Introduction

System76 is, at its core, a set of engineers and self-professed nerds based out of Colorado in the USA. The company prides itself on being independent from proprietary hardware, software and firmware, explaining the name that takes cues from the US Independence year of 1776. System76 is widely known in the Linux community for open-source computers and firmware, including its own operating system, a Linux Distribution called Pop!_OS, specifically designed with STEM professionals and content creators in mind. This open source philosophy has extended to the system integrator's peripherals too, with the launch of new keyboards titled, well, Launch!


At the time of this review, System76 offers two keyboards, both the Launch, and the newer Launch Lite. We are taking a look at the larger 75% form factor Launch in this review, but effectively you also get a good impression regarding the 65% Launch Lite as well, since they share design language. The Launch is fully designed and manufactured in Colorado and this applies also to the keyboard's open source firmware and hardware, whereby the company not only is happy with you customizing the keyboard as you desire, but encourages it. We also see some tweaks to contrast the Launch from other typical 75% keyboards, including a split space bar, indented rows towards the bottom, and even a large top bezel allowing for good I/O options too. There's clearly a lot to go over here, so let's begin this review by thanking System76 for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

The product box for the System76 Launch is on the larger side of average, employing thick cardboard all around. I appreciate the blue design, a prominent frontal product name with the company name below, it's otherwise minimalist, although I thought perhaps there was going to be something in the box outlined on the back. System76 uses a two-piece box with the lid lifting off to reveal the contents inside.


Open the box to see a matching color quick start guide going through initial setup, reminding you to take advantage of this keyboards configurability. There is a thick foam sheet above the keyboard, with more foam all around for further protection during transit. Removing the keyboard, and this foam layer itself, also reveals why the box was thicker than usual, owing to a whole second layer underneath that hosts the various accessories in separate compartments cut into another thick foam sheet. Pretty nice and functional unboxing experience here!


System76 provides here a magnetic "lift bar" that is effectively a single-piece keyboard foot which clips onto the back of the keyboard. This has a cutout on the inner side and rubber pads on the outside to add friction against the resting surface in use. I also appreciate the combo metal wire keycap puller and switch remover tool here which hints towards the use of hot-swappable switches on the Launch. Surprising also, and in a pleasant manner, is the provision of two separate cables going from USB Type-C on one end and either Type-C or full-size Type-A on the other. These are also superspeed rated USB cables too, not just your usual cheapo cables thrown in with pretty much every other keyboard on the market. Rounding off the unboxing experience is a set of replacement keycaps in three colors, these are all composed of thick PBT plastic (average wall thickness 1.4 mm) with dye-sublimed legends to make for opaque, colorful keycaps.