Unscientifically, I would say they are quieter. To my mind they require less activation force and thus are much "faster" to type on; I bottom out less. YMMV, but I will say from real-world use they are still pretty loud when you're in a meeting room capturing notes and transcribing. I'm planning to order the new Sunrise and Twilight switches when they become available as my Voyager is a joy to type on and very travel-friendly.
I admit that is news to me, but that sounds (pun) amazing. This is my first board with hotswap, so I am game to try all sorts.
Sunset Switches are Butter
I received my Sunsets from lowprokb.ca last night and managed to install them in my ZSA Voyager today.
First impressions... these switches are LOVELY to type on. The original browns I ordered with my Voyager felt heavy, and tiring after longer sessions - not to knock on Browns, everyone has a different experience... but I am very happy with my purchase.
Love my new Voyager
I absolutely love my new Voyager. This is my first ZSA board and between the awesome staff, polished configuration of Oryx and the superb build quality of the board, I have zero regrets about my purchase.
I have fallen down the layout configuration spiral changing things to suit my needs and comfort - adding home row mods (which are totally game changing for me) and adjusting timings to deal with roll as well as combinations that make my working life easier, I can report that I feel pretty darn productive.
This board is also my first choc and hot-swap... I bought some Sunsets this morning from lowprokb.ca - I'm excited to see what a lighter switch does for me.
Just excited to share my experience with community.
It's been a minute since I first create this post, but I want to provide an update. I have purchased a ZSA Voyager, and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival.
What finally made me commit was Ben Vallack's live stream about the Voyager. Thanks Ben!
My first interactions with ZSA staff have been amazing. I found this yesterday on their blog, https://blog.zsa.io/voyager-shifted-layout/ and I think it could really be a game changer for me personally.
I'll create a new post when it arrives and I've had a chance to take it for a drive.
I appreciate the feedback and the advice. Yeah, I am a fan of all the keyboards. :) I think I might take a chance on a DIY kit in a 34 or 36 key configuration and build it myself. Can't learn if I don't try.
I was thinking prebuilt. Not 100% confident I could solder a board without mucking it up - I'm impressed by folks who can. How do you do it?
Travel Ergo Advice
Hello all:
I am in need of some advice. I am a consultant for a living and spend my days writing reports. When I am at home, I am using an Advantage 360 Pro which I absolutely love; when I travel to meet with clients though, I use my corporate Mac... which has less than stellar ergonomics.
The 360 is too big and bulky for me to travel with (I know some do), but I use forearm crutches and need to carry everything in a backpack. Weight and overall size are an important consideration.
I was looking at the Glove80, and the Corne-ish Zen but then I saw the new ZSA Voyager...
I also thought about something like a Skeletyl, huge fan of the Dactyls - and the work over at BastardKB; I love minimalist layouts but I also live in Canada; the 360 with exchange and duty when I ordered in on Drop cost me ~$750CDN.
I wish keyboards were more affordable but hey...
Thoughts?
I will say I have it on my radar to build a Ferris Sweep with ZMK and hotswap Choc sockets; between watching Ben Vallack's excellent videos (thanks Ben!) and watching, "34 Keys is All You Need" - introduced me to the idea of using the Sweep with the Miryoku layout. As someone who spends all day either conducting workshops, interviewing clients where we type a mountain of notes, or turning those interviews and workshops into reports that extend into the multi-dozens of pages it appeals to me as seriously efficient and very travel friendly. Anyone have experience with said combo?
Anyone else find it hard to go back to not split keyboards?
I had an interesting experience the other day. I have been using split keyboards for years, but only recently began using a Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro as my daily driver for work; I am so use to the layout now, that in instances where I have to use a non-split, or even my older splits, my fingers fail me entirely - like my brain forgot how to type, my thumbs eagerly searching for the thumb cluster that isn't there.