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Prebuilt mechanical keyboards often neglect Linux support. Users often study occurrence successful getting a mechanical keyboard's basal functions to work, but galore of these peripherals don't accommodate bundle for controlling precocious features, similar macros, with Linux. Since past year, System76's Launch keyboard has been trying to code that problem. But fig crunchers volition beryllium overmuch much funny successful the caller Launch Heavy.
Released this week, the Launch Heavy is simply a numpad-equipped mentation of the 84-key Launch. As elaborate successful our System76 Launch review, the keyboard is 1 of the astir customizable Linux-focused mechanical keyboards 1 tin find. However, an absent numpad made the Launch an contiguous 'no' for many. Now, the recently released Launch Heavy is addressing many, but not all, of its smaller counterpart's shortcomings.
Enlarge / The full-size Launch Heavy makes up for immoderate of the Launch's (pictured) shortcomings.
Scharon Harding
As you tin see, the Launch Heavy's 105 keys aren't a accepted layout. System76 had its mode with the keys to the near of the numpad, getting escaped of immoderate completely. But compared to the Launch, the Launch Heavy adds keys supra the numpad for media control. Unfortunately, determination are inactive nary buttons for controlling the measurement retired of the box.
System76 was gracious capable to update the mechanical switches offered with its keyboards since we reviewed the Launch successful March. In summation to the supremely stiff clicky Kailh Box Jades and tactile Box Royals (each necessitate 75 grams of unit to actuate), you tin get the Launch Heavy and the remainder of the lineup with quieter, tactile Kailh Box Silent Browns (50 g) oregon lighter, linear Silent Pinks (35 g).
You don't person to instrumentality with immoderate of those, though, since the keyboard's switches are easy removable sans soldering iron. But for $300, you'll astir apt privation to commencement disconnected with switches you're blessed to usage close away.
Oh, did we hide to notation the Launch Heavy's price? It's lone $14 much than the smaller Launch but inactive a monolithic inquire for a keyboard. Many volition similar 1 of the best wireless mechanical keyboards, thing with measurement keys, oregon gathering their ain mechanical keyboard for that terms scope instead.
Still, the Launch Heavy (2.8 lbs, to beryllium exact) has immoderate standout features for those consenting to walk the money.
System76's Launch mechanical keyboards, which besides see the 70-key Launch Lite, correspond immoderate of the fewer mechanical keyboards that assertion Linux enactment (they enactment with Windows and macOS, too). The vendor pushes its Pop!_OS Linux organisation by having the Launch Heavy enactment keyboard shortcuts wrong it, specified arsenic organizing tiled windows without a rodent oregon opening apps.
The Launch bid is besides an admirably tinker-friendly one, from its unfastened source, QMK-based bundle for programming its keys and unfastened root chassis and PCB to the hot-swappable switches, which see 2 for the divided spacebar. Perhaps the series' handiest diagnostic is the hub connected the apical of the keyboard's borderline with four progressively omitted USB-A ports.
While the Launch Heavy's terms is inactive overwhelming, there's capable present for it to beryllium a unsocial information for fig crunchers, particularly Linux users, seeking a customizable mechanical keyboard.
