I just got a ZSA Moonlander and I’ve been… on an adventure with it. Turns out my typing technique was total garbage so I’ve had to essentially start re-learning how to touch type. That, plus the ortho layout, plus the other ways my layout is now changed (special chars) has made the learning curve feel steep.

Going through all this has made me wonder some things about the long-term, and so I was hoping to lean on folks with more experience for some answers.

  1. Does learning to touch type on ortho (or a new layout w/ thumb clusters and such) mess with your ability to touch type on normal staggered boards? I still use my laptop when I travel and there is no shot I’ll be lugging around an ergo board.

  2. Is it worth going crazy with it and trying to learn workman or colemak at the same time? On some level I feel like it might not be that much harder, since it feels like I’m re-learning to touch type anyway.

  3. Would it be better to start with a keyboard that’s just split, but otherwise the same (Instead of ortho and alternative layout etc)? And maybe later move on to a crazier layout?

  • @[email protected]English
    3•1 year ago
    1. It hasn’t affected my ability to use a normal keyboard. Using my laptop to type occasionally probably helps with this.
    2. Can’t help you, I stuck with QWERTY
    3. My favorite feature of my ergo keyboard is the fact that it is split, so I could see the appeal of a split but otherwise normal keyboard. But, I would recommend sticking with the Moonlander. It took me 2 weeks until I was comfortable typing after I switched. Not fast mind you, just comfortable. Then maybe another month until I didn’t have to look down for special keys. Definitely a time investment, but worth it in my opinion.