I just got my order of Box Heavy switches from NovelKeys, and I have to say I'm very excited for some of my kits to show up so I can put them in something. What is surprising to me is that it is the orange switch I'm most impressed with. I ordered the blues cause I really liked the box whites, but they seemed too light, and the blues are just that.
I plan to build both Zealiostotle and Box Blue boards, though I expect I will like them both for very different reasons. The Box Whites and Blues have the sharpest click of any switch I've tried. It actually sounds more like a mouse button TBH. That's because there is nothing actually physically clicking on the slider in these switches, instead there is a second spring in there that is being lifted and dropped on a small plastic peg. That means they are a bit less tactile (to be clear I mean there is less actual force/movement or w/e) and the slider movement is much more linear, but the click is much more sharp, I'm not really even sure how to explain it, think Tick instead of Thock.
Also the clicky box switches click in both directions, which I feel like potentially makes them one of the fastest switches around (legitimately). Now hear me out... Believe it or not, our brains process sound something like an order of magnitude faster than touch (0.05s vs 0.2s response). I feel like I can toggle the key much more consistently and without bottoming out compared to a normal clicky switch. If nothing else I think it likely makes the perfect clicky spacebar switch since with the upclick feedback you can much more easily avoid missed doublekeys.
Anyway, enough about boring clicky switches, the one I'm most impressed by (and will likely be ordering more of) is the Burnt Orange Box Heavy switch. I have a sneaking suspicion that this switch must share some degree of DNA with Halo True switches. I could be totally off base, but the way it feels is exactly how the Halo True has been described. Sharp bump at the VERY top (I'd say less than .5mm of movement, maybe half that) then smooth and linear as it gains weight till bottom out. I can totally see how it could be compared to a rubber dome (disclaimer, I have not typed on a topre in a LONG LONG time) as it much more of a buckling sensation than a bump (my normal keyboards are Mod-M and 67g Zealios).
I still need one of my kits to show up so I can put them into something and try them out for real, but I expect I will be buying more in short order, it's a very unique sensation. I will also have to open a few up and lube them see what that does, they are already very smooth though. I'll try and remember to follow up
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Anyway, I'm curious what other people who got them think. If you were at all interested in Halo True switches and don't wanna wait, you may wanna try these as well. I got mine through the preorder, but it looks like he's selling 10 packs for $3 a pop.
Thoughts?
