Rec for portable alternative to ZSA Moonlander (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by Copernican@lemmy.world to c/ergomechkeyboards@lemmy.world

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

My first ergo mech keyboard was a ZSA Moonlander which I got a little over a year ago. I love it. However, I am now being asked to come into the office more often and am looking at getting something similar, but more portable.

I was looking at the ZSA Voyager since the split keeb, low profile form factor, and columnar layout seem to check a lot of boxes, but I can't tell if I can go cut out that many keys/rows. Mostly concerned about losing the bottom row where I often hit CTRL, and losing out on the 3 thumbcluster buttons I always use.

Questions I have are:

Is it easy to switch from keyboard layouts that have dedicated ctrl keys, vs long pressing?
If this is used for an office setup where the keyboard is going to basically be straddling my laptop keyboard, do folks often just dance between the split keyboard to the laptop keyboard for those extra keys or muscle memory chords?
Are there low profile split type keyboards I should be considering?
If I like U4Ts, what type of switches should I be looking at for low profile tactiles but not too thocky and loud?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] wjrii@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Are there low profile split type keyboards I should be considering?

A Moonlander is an evolution of the ergodox layout, and I don't think you'd have too much trouble switching between. Slicemk.com has some wireless low-pro versions, but I can't personally vouch for any particular vendor. There have been other variations, like the ReDox, that try to bring the thumb cluster in closer.

If I like U4Ts, what type of switches should I be looking at for low profile tactiles but not too thocky and loud?

In my experience, keycaps and plate make more of a difference when it comes to sheer amount of sound.

this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2024

17 points (94.7% liked)

ErgoMechKeyboards

5686 readers

1 users here now

Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

Rules

Keep it ergo

Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)

i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²

¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

No Spam

No excessive posting/"shilling" for commercial purposes. Vendors are permitted to promote their products/services but keep it to a minimum and use the [vendor] flair. Posts that appear to be marketing without being transparent about it will be removed.

No Buy/Sell/Trade

This subreddit is not a marketplace, please post on r/mechmarket or other relevant marketplace.

Some useful links

EMK wiki
Split keyboard compare tool
Compare keycap profiles Looking for another set of keycaps - check this site to compare the different keycap profiles https://www.keycaps.info/
Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS