geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: BigWopHH on Tue, 16 June 2009, 11:08:37

Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Tue, 16 June 2009, 11:08:37: Hey All,

Just wanted to say my Topre 103UB arrived this morning. I've been typing on it for a couple of hours and am liking it so far. I liked the 87U as well, but quickly realized I can't live without a numpad.

I"ll update later with pics and impressions. It's going to be tough deciding between this board and my Filco, of that I'm sure.

On a side note, now that I'm fairly certain of my "favorites" I'm going to have a handful of mint boards to sell, to recoup some cash. I can't beleive what I've spent on keyboards that last few months!

I'm going to have a black HHKB2, Topre 87U, and a Scorpius M10 up for grabs. Figured I'd offer everything to you guys first.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: watduzhkstand4 on Tue, 16 June 2009, 11:23:30: Quote from: BigWopHH;96726
Hey All,

Just wanted to say my Topre 103UB arrived this morning. I've been typing on it for a couple of hours and am liking it so far. I liked the 87U as well, but quickly realized I can't live without a numpad.

I"ll update later with pics and impressions. It's going to be tough deciding between this board and my Filco, of that I'm sure.

On a side note, now that I'm fairly certain of my "favorites" I'm going to have a handful of mint boards to sell, to recoup some cash. I can't beleive what I've spent on keyboards that last few months!

I'm going to have a black HHKB2, Topre 87U, and a Scorpius M10 up for grabs. Figured I'd offer everything to you guys first.

Very interested in your HHKB2 and 87u. I've never tried them yet and I really want to xD!
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 16 June 2009, 11:57:18: Would be interested in the HHKB.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Tue, 16 June 2009, 12:35:50: I'd like to hear more about your thoughts on filco vs realforce and what you wind up deciding in the end
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Tue, 16 June 2009, 16:16:52: OK, no pics yet because I'm behind on work. Here are some more details though...

1) Although the weighting is supposed to be the same, the 103UB feels lighter to me--keypresses seem to require slightly less force.

2) The 103UB is HEAVY and the no-skid feet really don't skid. This thing hasn't budged a millimeter all day.

3) Maybe I'm just more "used" the capacitive switches now and am not banging away on the keys, but the 103UB seems quieter than the 87U. Gonna have to pull the 87U out of its box to try them side by side a little later.

4) Key texture, spacing, etc. (except for the numpad, of course) appear to be identical to the 87U.

5) I'm going to give it a few days to see if I like it better than the Filco. There is slightly less "play" with the Filco keys, but I like the sound of the Topre better.

6) Like the 87U, even though I'm connected via USB, the 103UB registers 10+ simultaneous key-presses. And no issues similar to the DAS...

asfd
fdas
afsd
afsd
afsd
afsd

qxec
ecqx
eqcx
qxec

If there are any key combos you'd like me to try, just let me know.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Tue, 16 June 2009, 16:47:36: i want to know topre vs filco.

funny that you say filco keys are tighter. The hhkb I tried had the tightest keys i've ever felt.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Tue, 16 June 2009, 16:59:39: The HHKB is definitely tighter than this 103UB. It's not bad on the Topre by any means, but I have the Filco right next to it, and even though it's far more used, the Filco keys have less play...
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: IBI on Tue, 16 June 2009, 17:11:25: Quote from: BigWopHH;96859
If there are any key combos you'd like me to try, just let me know.

Try ASX, Ctrl+w+r and tab+a+w

(we really need some arrow key gamers to give us some good combinations to test there)
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Tue, 16 June 2009, 17:17:50: Quote from: BigWopHH;96893
The HHKB is definitely tighter than this 103UB. It's not bad on the Topre by any means, but I have the Filco right next to it, and even though it's far more used, the Filco keys have less play...

do the 103UB keys 'rattle' at all? Or is it just a tactile play in your fingertips?
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: Korbin on Tue, 16 June 2009, 17:22:32: Quote from: wellington1869;96910
do the 103UB keys 'rattle' at all? Or is it just a tactile play in your fingertips?

Topre keys don't "rattle" - whereas you can feel some "play" in the cherry switches. That's part of the appeal (the topre switch) of them that some people like about them.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Tue, 16 June 2009, 18:18:23: ASX works, CTRL-W-R is closing whatever window I have open, so I assume that works too. Tab+A+W works.

