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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Veridis on Wed, 15 October 2014, 10:49:48

Title: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Wed, 15 October 2014, 10:49:48
Hello, I just got a Novatouch recently and am wondering what keycaps do you guys have on yours :)
I'm still using the stock keys, thinking about getting a blank keycap set.

Also, what keycap profile have you tried and prefer on the Novatouch?
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: intelli78 on Wed, 15 October 2014, 15:36:31
Right now, stock.

I like the way Ducky PBT sounds/feels. Don't like GMK. The only Ducky caps I have are blank, though, and I don't want to run blanks -- have a couple dyesub Ducky sets on the way and will put one of those on when they arrive.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Hyde on Wed, 15 October 2014, 21:08:37
I've always been wondering, are the Ducky thick PBT made from the same place as Poker 2 keycaps?

EDIT:  Sorry not meant to derail but I don't have a Novatouch yet so I can't contribute to this post.  :P
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Wed, 15 October 2014, 22:43:57
At the moment I am using my PBT engraved set :

(http://reho.st/self/c8afefca5c7aaa39468077c28ee0de1e75f1bfb4.png)
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: intelli78 on Thu, 16 October 2014, 08:54:04
Quote from: _PixelNinja on Wed, 15 October 2014, 22:43:57
At the moment I am using my PBT engraved set :

Show Image
(http://reho.st/self/c8afefca5c7aaa39468077c28ee0de1e75f1bfb4.png)


Load = fired

Where did that set come from?
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Thu, 16 October 2014, 10:19:41
With the exception of the red Esc, it is a set that used to be made by KBC. There were available in black and white, either blank or engraved. I was lucky to get my hands on one of the last sets available at the time. I wish they were still in production...

Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: intelli78 on Thu, 16 October 2014, 11:10:53
Quote from: _PixelNinja on Thu, 16 October 2014, 10:19:41
With the exception of the red Esc, it is a set that used to be made by KBC. There were available in black and white, either blank or engraved. I was lucky to get my hands on one of the last sets available at the time. I wish they were still in production...

I see. I used to have a similar (same I guess) set on a Poker, but I didn't realize they made the rest of the keys too :)
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Thu, 16 October 2014, 13:39:34
Yes — they are the same as the stock key caps that were on certain Pokers. They are no thick PBT, but they are still very nice in my opinion.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Karura on Fri, 17 October 2014, 05:23:31
If anyone is interested enough, I bought two sets of those engraved thin PBT caps in 2011 (one black and one white) and they've been great. I think some of the later ones have messed up cursive legends.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Novus on Fri, 17 October 2014, 16:13:17
Leopold keycaps :)
Will probably put my vortex caps on my novatouch
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Sat, 18 October 2014, 03:37:06
Quote from: the1onewolf on Fri, 17 October 2014, 16:13:17
Leopold keycaps :)
Will probably put my vortex caps on my novatouch

Are they the ones in this thread (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59780.90)?
Been reading about Keycaps since I started this thread. So many choices! Cherry vs OEM profile, blank vs side printed.  :confused:
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: GL1TCH3D on Tue, 21 October 2014, 10:55:58
If I get mine I'll throw some Dolch DSA on =O

I much prefer DSA for the most part =(
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: intelli78 on Wed, 22 October 2014, 16:43:55
Quote from: Veridis on Sat, 18 October 2014, 03:37:06
Quote from: the1onewolf on Fri, 17 October 2014, 16:13:17
Leopold keycaps :)
Will probably put my vortex caps on my novatouch

Are they the ones in this thread (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59780.90)?
Been reading about Keycaps since I started this thread. So many choices! Cherry vs OEM profile, blank vs side printed.  :confused:

I just put a set of these on my Novatouch and they are absolutely awesome. They look great, feel great, and sound great. I prefer them to everything I've tried so far, including GMK, Ducky PBT, and BSP PBT.

