Author Topic: Did I really just spend 315 USD on a keyboard? (Read 15450 times)

meltie · « **on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 11:30:04 »

Hi,

finally, resistance was futile and I ordered a Topre Realforce 87U of elitekeyboards.com as a christmas present for myself. With shipping to Germany that is 315 USD. OMFG. I can't believe I did this. Still shocked, but also full of anticipation. I think I'll cry if it isn't any good. Will take 1 to 2 weeks with express shipping to arrive here.

Just wanted to share this with somebody, because if I tell anyone else that I spent so much on a simple keyboard, they'll stare at me with disbelief.

Bye,

meltie

PRISONER 24601 · « **Reply #1 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 11:31:27 »

That's a lot of money for a regular old rubber dome keyboard

timw4mail · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 11:36:11 »

Quote from: PRISONER 24601;144193

That's a lot of money for a regular old rubber dome keyboard

Whether or not you like it, it's a rubber dome, yes, but because the actual mechanism is capacitive, it's in its own league of switch.

PRISONER 24601 · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 11:42:48 »

Quote from: timw4mail;144197

Whether or not you like it

I think I would probably like it.
Looking forward to a Topre purchase of my own. Think I'll wait for tax refund.

timw4mail · « **Reply #4 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 11:45:56 »

Quote from: ripster;144200

Congrats on the 87U!

Unlike Prisoner I actually own one because I'm worthy.

Or just have a lot of money to waste...

leos · « **Reply #5 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 11:50:49 »

220€ ?? nice.

other people spent almost 200€ for a cheap Logi G19 rubber dupper dome keyboard.
or more idealo

If you dont like it PM me:love:

TDK · « **Reply #6 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 11:51:34 »

Don't worry - I just did the same, but ordered to the UK. Something to look forward to in the New Year. :-)

Oh, and add to the fact that I just imported an HHKB Pro 2 from Japan at the beginning of December!

leos · « **Reply #7 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 12:03:39 »

Quote from: TDK;144208

Don't worry - I just did the same, but ordered to the UK. Something to look forward to in the New Year. :-)

Realforce in UK? witch shop??

ch_123 · « **Reply #8 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 12:08:02 »

Ordered to the UK, not from.

Quote

That's a lot of money for a regular old rubber dome keyboard

Zomg! MS Windows has a second disciple!

TDK · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 12:12:59 »

Quote from: leos;144216

Realforce in UK? witch shop??

Nope, no one in the UK stocks them as apparently they don't meet Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) rules - probably something to do with still using lead solder or some chemical or other in the plastic.

I'm importing the 87U from elitekeyboards.com, I bought my HHKB from a reseller in Japan, via eBay.

Simon.

leos · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 12:16:40 »

Quote from: ch_123;144218

Ordered to the UK, not from.

Ohh, I had looked forward. You just have destroy my dream of a realforce dealer in UK.

Quote from: ch_123;144218

Zomg! MS Windows has a second disciple!

??

leos · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 12:18:46 »

Quote from: TDK;144221

I'm importing the 87U from elitekeyboards.com, I bought my HHKB from a reseller in Japan, via eBay.

Simon.

stlensbar or smartimports?

ch_123 · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 12:32:56 »

Quote from: leos;144224

??

That was in reference to Prisoner, not you.

TDK · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 13:27:55 »

Quote from: leos;144225

stlensbar or smartimports?

smartimports

meltie · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 16:56:55 »

Glad to see I'm not the only one. So we can wait together for the arrival of our mutual bankruptcy.

I own boards with all kinds of Cherry MX, ML and MY Switches and a lot of Model Ms. My favorite switches are Cherry blues but I'm a big fan of the browns also. And of course I like the buckling spring, but compared to the Cherrys they are relatively hard to type on. I wanted to try something new, so I went for a Topre.

I chose the Realforce over the HHKB Pro 2 for the layout. I have the HHKB Lite and though I like the layout, I never got used to it because of the crappy switches. They are even crappier than those Cherry uses in their G83 keyboards. I was scared to spend so much money on a board not knowing if I would get used to the layout, so I chose the 87U. I chose tenkeyless simply because the fullsize layout wasn't in stock.

