System76's Launch Configurable Keyboard Is Now Available for Pre-Order

System76 informs 9to5Linux today about the availability for pre-order of their “Launch” configurable mechanical keyboard, which I bet some of you out there have expected for a while now.

Promising a comfortable, fully customizable, and more efficient workflow, the Launch keyboard features an aluminum chassis with rubber feet for stability and a detachable lift bar to adjust it at a 15 degrees angle. It features a high-speed USB hub with two USB-C and USB-A ports that offer up to 10 Gbps transfers.

Since it’s a configurable keyboard, Launch comes with additional keycaps and a convenient keycap puller so you can easily swap keys to match your personal workflow, a novel split Space Bar that can be swapped with a Shift, Backspace, or Function key to reduce hand fatigue while typing, as well as only three keycap sizes to vastly expand configuration options.

You can also choose between Royal or Jade switches if you want a muted clack or an addictive click. Both options are great for hours of typing without fatigue and they also offer excellent tactile feel. Moreover, you choose between various light patterns and a large RGB color spectrum.

But that’s not all, the keyboard’s layout is also fully customizable through System76’s Keyboard Configurator app that runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows systems. Changes are saved internally so you can use them on any computer where you connect the Launch keyboard. On top of that, you can access additional layers via the Function keys.

If you own a Thelio Desktop computer, you can configure the Launch keyboard to fully match its design with a set of red, blue, or brown keycaps. Under the hood, there’s a custom printed circuit board and fully Open Source hardware, firmware, and configurator. Of course, Launch works best with System76’s Pop!_OS Linux distro.

“Firmware updates can only be initiated by the user, and are available through Pop!_OS firmware settings and LVFS,” said System76. “When firmware is updated, the keyboard LEDs will flash U-N-L-O-C-K-E-D, notifying the user that the firmware is being changed.”

If you want to buy one, you can pre-order it right now from System76’s online store. The Launch keyboard will retail at $285 USD and shipments will start early next month. Without further ado, here’s System76’s Launch keyboard in action!