This is lovely and kind of tempting but, like every keyboard-nerd keyboard, it's made by and for someone who wants the smallest possible number of keys in front of them and a bunch of toggleable modes.

I want more keys. I want my dedicated f-keys back so that when I launch an action in Illustrator I don't have to hold down the fn key, along with whatever other modifier key I may be using to distinguish between a couple other action assigned to that key. I have turned my capslock into command-alt-shift and that helps a lot, I want additional meta keys that I can use for command-shift and command-alt while still having the existing meta keys, not less - this has nine unmarked keys in the default layout, and two of those are probably slated for becoming space and return; my Mac has exactly the same number of meta keys if I count capslock, and dedicated space/return buttons.

Their Moonlander's much more sensible, with a baker's dozen of meta keys around each half's keyboard block. Hitting a little one-handed chord almost seems reasonable, compared to all the one-handed stretches I've got in my daily art routine. I'd be super-tempted by this or an Ergodox EZ if they were putting them on sale because they are no longer the new hotness, they might actually see integration into my workflow, but there's absolutely no price difference.

Maybe I'll just get baked and spend an hour futzing with this idea I just had to make the f-keys of my Mac's keyboard accessible by having Karabiner translate a chord of (fkey)+(the key to its left) into (fkey). I already have the baked part. And that works on my existing laptop keyboard as well as the 90%-identical Apple wireless board on my desk...

EDIT:

I did indeed spend an hour swearing at Karabiner's config file and make f(n)+f(-1) into f(n) and it is wonderful, and I am going to make a fn+f(n)=(nothing) rule to train myself to use it. Thanks for the inspiration, keyboard with too few bucky bits!

I have quite a few of these sorts of keyboards, including the Ergodox EZ. I think for generalist usage they can be adapted to pretty easily, but as a developer, the lack of dedicated keys for [, ] and ' is an insurmountable obstacle for me.

Those keys are in my opinion perfectly placed on regular keyboards and no amount of layering, tap dancing or anything else will ever come close. Please somebody just make a split ergo keyboard where the right side has extra keys for regular programming symbols on the top layer. The two halves do not need to be symmetrical.

Only two thumb keys seems like it could be a pain. I don't love trying to figure out the timing delays for tap vs hold. After a long search I settled on the Hillside 46 [1][2] which has 4 thumb keys and a splayed layout. Also choc spacing, as I didn't love the gaps between choc keycaps with mx spacing. Not sure why, as the macbook pro keyboard doesn't seem to give me any problems.

I like the all the case options and mods available to the ZSA keyboards. The biggest problem with building your own I feel is the cost of getting a nice, solid feeling case.

[1] https://github.com/mmccoyd/hillside/tree/main/hillside46 [2] https://i.imgur.com/i0VkWG1.jpeg

I get mild carpal tunnel symptoms when working straight on my Macbook, so I bought a Kinesis Freestyle Pro. The split and tenting are great and do the trick for my wrists but it's got a different layout than the MacBook. And a lot more keys than I need. It's large and a hassle to pack up and take with me.

Why does no one build a split keyboard that has the exact same layout as a MacBook? I feel like that would be my holy grail. I don't even care about mechanical switches (I know, blasphemy!)

The layout is eerily similar to one I designed last year [1]. I may be biased, but I'm not sure if it is worth the $365 price point. That being said, it is a bit more refined and has some nice accessories bundled.

I may pick one up for comparison. But, just noting that there is a comparable open source design available. ;)

[1] https://github.com/eggsworks/egg58

My wife isn't going to be happy about this...

I have an ErgoDox EZ at home, and a Moonlander for work. I absolutely love these keyboards. They have played a significant role in reducing pain I experience from arthritis.

Oh gosh this needs a wireless option!

(And yes, I see https://www.zsa.io/wireless/)

One of my co-workers was mentioning earlier that he wanted "keyboard pants." This caught my eye because he probably would like hanging it from his belt.

But... There's a wire!

It might be less effort on the vendor's part to source out a simple "wireless USB adaptor" that they can sell as an add-on instead of writing a long-winded "you're wrong" page for people who want wireless.

That's very expensive!

I would recommend buying a Dilemma instead: https://bastardkb.com/product/dilemma/

or building one of the hundreds of DIY open source keyboards e.g.:

- https://github.com/mmccoyd/hillside (46-56 keys)

- https://github.com/GEIGEIGEIST/TOTEM (38 keys)

If anyone from ZSA is here, please make wireless keyboards.

I’m rocking an Ergodox for the past few years. It’s worth every penny, but I cannot carry it around with all the cables.

I am happy zsa/ergodox ez user for many years and was waiting for something like this from zsa, since moonlander wasn't for my hands. My current ergodox layout doesn't use keys that are removed on voyager, so everything plays perfectly. I can vouch for the zsa product quality, since my ergodox didn't hiccup for many years with lots of typing.

It is hard to explain to people who never tried qmk layers that more keys doesn't mean better keyboard, having proper layers on home row is many times more ergonomic. One of the things that don't click unless you try I guess.

I own zsa moonlander (my primary keyboard at home), ergodox ez, dactyl manuform (slightly modified, use at work) and drop preonic.

I won't buy this keyboard. It doesn't have anything attractive to me. 2 thumb keys are not enough. It is wired. It is flat. If I wanted something like that, I'd buy some variant of corne, and it would be more suited for my needs and cheaper.

It still has qmk, and ZSA's configurator is the best that is there, but the same rehashed idea is of a keyboard is not what I wanted. I really hoped for dactyl-like wireless. But I guess that ZSA is too tied to qmk now, and qmk has issues with wireless.

What's with the gradient/rainbow led trend? Is it just me that don't have the necessary cultural references to find it appealing?

To me I immediately associate it with an unprofessional, cheap look.

Finally. My love of the sweep has proven to be correct, two thumb keys is the way. I am using a ZMK powered Urchin, a sweep variant, as my only daily use keyboard, 34 keys of love.

I'm a bit disappointed by the new offering and the retirement of the Planck EZ.

I fully understand the decisions that were made, and while ZSA's keyboards are phenomenal, there is no way I'd buy one at a 404€ price point (including French VAT, excluding customs costs which would bump it to around 450€). The Planck EZ was great because its price point made it justifiable, mine coming around at ~320€ including VAT and customs, which is the max amount of money I'd be willing to spend.

I don't think we'll ever see something like the Planck EZ again (as in a very compact and more affordable option) since the Voyager is the new "laptop solution", and that honestly sucks.

(Side note for anyone pedant enough to care: these customs costs are both actual customs import taxes and the fee taken by the courier for customs processes)

I'd love a Moonlander with a low profile like this. I have zero interest in having less keys.

It looks all right, but the tiny thumb clusters kills it for me. I think Keyboardio really nailed the layout, to the point that pretty much all other similar keyboard designs are DOA for me.

Please also consider Ferris Sweep: https://github.com/davidphilipbarr/Sweep

Surprised Dygma hasn't been mentioned yet.

https://dygma.com/pages/defy

Equally as expensive, but really good, team is very responsive and involved with the community, and their customization software is getting better and better.

Also wireless option.

The idea of the magnetic accessories for a steel case seems interesting.

I've seen some split keyboards have a tripod mount option. But, otherwise, I've not seen ideas for sharing 'accessories' across multiple split keyboard designs.

I'm really tempted by this for travel. My Moonlander setup is annoying to pack up, but I’d love to take my layers on the road

At this price(360), I may want to try glove80.

Anything that someone on the 3rd world can get? Also the price is steep.

Anyone that can speak of low-profile pros/cons vs normal profile?

Can anyone identify the laptop stand in the promo video at 0:30?

Mounting a wired keyboard never seemed practical to me.

i really like the idea of these and this brand is customizable but i cant bring myself to spend 350$+ USD on a keyboard

Honestly looks terrible. I'll keep my Glove80.

https://www.moergo.com