geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: kyamei on Sun, 26 October 2008, 03:25:57
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So I anxiously waited to finish work all day so I could get home and try out my new Realforce 101 that just got delivered today. When I opened the box and pressed a key, I was disappointed. It felt just like my damn Logitech rubber dome! So I plugged her in, went to typingtest.com to give her a test drive....I must say, my opinion on this board has definitely changed. You can't appreciate the feel of the keys without actually typing something. Was it worth all $275 that I paid? I can't really say, as I haven't tried any of the Cherry switches, but I can say that I don't regret buying this board.
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Thats really interesting. I've only tried cherries so far and I've wondered what the big deal was about the Topre's. Can you describe the key feel a bit more? Why did your view change once you started typing? Do you still think it feels like a membrane switch? Is it loud/quiet? etc.
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It has a really nice feel to it when typing fast, I can type a bit faster with it than I can with my Model M (I type slower on this than everything else) or my old membranes (which I have been using for years and I think they were pretty damn good compared to other membranes).
Comparison with membrane is due to the fact that I have only buckling springs and membranes to compare to. The feel is like a really smooth membrane with a different force curve. Membranes require all the force right at the start of the keystroke, making it pretty much impossible to half-press a button. On the Topres...its hard to describe, but it CAN be easily half pressed, if that says anything. When you compare the keys, the different weights are noticeable, but when actually typing, it just shows in speed i guess? As far as tactile feedback, not much really, all of its tactile feel seems to be caused by the force curve. Keys are pretty quiet, i believe they are quieter than my old membranes (though they were pretty loud for membranes).
I was actually looking for a clickly/tactile keyboard when I bought this and despite the fact that this doesn't fit the description of what I was looking for, I'm pleased with my purchase.
My poor description doesn't quite do it justice.
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sounds good, thanks for the details. Some day I'll have to try one, maybe after I get myself a real job ;) Until then I've become a fan of the cherry browns, they will have to do for now I guess ;) It sounds to me like the topres may be a lighter and/or smoother version of the cherry brown key feel, tho the browns are pretty light already.
There are several youtube videos of the realforce 101 by the way. The sound is quite pleasant.
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It felt just like my damn Logitech rubber dome!
The Realforce has a rubber dome after all. But I guess that's where the similarity ends.
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It sounds to me like the topres may be a lighter and/or smoother version of the cherry brown key feel, tho the browns are pretty light already.
Actually, they feel very different, but I both like them. The Cherry browns are quite a bit lighter (but yeah, they're obviously both *much* lighter than say a buckling spring Model M), but the Topre's are a lot bouncier, while the browns don't give much feel after you pass the clicky point. I think I can type faster on the Topre's, because they force your finger up faster after the keypress registers.