The Seneca: First Edition keyboard, not designed for "earthly practical need," costs $3,600

Norbauer & Co., a company specializing in expensive premium keyboards, has introduced the Seneca: First Edition, a $3,600 keyboard that will go on sale on March 24 at 8:30 p.m.

$3,600 is a lot of money to spend on a powerful laptop with a built-in keyboard, or to build a PC that's no less capable by adding a more affordable but high-quality keyboard from another brand. However, as company founder Ryan Norbauer notes in his blog, this keyboard is not intended for "earthly practical need."

Every component of the Seneca keyboard is custom-made, including individually-threaded screws, and engineered from the ground up for the ultimate in acoustic, artistic, and tactile perfection. As Norbauer points out, there is no cost factor in the process. The keyboard is assembled by a single skilled person, who spends several hours of meticulous and exacting work.

"The Seneca is for builders, writers, coders, and thinkers. Those of us who sit down to our desks as a refuge from the boredom and disappointments of everyday life. It is meant to be a sentimental escape hatch to a beautiful and better place—a world of sensual luxury, insane engineering, and forgotten visions of a glimmering future," Norbauer writes.

This approach also applies to the switches used in the Seneca. The switch architecture that Norbauer & Co. uses in all of its products is built on capacitive sensing, a little-known input technology that emerged in Japan over 40 years ago.

The elastomer domes of these keyboards use a controlled folding at a defined inflection point when pressed down, providing a pleasant tactile click. In addition, the unusual physical design of the keyboard system, which consists of a freely sliding linear bearing that presses the helical coil against the touch pad, creates a characteristic deep and quiet sound.

In addition to the unique switches, the Seneca also offers other premium features. The First Edition model is available in three aluminum finishes: Oxide Gray, Travertine and Heatshield, made of plasma ceramic, as well as a titanium version called Veracity Titanium. All switch plates are made of thick, durable brass, coated with an electroplated matte silver-chrome finish for added elegance and durability.

The Seneca also comes with a special edition of the R&D 1973 keyset, designed to recreate the aesthetics of the first personal computers. It is one of the first high-end sets made from dual-lead PBT. Users can also opt for the Seneca Walnut Rise stand, which raises the keyboard angle for a more comfortable typing experience.

Additionally, the keyboard comes with a Lemo connector, precision brass assemblies traditionally used in avionics and medical applications. On the other side of the specialized cable is a USC-C connector for broad compatibility with modern computers. The keyboard will work with Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Norbauer & Co. will begin shipping the first versions of the First Edition from mid to late summer on a first-come, first-served basis.