I’m a complete novice to mech and ergo so I apologize in advance for any sins lol
The 3 I checked are Kinesis 360 (https://kinesis-ergo.com/keyboards/advantage360/), Glove80 (https://www.moergo.com/collections/glove80-keyboards) and the Moonlander (https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/).
These below are what I got from watching reviews:
- Kinesis is difficult to customize and sometimes has connectivity issues
- Glove80 feels cheap
- Moonlander doesn’t have many keys and thumb cluster is on odd position
Considering the prices, the moonlander is about US$100 cheaper than the others, so feels like a better option.
I am interested in options with keywell, as they feel way more comfortable, but anything will be better since I use an conventional non-split keyboard.
The right menu links to a compare tool but there are so many.
My hands are small, so it may constrain the options I have. Or maybe not.
What are your opinions/suggestions/experience with these types of keyboards?
I haven’t used either of those 3, but I have used a few dactyl manuforms, and an ergodox before that.
For a mech beginner the Moonlanders web customization menu is fantastic. It’s pretty polished and has a lot of the features that you would want or need at an entry level mech user.
If you have experience with soldering you could investigate hardwiring a 3D printed Dactyl. My personal favorite iteration is the Carbonfette version due to theodded thumb cluster.
Personally I use a skeletal, tented manufom: Threaded Dactyl Flex
The Dactyls look interesting, keywell, tenting. I’ll take a look at them!
I can solder but it doesn’t mean it turns out good lol
Your soldering skills only need to be middling to be able to pull off a dactyl manuform. In fact the first time I ever picked up a soldering iron was to build one. Just take your time and you should be fine.
That looks amazing, do you have the stl files? Any pain points during the print or wiring? I’d like to build one and I was wondering if you had any advice
I’ve loaded them on Printables.
I’ve since modded it to work with my Norne Project since that upload. But I wasn’t overly happy with the outcome so I haven’t bothered uploading that mod. Currently the dactyl halves are mounted on the tripod ball mount rings from that album. Will get some better pictures when I get home. Would be an interesting post to add here I’d guess.
Wiring it gets a bit iffy when moving into the thumb cluster. You have to have a good deal of wire to get the rows and columns there in order to not pull it loose when repositioning.
You will likely need electrical tape or shrink wrapping on the exposed wiring or resistors so that they don’t short out against the wiring from the main boards.