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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 13:55:30

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 13:55:30

Hot or Not?

(http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/76433/For%20message%20boards%20and%20ebay/blank%20keys%20on%20the%20Topre%2086U/Blank%20keys%20-%20whole%20%27board.JPG)

(http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/76433/For%20message%20boards%20and%20ebay/blank%20keys%20on%20the%20Topre%2086U/Blank%20keys%20-%20middle.JPG)

(http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/76433/For%20message%20boards%20and%20ebay/blank%20keys%20on%20the%20Topre%2086U/Blank%20keys%20-%20close%20upJPG.JPG)

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:08:57

These keys are on loan, and they are for an HHKB Pro 2, and while they are the same size, they feel more textured. So far I am liking them a lot and I am getting used to the no legends thing. I have had blank keyboards before so it isn't really that new, but still it will take a bit of time to get used to not watching the keys. I guess if that is my aim, a blank keyboard is the way to go.

The color is very slightly lighter on the blank keys but that could be due to them being brand new.

And this proves for once and for all that the Topre and HHKB keys are identical and fully interchangable, so long as they are from the same row.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: iMav on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:25:23

I thought labeled keys were necessary for you to properly edit?

(BTW, you should really replace that key between the Ctrl and Alt keys)  :)

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:29:13

Quote from: iMav;14902

I thought labeled keys were necessary for you to properly edit?

(BTW, you should really replace that key between the Ctrl and Alt keys)  :)

That's what the laptop keyboard is for. Actually it isn't that hard.

And about those Nasty (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-xp/) keys, This is a mix-n-match set, so they would have to be white or black and black makes it look like my keyboard is missing teeth.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:29:43

iMav, you never told me if you like it ...

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: Chloe on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:35:49

I think it would look better if all the keycaps were blank. I can't stand the Vista style Windows key. They really should provide a spare blank to replace it.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:39:40

Fine, I'll put white ones there, geez!

And I don't want the number keys blank — I have yet to be able to type a phone number or find the "-" on blank keys.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:43:08

Quote from: xsphat;14906

Fine, I'll put white ones there, geez!

And I don't want the number keys blank — I have yet to be able to type a phone number or find the "-" on blank keys.

This is the kind of thing I like having numpads for.  My MS Natural 4000 even had a set of parentheses next to the numpad.  They were very handy, especially for writing SQL.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: iMav on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:44:41

Quote from: xsphat;14904

iMav, you never told me if you like it ...

I think these look cooler.  :)

(http://www.uhhh.org/~lherzog/blog-images/modelm-frame-us-1.jpg) (http://www.uhhh.org/~lherzog/blog-images/modelm-frame-us-1-big.jpg)
(http://www.uhhh.org/~lherzog/blog-images/modelm-frame-uk-1.jpg) (http://www.uhhh.org/~lherzog/blog-images/modelm-frame-uk-1-big.jpg)

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: Chloe on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:44:58

Topre should make a matching numpad.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:47:11

Quote from: iMav;14908

I think these look cooler.  :)

Show Image

(http://www.uhhh.org/~lherzog/blog-images/modelm-frame-us-1.jpg) (http://www.uhhh.org/~lherzog/blog-images/modelm-frame-us-1-big.jpg)

Show Image

(http://www.uhhh.org/~lherzog/blog-images/modelm-frame-uk-1.jpg) (http://www.uhhh.org/~lherzog/blog-images/modelm-frame-uk-1-big.jpg)

Bery, bery nice!

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:49:52

And iMav still hasn't told me if he likes it. In fact, no one has! lol

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: iMav on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:57:41

Quote from: xsphat;14912

And iMav still hasn't told me if he likes it. In fact, no one has! lol

Looks good.  Would look even better with all blank keys.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: lowpoly on Mon, 15 December 2008, 14:58:39

^^^ What iMav said.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 15:03:35

That would be opportune, but unfortunately they don't make them. I would need to buy, what, three or four more sets to get the look down, and I still wouldn't have the delete, \ or right shift. I would still keep the legends on the number row, though.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: cb951303 on Mon, 15 December 2008, 15:05:08

looks very cool and I think there is no need to make it all blank. if you aim to write faster i think other keys won't improve your speed much?

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 15:11:28

Quote from: cb951303;14924

looks very cool and I think there is no need to make it all blank. if you aim to write faster i think other keys won't improve your speed much?

I agree, and thank you.

I would like to have the F key row blank and maybe the arrows, but knows. It might be cooler if I swapped the arrow keys with the WASD keys ...

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: D-EJ915 on Mon, 15 December 2008, 15:12:59

It kinda looks like something is missing with all the rest of the keys having labels.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 15:16:28

Quote from: D-EJ915;14932

It kinda looks like something is missing with all the rest of the keys having labels.

That is kind of the point.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: bigpook on Mon, 15 December 2008, 18:27:58

Quote from: iMav;14917

Looks good.  Would look even better with all blank keys.

Sorry man, but all blank would be way nicer....

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 18:50:21

And impossible ...

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: bigpook on Mon, 15 December 2008, 18:52:38

Quote from: xsphat;14963

And impossible ...

difficult yes, but not impossible.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 15 December 2008, 22:58:14

I put back the original WASD keys in their proper locations and used two blank keys from the A row in place of the Nasty (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/default.aspx) keys. I think that's the best I can do.

What I failed to mention at the beginning of this thread is that the set I am using is mix 'n' match, so I don't have any of the gray keys — instead the modifier keys are blank blacks.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: fkeidjn on Tue, 16 December 2008, 00:13:39

How about coloring the Nasty keys with red dye/paint?

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: bhtooefr on Tue, 16 December 2008, 00:41:14

I think part of it is their shape, designed to be Windows Vista logo compliant.

(My ThinkPad's keyboard is also Vista-compliant, although it basically means that the texture is different for the circle, rather than a true dimple.)

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Tue, 16 December 2008, 01:52:40

Quote from: bhtooefr;14986

I think part of it is their shape, designed to be Windows Vista logo compliant.

That's correct. The new Vista key has the rounded shape protruding from an inset circle. I hate it. I'd just as soon not have them, but making them white and blank is the best option.

Another thing about the shape that went against me is that the keys in each row are sized and slanted differently, so I needed a matching set that didn't look to messed up.

I'll post pics soon, even though no one on Earth except me likes it.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 29 December 2008, 04:25:26

I boxed up the keys and sent them back today. You guys all win this round. Now my 86U looks normal again, and I'm on the MK96 again.

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: Chloe on Mon, 29 December 2008, 04:27:57

If they felt better to the touch I would have kept them on regardless of how they looked. Do you think you will buy a set?

Title: Topre 86U w/blank keys
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 29 December 2008, 04:35:48

Quote from: Chloe;16345

If they felt better to the touch I would have kept them on regardless of how they looked.

That's how I ended up with the MK96 with Northgate keys. And no, I don't think I'll end buying a set.