The keys do not rattle, I'm speaking of the play in my fingertips if I try to move the keys from side to side.

I put the 87U side by side for a bit...the key pressure is almost identical---I wonder if having used the 87U in colder weather could have made a difference in my opinion. But there IS slightly more play in the keys on the 103UB. It is NOT bad at all, but there is slightly more.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Tue, 16 June 2009, 18:31:36: yea i'll have to get a topre at some point. wont be for a while tho, its hard to justify the price right now.

funnily enough i'm throughly enjoying my ultranav. it would be kind of hilarious if i wind up with a pretty ordinary membrane daily driver after all this, lol. (nah, aint gonna happen. the change up is nice now and then though).
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: lam47 on Tue, 16 June 2009, 18:31:39: 200g :) 7.05oz
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: majestouch on Wed, 17 June 2009, 01:47:43: Hope you didn't pay too much for shipping; as I'll have these next week :biggrin:
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 17 June 2009, 05:30:47: How much are they anyway?
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Wed, 17 June 2009, 08:22:15: Quote from: ch_123;96973
How much are they anyway?

good question i want to know too...
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Wed, 17 June 2009, 10:44:44: I got somewhat boned buying this thing, Majestouch. I inquired with a buying service I've used before to see if they could even get it, and they responded almost immediately saying they had already secured the item. I didn't want to screw them since they were good to me in the past, so I just went ahead with the order.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 17 June 2009, 11:01:33: BigWOP, how do you like the Cherry G80-3000LXCEU-2 (browns) vs. your Filco? I can't decide which one I like better.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 17 June 2009, 11:11:00: Quote from: BigWopHH;97059
I got somewhat boned buying this thing, Majestouch. I inquired with a buying service I've used before to see if they could even get it, and they responded almost immediately saying they had already secured the item. I didn't want to screw them since they were good to me in the past, so I just went ahead with the order.

you should have told them

(http://o2dazone.com/y/viewImage.php?id=6cdc761e621ed37cb9c8dc6e8f8cc66e)
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 17 June 2009, 11:16:37: Quote from: ripster;97072
I'm showing that to my son.

He'll probably get it since it seems he learned the dirtiest Japanese words first.

Yeah, it helps to know Japanese to interpret that picture
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: lam47 on Wed, 17 June 2009, 11:23:08: I think that is Chinese ;)
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Wed, 17 June 2009, 14:04:59: is a 103UB any cheaper than a 87U? (probably not, but one can dream). Does anyone know for sure?
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: lam47 on Wed, 17 June 2009, 15:05:55: I think they were cheaper where I got my quote.
19800 for the board and 7000 for shipping
$260 USD shipped.
Is that less or more?
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: majestouch on Wed, 17 June 2009, 15:41:52: Quote from: ripster;97164
Dream on. Mo Keys, Mo Bucks!

Would mess up Majestouch's pricing scheme too. What about where BigWop got his - what's the difference?

I think the 87U will maintain an "elite" price over the 103U by a good margin. The 87U is a "limited" edtion, so it sports a collector's price.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Wed, 17 June 2009, 16:00:12: Quote from: itlnstln;97065
BigWOP, how do you like the Cherry G80-3000LXCEU-2 (browns) vs. your Filco? I can't decide which one I like better.

I like the Filco better because the board is heavier, generally stays put, and has a more substantial feel. I prefer the textured key caps on the cherry board though--those things just don't wear out or show any signs of "shine". They're a bit on the slippery side, but I don't mind that very much.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 17 June 2009, 16:03:15: Quote from: BigWopHH;97206
I like the Filco better because the board is heavier, generally stays put, and has a more substantial feel. I prefer the textured key caps on the cherry board though--those things just don't wear out or show any signs of "shine". They're a bit on the slippery side, but I don't mind that very much.

I love the substantial feel of the Filco, but I think the Cherry gives a better key feel. It's like the lighter plastic provides more "oneness with plastic switch." I don't know. I just platoon the two between work and home. I am quite happy with both.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Wed, 17 June 2009, 18:47:00: Quote from: itlnstln;97208
I love the substantial feel of the Filco, but I think the Cherry gives a better key feel. It's like the lighter plastic provides more "oneness with plastic switch." I don't know. I just platoon the two between work and home. I am quite happy with both.

