Hacker NewsSep 26, 2025

Thoughts on Mechanical Keyboards and the ZSA Moonlander

https://www.masteringemacs.org/article/thoughts-on-mechanical-keyboards-zsa-moonlander

#HackerNews #MechanicalKeyboards #ZSAMoonlander #TechTalk #Ergonomics #KeyboardEnthusiast

Thoughts on Mechanical Keyboards and the ZSA Moonlander

Mechanical keyboards, the nerd equivalent of obsessing over ferrule weights in golf clubs, are wildly popular, and for a good reason. I've owned and used a ZSA Moonlander for some years now, and here are my thoughts on it and why I think you should literally buy any mechanical keyboard you can get your hands on with programmable firmware. Your fingers will thank you.

Mastering Emacs
SNeelaApr 19, 2025

I bought a #zsamoonlander a few months ago because my left wrist hurt began to hurt. I have an asymmetric tilt set up between the two halves. Does anyone else do something similar?

https://snee.la/posts/moonlander/

There's a #plushtodon photo :D

The ZSA Moonlander: My new split keyboard

Backstory My left wrist & forearm has been hurting quite a bit. Alarmingly so. I haven’t visited the doctor to determine the exact issue, but it’s a pretty obvious sign that the pain starts after some typing — something something correlation and causation. My office’s 100% Cherry Stream keyboard doesn’t cause me much pain; although by the end of the day, it leaves me feeling… slightly sore? However, the pain becomes more pronounced when I used my laptop’s keyboard, particularly at home.

Show threadMark CrockerMar 13, 2025

@ieure Now that sounds interesting. I'm disappointed in the Kalih browns I got with the #ZSAMoonlander that I use a work.

So I _would_ change the Zeal 3-in-1 Clickiez switches to silent tactile for my office work use-case, but if the clicky configuration is as good as you suggest, I might consider a second set for home use, where my Cherry blues are not exactly impressing, especially compared to my IBM model M... assuming compatibility.

Thanks for the tip, I might check them out.

Show threadMark CrockerJan 25, 2025

@awoodsnet I got Cherry MX Blue switches on my second #ZsaMoonlander (See https://indieweb.social/@mcrocker/113830573317423245 ) for home use, where clicky keys won't bother anyone 😉

Like you, I found these took more force than I expected. I was hoping that they would be more like my IBM model M #MechanicalKeyboard that they were modeled after. However, they're better than the Kailh Brown and definitely better than Outemu Blues that I had on a Redragon Vata keyboard. No false positives with these either 🌞

Mark Crocker (@[email protected])

@[email protected] I _just_ doubled down on a second #ZSAMoonlander https://www.zsa.io/moonlander (an ergonomic, split, columnar, tent-able, RGB, #MechanicalKeyboard). After trudging through the snow and ice with thick gloves on and carrying that keyboard to and from work, I figured that it didn't matter if I still hadn't learned it well enough to be as fast as I was before, because it would be cheaper to buy a second one for home, than if I fell on my ass and broke something (keyboard or bones). 😉

Indieweb.Social
Show threadMark CrockerJan 25, 2025

@awoodsnet On my first #ZsaMoonlander I got Kailh box brown switches for use at work. They are the least tactile switches I have ever used that claim to be tactile. There's no obvious bump, unless you count the stickiness at the very top of the travel. I would sum them up as muddy.

https://keebworks.com/kailh-box-brown/ confirms my experience.

Despite that, they are still better for typing than Otemu brown switches because I _never_ get any false positive key presses.

1/2

Kailh BOX Brown – KeebWorks

Mark CrockerJan 15, 2025

I have reached peak awkwardness with my #ZSAMoonlander https://www.zsa.io/moonlander #MechanicalKeyboard.

Before Christmas I told people I was about 70% of my typing speed on my previous 104 key QWERTY Mechanical keyboard (Redragon Vata with Outemu browns). Then, I Forgot the Moonlander at home and discovered, it was more like 50%.

I Forgot again the other day and found, I'm slower on the old keyboard too, because I have to pause and search for key combos like Alt-Home, Ctrl-Sft-Right etc.. 🤦‍♂️

ZSA Moonlander: Next-gen Ergonomics

An open-source keyboard for serious developers, creative professionals, and people who care deeply about their craft.

Mark CrockerJan 15, 2025

@jalefkowit I _just_ doubled down on a second #ZSAMoonlander https://www.zsa.io/moonlander (an ergonomic, split, columnar, tent-able, RGB, #MechanicalKeyboard).

After trudging through the snow and ice with thick gloves on and carrying that keyboard to and from work, I figured that it didn't matter if I still hadn't learned it well enough to be as fast as I was before, because it would be cheaper to buy a second one for home, than if I fell on my ass and broke something (keyboard or bones). 😉

ZSA Moonlander: Next-gen Ergonomics

An open-source keyboard for serious developers, creative professionals, and people who care deeply about their craft.

gozesDec 21, 2024

Odd question for anyone that owns a #zsa #moonlander or a #voyager #keyboard . Can you set keys to send midi messages so you can have a layer that works as a midi controller pad by sending all kinds of midi messages? I know qmk has support for this but wander if zsa keyboards does too. I would much rather get one of there keyboards then try to hack something together on one of my qkm based keyboards

#zsamoonlander #zsavoyager #mechanicalkeyboard

Mark CrockerDec 8, 2024

I am disappointed with the Kailh box brown switches on my #ZSAMoonlander #SplitMechanicalKeyboard because they don't feel very tactile.

This review, https://keebworks.com/kailh-box-brown/ , would have told me that they have a very small "bump" right up near the top of the range of travel.

The Outemu browns, from my re-entry to the #MechanicalKeyboard world experiment, feel much more like my IBM model M, but sometimes register key presses before the bump.

Kailh's never give me false positive key presses.

Kailh BOX Brown – KeebWorks

Show threadsamurroDec 6, 2024
@waxbanks okay ill print the PDFs thanks for the feedback. It is not the first time I read about the thumb buttons being a bit far on the #zsamoonlander. I also have not the biggest hands for sure. Also I wasn't planing on getting that metal tenting kit, which is another 100 bucks at least... but yea. Does such a kit not exist for the voyager?