anaumann
That’s the best thumb cluster on a DIY board I’ve seen so far
I have a Moonlander, and while I like it I consider switching to the upcoming Dygma Defy since I like the thumb cluster more, it has a bit more column stagger (which my short pinky Finger appreciates) as well as built-in tenting and wireless options.
That said, the Moonlander is a solid choice and ZSA did a good job with their online configurator (Oryx) and the decision to choose QMK as the firmware (popular open source keyboard firmware)
I can switch between split and traditional row staggered (if the row staggered board is not a mechanical keyboard. Apparently my muscle memory for row staggered mechanical keyboards is messed up)
But I don’t like to use a „normal“ keyboard. Everything feels far apart and only reachable by weird hand motions. I got used to having everything in reach thanks to layers
I find the Moonlander thumb cluster not that easy to reach. I have medium/large hands but relatively inflexible thumbs and use only 2 of the thumb keys. (And one of the bottom row keys as a third thumb key. If you do it that way it is probably not much different than the Iris). Personally, I would like the thumb cluster to be closer to the other keys and/or splayed.
The Hummingbird is a Unibody keyboard with a layout like you described
At first it was pretty hard, but I found that it became easier once I built up muscle memory for my Colemak-DH column stagger split keyboard. Suddenly switching between the split and my MacBook keyboard started working again.
I‘m typing with 50WPM on a Moonlander with Colemak-DH Layout and still can type on a QWERTY MacBook keyboard with my usual 70-80WPM
During the initial leaning phase, switching is hard. From my experience it’ll be easier once you are able to type subconsciously on the Moonlander as well.
Speaking from personal experience here, your mileage may vary.
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