(http://i.imgur.com/POlomo9.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/hSn8Cwu.jpg)
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Wed, 22 October 2014, 16:45:54
Nice photos Intelli!
So fresh and so clean.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: intelli78 on Wed, 22 October 2014, 16:55:26
"Clean" really does describe the combination of those caps with the minimally branded Novatouch. I mentioned earlier that I didn't want to run blanks on my NT, but these almost convince me otherwise. Too bad Leopold hasn't released black blanks.  :(
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 22 October 2014, 17:14:07
Very nice Novatouch :)
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Novus on Wed, 22 October 2014, 18:21:44
Quote from: intelli78 on Wed, 22 October 2014, 16:55:26
"Clean" really does describe the combination of those caps with the minimally branded Novatouch. I mentioned earlier that I didn't want to run blanks on my NT, but these almost convince me otherwise. Too bad Leopold hasn't released black blanks.  :(
Yea I really want those blank blacks myself too
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Wed, 22 October 2014, 19:20:19
Quote from: the1onewolf on Wed, 22 October 2014, 18:21:44
Quote from: intelli78 on Wed, 22 October 2014, 16:55:26
"Clean" really does describe the combination of those caps with the minimally branded Novatouch. I mentioned earlier that I didn't want to run blanks on my NT, but these almost convince me otherwise. Too bad Leopold hasn't released black blanks.  :(
Yea I really want those blank blacks myself too
We should all PM widebasket to ask for it ;D
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 22 October 2014, 19:35:54
These.

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/15580478196_b73ec111bf_k.jpg)
Novatouch (https://flic.kr/p/pJN2mq) by HoffmanMyster (https://www.flickr.com/people/99522542@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Lastpilot on Wed, 22 October 2014, 21:01:56
Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 22 October 2014, 19:35:54
These.

Show Image
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/15580478196_b73ec111bf_k.jpg)

Novatouch (https://flic.kr/p/pJN2mq) by HoffmanMyster (https://www.flickr.com/people/99522542@N03/), on Flickr

You win.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 22 October 2014, 21:37:11
Quote from: Lastpilot on Wed, 22 October 2014, 21:01:56
Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 22 October 2014, 19:35:54
These.

Show Image
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/15580478196_b73ec111bf_k.jpg)

Novatouch (https://flic.kr/p/pJN2mq) by HoffmanMyster (https://www.flickr.com/people/99522542@N03/), on Flickr

You win.

So you got that impression to, eh? :))
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Binge on Wed, 22 October 2014, 21:48:16
Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 22 October 2014, 19:35:54
These.

Show Image
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/15580478196_b73ec111bf_k.jpg)

Novatouch (https://flic.kr/p/pJN2mq) by HoffmanMyster (https://www.flickr.com/people/99522542@N03/), on Flickr

I feel as though this has been missing from my life.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Novus on Thu, 23 October 2014, 00:56:35
Show off.
Go touch type with blanks :/
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Thu, 23 October 2014, 10:37:58
Quote from: Veridis on Wed, 22 October 2014, 19:20:19
We should all PM widebasket to ask for it ;D
He said Leopold do not plan to make black blanks in the near future, which sucks.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Novus on Thu, 23 October 2014, 12:40:57
I got a similar response from him last week as well.

According to him we're going to be stuck with blank navy caps for a while. Speaking of which just bought another set :).

Kinda makes me glad i got that blank black vortex set a while back.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 23 October 2014, 12:47:46
Quote from: Veridis on Wed, 22 October 2014, 19:20:19
Quote from: the1onewolf on Wed, 22 October 2014, 18:21:44
Quote from: intelli78 on Wed, 22 October 2014, 16:55:26
"Clean" really does describe the combination of those caps with the minimally branded Novatouch. I mentioned earlier that I didn't want to run blanks on my NT, but these almost convince me otherwise. Too bad Leopold hasn't released black blanks.  :(
Yea I really want those blank blacks myself too
We should all PM widebasket to ask for it ;D

A few of us have already tried that. :D
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Thu, 23 October 2014, 18:13:46
Still sucks though. I do not understand that decision considering they do not actually have to produce a new set.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Volvicsoda on Sun, 26 October 2014, 01:37:25
Quote from: intelli78 on Wed, 22 October 2014, 16:43:55
Quote from: Veridis on Sat, 18 October 2014, 03:37:06
Quote from: the1onewolf on Fri, 17 October 2014, 16:13:17
Leopold keycaps :)
Will probably put my vortex caps on my novatouch

Are they the ones in this thread (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59780.90)?
Been reading about Keycaps since I started this thread. So many choices! Cherry vs OEM profile, blank vs side printed.  :confused:

I just put a set of these on my Novatouch and they are absolutely awesome. They look great, feel great, and sound great. I prefer them to everything I've tried so far, including GMK, Ducky PBT, and BSP PBT.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/POlomo9.jpg)


Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/hSn8Cwu.jpg)


can't agree more. love the way these keycaps sound & feel.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: acantha on Sun, 26 October 2014, 01:39:01
I just put my newly received Galaxy Class set on, and i'm LOVING it.


