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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: jlicht on Wed, 26 June 2013, 03:02:44

Title: Variable switches for gaming?
Post by: jlicht on Wed, 26 June 2013, 03:02:44
I've been considering trying a Topre, but unfortunately I use my keyboard for pretty much equal parts typing, coding and gaming.
The one available at Verkkokauppa (http://www.verkkokauppa.com/fi/product/36437/cxgmj/Topre-Realforce-88-UB-Black-langallinen-nappaimisto-suomenki (http://www.verkkokauppa.com/fi/product/36437/cxgmj/Topre-Realforce-88-UB-Black-langallinen-nappaimisto-suomenki)) is the only one with a price tag I would consider, but it has the variable 45g/33g weighted switches. I have two concerns with this, one being that I don't use the ten finger systems when I type and the keys won't fit exactly to the fingers I use for the respective keys, and the other, primary reason is that I imagine it feels weird for gaming.

Has anyone done gaming with weighted version, and is it as weird as it sounds? I play FPS and RTS all the same, so I can't narrow anything down there either.
Title: Re: Variable switches for gaming?
Post by: calavera on Wed, 26 June 2013, 03:32:00
Not weird at all. Variable used to be my exclusive keyboard for years. I'd be more worried about your finger problem. Not sure how you type but it's easier to press something by mistake with variable weight. But I got used to it and it didn't bother me at all. However I had gotten used to it so much that typing on anything else felt awkward and needed time to adjust to it.
Title: Re: Variable switches for gaming?
Post by: jlicht on Wed, 26 June 2013, 05:45:57
Not weird at all. Variable used to be my exclusive keyboard for years. I'd be more worried about your finger problem. Not sure how you type but it's easier to press something by mistake with variable weight. But I got used to it and it didn't bother me at all. However I had gotten used to it so much that typing on anything else felt awkward and needed time to adjust to it.

Oh ok. What I was particularly worried about was WASD for FPS; that it would feel weird having different weights there. But I guess that actually makes quite a lot of sense since you actually do use index/middle/ring finger according to the ten finger system.
I only use my index and middle finger on the right hand, so the 35g weightings there don't make sense to me. But I think the left ones are fine.

So maybe I should actually check that variable Realforce out...

(The weightings for reference: http://i.imgur.com/X6g6Y.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/X6g6Y.jpg))
Title: Re: Variable switches for gaming?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 26 June 2013, 05:49:41
I considered a RealForce, as I can get one for $179 new, but it is variable.

After some thought, and taking into consideration my chaotic typing style (six-fingered, many keys) and the gaming aspect, I decided to wait.

Ended up getting an HHKB 2 Pro which is uniform, but which has a very non-standard layout.

So far I am loving it for typing, and a little bit of Minecraft.

Personally I would only seriously consider the variable weighted RealForce if I was mainly typing.
Title: Re: Variable switches for gaming?
Post by: insilica on Wed, 26 June 2013, 07:21:52
You really want uniform for games. I have used my RF87u in BF3. The WASD cluster was a little nightmarish with the A firing all the time.

The flame for D3 is slowly rekindling, I shall return to it soon using my 660C having stopped in December last year.
Title: Re: Variable switches for gaming?
Post by: jlicht on Wed, 26 June 2013, 09:37:46
You really want uniform for games. I have used my RF87u in BF3. The WASD cluster was a little nightmarish with the A firing all the time.

The flame for D3 is slowly rekindling, I shall return to it soon using my 660C having stopped in December last year.

I'm happy to hear some different opinions. So you didn't find it helpful that your 'weaker' middle and ring finger had a little less resistance? I guess you do claw the keyboard considerably more when holding WASD all the time. So you accidentally activated your A button because of the low resistance?
Title: Re: Variable switches for gaming?
Post by: insilica on Wed, 26 June 2013, 10:00:18
You really want uniform for games. I have used my RF87u in BF3. The WASD cluster was a little nightmarish with the A firing all the time.

The flame for D3 is slowly rekindling, I shall return to it soon using my 660C having stopped in December last year.

I'm happy to hear some different opinions. So you didn't find it helpful that your 'weaker' middle and ring finger had a little less resistance? I guess you do claw the keyboard considerably more when holding WASD all the time. So you accidentally activated your A button because of the low resistance?

Exactly! The lower actuation force on the key, and hogging the WASD cluster usually yields an activation on the A key.