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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: awts on Sun, 21 December 2014, 08:28:42

Title: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: awts on Sun, 21 December 2014, 08:28:42
I've been so much in love with the Topre switches that I've madly acquired a few RF 87U boards in a incredibly short amount of time. A Digilog case is also incoming and so forth. I'm more into collecting and I'm a Topre fan even after trying various other MX switches that are more widely available.

Now I know I won't be happy if I don't at least own a HHKB. I think it'll be very suitable for work as I can use it hooked to my MacBook Pro booting both OSX and Win 8.1, depending on what I'm doing. The only thing I'm not sure is gaming. Simply put it, I'm just curious.

I did my share of research over the past few days from DT to GH forums. From how the HHKB can't satisfy an owner of the Topre 55G, to some that raves about the Type-S and of course those totally ditching the silenced for the regular Topre feel. Problem is, I totally love the 55G feel and I don't think HHKB has one in that variant. I'm not sure if I should go S or not. There is simply no way for me to find out...

What do you guys think? To silence or not to, if you already have what I have? Add an S for variety, or go with the regular for the true Topre feel?

 :-\
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 21 December 2014, 16:30:51
Some silenced HHKB whistle.  There is some question as to whether it is a manufacturing defect or a feature.  Some say that it fades over time.

You can achieve almost the same effect by installing dental bands (the rubber type) yourself.

Also HHKB is not well-loved by those playing games that absolutely require dedicated function keys.  Hunting for FN+number in the heat of a battle does not always work out for the best.
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: spiceBar on Sun, 21 December 2014, 16:53:47
Some silenced HHKB whistle.  There is some question as to whether it is a manufacturing defect or a feature.  Some say that it fades over time.

You can achieve almost the same effect by installing dental bands (the rubber type) yourself.

Also HHKB is not well-loved by those playing games that absolutely require dedicated function keys.  Hunting for FN+number in the heat of a battle does not always work out for the best.

I think you don't get a Type-S by installing dental bands. They reduce the key travel and some of the Topre switch tactility disappears in the process.

To get a Type-S I think it's better to use the ironed landing pads method, which does not change the switch tactility.
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: daerid on Mon, 22 December 2014, 10:53:26
Dental banding my 660C was amazing. The 55g RF was horrid.

Both reduce key travel, which for me personal was a deal breaker.
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: Heliosphere on Mon, 22 December 2014, 11:23:47
My 55g was lubed and it sounds quiet enough to not need a mod. My stock 87u 45g with landing pads removed sounds even quieter than the 55g for some reason - possibly worn out rubber cups since the weighting seems overly light. My new 660c could definitely benefit from a silent mod though, mainly because of clacky plastic.
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: spiceBar on Mon, 22 December 2014, 12:18:59
Dental banding my 660C was amazing. The 55g RF was horrid.

Both reduce key travel, which for me personal was a deal breaker.

I hope you will try the ironed landing pads method some day.
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: awts on Tue, 23 December 2014, 05:23:18
Thanks guys! I went with the regular dark gray HHKB PRO 2!  :p
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: nubbinator on Tue, 23 December 2014, 22:45:40
You'll enjoy it.  I like the silenced HHKB a little better since I think it feels a little tighter, but it only comes in white.  I love my Pro 2 even though it's not silenced.  So if you like Topre, you should love that too.
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 24 December 2014, 00:07:08
When it arrives, after you've used it for a few days, please let us know what you think of it!

And good luck :)
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: RoflCopter4 on Fri, 26 December 2014, 05:55:47
Good choice. I'm loving my HHKB so far. Part of me misses arrow keys, but it's surprisingly minor.  The only reason I can seem myself using a different keyboard anytime soon is the simple fact that I basically require a numpad for spreadsheet slavery at work.
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 27 December 2014, 01:13:15
Good choice. I'm loving my HHKB so far. Part of me misses arrow keys, but it's surprisingly minor.  The only reason I can seem myself using a different keyboard anytime soon is the simple fact that I basically require a numpad for spreadsheet slavery at work.

https://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rf_numberpad

;)
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: awts on Sat, 27 December 2014, 01:19:07
Good choice. I'm loving my HHKB so far. Part of me misses arrow keys, but it's surprisingly minor.  The only reason I can seem myself using a different keyboard anytime soon is the simple fact that I basically require a numpad for spreadsheet slavery at work.

https://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rf_numberpad

;)

Pretty costly, but I'm eyeing on one as well...  :-\
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 27 December 2014, 01:51:17
Good choice. I'm loving my HHKB so far. Part of me misses arrow keys, but it's surprisingly minor.  The only reason I can seem myself using a different keyboard anytime soon is the simple fact that I basically require a numpad for spreadsheet slavery at work.

https://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rf_numberpad

;)

Pretty costly, but I'm eyeing on one as well...  :-\

The cream of the crop does come at a premium price :p

Cheaper alternatives are available: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-br/leopold-210tp-mechanical-keypa/lid=35137624
Title: Re: Silenced or not to be?
Post by: paicrai on Sat, 27 December 2014, 03:07:58
might as well buy a peasantdome (thorpe counts) if ur gonna silence it imo