(http://i.imgur.com/NR75mOu.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/z4MUvWq.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Uv4SO5d.jpg)
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Sov on Sun, 26 October 2014, 23:43:33
Great choice intelli78 - went with the exact same set.  Was hoping they'd have a bit more of a textured feel, but the material and sound are great.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Fri, 31 October 2014, 12:47:03
Just got the Leopold Pbts in white, got a quick snapshot. Gonna try some keyboard photography when I'm free :D
The stabilizers are really noisy with these keys though.
 
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/Loner1337/DSC09470_zpsf92f194c.jpg)
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Sun, 02 November 2014, 04:46:47
Hmm, the shorter cherry profile takes away some pf the tactile feedback at the top of the stroke. It seems that taller keycaps have more "pop"  at the beginning because any effect of off-center keypresses are magnified and a little more force is required to actuate.

When deliberately pressing Stock OEM keys dead center, the switch feel is identical to these cherry profile pbt.

This may be the reason that some people felt the 45g Topre switch on the Novatouch feel heavier than on other topre keyboards.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: intelli78 on Mon, 10 November 2014, 01:21:19
I took my Leopold PBT off to try out the Tai Hao Olivette that just arrived from Massdrop.

They look good on the NT:

(http://i.imgur.com/aBBabnn.jpg)

As for the feel, they are actually pretty comparable to the stock caps. The shifts/enter are nice and high, so they don't smack against the plastic tabs.
I'll put the Leo PBT back on soon, but these are not bad.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Mon, 10 November 2014, 02:50:23
Wow intelli, the color scheme of those keycaps are really nice!



Added Ducky White engraved pbt to my Novatouch. The pbt doesn't feel as nice as the realforce's or the Leopold pbt, but it's OEM profile and also feels quite "chunky" because of it's thickness.
The engraving is also extremely difficult to see, which is great because the legends disappear if you're not looking hard :D

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/Loner1337/DSC09528_zps6ad55406.jpg)
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Mon, 10 November 2014, 07:19:43
So the consensus is that Cherry/Stepculture 2 profile does not work well with the Novatouch's stabilized switches?

I was thinking about getting the Leopolds or something similar, but if it's as bad as it sounds I might forget about that idea for now.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Mon, 10 November 2014, 08:29:07
Quote from: _PixelNinja on Mon, 10 November 2014, 07:19:43
So the consensus is that Cherry/Stepculture 2 profile does not work well with the Novatouch's stabilized switches?

I was thinking about getting the Leopolds or something similar, but if it's as bad as it sounds I might forget about that idea for now.

Cherry profile feels fantastic on the Novatouch, IMO.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Mon, 10 November 2014, 09:30:58
Quote from: _PixelNinja on Mon, 10 November 2014, 07:19:43
So the consensus is that Cherry/Stepculture 2 profile does not work well with the Novatouch's stabilized switches?

I was thinking about getting the Leopolds or something similar, but if it's as bad as it sounds I might forget about that idea for now.

It would be better if you already had some cherry profile keycaps lying around to try. There are quite a few people reporting about having problems with cherry/low profile keycaps (myself included) but there seems to be an equal number of people around being satisfied. Even when just comparing the same keycaps (Leopold pbt), different people feel differently.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Mon, 10 November 2014, 09:38:22
*Facepalm*

I totally forgot I had an SP RGB PBT set lying around. I'll try that on to see how they do on the stabilized switches... Regardless, thanks for your feedback!
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Mon, 10 November 2014, 09:56:15
Okay so tried the keys on and they are indeed very noisy on the stabilized switches; they "clack" even when pressed lightly, nearly like bottoming out on Cherry MX. I am sad Panda.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Mon, 10 November 2014, 18:03:23
Quote from: _PixelNinja on Mon, 10 November 2014, 09:56:15
Okay so tried the keys on and they are indeed very noisy on the stabilized switches; they "clack" even when pressed lightly, nearly like bottoming out on Cherry MX. I am sad Panda.
Your experience mirrors mine then, unfortunately :(
I don't know how anyone can tolerate that kind of clacking, it's horrible.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Mon, 10 November 2014, 20:21:55
I agree it's not pleasant at all. I guess I will have to stick with OEM profile on the Novatouch...
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: intelli78 on Tue, 11 November 2014, 02:57:26
Quote from: _PixelNinja on Mon, 10 November 2014, 07:19:43
So the consensus is that Cherry/Stepculture 2 profile does not work well with the Novatouch's stabilized switches?

