+ 
+ 
+ I recently decided that I should have an actual place to use my + computer, other than in bed. I set up my desk with a big monitor and + an old $4 Acer membrane whos keys were way too heavy. It wasn't + working out. I decided I needed a new keyboard... why not one that + would last the rest of my life? +
++ The keyboard I landed on was the + Voyager from ZSA. It's split, + columnar, mechanical, customizable, and very high quality. Which I + would expect, considering it cost me $400, over $500 including tariffs + >:(. +
+ The first step of getting the keyboard was picking the switches. I chose + Pro Reds because they were the lightest option (definitely not because + they had "pro" in the name). I also decided to add some shocks as I + didn't know how loud the keyboard would be. After ordering it, I had to + wait 11 days for it to arrive. It arrived via UPS, which handled the + tariff (for an additional fee of about $20). First impressions were + great: it came in a clean, undamaged, professional-looking box. Included + were the following: ++ This is actually the first mechanical keyboard I've used, so I'm not + really sure what they're supposed to sound like... but it sounds + pretty damn good. The shocks slightly dampen some part of the noise, + but they also make the keys slightly less enjoyable to type on. + Because it's not all that loud in the first place, for now, I've + decided not to put them in. +
++ The sound varies by key, being higher toward the edges, but that + doesn't bother me while I'm typing. The sound also depends on the + surface the board is on and if the keyboard is raised. While you + should keep in mind that my microphone is pretty bad, this is a fairly + accurate representation of how it sounds when placed on wood. +
+ ++ Although the keycaps are slightly grainier than the caps on the laptop + keyboards I'm used to, I've actually started to appreciate that. As + for the chassis, I really don't think they could have done much + better. It's very smooth and pleasant to look at. The feet snap in + nice and easily, and the keyboard never slides, with or without them. +
++ The switches I chose, Kailh Choc Pro Reds, are linear, light, and + somewhat loud. I had doubts that I would like them, both because of + the lightness, and the absense of a tactile bump. After I started + using them, however, I don't want to go back to heavy switches. +
++ The lights range from a barely visible tint to almost too bright, and + you can change that whenever you want while using it! You can choose + any color for each key, but lighter and less saturated colors don't + show up very well and are tinted by the red (or other color) of the + switches. +
+
+ The Voyager comes with 4 cables:
++ The USB cables, which connect to the left half of the keyboard to + provide power and a connection, are super standard, unbranded, and + replaceable. Their shell is a plasticy, rubbery substance, but they + aren't sticky like some other cables I've used. I do wish they + included a medium-length cable or made the short cables a bit longer + because the only one that works for me in any situation is the long + one, which is way overkill (I only ever use a third of it). Others + might find the short cables work better if their computer's USB-C port + is on the left, but mine isn't. The USB C-to-A adapter is also + standard and unbranded. +
++ The TRRS cable, which looks like a + headphone jack, but with an extra contact, is also unbranded and normal-looking. + Although not as common or cheap as USB-C, TRRS cables are replaceable. + In fact, I'm considering getting a + coiled TRRS cable + so that I don't have to roll up the length I'm not using. The TRRS + connectors are at 90 degrees, a design choice I certainly agree with. +
++ ZSA's configuration and testing software, + Oryx, is incredible- + certainly one of the top reasons to get the keyboard. It's completely + web-based, meaning it works on any system that can run Chromium, even + Linux! The configurator is super easy to use and lets you flash the + firmware right there in your browser. +
++ The training part of Oryx is also very easy to use. I love that it + uses actual coherent excerpts from books, as opposed to the jumbled + garbage of, for example, Monkeytype. It's not perfect, though. I've + noticed 2 issues in my time using it: +
+
+ 
+ 
+ + There's a key on my laptop's keyboard that goes to "Launch2." I + couldn't find a way to add this key to my Voyager, so I asked ZSA + support. After a little less than 24 hours, they responded with this: +
++++ Hello Ted — thanks for asking! We don't have any keys that + correspond to the Launch2 keycode in Oryx. In the underlying + firmware, QMK, they do have keycode 157 as the "Prev" key, but we + don't surface that one. I do think that the higher F keys are + probably your best bet to re-bind that action to. +
++ I hope that helps to clarify, and please, let me know if any other + questions come up. I'll be here and glad to help. :) +
++ —
+
+ Nick Wilson,
+ Customer Service,
+ ZSA Technology Labs Inc. +
+ In my opinion, they did a really good job. They're friendly, honest, + and actually answered my question, as opposed to the watered-down + corpo speak you'd get from a bigger company. +
++ Additionally, I've contacted them about the two Oryx issues, and I was + told it's been passed off to the dev team. I'll update this page if I + get an update or it's fixed. +
++ Would I recommend you get the keyboard? Maybe. If you have experience + making keyboards or other electronics, and you have time to figure it + out, you should consider a cheaper, more DIY keyboard, such as the + Lily58. However, if you don't mind paying more, the Voyager is probably the + best keyboard, customer service for a keyboard, and software for a + keyboard there is. +
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+ 
+ 
All that running is tiring! After a long time outside, I'll go to my perch atop the couch and pant.
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