THOCK-THOCK-THOCK!

[iri]

picked up my new realforce today. feels meh, but what a sound! THOCK-THOCK-THOCK!

[sth]

is 2013 the new year of topre?

cause i'm stoked

[Halverson]

is 2013 the new year of topre?

cause i'm stoked

Snake skin topre!

[iri]

and seriously, this is a soft landing? my cm pro with thin and firm o-rings has the same "softness".

[sth]

and seriously, this is a soft landing? my cm pro with thin and firm o-rings has the same "softness".

wait are you telling me a keyboard with rubber bits is similarly soft to another keyboard with rubber bits?

[longweight]

Do you mean the THOCK as the key travels back up?

[iri]

and seriously, this is a soft landing? my cm pro with thin and firm o-rings has the same "softness".

wait are you telling me a keyboard with rubber bits is similarly soft to another keyboard with rubber bits?

also they both have cords. doesn't justify 2.5x price tag difference.

Do you mean the THOCK as the key travels back up?

it bottoms out with a thock.

[rootwyrm]

Do you mean the THOCK as the key travels back up?

it bottoms out with a thock.

Dude, you should've just bought a GoW set from T for your QFR. I'd say use the Chicony ridic-thick double-shots, but they proved to be way too heavy. (1x's weren't coming back up!) But moderately thick PBT just completely changes the character and sound of the QFR.
Plus it costs way less than an overpriced rubber dome Topre.

[longweight]

and seriously, this is a soft landing? my cm pro with thin and firm o-rings has the same "softness".

wait are you telling me a keyboard with rubber bits is similarly soft to another keyboard with rubber bits?

also they both have cords. doesn't justify 2.5x price tag difference.

Do you mean the THOCK as the key travels back up?

it bottoms out with a thock.

Strange, do they have a metal plate?

[iri]

Dude, you should've just bought a GoW set from T for your QFR. I'd say use the Chicony ridic-thick double-shots, but they proved to be way too heavy. (1x's weren't coming back up!) But moderately thick PBT just completely changes the character and sound of the QFR.

i don't own a qfr (it's a qf pro) and dislike printed keycaps. and qf pro. will sell it as soon as possible.

an overpriced rubber dome

striking is not really necessary lol

[longweight]

Do you mean the THOCK as the key travels back up?

it bottoms out with a thock.

Dude, you should've just bought a GoW set from T for your QFR. I'd say use the Chicony ridic-thick double-shots, but they proved to be way too heavy. (1x's weren't coming back up!) But moderately thick PBT just completely changes the character and sound of the QFR.
Plus it costs way less than an overpriced rubber dome Topre.

I bet that you haven't tried Topre for more than a day.

[whiskerBox]

Ah the thock noise

[Michael]

For the topre haters: A Topre switch is every bit as mechanical as a Cherry MX switch, and here is why -

Both use a spring (Topre rubber) to determine the weight of the switch, and both slide up and down within a plastic housing, with a plastic slider.

/thread

[daerid]

I've found the HHKB has more of a "thock". The RF's plate dampens quite a bit of noise.

[Michael]

I've found the HHKB has more of a "thock". The RF's plate dampens quite a bit of noise.

The 55g definitely 'thocks', but a more solid one from the plate. The HHKB reverbs through the hollow plastic shell, whereas the metal plate gives the RF's a different auditory feedback (thock-ping?).

[alaricljs]

Both use a spring to determine the weight of the switch, and both slide up and down within a plastic housing, with a plastic slider.

The spring in a Topre is not used to change weight.  Variable weight Topre's have different thickness rubber domes, and some with holes punched through if I remember right.  The spring is for the sensing circuit only.

[SmallFry]

PING!

[iri]

Both use a spring to determine the weight of the switch

topre switch spring is 5gf, the switch itself (in my keyboard) is 45gf.

[Michael]

Both use a spring to determine the weight of the switch

topre switch spring is 5gf, the switch itself (in my keyboard) is 45gf.

The rubber, actually (I guess you can call that the switch).

[Michael]

Both use a spring to determine the weight of the switch, and both slide up and down within a plastic housing, with a plastic slider.

