MONEY NO OBJECT

We're becoming obsessed with artisanal gear. Let's talk about it

- Phil Iwaniuk

If there’s one phrase that’s guaranteed to make you come across like a third-year history student who's got life figured out and now simply watches civilization from the sidelines with a wry smile, it’s this: late stage capitalism'.

It’s a term that implies society’s imminent downfall at the hands of corporate greed. Whatever indicator of late stage capitalism the observer has noticed is also an indicator that these are the end times, before our economic and philosophical status quo is demolished and replaced by... well, whatever comes next. Nobody's sure about that minor detail.

Generally speaking, then, it's quite a blunt rhetorical device. Nobody can see the future, so there's some considerable confidence inherent in calling anything related to the present day 'late stage'. Still, when you see an $8,000 mechanical keyboard amassing a six-month waiting list, you can kind of see their point.

Norbauer's Seneca doesn't offer wireless connectivity, or RGB backlighting. There's no adjustable key actuation point, or rapid trigger, or any of the other features that mass-market mechanical gaming keyboards use to catch your eye.