebuilt, but I did end up nickel and diming myself making arbitrary improvements. A good read if don't you want to get sucked into the ridiculous prices of custom keyboards like I did: https://golem.hu/guide/budget-builds/
There have been lots of good suggestions so far, but one thing you’ll want to consider before getting a split keyboard is whether you type “correctly”, because if you hit the Y key with your left hand, for instance, you’ll have to retrain yourself to use your right hand instead.
As for key switches, you’ll certainly want to try out any mechanical options in person before you buy to see if you like the feel and if you can handle the noise factor—my local Micro Center has a tester keyboard with a bunch of different kinds of Cherry MX switches to see which you like best.
Just a split or an ortholinear split? If you're just looking for a split keyboard there's options like the Kinesis Freestyle 2, the Matias Ergo Pro, the Mistel Barocco and other random little brands. If you want Ortholinear, thumb clusters, etc. then you pretty much are left with the Moonlander, Ergodox Ez, the upcoming Kinesis Advantage360 and building your own.
Also if you don't care about fully split keyboards then you get options like the Kinesis Advantage 2, MS ergo boards etc.
This is a great entry point to split ortholinear keyboards. Build quality is great, its well supported, and its very easy to set up and get using it. The moonlander they sell is also pretty good. I like the ergodox style thumb cluster better, but the moonlander is super portable, so that helps if you are moving around a lot.
When I converted to split ortholinear it took me about a month to get back to the same proficiency that I had with a standard keyboard, so if your looking to make the plunge make sure you set aside time to practice the new layout. I would set up two keyboards so I could switch back after a few hours and still be productive for the day while I was getting used to the new layout.
There's pretty active "ortholinear keyboard" community that has boards for basically any shape you really want. It's not a horrible way to get started with PCB design either. I have... too many keyboards now, most of which ortholinear. The most important thing for me being split, it helps immensely with wrist pain. I might find myself picking up a moonlander at some point here too, they look really nice and the high adjustability is pretty nice
I just received my Moonlander a couple days ago, after using an Ergodox Ez for a year. It's a joy to use. It's slim, has a good palm rest, can tent, and having the thumb cluster take an angle when tenting the keyboard is a killer feature, it makes it much easier to reach all keys of the cluster without strain.
Only downside is the palm rest is huge, so you need a fair amount of desk space to use it.
I agree this might be significantly better for some. The tenting is probably also better than the Freestyle Edge (which has only a couple settings).
If someone wants a first split keyboard though I think the Freestyle Edge is a much better starting point given the price difference and the fact that the non-letter/number keys don't have normal placements on the Moonlander.
Personally I tried the ErgoDox EZ and had to return it because it damaged my productivity since it doesn't support just using a normal keyboard layout. With a closer look this keyboard seems fundamentally the same actually so I wouldn't recommend considering to try it unless you use a keyboard all day long and even then be prepared to return it if it doesn't work out. The Freestyle Edge on the other hand is a sure bet.
I recently was gifted -- very, very generously! -- a Moonlander Mark I split, ortholinear keyboard [0] (made by the same company that previously made the Ergodox). It's genuinely fantastic, and I can't ever see myself going back to either a non-split or a non-ortholinear board as my desktop's input. It's a huge improvement ergonomically -- (0) no hunched shoulders, with the halves at shoulder width (1) the ortholinear layout results in much more natural-feeling finger motions and (2) the ability to "tent" the individual halves is also wonderful, for not having to twist your wrist out of its natural somewhat-diagonal position. Beyond that, the ability to easily modify up to 32 layers of functionality [1], with macros, really is astonishingly useful once set up to your personal workflow. If I were to lose it, I'd order a replacement immediately. Highly recommend, for anyone who can justify the board's price -- I'm normally fairly frugal, so the fact that I consider a $400 keyboard anything except an egregious waste of money really speaks to how much I like this device.
I highly recommend looking for a bowl-shaped keyboard as the second priority after split. Kinesis advantage is popular, and similarly priced to the keyboard.io. There are also maltrons, if you're willing to shell out a little extra dough. There was also a project to make a bowl-shaped split keyboard you could 3d-print at home. I can't remember the name.
I was also very excited about the moonrim, a project that portended to go a step further and change the hands' orientation, so they would face inward instead of down. Sadly, it ended up not taking off.
The Moonlander lets you angle the thumb cluster seprately, where the ergodox ez is a single flat plane.
For the bowl shape, you'd need to look at something like the Dactyl Manuform I mentioned.
Many split keyboards transfer keypresses from one side to the other via simple audio cables, I believe footpedals could be spliced in there too, but that's just speculation.
Let's say you want to get into split keyboards but are worried about the learning curve.
The best thing you can do to prepare is ensure you can touch type correctly. "Crossing", or typing a key with the wrong hand, just simply won't be possible anymore.
Once you can get that down, your keyboard will have shipped and you can start practicing the thumb cluster once it arrives.
Don't bother with the fancy stuff, like layers or custom layouts, until you've mastered the two fundamentals above.
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