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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Luke on Fri, 14 February 2014, 03:24:04

Title: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Luke on Fri, 14 February 2014, 03:24:04: Hi,

Just got back from Akihabara in Tokyo which is known as Electric Town or the Video Game Capital of the world and I found a store that sold mechanicals!:

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/14/zy2yryje.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/14/ydu2aquq.jpg)

MX down one aisle and topre down the other. Obviously I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by:

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/14/gasa8ezy.jpg)

I am now the proud owner of a Realforce 87u, I tried it inside the shop and it was a toss up between a hhkb p2 or this and they didn't have the hhkb in white so this came home with me. Also bought a backpack full of Nintendo classics so a very productive day all in all :P

I'm surprised I managed to make my way out of the door with only one keyboard, my wallet relatively unscathed, how many do you think you would have come away with? :D

Luke
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Elrick on Fri, 14 February 2014, 03:32:20: Quote from: Luke on Fri, 14 February 2014, 03:24:04
Hi,

Just got back from Akihabara in Tokyo which is known as Electric Town or the Video Game Capital of the world and I found a store that sold mechanicals!:

I'm surprised I managed to make my way out of the door with only one keyboard, my wallet relatively unscathed, how many do you think you would have come away with? :D

Luke

Oh yes, Akihabara is almost a maze of brilliant electronic stores/products. I nearly lost myself there in that district for 9 hours straight, if it wasn't for my girl friend at the time who saved me.

My wallet still got gaped, but not by any store....... ;) .
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Luke on Fri, 14 February 2014, 03:39:46: Quote from: Elrick on Fri, 14 February 2014, 03:32:20
Quote from: Luke on Fri, 14 February 2014, 03:24:04
Hi,

Just got back from Akihabara in Tokyo which is known as Electric Town or the Video Game Capital of the world and I found a store that sold mechanicals!:

I'm surprised I managed to make my way out of the door with only one keyboard, my wallet relatively unscathed, how many do you think you would have come away with? :D

Luke

Oh yes, Akihabara is almost a maze of brilliant electronic stores/products. I nearly lost myself there in that district for 9 hours straight, if it wasn't for my girl friend at the time who saved me.

My wallet still got gaped, but not by any store....... ;) .

Haha, maze is definitely the word that best describes it :)

It's the second time I've been there this week! The first was almost a scouting mission for today to know where to get things for the best prices :P
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: ninjadoc on Fri, 14 February 2014, 05:28:00: Wow, what a great area to roam around in. My wallet or credit card would probably acquire some serious damage!
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 14 February 2014, 07:44:19: I've seen photos of this store before, it would be amazing to just browse, but I would have to leave my credit cards at the door :D
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 14 February 2014, 07:50:50: I'm so sad. I was supposed to go to Tokyo on my upcoming trip but it got scratched last minute :(.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Lastpilot on Fri, 14 February 2014, 08:18:46: I would have definitely gotten that RF anniversary edition!
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Shadovved on Fri, 14 February 2014, 08:22:26: Quote from: Lastpilot on Fri, 14 February 2014, 08:18:46
I would have definitely gotten that RF anniversary edition!

Is that 24800 yen? :eek:
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Lastpilot on Fri, 14 February 2014, 09:22:01: Quote from: Shadovved on Fri, 14 February 2014, 08:22:26
Quote from: Lastpilot on Fri, 14 February 2014, 08:18:46
I would have definitely gotten that RF anniversary edition!

Is that 24800 yen? :eek:
Yes it is my friend. Yes it is. :X
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: spuriousgeorge on Fri, 14 February 2014, 17:54:34: God, when I die, feel free to consign me to Wallet Hell. It's got the best boards.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: spuriousgeorge on Fri, 14 February 2014, 17:55:10: Great pickups, Luke!
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Luke on Fri, 14 February 2014, 18:25:50: Quote from: Lastpilot on Fri, 14 February 2014, 09:22:01
Quote from: Shadovved on Fri, 14 February 2014, 08:22:26
Quote from: Lastpilot on Fri, 14 February 2014, 08:18:46
I would have definitely gotten that RF anniversary edition!

