System76 also makes the keyboard Open Source
We already knew System76 wanted its first keyboard was highly configurable and tightly integrated with Pop! _OS features such as Auto-Tiling. Last year, the company also said it wants to reimagine the basic keyboard layout to make common keys easier to reach, reducing wasted space by the space bar and more. The public Git repository showed that the keyboard should feature an open source PCB, chassis and firmware, interchangeable keys and switches, and an integrated dock with dual USB-C and USB-A connectors.
System76 said that the frame would be constructed of milled aluminum and Phoronix reported that it would be manufactured in Denver, Colorado. The company also stated that "each hole is designed and machined with precision so that replacing the keycaps and connecting cables is easy and safe for the user". The company said the product will come with additional keycaps for added customization and support for a utility called System76 Keyboard Configurator designed to offer easy button remapping. The ability to remap specific keys could prove to be critical because System76 has made radical changes to the standard keyboard layout, as shown by the following diagram:
The company said it plans to offer extra buttons, a key puller, and a switch puller with each unit. The PCB will presumably accept "any MX compatible RGB switch", such as Cherry MX RGB or Kailh BOX switches, which should make it easy for mechanical switch enthusiasts to use their preferred gear. Like many gaming keyboards, System76 said the keyboard will also offer independent RGB lighting for each key, support for n-key rollover, as well as a removable bar that "can be magnetically attached to add a 15 ° angle for a greater ergonomics ". At the moment, however, two fundamental information are still missing: the launch date and the price. Currently we just have to wait for an official communication.
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