I'm sort of feeling the same way about the Topre 103 and Filco brown board at the moment.

In terms of "feel" and "usability" it's a really tough call and I'm not ready to pick a favorite yet. I think I'm going to have to be more scientific about it and rate the boards in different categories.

Hmmm...maybe we should come up with some rating standards for all of us here? Maybe rate a board from 1 - 5 in different categories, that way it may be a little easier for someone to decide which board is right for them.

What categories would you guys use for rating a board? I'm thinking...

Build Quality

Weight

Key Feel / Texture

Key Durability (resistance to shine and letter fading)

Tactile Feedback

Key pressure

N-Key Tests (should probably some up with three or four key combinations we should all test)

Aesthetics
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: lam47 on Wed, 17 June 2009, 19:13:47: I think this is a great idea.
Only a few of the items listed would be personal preference and not scalable.
I still think its doable though!
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: IBI on Wed, 17 June 2009, 19:22:05: Quote from: BigWopHH;97226
Hmmm...maybe we should come up with some rating standards for all of us here? Maybe rate a board from 1 - 5 in different categories, that way it may be a little easier for someone to decide which board is right for them.

I think it's a waste of time since it's largely about feel and that's a personal preference.

However, If you want to make a list then how about a list of points that it would be nice for reviews to cover?
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Wed, 17 June 2009, 20:45:04: That's sort of what I just did. What points would you like to see covered?
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Wed, 17 June 2009, 21:57:30: I understand that there is significant subjectivity when it comes to keyboards, but still think there could be some value in coming up with some sort of standard criteria on which to rate a product.

If keyboard A is better in some categories than keyboard B, and said categories are more important to a potential buyer, knowing how a board rates in those categories would be helpful, especially considering the fact that most of us already know what switch types we like, and that most of us don't have access to a store to try the boards out. It's not rocket science, just a means to get more information out there.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Wed, 17 June 2009, 22:11:27: Quote
and that most of us don't have access to a store to try the boards out.

I'm working on that (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=6279);)
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: pmyshkin on Thu, 18 June 2009, 00:33:18: Quote from: BigWopHH;97226
cMaybe rate a board from 1 - 5 in different categories, that way it may be a little easier for someone to decide which board is right for them.

I hope you aren't intending for this scale to be normative, as in saying 1 is "worst" and 5 is "best." If that were the case I don't think an objective scale can be established. However, if the numbers only represent magnitudes, as in 1 is least and 5 is most, then I think this kind of scale would be useful.

Quote
What categories would you guys use for rating a board? I'm thinking...

Build Quality

Weight

Key Feel / Texture

Key Durability (resistance to shine and letter fading)

Tactile Feedback

Key pressure

N-Key Tests (should probably some up with three or four key combinations we should all test)

Aesthetics

Don't forget click/clack loudness.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: majestouch on Thu, 18 June 2009, 01:32:45: Quote from: BigWopHH;97226
I'm sort of feeling the same way about the Topre 103 and Filco brown board at the moment.

In terms of "feel" and "usability" it's a really tough call and I'm not ready to pick a favorite yet. I think I'm going to have to be more scientific about it and rate the boards in different categories.

Hmmm...maybe we should come up with some rating standards for all of us here? Maybe rate a board from 1 - 5 in different categories, that way it may be a little easier for someone to decide which board is right for them.

What categories would you guys use for rating a board? I'm thinking...

Build Quality

Weight

Key Feel / Texture

Key Durability (resistance to shine and letter fading)

Tactile Feedback

Key pressure

N-Key Tests (should probably some up with three or four key combinations we should all test)

Aesthetics

I've also been thinking of what quantifiable properties can be used to help people compare and understand mechanical keyboards for sale by EliteKeyboards, but precisely why someone prefers Cherry brown over Topre switches is difficult to pin down.

Only 3 properties come to mind as having a chance at being "definable":

1. key weight (easily measured with the RipOmeter method),
2. key texture (like sand paper ratings)
3. keypress loudness (dBA from a standard distance, ideally; I don't know who will do it...)

All could be reasonably organized on a 1-5 scale.

