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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: TheQsanity on Tue, 23 October 2012, 02:14:52

Title: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: TheQsanity on Tue, 23 October 2012, 02:14:52
I hear many people say buckling springs are the best snd I hear others say topre. Which one is better?
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: laffindude on Tue, 23 October 2012, 02:19:44
Personal. Preference.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: Halverson on Tue, 23 October 2012, 02:20:52
Personal. Preference.

Don't even have a topre...yet. But agree with that 100%. I love everything :D (that I've tried so far)
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: cactux on Tue, 23 October 2012, 02:23:38
If you answer this question you will be answer your own one. Which car is the best one ?
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: TheQsanity on Tue, 23 October 2012, 02:36:04
Should I restate? Which is your personal preferance, topre or buckling spring? :)
Title: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: longweight on Tue, 23 October 2012, 05:03:17
Pleaaaase! Not this again!
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: Halverson on Tue, 23 October 2012, 05:06:22
Pleaaaase! Not this again!

Yes it goes on and on again. Somebody started asking it, not knowing what it was, and they continued asking it forever just because.
It is the question that never endssss....continue to infinite and beyond!
Title: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: cactux on Tue, 23 October 2012, 05:08:57
^ while(1)
Title: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: YoungMichael88 on Tue, 23 October 2012, 05:20:32
Pleaaaase! Not this again!

Yes it goes on and on again. Somebody started asking it, not knowing what it was, and they continued asking it forever just because.
It is the question that never endssss....continue to infinite and beyond!
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/23/6aryhege.jpg)
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: Dgsbllx on Tue, 23 October 2012, 05:21:57
Seriously though guys, which is best?

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/78/Trollface.svg/200px-Trollface.svg.png)
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: Parabellum on Tue, 23 October 2012, 05:35:16
(http://bbsimg.ngfiles.com/1/24075000/ngbbs4ffb2424b5b91.png)
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 23 October 2012, 06:46:21
BS FTW!
























But, that is based on my biased personal experience, having never owned a Topre board.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: daerid on Tue, 23 October 2012, 11:09:06
Personally, I go with Topre. It's like sex on my fingers.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: Binge on Tue, 23 October 2012, 11:14:18
I type into boobies to relieve stress.  Better than MX reds imo  ;)
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 23 October 2012, 16:13:44
Get both and alternate :)
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: TheQsanity on Tue, 23 October 2012, 16:18:02
Get both and alternate :)

If I had both that's probaly what I would do. I do that with my current boards.  :D
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: Neo.X on Tue, 23 October 2012, 16:22:51
Buckling spring is the best. No, topre is the best. No blue is the best. Wait, Red it the best.

All these questions and replies do nothing but making people to buy more different kinds of keyboards.
 :D
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: maxlugar on Tue, 23 October 2012, 17:42:46
I hear many people say buckling springs are the best snd I hear others say topre. Which one is better?

OK, here is the definitive ranking:

1. Buckling springs over capacitive contacts keyswitches i.e. IBM Model F 84-key PC AT keyboard - best mechanical action keyboard ever.  Sharp, precise, clicky, and very loud.  None better.

2. Topre hybrid capacitive contact keyswitches - Happy Hacking Professional 2 Type S is the best keyboard in current production.  Not clicky, yet still tactile and a pleasure to type on.

3.  Blue complicated  genuine ALPS or the so called Blue Monterey keyswitches which are basically copies of Blue ALPS - used in Chicony KB-5181 vintage keyboards. Tactile and clicky but not loud.

4.  Cherry MX keyswitches - Blues, Browns, Reds, Blacks, they're all very good.  I prefer the clicky Blues in my Filco keyboards.

5. Buckling springs over membrane keyswitches i.e. IBM Model M 1391401 and the many variants.  Reliable and clicky, but compared with buckling springs over capacitive contact keyswitches, they feel downright dull and uninspired.  However, they are still vastly superior to rubber dome keyswitches.

I highly recommend you buy some of each.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: Burz on Tue, 23 October 2012, 21:38:30
I hear many people say buckling springs are the best snd I hear others say topre. Which one is better?

OK, here is the definitive ranking:

It's very subjective. Except for Topre, I have used all of those switch types at length and would definitely list the blue Alps as number one. I do agree, however, that Cherry belongs at the bottom of the ranking (not counting obscure switches in this); they keep missing the sweet spots in sound or feel or switch dynamics.

Things are also changing... The MX white and Matias switches are relative unknowns but have potential to become popular favorites.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: pitashen on Tue, 23 October 2012, 22:04:37
You will only know which one you like better until you've tried them both.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 23 October 2012, 22:53:58
You will only know which one you like better until you've tried them both.

