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geekhack Community => Reviews => Topic started by: komar007 on Wed, 17 July 2013, 03:22:00

Title: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review (updated with interior pics)
Post by: komar007 on Wed, 17 July 2013, 03:22:00
It seems there are no reviews of this keyboard so far, or at least I haven't seen one so here it goes.
I decided to buy it from qtan, even though I knew nothing about it, but I was very positively rewarded.
[attachimg=1]

Construction
The plastic seems very high quality, it's hard and doesn't flex at all. The whole keyboard is sturdy and it's probably the best-built keyboard I have now (except for the Model M maybe).
The plate is matte black and looks very nice if you look under the keycaps
[attach=5][attach=2]

Keycaps
The keycaps are reasonably okay. They're pad printed and have a nice texture. The blue font actually looks rather good.
[attach=3][attach=4]

Other stuff
The board has 4 rubber pads, which do a good job preventing the keyboard from slipping and moving around the desk. There are 2 foldable legs with removable rubber tips. I've never seen such a construction before, but it seems pretty well-done.
There isn't much branding on the keyboard, only one noppoo logo in the front of the right corner and a label on the bottom.
The cable has a nice wire strap, which can be removed and used somewhere else too.
[attach=6][attach=7][attach=8]

Extras
It comes with a translucent F12 key (there's a led under that key, but I don't know how to turn it on:D) and a pretty well-working plastic key-puller. After a few hours of using I noticed a second bag in the box, though. And this bag included a lavender arrow block, a blue WASD block and a red escape key. I'm not sure these keys come with the keyboard or qtan adds them extra, but it's certainly nice - it's 10 extra keys for a $90 keyboard.
[attach=9]

Conclusion
I bought this board with MX Reds and I was going to use it for mods. So far I like it very much, even with the red switches, which I don't particularly like. Unfortunately, the case is the most horribly frustrating thing I've ever tried to open. I spent 15 minutes trying to open it and I gave in not wanting to break it. I do want to change the switches, but I just don't know how yet...
On the one hand I wasn't expecting such a good quality keyboard for this price, on the other I have owned the Noppoo Choc Mini, so I knew the company could be trusted. I can't compare it to filco or leopold, but the quality is really high and I can barely find any problems with it, except for that unopenable case.
Pros: cheap, many extra keys, high quality, nkro
Cons: case, case, case.


Disassembly (updated 25 Aug 2013)
I finally got down to opening this case and it appears it's not that bad at all. I was just trying to do it the wrong way. Credit cards don't work that well. I used a Swiss army knife to deal with the clips and this time I succeeded after 3 minutes.
For the record: I started with the bottom four clips. I just put the blade between the plastic parts and fiddled a bit until all 4 clips were loose. Then the side clips (don't forget about these bastards) and finally the same for the 4 top ones.

So here are the pics:
The interior of the bottom and top part:
[attach=10][attach=11]

The visible top side and whole bottom side of the PCB:
[attach=12][attach=13]


So I have to say the quality of soldering is very good. Now that I've opened it, I really can't say anything bad about this board. I definitely recommend it.
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review
Post by: Reomero on Wed, 17 July 2013, 06:12:42
Finally, a review on this keyboard. ;D

Also, what's the spacebar spacing? I'm guessing it's the same as Filco/Ducky/etc?
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review
Post by: SeriouSSpotS on Wed, 17 July 2013, 06:15:45
Good pictures, plenty of detail. Overall a very nice review.
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review
Post by: komar007 on Wed, 17 July 2013, 06:34:02
Quote from: Reomero on Wed, 17 July 2013, 06:12:42
Finally, a review on this keyboard. ;D

Also, what's the spacebar spacing? I'm guessing it's the same as Filco/Ducky/etc?

The spacebar is a standard 6.25 with symmetrical stem layout.

Quote from: SeriouSSpotS on Wed, 17 July 2013, 06:15:45
Good pictures, plenty of detail. Overall a very nice review.
Thanks. It actually looks better in real life, like most keyboards;)
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 18 July 2013, 04:05:24
Nice write-up komar! And I think I need to get my monitor checked, I first thought those switches were orange and was about to ask what in the world they were haha! ;)
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review
Post by: Narcix on Thu, 18 July 2013, 04:09:35
Kewl...thinkin' bout gettin the white version....still cant decide between that and a pure... :(
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review
Post by: BimboBB on Thu, 18 July 2013, 04:13:37
The case seems to be the same as the Filco one. Also the foldable legs with removable rubber tips are the same on Filco.

If you still have trouble to open the case, pls check out ripsters guide "how to open a filco" (http://imgur.com/a/Yhahf#0). This might help a lot.  :)
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review
Post by: komar007 on Thu, 18 July 2013, 04:51:55
Quote from: SpAmRaY on Thu, 18 July 2013, 04:05:24
Nice write-up komar! And I think I need to get my monitor checked, I first thought those switches were orange and was about to ask what in the world they were haha! ;)

I think the lighting was just too bright, they do look orange in this picture;)

Quote from: BimboBB on Thu, 18 July 2013, 04:13:37
The case seems to be the same as the Filco one. Also the foldable legs with removable rubber tips are the same on Filco.

If you still have trouble to open the case, pls check out ripsters guide "how to open a filco" (http://imgur.com/a/Yhahf#0). This might help a lot.  :)

Thanks. So it looks like I just used not enough force...


EDIT:
I updated the OP with some new pics of the interior.
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review (updated with interior pics)
Post by: LechnerDE on Wed, 28 August 2013, 04:19:03
Thanks for the review!

If Qtan gets them with blue switches again I'll buy one :)
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review (updated with interior pics)
Post by: Narcix on Sat, 31 August 2013, 14:38:55
Quote from: LechnerDE on Wed, 28 August 2013, 04:19:03
Thanks for the review!

If Qtan gets them with blue switches again I'll buy one :)
If you live in europe, you can buy it from the european noppoo website i think.
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review (updated with interior pics)
Post by: dante on Sat, 31 August 2013, 15:38:32
What?  You didn't get the Mid-87 eye bleed edition?

(http://img.alibaba.com/img/pb/029/872/649/649872029_890.jpg)
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review (updated with interior pics)
Post by: LechnerDE on Sat, 31 August 2013, 15:41:52
WTF?!

Is this shopped or does this really exist?
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review (updated with interior pics)
Post by: dante on Sat, 31 August 2013, 15:44:12
Quote from: LechnerDE on Sat, 31 August 2013, 15:41:52
WTF?!

Is this shopped or does this really exist?

It's real... also comes with a red variant

(http://img3.douban.com/lpic/s26686655.jpg)
Title: Re: Noppoo Mid 87 - Review (updated with interior pics)
Post by: Tarzan on Sat, 31 August 2013, 19:10:12
Quote from: dante on Sat, 31 August 2013, 15:44:12
Quote from: LechnerDE on Sat, 31 August 2013, 15:41:52
WTF?!

Is this shopped or does this really exist?

It's real... also comes with a red variant

Show Image
(http://img3.douban.com/lpic/s26686655.jpg)


Oh, those are cool!  And just in time for Halloween, too!

 :p