Other variables are harder to isolate; my thoughts:

Weight - Measurable physically, but the weight of the board can make a difference to the user in what way? I.E. A well thought out mechanical design of a 1 kg board can feel just as solid and supportive once you're typing on it as a 1.5kg board that has less mechanical ingenuity put into it.

Key Durability - Measurable statistically with a large user sampling *only*; i.e. since some people may have rougher/dirtier/greasier fingers. So depending on environment or habits, wear can be accelerated.

Rollover - Measurable, but rarely a worry for most users. The key combinations are helpful for gamers, but it's hard to stop there with much understanding...the topic can become just as confounding as the "MHz" war when you get into ghosting, USB vs. PS2, HID vs non-HID; etc.

Build Quality - Not Measurable. This might seem agreeable to geekhackers as being objective, but Joe Logitech-for-Life-Until-Now can't tell the difference between two boards without spending months or years researching and comparing volumes of boards as only a handful of geekhackers have done. So, assuming the "rater" of this property is truly fair and knowledgeable, the user still takes it on faith alone.

Tactile Feedback - You've either touched a keyboard or you haven't. Distance vs. Force graphs for Topre switches look suspiciously similar to your $30 bargain board, but anyone that has tried a Topre switch will likely tell you they don't feel like $30. So while the D vs. F characteristic is understandable, graphs for different switches are hardly comparable.

EDIT: BTW, I've already begun recording all the keyboards EliteKeyboards carries with consistent input levels, equipment, and environment. I hope to get them posted on the site in the coming weeks.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: majestouch on Thu, 18 June 2009, 01:36:17: Thockyness, new word. +1 ripster

Edit: My bad, did a forum search, welly coined it 3 days ago here http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=96358&postcount=1
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: ssb on Thu, 18 June 2009, 03:57:19: @majestouch: Could you please give us an ETA on RealForce 103U availability?
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: IBI on Thu, 18 June 2009, 09:11:54: Quote from: BigWopHH;97251
That's sort of what I just did. What points would you like to see covered?

I think it's a good start for a list but it could be fleshed out and elaborated. For key combinations control+w+r and a+s+x are good ones for WASD gamers, and brailists need SDFJKL.

Also, it would be nice to have things like key curvature and keyboard profile (i.e. the way the rows are curved).

Quote from: majestouch;97293

Only 3 properties come to mind as having a chance at being "definable":

1. key weight (easily measured with the RipOmeter method),
2. key texture (like sand paper ratings)
3. keypress loudness (dBA from a standard distance, ideally; I don't know who will do it...)

All could be reasonably organized on a 1-5 scale.

Is key weight really helpful? As Ripster showed, scissor switches tend to have a high weight while still feeling light.

The same goes for loudness, I'd be interested to see the volume results but I think a lot of the issue is how annoying the sound is rather than the volume.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: lam47 on Thu, 18 June 2009, 09:26:46: But how annoying it is will differ too. I know a people who hate the sound of the Blue cherry switches. Ella cant stand the sound of the Topre boards. She says it sounds like an old man trying to talk to a horse or a dog.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Thu, 18 June 2009, 09:59:11: Damn, Ripster you must really hate to be an American. It seems you make disparaging comments every chance you get.

And Lam, I totally understand what Ella means! I just realized what the Topre boards sound like! It's similar to sound dentures make when smacking up against someone's gums! HA!
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: BigWopHH on Thu, 18 June 2009, 10:15:47: Well, Canadians, of course. And feel free to rip on the Italians, I can take it.

Agreed, N-Key support is a joke most of the time. The only boards that I have confidence in, in that regard are the Filco and Topres.

And I actually love the sound of the Topres; Ella thought just made me laugh when I made the connection.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: lam47 on Thu, 18 June 2009, 10:39:11: Yeah me too. I think the sound is nice but I can see where she is coming from.
I hate it when old men come up to me and try and make noises at the Dog.
Just talk to him for ***** sake! What the hell is he supposed to do with your weird noises?

She says the HH is worse than the Realforce. Sounds wetter.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 18 June 2009, 10:50:11: Any time a keyboard or the sound thereof is described as "wetter," I get a little nervous. I can't say I have ever had a moist keyboard before.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Thu, 18 June 2009, 11:19:35: i cant find a better word than 'thock' to describe the topre sound. I forget who first used that word here to describe it, but it stuck. Thats as good as chloe's description of the BS keys as "industrious chatter".

