A Geek Goes Flying

Assembled laptop table with 11" Air, K6, M535 Never could quite get the Foldable Laptop Desk to balance properly on my sofa, and it kept things in too close to my chest in any case. The LapGear MyDesk is fine for what it is, but a bit awkward, and if a laptop isn’t compatible with the Air 75, doesn’t provide a mechanical keyboard option. Also, not the best for head position / sight line. Now, though, I’ve assembled the GOAT. The original plan was to get any adjustable height ‡ desk ( e.g. ) and bolt a VESA mount ( e.g. ) to it. But that just seemed clumsy, too/top heavy, and overkill (my svelte Apple hardware just doesn’t require the hardware to support > 17 lbs). This solution appealed as it extends over the couch and has a built-in pole for VESA mounting. I started with the Viozon Floor Stand for Laptop , UP-8T, which provides a 1.5" diameter pole that holds the desk surface. I measured the space under my sofa and confirmed the 0.6" thick feet would slide underne...

So the Etsy maker I’ve been talking to has started to prototype the Keychron K2 iPad stand. Test pieces came in the mail today. I’ll use it with my Kailh Box Navy swapped K2 , but that’s not a universal solution; I can imagine being relatively unpopular indoors at a Starbucks with the thicc clicc, or on an airliner, or ...  So I’m pondering “building” another K2, with tactile switches, as quiet as I can get ’em while still having that crisp tactile “bump.” After a related discussion on r/MK, I’m contemplating: Gazzew Boba U4 (aliexpress pearl top / clear top  ($68 for 90) |  mkultra  | theremingoat review ) Zeal Zilent ( zealpc.net  ($88.40/80)) Everglide Moyu Black a/k/a Dark Jade ( theremin goat review ) (though these don’t seem to be silent?) ( amazon  | kprepublic ($87/90)) Pricier than the Kailh Box switches I’ve been using to date, but might be worth checking out.

These just shipped. Should have them by the end of the week. Looking forward to seeing what’s what. From my brief experience with a keyswitch tester, I wasn’t sure I’d like them, and the Burnt Orange felt better. But those weren’t awesome. So, going to hot-swap to Kailh Box Royal switches. People seem to like them: The Kailh Box Royals are what I was expecting from a "tactile switch". ( pol-delta ) Box Royals are the fucking GOAT ( Past-Chest-6507 ) They really are. Best tactile switch straight out of the box besides Zealios. ( jrau ) these switches are something that I enjoy quite a lot. Very tactile :) ( WindmillArtGuy ) I use Box Navy and Jades Just got a board of Kailh Box Royal and they are fantastic. Have the tactility and the resistance that us box Navy folks love 😀 ( abdulqadirali ) Box Royals were just... alright. i found the dropoff way too sharp. the tactility was barely there. ( hammerbrotha ) I love Box Royals, almost close to Zealios crossed with Box Navy! ( Bi...

Tactile Build (K6 + Burnt Orange) For my second tactile mechanical “build,” I went with the Keychron K6  (hot swappable, aluminum frame, RGB) and the Kailh Box Burnt Orange switches (also available(?) from AliExpress ). My switch tester suggested that switch would feel better than the Box Royal; now that I have a full keyboard with the setup, I’m not sure about that. The RK71s with the Kailh Box Hako Royal Clear switches requires more force and feels more “crisp.” The Burnt Orange switches activate right at the top of the switch’s travel and have a bit of resistance, but I’d prefer a bit more. It might be worth getting another set of Hako Royal Clear switches (before they’re gone forever), as the set I have now is soldered into the RK71, and maybe a set of the Royals just to try them out. Edit: Doing a bit of digging (which maybe I should have done before I pulled the trigger, keyswitch tester experience notwithstanding). I endorse these opinions (except for the parts that are st...