I'm looking forward to my new board, and if I don't like it (that I hope not) will offer it on this board to all these europeans craving it.

Bye,

meltie

microsoft windows · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 17:01:47 »

Quote from: ch_123;144218

Ordered to the UK, not from.

Quote:That's a lot of money for a regular old rubber dome keyboard

Zomg! MS Windows has a second disciple!

My views are gaining some popularity. Maybe I'll make a political party and run for president.

HungryPillow · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 21 December 2009, 20:46:55 »

Congrats! I also ordered my 87U sight unseen and untested, but it's really a fantastic keyboard and I'm sure you will love it.

I'm contemplating another one in the full sized layout but am running into obstacles. To quote the significant other, "this feels like one of those old IBM keyboards... why did it cost $250?" :dance:

meltie · « **Reply #17 on:** Tue, 22 December 2009, 07:40:17 »

I'd rather not tell my significant other about this purchase, and if I will, I'll keep the price tag to myself. Since I already got about 25 to 30 keyboards (obviously, I lost count) and about 40 mice, it's getting harder and harder to find at least remotely believable excuses for buying even more, not to mention expensive ones.

Generally, new mice are easier to hide from spouses due to their size. :-)

TDK · « **Reply #18 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 13:32:17 »

Early Christmas present... my Realforce 87U has just turned up from EliteKeyboards, which is pretty good - posted on Saturday in the US and delivered on Wednesday in the UK. However, the bill for import duty was less welcome!

I'm typing on it at this moment and so far I'm not sure that I prefer it to my Happy Hacking Pro 2.

I certainly prefer the layout with separate arrow keys, page up/down and home/end keys, but the keys don't have quite the same satisfying "thock" "thock" feeling/sound that the HHKB has. Oh, and the Shift key makes a clicking sound when released - which I don't like!

I wonder what the Happy Hacking Lite 2 is like in comparison?

Simon.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #19 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 13:47:21 »

Doesn't the Happy Hacking Pro 2 have the same key switches as the Realforce?

JBert · « **Reply #20 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 14:02:20 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;144812

Doesn't the Happy Hacking Pro 2 have the same key switches as the Realforce?

Yes, the switches are from Topre.

AFAIK, the keyboards aren't built by the same OEM though.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #21 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 14:04:42 »

Not mine.

TDK · « **Reply #22 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 14:17:16 »

The Realforce is made by Topre Corporation and the HHKB Pro 2 is made by PFU (Fujitsu).

Rajagra · « **Reply #23 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 14:27:34 »

Quote from: meltie;144415

I'd rather not tell my significant other about this purchase, and if I will, I'll keep the price tag to myself. Since I already got about 25 to 30 keyboards (obviously, I lost count) and about 40 mice, it's getting harder and harder to find at least remotely believable excuses for buying even more, not to mention expensive ones.

Generally, new mice are easier to hide from spouses due to their size. :-)

One day there will be a Jerry Springer show about this.
"Jerry, I made my husband promise to throw out his stash of peripherals. I told him the Logitechs I bought him last Christmas should be enough to keep him satisfied. But I'm still finding computer mice in his sock drawer, under the bed, and in the garden shed. The final straw was when I found a World of Warcraft mouse hidden in the kids' bedroom. Enough is enough!"

meltie · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 17:33:31 »

I constantly promise to get rid of some keyboards, throw them away or put on ebay, and I made a start by giving my Qtronix to sixty from this board. But of course, with my new Realforce, the numbers won't change at all ...

rdjack21 · « **Reply #25 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 17:40:43 »

Quote from: TDK;144810

Early Christmas present... my Realforce 87U has just turned up from EliteKeyboards, which is pretty good - posted on Saturday in the US and delivered on Wednesday in the UK. However, the bill for import duty was less welcome!

I'm typing on it at this moment and so far I'm not sure that I prefer it to my Happy Hacking Pro 2.

I certainly prefer the layout with separate arrow keys, page up/down and home/end keys, but the keys don't have quite the same satisfying "thock" "thock" feeling/sound that the HHKB has. Oh, and the Shift key makes a clicking sound when released - which I don't like!

I wonder what the Happy Hacking Lite 2 is like in comparison?

Simon.