Quote from: majestouch;97294
Thockyness,

Edit: My bad, did a forum search, welly coined it 3 days ago here http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=96358&postcount=1

@majestouch: pretty sure it wasnt me, i've heard it before on the forum.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: majestouch on Thu, 18 June 2009, 12:21:12: Quote from: IBI;97322
I think it's a good start for a list but it could be fleshed out and elaborated. For key combinations control+w+r and a+s+x are good ones for WASD gamers, and brailists need SDFJKL.

Also, it would be nice to have things like key curvature and keyboard profile (i.e. the way the rows are curved).

Is key weight really helpful? As Ripster showed, scissor switches tend to have a high weight while still feeling light.

The same goes for loudness, I'd be interested to see the volume results but I think a lot of the issue is how annoying the sound is rather than the volume.

I get the key weight question from folks with RSI and arthritis quite often, so while this quality is ideologically deceiving; i.e. a wimpy scissor switch has high resistance, it is still an important empirical property.

Yes, XM whites have weaker high frequency components in their CLICK than the Blue Cherries have, so "loudness" doesn't tell you if you'll like the spectral distribution of the sound. However, a dBA rating is an A-weighted (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-weighting) measurement, meaning it is biased to the spectral response of the human ear. So it gives you a combined measurement of air pressure and frequency distribution that should be a relatively agreeable reference until dogs begin to type.

I agree with you on the key curvature, I was forgetting this, while the exact measurements probably differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, the type could be classified; i.e. http://keycapsdirect.com/key-caps.php
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: majestouch on Thu, 18 June 2009, 13:33:02: Quote from: ripster;97421
Wow Mr. M - didn't know how nerdy you could get.

I'm a guitarist , decibals be damned!

Show Image
(http://www.personalazeit.com/cs/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/7da2e2005a72812493a85ce3cf0619cd.jpg)

Yeah, well it's part of a trilogy really. A musical trilogy that I'm doing...in D Minor, which I always find is really the saddest of all keys.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: majestouch on Thu, 18 June 2009, 13:34:31: Quote from: ssb;97300
@majestouch: Could you please give us an ETA on RealForce 103U availability?

They should be for sale this weekend on the site; shipping next week.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: lam47 on Thu, 18 June 2009, 13:36:48: Can you get Happy hacking key sets? Or even Realforce ones for that matter.
:)
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Thu, 18 June 2009, 15:57:48: I think instead we should just agree on subjective categories that an ideal review should touch upon. Rather than come up with numerical metrics that no one can agree on.

Cuz it seems to me, when someone is out there trying to decide whether a particular keyboard is right for them, basically their search can indeed be broken down into a few important categories.

For instance:

1) Resistance level: In a lot of ways, the search for a keyboard is a lot like searching for oneself. (Caution: Zen ahead). Because you cant know what you want until you know what you like. And you cant know what you like until you know who you are. For instance, I always say that a person should know the resistance range (in grams) that they like on their keyboards just like they know what t-shirt size they wear and what shoe-size they wear. You cant walk into a clothing store and pick out a t-shirts if you dont know your size and dont know what you like. So thats the first thing - one must figure out the range of resistance they like, and only then the range of resistance available out there for purchase in the keyboard universe will make any sense.

For me for instance, i'm pretty sure I like a range between 55gm and 65gm. Use the ripOmeter if necessary.

To some degree resistance can be "tuned" or modded on many boards (physically modifying the springs, and/or applying grease or teflon spray to the stems, etc).

2) Audible feedback: volume level. Similarly one needs to know what kind of volume level one likes. When talking about volume, this can be readily broken down into three components:
-click: built in click. Do you want it and how loud do you like it? (The preceding was not a sexual proposition). You can tune this to some degree by modding the springs or leafs on boards, physically or with grease, etc.
-clacks -- topping and bottoming clacks. How loud and do you want one or both? This too can be modded or "tuned" to some degree on many boards, with rubber washers, O-rings, etc.
-Reverberation - some boards produce reverberation noise much more than other boards. This can be tuned to some degree (by applying goo (like plasti-dip), or sound dampening foam pads, etc)

3) physical feedback: tactility. Usually produced by the spring or leaf. Do you like a big hump? (The preceding was not a sexual proposition). Small hump? no hump? Sharp bump? Steady friction?

