moonlander first impressions (#245)

* moonlander first impressions

* hands

blog/zsa-moonlander-first-impressions-2020-10-27.markdown

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+---
+title: ZSA Moonlander First Impressions
+date: 2020-10-27
+series: keeb
+tags:
+ - moonlander
+ - keyboard
+---
+
+# ZSA Moonlander First Impressions
+
+As I mentioned
+[before](https://christine.website/blog/colemak-layout-2020-08-15), I ordered a
+[ZSA Moonlander](https://zsa.io/moonlander) and it has finally arrived. I am
+writing this post from my Moonlander, and as such I may do a few more typos
+than normal, I'm still getting used to this.
+
+![a picture of the keyboard on my
+desk](https://cdn.christine.website/file/christine-static/img/keeb/ElVbBm_XUAcVhOg.jpg)
+
+The Moonlander is a weird keyboard. I knew that it would be odd from the get-go
+(split ergonomic keyboards have this reputation for a reason), but I was
+surprised at how natural it feels. Setup was a breeze (unbox, plug it in, flash
+firmware, type), and I have been experimenting with tenting angles on my desk.
+It is a _very_ solid keyboard with basically zero deck flex.
+
+I have a [fairly complicated
+keymap](https://tulpa.dev/cadey/kadis-layouts/src/branch/master/moonlander) that
+worked almost entirely on the first try. Here is a more user friendly
+visualization of my keymap (sans fun things like leader macros):
+
+<div style="padding-top: 60%; position: relative;">
+	<iframe src="https://configure.ergodox-ez.com/embed/moonlander/layouts/xbJXx/latest/0" style="border: 0; height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%"></iframe>
+</div>
+
+My typing speed has been destroyed by the change to this ortholinear layout.
+Before I was getting around 70 words per minute at best (according to
+[monkeytype.com](https://monkeytype.com/)), but now I am lucky to hit about 35
+words per minute. My fingers kinda reach for where keys are on a staggered
+keyboard and I have the most trouble with `x`, `v`, `.` and `b` at the moment. I
+really like having a dedicated : key on my right hand. It makes command mode (and
+yaml) so much easier. The larger red buttons are a bit odd to hit at the moment,
+but I imagine that will get much easier with time.
+
+Each key has a programmable RGB light under it. This allows you to get some
+really nice effects like this:
+
+![The left hand of my steno
+layout](https://cdn.christine.website/file/christine-static/img/keeb/ElTG7QSW0AEqXeE.jpg)
+
+However brown colors don't come out as well as I'd hoped:
+
+![My media layer that mostly has brown lighting, this looks a bit better in the
+dark](https://cdn.christine.website/file/christine-static/img/keeb/ElVdFKoX0AE_dAA.jpg)
+
+I am not sure how I feel about the armrests. On one hand they feel a bit cold
+(context: it is currently 1.57 degrees outside and I'm wearing a hoodie at my
+desk so that may end up being the cause of this), but on the other hand i really
+hate typing on this without them. The tenting is nice, I need to play with it
+more but the included instructions help a lot.
+
+I still have a long way to go. I'll write up a longer and more detailed review
+in a few weeks.
+
+Expect to see many more glory shots on
+[Twitter](https://twitter.com/theprincessxena)!
+
+As an added bonus, here is the `if err != nil` key in action:
+
+<video controls width="100%">
+    <source src="https://cdn.christine.website/file/christine-static/img/keeb/tmp.ZdCemPUcnd.webm"
+            type="video/webm">
+    <source src="https://cdn.christine.website/file/christine-static/img/keeb/tmp.ZdCemPUcnd.mp4"
+            type="video/mp4">
+    Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos.
+</video>