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geekhack Community => Reviews => Topic started by: bahamot on Sun, 06 October 2013, 11:12:51

Title: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: bahamot on Sun, 06 October 2013, 11:12:51: LEOPOLD FC660C
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/10040454045_099f70b938_d.jpg)

Packaging and Accessories
FC660C (lack of) accessories and packaging are nothing special to write about.
So I just let photos do the talking.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/10040566643_42ea91c264_d.jpg)
box overall view
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/10053911325_b4ea56a6e0_d.jpg)
bottom view
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/10053937436_2f60c638d8_d.jpg)
The included accessories are:
-   USB cable
-   Cable tie
-   User manual
-   alternative key caps for ctrl and caps lock

First Impression
I didn’t get any “wow” factor when the first time I opened up the box. Its
appearance looks just like ordinary keyboard just with different layout. The
body frame material is also nothing out of ordinary: plastic.
But luckily the plastic frame is quite good with minimal flex when pressing
its side frame. And the weight is also pretty good given its size.
These last two factors really helped in first impression.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/10053890416_2fdb5acaef_d.jpg)
rubber on the feet, which is nice attention to the detail
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/10053962533_222c3b0b63_d.jpg)
nice little surprise here

Typing
It feels like ordinary rubber dome keyboard when the first time press down
the key. But at the mid-way, I feel my finger is like being suck down by the
switch. After reached the bottom (with nice “thock” sound), then things
starting to get excited, the switch push up my finger just as what
mechanical switch should do. This whole process really gives me truly unique
experienced and enjoyable typing experienced.
When I try to understand the experienced, I realized this is to be expected
because of how the topre switch works.
Furthermore, the board has dedicated arrow keys without sacrificing too much
on the size and other keys size. The dedicated arrow keys are real joy to
be used in worksheet.

Keycaps
The material used in key caps are PBT (except spacebar, it’s an ordinary ABS),
sadly it’s just ordinary thickness. Even though Elitekeyboard lists the key caps
as laser printed, the legends look like pad printed to me (see below macro shot).
As this board has unique layout, ordinary topre keycaps set won’t fit to all of the rows.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/10053982413_bf28780e19_d.jpg)
compare to poker2 keycap: poker2 left, fc660c right
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/10053909426_ee9a5d8970_d.jpg)
compare to poker2 keycap: poker2 left, fc660c right. noticed how the fc660c is lifted up a bit due to its stem
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/10053873105_92e8ceb6a2_d.jpg)
compare to poker2 keycap: poker2 left, fc660c right. noticed how thicker the poker2 cap compare to fc660c's
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/10054023203_5711aa680c_d.jpg)
looks pad printed to me :(

Conclusion
Do I like the board? Yes, no doubt about it. To me, FC660C best aspects are its
layout and its topre switches. Does that mean I like topre switch more than
Cherry MX? Not really, as it just feels different than the Cherry MX switches.
Would I buy another topre board? Maybe if I get the chance.

Miscellaneous
More
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/10040477566_2b7f52d446_d.jpg)
compare to poker2
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/10053891754_afc66aa702_d.jpg)
overall bottom view
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre fist encountered
Post by: bahamot on Sun, 06 October 2013, 11:13:24: reserved
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre fist encountered
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Sun, 06 October 2013, 11:28:08: Great review bahamot! I really enjoyed reading. I think Leopold really hit a home run with this one, despite the keycaps being less than stellar. The thing feels like a tank, and I thought the 45g switches felt very crisp and had a real nice tactile feedback. The equation is a nice touch for aesthetic value too.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre fist encountered
Post by: mkawa on Sun, 06 October 2013, 11:45:25: yep, that's pad printing. thanks for the macro shot. pretty conclusive.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 06 October 2013, 18:11:10: Thanks for the review :)

Very nice ultra-closeup of the Esc!
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre fist encountered
Post by: bahamot on Mon, 07 October 2013, 09:31:10: Quote from: Flyersfan1 on Sun, 06 October 2013, 11:28:08
Great review bahamot! I really enjoyed reading. I think Leopold really hit a home run with this one, despite the keycaps being less than stellar. The thing feels like a tank, and I thought the 45g switches felt very crisp and had a real nice tactile feedback. The equation is a nice touch for aesthetic value too.
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it :D
Yeah the keycaps is a bit heart breaking considering the asking price.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: gigibecali on Mon, 07 October 2013, 10:57:12: Oh YES.