I was thinking about getting the Leopolds or something similar, but if it's as bad as it sounds I might forget about that idea for now.
On my board, Cherry caps clack against the switch housings, but Leopold PBT does not. The stabs are loud no matter what but the Leo caps are great on the NT.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Veridis on Tue, 11 November 2014, 19:04:41
Hmm, after a few days of using the thick OEM Ducky PBT, I have a hypothesis that heavier keycaps make a louder 'clack' on the upstroke. The stock thin abs keycaps and the keycaps on the Realforce 87u (which is medium thickness, but probably much lighter because they are shorter) were quieter.
I have a feeling that engineers at Topre knew this, and so made the stems on their keycaps protrude a little to decrease keycap height but still maintaining clearnace.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: snipars on Tue, 11 November 2014, 21:24:18
Vortex doubleshot PBTs, although I'd like to get some DSA keycaps from signatureplastics, or maybe ORIGINATIVE's classic beige keyset 
would anyone else agree that the difference between ABS and PBT on topre isn't as big as the difference between ABS and PBT on cherry MX, it's still a big difference and i'd rather use PBT but i don't find it as necessary as PBT on MX
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: redeye on Wed, 12 November 2014, 03:52:18
Got my iso novatouch yesterday and i'm chuffed. Only downsides so far are a noisy enter and right shift.
(http://i.imgur.com/wG9hqGr.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/17oKRUn.jpg)

Does anyone know where to get an extra spacebar spring? I might try it under the enter to see if it helps.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Hypersphere on Sat, 19 September 2015, 17:48:30
I've been tweaking my Novatouch for quite some time, and I've finally gotten it to be almost as enjoyable to type on as my silenced RF87UB55. My modifications include the following:

+ Silencing Rings
+ Lubed stabilizers
+ Self-adhesive foam squares under the spacebar
+ Ducky PBT keycaps in OEM profile

The silencing rings substantially attenuated the return-stroke clack noise, and lubing the stabilizers and putting foam pads under the spacebar greatly attenuated stabilizer rattle.

I've tried a number of other keycap sets, including stock, SP ABS double-shots, Originative ABS double-shots, Imsto dye-sub PBT, Leopold PBT, Vortex PBT double-shots, and Ducky PBT in OEM profile. I found that Cherry and Leopold profile produced contact noise on the downstroke; this was almost eliminated by using the higher OEM profile.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 21 September 2015, 02:59:13
I've read that SA profile are great on the Novatouch, but haven't seen any posters yet in this thread using them  :(

I know Muirium is rocking DSA Granite on his and loving it.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: Hypersphere on Mon, 21 September 2015, 08:50:57
Quote from: Oobly on Mon, 21 September 2015, 02:59:13
I've read that SA profile are great on the Novatouch, but haven't seen any posters yet in this thread using them  :(

I know Muirium is rocking DSA Granite on his and loving it.
Yes, on the theory that a high profile should work well on the NT, I am hoping someday to get an SA profile set. The only problem with that is that it is my understanding that there are technical issues with using PBT for the SA profile, and I much prefer typing on PBT rather than ABS.

I've also tried the Granite set on the NT. It looks great and works well in terms of downstroke noise, but I have difficulty typing on the set. I'm not sure how much of the problem arises from the spherical tops vs. the flat DSA profile, but I think it is mostly the flat profile. Nevertheless, the Granite set is so beautiful I intend to hold onto it and keep trying until I adapt to the profile.
Title: Re: What keycaps are you using on your Novatouch?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Tue, 22 September 2015, 19:03:26
Quote from: Oobly on Mon, 21 September 2015, 02:59:13
I've read that SA profile are great on the Novatouch, but haven't seen any posters yet in this thread using them  :(

I know Muirium is rocking DSA Granite on his and loving it.

I enjoyed SA just fine on the Novatouch, but I prefer GMK so that's what I use.  :)