I have just received my first Topre board (Realforce R2TL Variable). First impression, it was "meh" experience ("is it all?"), but after several hours of writing it became "wow" experience ("it is all!"). I do not want to write another topre review, but compare it with alternatives - it can be interesting for those considering topre and/or these alternatives:
- Niz plum electrocapacitive keyboard (produced with 30g or 45g domes). I have 30g model and have also bought additional South Korean rubber dome sheets 45g and 55g - so I tested all three versions. I have also tested including additional springs which are part of keyboard shipment, however I did not find these springs (which are added under keycaps) to be any good - the characteristic changes to clearly linear with 30g domes (I think they reduce the shape of "logaritmic-like" force-curve of 30g original domes) or they reduce subjective feeling of tactility (with 45/55G domes). That is why I compare 30/45/55g variants without those springs. I also tried BKE Redux domes (ultralight and light version) in this keyboard.
- Rubber dome keyboards - especially BTL (I have E5XKBM10140) and Qtronics (Scorp 104), both reviewed favorably by Chyrosran and others as for tactility. They are often described as "cheap topre alternative" as for feeling. And I would also add Keytronic KT800 (NIB condition - I believe there is a big influence of keyboard use on rubber dome condition, so even less "popular" brands in new condition can be very good. E.g. this Keytronic is one of my favourite light-tactile keyboards.)
MY COMPARISON IS:
Tactility: from lowest to highest: Niz Plum 30g (linear) < Niz Plum 45 g =~ Niz Plum with BKE ultralight redux domes < Keytronic KT800 < Topre Variable < Niz Plum 55g < BTL =~ Niz Plum with BKE light Redux domes < Qtronics (Scorp)* (see note below)
Actuation Force from lowest to highest: Niz Plum 30g < Qtronics < Niz Plum 45g =~ Keytronic =~ Niz Plum with BKE ultralight redux domes < Topre Variable < Niz Plum 55g < BTL =~ Niz Plum with BKE light Redux domes
Note:
- 1) I compare 45g keys (majority of keys) on Topre Realforce Variable keyboard. I would say that actuation force of topre 45g is slightly higher than Niz Plum 45g.
- 2) Both tactility and actuation force correlate together highly. The higher tactility, the higher actuation force (which is logical due to rubber dome/dome construction). The only exception is Qtronics Scorp keyboard, which has the highest tactility of all, but is also pretty light (so some users can even consider the keyboard as not highly tactile - due to lightness). It also has quite wobbly keys.
My conclusion
It is not true that these keyboard are so close. I have read some assertion that they are "80%" similar. I would not say so. It is true that if you hate one of these keyboards, you will probably not like the other. But I do not think they can substitute each other. Each type is highly specific with something. Topre is excellent, but it is not panacea and I will continue to use all above mentioned alternatives. For me, I will especially use Topre, Keytronic and Niz Plum 30g and 55g:
- Topre: is just positively different in feeling (hardly to describe) compared with alternatives, it goes above just tactility/act. force
- Keytronic - I really prefer it when I am in mood for light tactility with cushioned (not mushy) feeling. Also, this Keytronic has the most round tactility of all mentioned keyboards (except linear niz plum 30g of course). Qtronics Scorp has the most "spiry" tactility and together with greater wobblines is not my favorite (but I use it occasionally...). BTL has too high tactility for me and thus disrupts uniform, fluent feeling of continuous typing. But sometimes (although rarely) it is exactly what I want.
- Niz Plum - especially 30g (absolutely light, great for relaxation, when I am not full of energy) and 55g (nice precise tactility but still not too much weight for me). (Niz Plum with 45g South Korean dome did not persuade me much, it is just without character.)