The steal plate in the 87U changes the sound a little but not a whole lot and the cavity under the PCB is shaped different so it sounds a little different. The clicking sound on the shift key is the stabiliser let the grease work in a little and that should go away.

rdjack21 · « **Reply #26 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 17:41:53 »

Quote from: TDK;144832

The Realforce is made by Topre Corporation and the HHKB Pro 2 is made by PFU (Fujitsu).

As far as I know Topre makes both the HHKB Pro and the Realforce. The Realforce board is their branded product while the HHKB Pro is a OEM board.

rdjack21 · « **Reply #27 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 17:45:01 »

Congrats on the new 87U for the original poster and all of yall that have ordered one. My last two Topre boards should be shipping out of Japan in a couple of weeks (OEM Sun short type keyboard and a OEM NEO Counter Strike) those should be my last ones until I can get a μTRON.

TDK · « **Reply #28 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 18:01:04 »

Wow, the μTRON looks awesome!

rdjack21 · « **Reply #29 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 18:14:09 »

Quote from: TDK;144907

Wow, the μTRON looks awesome!

Yea it looks great till you figure out how much it costs. It makes a 87U look cheap. It has taken me about 3 months to convince myself that I'm willing to pay what they want for it. Much less how much they want for those custom wrist rests for it. For the price of the wrist rests alone you could buy a Filco board and have change left.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #30 on:** Wed, 23 December 2009, 19:36:50 »

Those μTRON keyboards have an interesting lay out. What does the Menu key in Caps-Lock's spot do?

TDK · « **Reply #31 on:** Thu, 24 December 2009, 06:58:26 »

So, tempt me - how much are they?

bigpook · « **Reply #32 on:** Thu, 24 December 2009, 07:31:03 »

Quote from: TDK;144995

So, tempt me - how much are they?

you know the saying: if you have to ask the price....

TDK · « **Reply #33 on:** Thu, 24 December 2009, 14:23:27 »

Quote from: bigpook;144998

you know the saying: if you have to ask the price....

Yes, it means I don't know the price!

Ok, so approximately $580 is a fair amount for a keyboard, but I've spent more than that in the last month on keyboards.

So, who has actually used one? Are they easy to get on with given their rather "unique" layout?

microsoft windows · « **Reply #34 on:** Thu, 24 December 2009, 14:24:46 »

Quote from: webwit;144988

Same as the Menu key right of your right windows key.

Do you mean the right-click button?

bigpook · « **Reply #35 on:** Thu, 24 December 2009, 14:40:24 »

Quote from: TDK;145085

Yes, it means I don't know the price!

Ok, so approximately $580 is a fair amount for a keyboard, but I've spent more than that in the last month on keyboards.

So, who has actually used one? Are they easy to get on with given their rather "unique" layout?

lol, go man go!

microsoft windows · « **Reply #36 on:** Thu, 24 December 2009, 14:45:59 »

TDK should become a legislator. The Democrats would be jealous of his spending habit. And, when you're the in the government, you can spend make-believe money instead!

meltie · « **Reply #37 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:04:15 »

So now the Realforce 87U finally arrived (after I spend two hours waiting at customs), and I like it a lot.

I love the matte finish compared to my Das, the tenkeyless footprint and how the leds are integrated in the respective keys. And I am really impressed by the way this board feels. Very nice action and a very unintrusive sound makes me almost want to take it to work with me to replace my Cherry Evolution Stream. But I relly can't bring myself to put such an expensive item into my workplace, where it may get stolen or abducted by a coworker.

But I noticed that it doesn't sit evenly on my desk and wiggles a bit, but since I have the same problem with my Das and my G84 numpad, I believe that is the fault of IKEA rather than Topre. Definately one of the best boards I ever bought. At the moment, I do make some typos, but I believe I will get used to it quickly.

itlnstln · « **Reply #38 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:10:27 »

Quote from: meltie;151114

So now the Realforce 87U finally arrived (after I spend two hours waiting at customs), and I like it a lot.

I love the matte finish compared to my Das, the tenkeyless footprint and how the leds are integrated in the respective keys. And I am really impressed by the way this board feels. Very nice action and a very unintrusive sound makes me almost want to take it to work with me to replace my Cherry Evolution Stream. But I relly can"t bring myself to put such an expensive item into my workplace, where it may get stolen or abducted by a coworker.