That's how closeups should look on this nitpickers forum :)

Congrats to OP.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 07 October 2013, 20:27:40: Quote from: gigibecali on Mon, 07 October 2013, 10:57:12
That's how closeups should look on this nitpickers forum :)

You've been here too long ;)
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: panpipe on Mon, 07 October 2013, 20:43:25: Nice review!

Surprisingly few photos of the top of the board - but I do like the photos that you have included.

This was the alternative to the poker II for me when looking for my first mechanical keyboard. In the end I went with the cheaper Poker, seemed like less of a risk and it's a lot more customisable. I still really like the look of the FC660C and its dedicated arrow keys.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: kenmai9 on Mon, 07 October 2013, 20:48:09: I love this keyboard. Next thing Topre has to do is release some custom keys for this board..
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: redskull on Mon, 07 October 2013, 21:57:39: DAT CLOSEUP...

im really torn between this board and hhkb. cheaper but the size and layout is putting me off. :confused:
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: SNF on Wed, 09 October 2013, 04:55:57: Quote from: redskull on Mon, 07 October 2013, 21:57:39
DAT CLOSEUP...

im really torn between this board and hhkb. cheaper but the size and layout is putting me off. :confused:

I preffered the hhkb, the FC is a solid board too.

Congrats to OP on the Leopold :thumb:
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 09 October 2013, 05:23:58: Quote from: redskull on Mon, 07 October 2013, 21:57:39
DAT CLOSEUP...

im really torn between this board and hhkb. cheaper but the size and layout is putting me off. :confused:

The biggest difference is the arrow keys.

Although a lot of people can cope without (dedicated) arrow keys on the HHKB, some can't. They are the one thing I miss on the HHKB, and would have bought a FC660C in ahearbeat if they had been available in white when I was looking for HHKB.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: sprit on Mon, 14 October 2013, 08:39:25: Nicely Priced Topre ever? I would buy when my Realforce 101 and 87 die.
not a big quality issue I guess? Are there any reports?
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: bahamot on Mon, 14 October 2013, 13:05:05: Quote from: sprit on Mon, 14 October 2013, 08:39:25
Nicely Priced Topre ever? I would buy when my Realforce 101 and 87 die.
not a big quality issue I guess? Are there any reports?
Some complain about the case that is not too rigid, other than that I don't know if there are others.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: Sniping on Mon, 14 October 2013, 13:10:53: It's the top case that isn't too rigid. There's quite a bit of flex if you squeeze it from the top and bottom, but then you try to flex it normally by bending the board, you'll find that it's rock solid and doesn't really flex at all. I think the top case is a good thing though, this makes it easy for possible aluminum cases to be designed in the future unlike the HHKB where the switches are mounted onto the case and the only aluminum HHKB out there is with the HHKB HG from PFU themselves.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: AuRinBei on Tue, 15 October 2013, 08:54:40: Quote from: sprit on Mon, 14 October 2013, 08:39:25
Nicely Priced Topre ever? I would buy when my Realforce 101 and 87 die.
not a big quality issue I guess? Are there any reports?

The only major quality issue is the keycaps. Litterally the worst printing I have ever seen, mechanical keyboard or otherwise. I'm pretty sure it would have lasted longer if I had drawn the letters on with a marker. Also, I found it weird that switching the dip switch for control and capslock disabled the capslock led. Other than that, its a really solid board. I feel like people exaggerate most of the time when they say "rock solid", but it pretty much is. My case didnt' flex at all, so hopefully they got their flexy case issues worked out.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: kenmai9 on Sat, 19 October 2013, 16:02:05: Does anyone know if its possible to open the 660C? I want to paint the case
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: Sniping on Sat, 19 October 2013, 17:01:00: Yeah, lots of people have opened it up. Pretty sure it's as easy as removing the warranty sticker, unscrewing that and pressing the tabs.
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: ynrozturk on Mon, 21 October 2013, 08:12:43
Title: Re: Leopold FC660C: topre first encountered
Post by: baotung on Wed, 13 November 2013, 03:29:00: Hahah. Indeed, the equation was a nice little prize.