The spring in a Topre is not used to change weight.  Variable weight Topre's have different thickness rubber domes, and some with holes punched through if I remember right.  The spring is for the sensing circuit only.

I stand corrected - but with an aside that the rubber acts as the spring, so essentially, pretty much the same

[iri]

can't put an equality sign between rubber domes and springs. domes have an initial resistance and collapse once it's passed. springs behave differently.

[Michael]

can't put an equality sign between rubber domes and springs. domes have an initial resistance and collapse once it's passed. springs behave differently.

I wasn't putting an equality sign, merely stating that Topre uses the rubber as the 'spring' (corrected there) to determine the weight. Physics aside, they both do the same job, essentially.

[iri]

heh, are membrane keyboards mechanical then? they use domes as springs.

[Michael]

heh, are membrane keyboards mechanical then? they use domes as springs.

They don't use plastic sliders and housings, or springs for that matter, like topres do.....(the same as Cherry switches)

[jdcarpe]

For the topre haters: A Topre switch is every bit as mechanical as a Cherry MX switch, and here is why -

Both use a spring (Topre rubber) to determine the weight of the switch, and both slide up and down within a plastic housing, with a plastic slider.

/thread

For some people, Topre is the ultimate keyboarding experience. They experience the oneness of cup rubber.

For others, the Topre doesn't feel much different than the hated cheap rubber dome keyboards they used before.

Of course the Topre is mechanical. But its tactile feeling comes from the rubber cup (dome) being compressed. It feels totally different from a Cherry MX or Alps switch.

I tried the Topre boards for more than a week. I went back to Cherry MX switches. That's just personal preference. Hell, I used to love my buckling springs, and I hardly use them now, simply because I prefer how MX switches feel.

And anyway, by your definition, all rubber dome keyboards are mechanical also, due to the mechanical action of the plunger compressing a rubber dome on the membrane to come into contact with the pads that completes the electrical circuit.

I don't hate Topre. I just prefer MX.

[iri]

i've had an old AT membrane keyboard which used plastic sliders. it had a nicer landing feel than this realforce lol

[Michael]

And anyway, by your definition, all rubber dome keyboards are mechanical also, due to the mechanical action of the plunger compressing a rubber dome on the membrane to come into contact with the pads that completes the electrical circuit.

Wrong. There are two major components that don't exist in a rubber dome, that I have already stated: Plastic housing + slider + spring.

[Michael]

i've had an old AT membrane keyboard which used plastic sliders. it had a nicer landing feel than this realforce lol

Sounds like you are just trolling now. If you don't like RF/Topre, don't use it.

[daerid]

but you already said the rubber acts as a spring. And I've used plenty of boards that had plastic housings and sliders.

[SmallFry]

And anyway, by your definition, all rubber dome keyboards are mechanical also, due to the mechanical action of the plunger compressing a rubber dome on the membrane to come into contact with the pads that completes the electrical circuit.

Wrong. There are two major components that don't exist in a rubber dome, that I have already stated: Plastic housing + slider + spring.

Have you seen a Peerless? Spring, slider, and rubber domes.

[Michael]

but you already said the rubber acts as a spring. And I've used plenty of boards that had plastic housings and sliders.

What RD has it's own separate plastic housing, spring and slider? The only one closest to a topre has been the BTC-5100C.

[absyrd]

To the OP... give it more than a day... say a week or two. If you aren't happy with it then, you'll fall right in with numerous people who just don't like Topre. You don't HAVE to love it.

[Michael]

To the OP... give it more than a day... say a week or two. If you aren't happy with it then, you'll fall right in with numerous people who just don't like Topre. You don't HAVE to love it.

This. From the previous posts, I think he already falls into that category. I expect to see his board in classifieds soon

[daerid]

Wait.... so you're saying the sole thing that separates a mechanical switch from a non-mechanical is a plastic housing that isn't part of the larger board?

dafuq?

[Michael]

Have you seen a Peerless? Spring, slider, and rubber domes.

Example? I guess we can kick this stupid subject around for days - so what is your reference as a definition of a 'mechanical' switch? Do you consider a buckling spring (which primarily uses a spring for force and tactility) more 'mechanical' than a cherry mx? When most of the components that make up a cherry mx switch are existent in a topre switch (sans rubber), why do you not consider it to be mechanical?

[Michael]

Wait.... so you're saying the sole thing that separates a mechanical switch from a non-mechanical is a plastic housing that isn't part of the larger board?

dafuq?

Jesus christ dude... did you even read the 3 components that I mentioned, or are you just picking out parts of my posts? LOL

Also, see my previous post to this.

[iri]

To the OP... give it more than a day... say a week or two. If you aren't happy with it then, you'll fall right in with numerous people who just don't like Topre. You don't HAVE to love it.

This. From the previous posts, I think he already falls into that category. I expect to see his board in classifieds soon

i already heard absyrd's advice. actually the board is nice, the only thing that i don't like is bottom out feel. and selling the board in classifieds is kinda difficult for me since i live in russia. last time i sent a package to usa via regular mail, they charged me $60, and it was amazon kindle in the parcel... mailing a topre board will cost even more.

[Michael]

i already heard absyrd's advice. actually the board is nice, the only thing that i don't like is bottom out feel. and selling the board in classifieds is kinda difficult for me since i live in russia. last time i sent a package to usa via regular mail, they charged me $60, and it was amazon kindle in the parcel... mailing a topre board will cost even more.

How long have you actually been using it? I can't say it will get much better if your joints are experiencing pain. As I said in the other post, it could be arthritis (usually associated with joint pain).
If that is the case, then sticking with it isn't going to change much for you.

[SmallFry]

Peerless switch.

[Michael]

Show Image

Peerless switch.

Doesn't really tell, or show me much. All the old references to that switch from Google are gone on GH. I believe they were Ripster's posts.

(also, you didn't answer the question :P )

[SmallFry]

http://imgur.com/a/Uivuc
Ripster still has his imgur account. Ripster.imgur.com

[Michael]

So to re-iterate; I asked what defines a 'mechanical' switch versus a rubber dome? I see some people discounting Topre as mechanical, and want to know what the basis for that is.

[SmallFry]

I'd say anything that isn't a touch screen is, technically, mechanical. On our site here, typically if it has a spring, it is 'mechanical'. So to each their own on interpreting that. Rubber domes are a typical term associated with crappy keyboards, though there are nice RD keyboards, such as a Dell QuietKey or (in some opinions) Topre.

[Michael]

I'd say anything that isn't a touch screen is, technically, mechanical. On our site here, typically if it has a spring, it is 'mechanical'. So to each their own on interpreting that. Rubber domes are a typical term associated with crappy keyboards, though there are nice RD keyboards, such as a Dell QuietKey or (in some opinions) Topre.

So since Topres contain a spring, that makes them mechanical, right?

[longweight]

All keyboards are mechanical really, you have to physically move the key cap down to compress a switch or spring to make the key register.

[SmallFry]

I never argued the weren't. On this site, they are treated as such though, yes. I honestly could care less what they're technically considered. If you enjoy typing on them, then type on them. )

All keyboards are mechanical really, you have to physically move the key cap down to compress a switch or spring to make the key register.

More or less what I was trying to say before. Thanks mate.

[alaricljs]

This discussion has happened many times... the only answer everyone agreed on was that touch screens are indeed not mechanical keyboards.

[Michael]

All keyboards are mechanical really, you have to physically move the key cap down to compress a switch or spring to make the key register.

I think it's what makes up that switch that is in debate. Some rubber domes are only a rubber membrane underneath the key. No spring or even housing. Just plain mush.

[SmallFry]

All keyboards are mechanical really, you have to physically move the key cap down to compress a switch or spring to make the key register.

I think it's what makes up that switch that is in debate. Some rubber domes are only a rubber membrane underneath the key. No spring or even housing. Just plain mush.

Not always mush though. See a vintage QuietKey or Olleveti (I butchered that spelling, sorry)dome keyboard.

[longweight]

True but it's still mechanical


Does anyone really care? It's probably best to define the boards by the switch type as Bro Caps said, MX, Topre, Alps, Chiclet, BS or Rubberdome.