But I noticed that it doesn"t sit evenly on my desk and wiggles a bit, but since I have the same problem with my Das and my G84 numpad, I believe that is the fault of IKEA rather than Topre. Definately one of the best boards I ever bought. At the moment, I do make some typos, but I believe I will get used to it quickly.

I doubt you will run into theft issues at work. I leave my keyboards on my desk all the time, and I work in an open, cubicle environment. The understated look of Topres isn't really going to attract any attention. When I go on vacation, though, I lock my keyboards in a drawer in my desk.

ch_123 · « **Reply #39 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:12:36 »

We found that out the hard way. We bought a book shelf from them, and my Dad assembled it, then couldn't find the back of the shelf, which we assumed would be a piece of wood. Nope, turns out that you were meant to slide the packaging that the parts came in to the back and that that was your backing. Of course, by the time we figured this out, we had mashed up the packaging and put it outside. I think they were able to get us another one or something... but yeah, frugal stuff.

meltie · « **Reply #40 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:18:26 »

I do not really think that it would be stolen, but I'm afraid of it because it cost so much and cannot be easily replaced. So I'd rather not take the risk.

But let's wait and see. On tuesday, I ordered a HHKB Pro 2, Filco Tenkeyless with browns and Filco Tenkeyless with Fukkas from Elitekeyboards, now that this stuff is in stock again. And my Deck Legend with clears will arrive beginning of next week. One of these boards will definitely end up at my workplace.

itlnstln · « **Reply #41 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:31:50 »

Quote from: meltie;151122

But let's wait and see. On tuesday, I ordered a HHKB Pro 2, Filco Tenkeyless with browns and Filco Tenkeyless with Fukkas from Elitekeyboards, now that this stuff is in stock again. And my Deck Legend with clears will arrive beginning of next week. One of these boards will definitely end up at my workplace.

Damn. That's how you stimulate the global economy.

itlnstln · « **Reply #42 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:37:43 »

That guy needs a shirt. This is a family forum.

itlnstln · « **Reply #43 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:52:23 »

That wouldn't be Helvectica, would it? Posh Spice just doesn't really do it for me anymore.

itlnstln · « **Reply #44 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 11:57:39 »

That's what I thought; it might be some like Arial bold. I was a little more interested in his left arm. It looks like it's something written in Hindi, or something.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #45 on:** Fri, 15 January 2010, 17:06:17 »

I think that font may be Arial Black.

GenEric35 · « **Reply #46 on:** Sat, 16 January 2010, 18:00:26 »

Yea, i was worried about that at as well, but it the fear of getting it stolen was realy just a fear, there is alot of expensive stuff where i work already, the employer trusts us to arm and disarm the alarm, and the people I work with make a good living, i doubt they would do something silly like that, I wouldnt be surprised if it even has security cameras,

I'm about to bring it at work because the keyboard i have there is bad,
I'm more concerned about jokes they'll make about my non-print happy hacking keyboard pro...
the people I showed it to already baptised it "The Fail Keyboard" because it has no letters, they've threaten to poop on it

meltie · « **Reply #47 on:** Sun, 17 January 2010, 06:15:38 »

I'm not worried about one of my co-workers stealing it, they might take it when I'm on vacation or business trips, but if I label it as my personal property, I doubt even that.

What I am more worried about is the guests that visit our office, and on their way through the building might feel stimulated to take my laptop, cell phone, or - even it it is unlikely - my Topre.

Some of my co-workers use kensington locks on their laptops and screens already, I might want to get some, too.

I should get a white 103 key Realforce, they look so ordinary I doubt someone will take it, though. Maybe later this year.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #48 on:** Sun, 17 January 2010, 09:16:44 »

People don't tend to steal keyboards on a regular basis.

exia · « **Reply #49 on:** Sun, 17 January 2010, 13:17:12 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;151464

People don't tend to steal keyboards on a regular basis.

Better safe than sorry.

Attach a cable to the keyboard, make sure it is discrete so people won't think you are crazy for locking down that "$10 keyboard" that is really $300 OMG that is so expensive!!

News:

Author Topic: Did I really just spend 315 USD on a keyboard? (Read 15450 times)