RealForce 104UB Topre - First Impressions

[SonicRevolution]

I'm sure many more experienced and knowledgable folks have posted their thoughts on Topre switches.  Here is my take on it.

The RealForce 104UB.  First impressions are

1) Really nice construction.  It's solid without being bulky.  For a $250+ keyboard, it definitely feels like an expensive mech.  I wish the finish was slightly better. I can slightly see some super slight dimples? I don't know anything about how these are made but I feel like the finish should be better?

2) So my first impression with Topre is that it's unlike anything I've typed on.  I think the PBT caps makes a huge difference and I think it's the combination of the two.  I know Topre Heaven has ABS with Topre switches.  Curious what that feels like but I know I prefer pbt's

3) I've experienced an unusual sensation as I type that the keys almost fly back into your fingers? Not sure how to describe it but it feels like it resets in to position in a really intuitive way.  This was really cool to discover!

4) when I first got it, my heart sank a bit because it almost felt like a old school rubber dome or almost like a Cherry Brown.  I personally don't like Cherry Browns.  i know that many love that switch.  I personally don't.  But after awhile, Topre's felt pretty fun and I could tell these were remarkable switches.  They are NOT rubber domey at all.  It's just at first it kinda feels that way.

5) I actually am glad I added Topre to my collection later in my mech owning experience.  I think I would not been able to appreciate it.  This is not to say I'm some kind of mech elitist.  I think my first mech being Cherry Blue's were super positive.  It was clicky and clacky!  Kind of what I "thought" a mech keyboard should sound and feel like.

[terran5992]

Post in Reviews Section XD

[PointyFox]

Can you go into more detail about how they feel?  "Fun" doesn't say a whole lot

[Elrick]

Can you go into more detail about how they feel?  "Fun" doesn't say a whole lot

It's a REALFORCE Thorpie, hence why would you want another review of it, did they suddenly change switches, manufacturing procedures or style of these keyboards now?

If you like traditional membranes than these will suit you..... if not, you've got to look elsewhere.

SonicRevolution, congrats on your purchase buddy  .

[PointyFox]

Can you go into more detail about how they feel?  "Fun" doesn't say a whole lot

It's a REALFORCE Thorpie, hence why would you want another review of it, did they suddenly change switches, manufacturing procedures or style of these keyboards now?

If you like traditional membranes than these will suit you..... if not, you've got to look elsewhere.

SonicRevolution, congrats on your purchase buddy  .

I have yet to find a review of Topre that isn't just mysticism. 

[rowdy]

It is difficult to describe the feel of Topre.  Most people love it.

Give yourself a couple of weeks using just this keyboard, and then try switching back to something else

And this would be better posted in Reviews.

[tuxsavvy]

It is difficult to describe the feel of Topre.  Most people love it.

Give yourself a couple of weeks using just this keyboard, and then try switching back to something else

And this would be better posted in Reviews.

Bolded points +1. I too posted my HHKB thread on this part of the forum. Well it wasn't exactly a review but meh.

Again I have said before and I will said again. There is no simple ways to describe the feeling of a Topre switch. Some says it feels nice, some say it feels funny, one said that it feels like jumping on trampoline, etc, etc, etc. Everyone's sense of Topre switch varies greatly.

Why don't (PointyFox) give Topre a go? I mean you don't have to buy it just to try it out. There might be keyboard tours, keyboard meetup, keyboard parties, etc. That you may try. Heck even some shops that may allow one to test the switches. If one exhausted all those avenues, there is nothing wrong with buying a Topre switch based board, trying it out and then finding that it does not suit your taste. It is not like you are going to lose an arm and a leg over reselling.

Personally I don't have such luxuries when it came to my HHKB, living in a country where Topre let alone HHKB is hardly heard of my only way was to try it out and see how I fare with it. I did not have any sort of high expectations on Topre switches, I was merely interesting on other points of HHKB apart from the fact that it featured a Topre switch. The whole Topre switch was largely unknown to me and even if someone were to describe it in 800 words, it may not be something that I can agree with fully. Again, buy a nce one and try it out. If it does not suit you, at least you have some form of backing to prove that you have some experience with Topre rather than musing on needless thoughts.

I am not trying to grill you here, don't get confused on that point. If you are in some more luckier place where such keyboard testers exist for example, do try and hit up. Otherwise one can only endlessly speculate on how it would feel based totally on how others would describe it.

Forgot to add, another happy customer (OP). Seems like you have taken aboard the Topre switch!.

[SonicRevolution]

Topre is not hype.  It's truly a remarkable switch.  As a relatively new mech enthusiast, I found Topre + PBT combo to be an exceptional experience!  Couldn't be happier.