Is that 24800 yen? :eek:
Yes it is my friend. Yes it is. :X

Are you telling me I should have bought that one? I wish I had a better knowledge of Topre boards :(

Might have to call in on the way back through Tokyo :P
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Lastpilot on Fri, 14 February 2014, 18:54:44: Well it depends if you can get used to that JIS layout. If they had an ANSI anniversary addition then yeah, I would have definitely recommended it! Even though its more of an aesthetic choice I imagine it would hold its value moreso than other topre boards.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: ebacho on Fri, 14 February 2014, 18:57:30: Considering how much gouging goes on for the JIS anniversary edition on ebay it's definitely a much better deal at 24.8k yen than ~$400 or whatever people are asking for now.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: osi on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:04:30: Oh man. I could probably spend a good bit of time in that store
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: luis911 on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:05:33: How do you like that real force, I have one on the way. 45g 104UB-DK
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: thesentinel on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:19:12: I.. I.. feel irrational feelings of hate and jealousy.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: luis911 on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:20:42: Whoa I see a realForce with grey and blue keycaps. Are those stock? :eek:
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Lastpilot on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:25:39: Quote from: luis911 on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:20:42
Whoa I see a realForce with grey and blue keycaps. Are those stock? :eek:
That would be the anniversary edition I was speaking of! :thumb:
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Pacifist on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:31:59: Is this store cheaper than a proxy?
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: C5Allroad on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:56:41: I think that would be a wallet hell....
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Zeal on Fri, 14 February 2014, 20:11:07: I would have to leave my credit cards at home if I entered this store...
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: berserkfan on Fri, 14 February 2014, 20:22:35: it looks as though they only stock 2 companies: Topre and Filco.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Luke on Sat, 15 February 2014, 07:59:06: Quote from: luis911 on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:05:33
How do you like that real force, I have one on the way. 45g 104UB-DK

Haven't really used it in anger yet but after trying it in the store I could instantly feel the difference from all the Cherry Keyboards that I currently own and for typing I believe I will like it more, for gaming I think I will still prefer my MX keyboards :thumb:

Quote from: Pacifist on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:31:59
Is this store cheaper than a proxy?

I ended getting my board for just under a £100 which means it was about £30 cheaper than any other retailers I have seen on the web but I'm not sure what the proxies are charging.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: aref on Sat, 15 February 2014, 08:27:01: There is a Keyboard Valhalla! And you photographed it!
It would be Keyboard Heaven and Wallet Hell for me;
but I'd love every minute of it.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Wildcard on Sat, 15 February 2014, 14:29:28: If I was in that store I'd probably walk away with at least one Type-S :)
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: tuxsavvy on Sat, 15 February 2014, 19:49:50: Quote from: Pacifist on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:31:59
Is this store cheaper than a proxy?

I think the answer would be blatantly obvious. Most proxies would charge one commission fee on top of shipping (postage and handling) fees. Then to get through the customs (especially in the European Union zone where most imported items will be charged at a percentage of the cost for the item to be purchased, 10% being the bare minimum) is another ordeal. I don't think US or Aus are subjected to customs duty provided that the item must not exceed X amounts of value. The way the import laws in US and Aus for instance is more lax compared to import laws in say UK. There are ways to sort of evade customs which most proxies would not do due to the fact that it is a crime to evade importation taxes. Therefore it may work out cheaper if you have a friend for instance whom could buy whatever you want for you and try to smuggle the item in, this works out somewhat cheaper especially if residing in EU.

Conversely, to visit say Japan just to buy keyboards would be a rather expensive trip. Not implying that the OP did exactly just that however it is not cheap to fly over to Japan, buy keyboards and fly back.
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: MOZ on Sun, 16 February 2014, 02:19:20: "Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?"

(http://i.imgur.com/7PaFS5a.gif)
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: dustinhxc on Sun, 16 February 2014, 02:20:47: WOW! I wish we had a place like that here! Looks AMAZING!!!!!!! We have Micro Center which Ive never been too but I believe they sell Basic MX boards.

Nice 87U! :D
Title: Re: Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?
Post by: Luke on Sun, 16 February 2014, 02:36:58: Quote from: tuxsavvy on Sat, 15 February 2014, 19:49:50
Quote from: Pacifist on Fri, 14 February 2014, 19:31:59
Is this store cheaper than a proxy?

I think the answer would be blatantly obvious. Most proxies would charge one commission fee on top of shipping (postage and handling) fees. Then to get through the customs (especially in the European Union zone where most imported items will be charged at a percentage of the cost for the item to be purchased, 10% being the bare minimum) is another ordeal. I don't think US or Aus are subjected to customs duty provided that the item must not exceed X amounts of value. The way the import laws in US and Aus for instance is more lax compared to import laws in say UK. There are ways to sort of evade customs which most proxies would not do due to the fact that it is a crime to evade importation taxes. Therefore it may work out cheaper if you have a friend for instance whom could buy whatever you want for you and try to smuggle the item in, this works out somewhat cheaper especially if residing in EU.

Conversely, to visit say Japan just to buy keyboards would be a rather expensive trip. Not implying that the OP did exactly just that however it is not cheap to fly over to Japan, buy keyboards and fly back.

Yep, I think (I hope) the law is that you can bring £390 worth of goods in to the UK without having to declare them at customs.

Quote from: MOZ on Sun, 16 February 2014, 02:19:20
"Keyboard Heaven or Wallet Hell?"

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/7PaFS5a.gif)

:thumb: