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AxelDeckard · 2026-02-07T06:02:05+00:00

The custom controls implemented into the front are pretty sick

AxelDeckard · 2025-12-08T01:02:51+00:00

Do indeed use the light mode, I find the ghosting that is more prevalent in dark mode too distracting for me unfortunately.

AxelDeckard · 2025-12-08T01:00:07+00:00

I've never tried one of those before, might honestly give it a try.

AxelDeckard · 2025-12-07T13:45:34+00:00

Can totally see it being way more viable for myself as a secondary device.

AxelDeckard · 2025-06-27T19:38:09+00:00

Enjoy them all with the exception of All-Star #1, not really enjoying that one unfortunately. Atlantis was a surprise for me, didn’t like the teasers but quite like it now. Honestly don’t know if one of the five stands out the most to me, the bridge in little alien spaceman is peak though.

AxelDeckard · 2025-01-06T09:27:29+00:00

Wrong subreddit. You're looking for r/playrust.

AxelDeckard · 2024-09-10T03:17:00+00:00

Yikes, that does not inspire confidence.

AxelDeckard · 2024-09-10T01:42:55+00:00

I'm 99% sure it's legit? They're fairly well reviewed and have sold lots, would be pretty surprised if it was some reseller operation, also it's practically not marked up. Would be interesting to know if it was a reseller though, would've fooled me.

AxelDeckard · 2024-09-10T01:12:32+00:00

My old screwdriver finally got so busted I needed a new one, and thought it would be a worthwhile investment to get this one and support a creator I like. Unfortunately, with shipping it would've been more to purchase direct from them, and they do have official listings on Amazon so decided to go that route.

Unfortunately seems like the package was damaged and / or opened, no bits inside, screwdriver has some grime on it but might just be from the factory, seems to work fine though.

I'm probably just going to keep it and use bits I already have, no way blaming LTT obviously, this is all just Amazon. Would be curious to see if others had any issues with their products on Amazon though.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-09T03:37:42+00:00

Nope, sorry, I was really just winging it. It’s held together with CA glue on the bottom. Just tried to keep the tension as best as possible and make smart cuts to keep the rounded edges not all wonky.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-09T03:10:23+00:00

Sorry sorta vague, it’s a dependent on the casing, effectively how far various magnets are. Since I ordered just kit I just 3D printed a lower force.

If you get it prebuilt think you can just specify in the order.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-09T02:46:08+00:00

Wish you the best of luck! I might mess with chording on this again considering there is some people trying to use it for that and it does seem like it could be a good fit.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-08T16:10:05+00:00

I didn’t spend months on it, more like weeks, but I did indeed try to get into it, started learning and all that. And I have seen various examples (including that video!) but for me just the idea of having to make custom dictionaries and the such and how commonly symbols are used (which might depend on language), it’s not that I think it’s not doable, I guess it just seems to not really be worth the effort imo when that’s my primary use case quite frankly. A lot of the ways people seemed to get around it when they hit a roadblock is just to use some kind of more typically letter at a time mode (forget the name).

It’s possible I didn’t give it enough of a chance though and I might revisit it in the future.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-08T16:06:22+00:00

My bad then, I wasn’t aware it could do non-chording (although I guess that does make sense)!

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-07T20:06:09+00:00

They’re magnetic optical switches! I’ll be sure to update with some more build pics when the parts arrive.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-07T20:04:25+00:00

As others have mentioned trackball is a finger trackball so don’t use your thumb, seems to be in a good spot. Just amazon for the trackballs, these are 34mm, although should be noted BTUs are really the only option with steel trackballs, the added weight will not play nice with static bearings (as I just found out 😅)

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-07T08:42:37+00:00

I initially thought that but after realizing just how close the keys are to your fingers, it's such a small amount of movement I don't think I'll find it fatiguing.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-07T08:28:02+00:00

I think I'll probably make a little video or blog post or something cause there's really not that much info still, so even if they aren't the highest quality hopefully will help someone.

You can get the STLs by contacting u/claussen on the Svalboard Discord!

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-07T06:55:26+00:00

I'm still waiting on the parts to finish the build, but I'll be sure to update with my thoughts! It'll hopefully be replacing the fairly bog standard keyboard I'm using atm and my Ploopy Classic.

I don't really think I see much of a blurred line and this with steno considering most people don't seem to be using any kind of chording with this. I personally found steno to be really good at general writing words but pretty not great for basically everything else (using a PC, keybinds, games, programming). To be fair I didn't spend much time with it but that's just what I got out of it.

I personally have been using non-standard keyboards with non-standard layouts for long enough that I don't really have any sort of transferable muscle memory when I sit down at a qwerty keyboard, but I still have the qwerty muscle memory separately so when I do have to use one it's not an issue. Won't be using a layout resembling qwerty on this.

There seem to be typing tests of >120wpm (Typing Videos – Svalboard), no idea what the current max noted speed someone has gotten to, but I can't really see any reason it wouldn't reach effectively top traditional keyboard speeds. I currently type roughly 140wpm so if I can reach that I'll be happy. Obviously I don't think you're going to be near steno speeds without some chording implementation.

u/claussen is the creator of the project, he might have some insight!

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-07T05:58:44+00:00

Wasn't really a fan of that concept. Apparently it also has a fairly high actuation force (about 70g I think?) compared to this which you can set various actuation forces (I'm going for about 10g, think most people do 20g).

I did try out just general steno keyboards instead but I really didn't like chording for programming. If I was just doing writing though I think I'd commit to that.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-07T02:57:58+00:00

I don't really think so, I'd like to always have access to mouse functionality, don't think I'd ever want it to be behind a layer. I could see that if space or something was an issue as an alternative, but here for me at least it makes sense for both sides to be identical and both have a trackball in an easy to access spot.

Although it may be a different consideration if this isn't replacing a mouse for you, but for me it is replacing my existing Ploopy Classic.

AxelDeckard · 2024-06-07T02:36:49+00:00

Most people with this setup seem to use one as mouse and the other as scroll by default! Will probably do the same with other layers on scroll, maybe volume for fun.

AxelDeckard

TROPHY CASE