In true ARFcom, er - uhhhh, Geekhack fashion; get both!
Title: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: phetto on Tue, 23 October 2012, 23:02:31
0100010, what are those caps on your avatar? It is a model m right?
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 23 October 2012, 23:28:14
Mostly blank black keys, along with some blue/white printed keys from a Unicomp Wildcats board; yes a Model M.  I'm in the process of replacing them with blue blank keys though (the end result will look like the pixel art in my signature, will take a new pic for my avatar also).
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: czarek on Wed, 24 October 2012, 07:52:46
Both are awesome, very nice and satisfying to type on and give you high quality feel (both much better than any cherry you can find). But Topre boards are much better made and come in variety of layouts (Full size, Tenkeyless, HHKB). Still Unicomps are well made and much cheaper than Topres. Unfortunately they only come in Full size.
Switch preference is very subjective and personal, still I like BS a tiny bit more than Topre and if I could get HHKB with buckling springs it would be my daily driver. For now it's normal Topre HHKB.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: Lanx on Wed, 24 October 2012, 17:20:47
Get both and alternate :)

If I had both that's probaly what I would do. I do that with my current boards.  :D

you should at the very least have a BS board, everyone can use ebay, (almost) everyone can get a paypal account and BS boards range from $1 to hundreds, but i'm pretty confident in saying that if you ebay dive or even just put up some simple email alerts you'll find a decent BS board for around $20 to $50, realistically it would start at $40 to $60.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: sth on Wed, 24 October 2012, 17:22:33
cherry my
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: AKIMbO on Wed, 24 October 2012, 18:02:58
Alright I'm settling this....listed in order of awesome to sucks.

1) Capacitive buckling spring
2) Topre
3) Everything else is a pauper's switch.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: TheQsanity on Wed, 24 October 2012, 18:16:38
Alright I'm settling this....listed in order of awesome to sucks.

1) Capacitive buckling spring
2) Topre
3) Everything else is a pauper's switch.
Both are awesome, very nice and satisfying to type on and give you high quality feel (both much better than any cherry you can find). But Topre boards are much better made and come in variety of layouts (Full size, Tenkeyless, HHKB). Still Unicomps are well made and much cheaper than Topres. Unfortunately they only come in Full size.
Switch preference is very subjective and personal, still I like BS a tiny bit more than Topre and if I could get HHKB with buckling springs it would be my daily driver. For now it's normal Topre HHKB.
It's good to hear that this thread has some honest and mature answers and didn't get troll-gang-banged to the ground.

Get both and alternate :)
If I had both that's probaly what I would do. I do that with my current boards.  :D
you should at the very least have a BS board, everyone can use ebay, (almost) everyone can get a paypal account and BS boards range from $1 to hundreds, but i'm pretty confident in saying that if you ebay dive or even just put up some simple email alerts you'll find a decent BS board for around $20 to $50, realistically it would start at $40 to $60.
Yup I'm on the lookout for the right BS atm.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: G.C.W. on Wed, 24 October 2012, 19:22:18
This is the best keyboard ever:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/24690177/Bilder/DSC_0483.jpg

The keyfeel of Topre 45g and Model F are awesome as well. I'd say Topre/Buckling Springs are sharing the first place - these switches/keyboards are for real men :F
The rest and the true mechs like Cherry MX are below - these switches/keyboards are more like toys to play with and you have to buy several of them :P
Havent tried Blue ALPS though.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: TheQsanity on Wed, 24 October 2012, 19:38:14
This is the best keyboard ever:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/24690177/Bilder/DSC_0483.jpg

The keyfeel of Topre 45g and Model F are awesome as well. I'd say Topre/Buckling Springs are sharing the first place - these switches/keyboards are for real men :F
The rest and the true mechs like Cherry MX are below - these switches/keyboards are more like toys to play with and you have to buy several of them :P
Havent tried Blue ALPS though.

Mmh, Blue Alps. I heard that beats all the rest and is one of the rarest switches.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: jackstar7 on Wed, 24 October 2012, 19:41:22
Limited experience, but love Topre.

Remember BS fondly, but prefer quiet.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: oTurtlez on Wed, 24 October 2012, 20:15:45
My opinion? They're two totally different styles. I personally love my topre, but there's always going to be that spot in my heart for BS. If you need a definite answer, Topre > BS. However, if you can score an SSK, which there's 3 or 4 on ebay right now for 175 + shipping, I'd do that in a heartbeat.
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: BucklingSpring on Wed, 24 October 2012, 20:29:40
Pleaaaase! Not this again!

LOL

BUCKLINGSPRING ALL THE WAY  >:D (look who's talking)
Title: Re: Whatis better, buckling spring or topre?
Post by: maxlugar on Thu, 25 October 2012, 00:26:38
Alright I'm settling this....listed in order of awesome to sucks.

1) Capacitive buckling spring
2) Topre
3) Everything else is a pauper's switch.

Yup - true statement.  During the past three years, I've come to the same conclusion after trying just about every type of keyswitch and countless keyboards, vintage, NOS, and current production.

Ironically, the typing experience from a capacitive buckling spring keyboard is very different than a Topre keyswitch board, but I enjoy both and use both types at the office, at home, and at my small businesses. 

My IBM PC AT 84-key Model F keyboards are nearly 29 years old and I've never had a failure.  The same holds true for my Happy Hacking keyboards which take a beating from weekly travel among other unnatural forms of abuse.. ;)

Capacitive keyswitches rule!