I think there are three styles of tactility based on the location where the tactile feedback occurs during the downstroke: at the top of the stroke, throughout the downstroke, or only at the bottom.
- membrane boards for instance have their resistance all up front, once the key is pressed, the resistance drops to zero.
-BS switches and spring switches in general have some level of resistance throughout the downstroke (whcih I like), though how much will be there, varies by make and model of the switch. (With topres, very light, with BS, quite noticeable, all the way down to the membrane).
-With some very light switches the only tactile resistance you'll notice is when you bottom out.

If the above describes the location of the feedback on the downstroke, then there is the question of the amount of the tactile feedback: light, medium, heavy. And other descriptive qualities like sharp, smooth, etc.

4) If the above three things describe the switch, the last descriptive category describes the board itself: layout, style, aesthetics, color, etc. All of which can be usually "tuned" as well.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Thu, 18 June 2009, 16:07:19: Quote from: wellington1869;97369
i cant find a better word than 'thock' to describe the topre sound. I forget who first used that word here to describe it, but it stuck. Thats as good as chloe's description of the BS keys as "industrious chatter".

Quote from: majestouch;97294
Thockyness,

Edit: My bad, did a forum search, welly coined it 3 days ago here http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=96358&postcount=1

Quote from: wellington1869;97369

@majestouch: pretty sure it wasnt me, i've heard it before on the forum.

update: Ah, it was bigpook (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?p=65957&highlight=thock#post65957). September 30th, 2008. The earliest instance of the word "thock" on this forum to describe the topre switch.

Congrats pook! You're a trend setter ;)
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: ssb on Thu, 18 June 2009, 16:13:46: Quote from: majestouch;97435
They should be for sale this weekend on the site; shipping next week.

Thanks majestouch!
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: skyian on Sun, 21 June 2009, 22:47:56: I got an RF103UB and an RF103white (specially made for Taiwan User, PS/2 version. I guss they only made that for like..13-15 pieces) I also have filco with Brown swiches and black swithes.

It's fairly odd to me, cause we rarely discuss the different between Topre and filco in Taiwan or China. After all they use totally different skill to make keyboards. Hence the typing feel for Realforce is extremely different from Filco.

I always tell my friends if they want to buy a Topre keyboard, it's truly necessary for them to try it before. But since it's almost impossible in USA. I guess we could only describe how it feels on the web.
(Maybe that's because Taiwan is not a big island..LOL if you drive from the northest part to the southest part, it might takes you only 6-8 hours depending on the traffic)

Actually I find most of the keyboards which uses cherry switches are feel alike, for example like KBT, GP101, DAS 3, FILCO. There might be tiny differences but we tend to ignore it. (LOL) Therefore we seldom discuss the difference between them. Instead we discuss more about their function.
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: skyian on Mon, 22 June 2009, 13:39:35: i-rocks is a nice brand here.
its cheap price and nice outlook truly attracts lots of people here.
However, due to the cheap price, I wonder if they pay pretty much extra attention on the QC.
Hence from time to time there will be people arguing about their i-rocks keyboard just be broken easily.

At the same time, there are some other people insist that it's just because too many people buy i-rocks keyboards. The more people buy i-rocks keyboards, the more people may find their i-rocks keyboards broken. If i-rocks barely sells any keyboards, there will be no one arguing this problem. (LOL)

i-rocks warranty is good in Taiwan. Buyers don't have to worry about this part.
But we don't want to use that part..haha... We all hope our keyboard works perfectly fine with us for years.

Nevertheless, also owing to its cheap price, I personally don't care much about the product MIGHT be broken easily. Afterall it's quite cheap. ^_^

Razer Deathadder is about 1800 NTD here. It's a high price mouse but its button just be broken so easily too. We all know that but we still buy it....

Woo... it's late here. Sorry for my English. Hope you guys could understand... ^_^
Title: Got my Topre 103UB
Post by: wellington1869 on Mon, 22 June 2009, 14:03:32: Quote from: ripster;98350
Thanks, understood you fine. Your comments were very helpful ........

Wait a second - where's that "report post" red triangle. I keep jabbing it and nothing happens!

I like Keanu Reeves small toe. That body part shows his widest range of acting expression.

lols

(this is why we need a thumbs up button.)