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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Hauksort on Sun, 18 January 2015, 08:23:17

Title: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Hauksort on Sun, 18 January 2015, 08:23:17

Looking for a new keyboard with Topre switches, and I can't decide if I should get the CM Storm Novatouch TKL or the Realforce 87U. I know the RF is supposed to be really sturdy, while I know nothing of the build quality of the Novatouch. I guessed this was because the RF has a metal plate while the Novatouch has a plastic plate? I would love some customization, but Topre keycaps are incredibly expensive if you want sets of them instead of single keycaps apparently. The Novatouch on the other hand has the MX stems which makes them very customizable. In other words I guess I'm trying to decide if I should go for build quality over customization, and wondering if the Novatouchs build quality really is bad because of the plate in comparison.

English isn't my native language, and I'm pretty  new to keyboards, so sorry for any mistakes.
Appreciate any thoughts and answers you can come up with! :)

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sun, 18 January 2015, 08:53:27

The novatouch has a metal plate.

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 18 January 2015, 09:37:38

The NovaTouch's plate attracts a magnet, so it must be steel, just like Realforce's.
It is the Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) that has a plastic plate integrated with the case top.

The Novatouch has also a detachable cable and media keys, but the Novatoch's stock keycaps are thin ABS and the look of the Nordic key set leaves a bit to be desired. The Realforce's keycaps are the best I have ever used, except that the space bar is not PBT. I find both to be equally sturdily built otherwise. Personally I prefer grainy black plastic with rounded edges over smooth flat black angles.

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Hypersphere on Sun, 18 January 2015, 09:45:36

The Novatouch has a metal plate. The main difference between the Novatouch and other Topre-switch keyboards is that the Novatouch has hybrid switches with stems that fit Cherry-mount keycaps instead of Topre keycaps.

The Novatouch also has a Fn key that cannot be remapped, whereas the RF has a Menu key that can be remapped as a Fn key in software if desired.

While I appreciate the novelty of being able to put Cherry-mount keycaps on my Novatouch, I much prefer the appearance, sound, and feel of my RF boards. I have both the all-45g and all-55g RF 87ub; I like both of them, but I have a slight preference for the 55g model.

The HHKB Pro 2 has case-mounted rather than plate-mounted switches. I tend to prefer the sound and feel of the plate-mounted switches in my RF boards, but I prefer the 60% form factor and layout of the HHKB Pro 2.

At the moment, my favorite board is the KBP V60 Matias Click mini keyboard. I've replaced the mods with black blanks from Matias and the alphas with white caps from a vintage Alps-mount keyboard, and I've remapped the V60 to a HHKB layout.

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Hauksort on Mon, 19 January 2015, 11:49:05

Does the Novatouch feel any different than other Topre keyboards because of the stem?

I can apparently get the Realforce 88UB 45g small keyboard from "The Keyboard Company", http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/swedish-realforce-88ub-45g-key-black-on-black-mini-keyboard.asp (http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/swedish-realforce-88ub-45g-key-black-on-black-mini-keyboard.asp)
Only downside is that the keys are 45g instead of the 55g I'd like. I could get a US keyboard though, as the only downside is that it takes time to get used to clicking on a button labeled something, while something else is appearing on the monitor. I've also seen a few cool Topre keysets on Amazon etc from Leopold which should work with the Realforce if I'm not mistaken. Only downside is that I get too many keys.

I really like the smaller Realforce keyboards, and I would really like the 55g versions. Is it a big issue to get a US keyboard layout for someone normally using a Nordic layout?
Thanks for all the help, I really need it!

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 19 January 2015, 11:58:35

The biggest problem when using a Nordic layout on an ANSI keyboard is that there is no < key. I haven't found any key combination with right Alt and/or Shift that can replace it.
Other than that, it is just that what is printed on the keycap does not always reflect what symbol you get.

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Data on Mon, 19 January 2015, 13:00:43

All I know is that a good steel plate is a thick-ass mofo that don't bend for NOBODY.

(http://i.imgur.com/8Bebwfw.jpg)

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: hwood34 on Mon, 19 January 2015, 13:01:17

Quote from: Data on Mon, 19 January 2015, 13:00:43

All I know is that a good steel plate is a thick-ass mofo that don't bend for NOBODY.

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/8Bebwfw.jpg)

tru dat

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Dihedral on Mon, 19 January 2015, 13:02:19

If you want to customise go for Novatouch anyday. Seriously, you'll thank yourself later.

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Hauksort on Mon, 19 January 2015, 13:05:48

Quote from: Data on Mon, 19 January 2015, 13:00:43

All I know is that a good steel plate is a thick-ass mofo that don't bend for NOBODY.

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/8Bebwfw.jpg)

True, and that's why I want one of those in my life!

I could go for the Novatouch. Can I change the keycaps to higher quality keycaps similar to the keycaps the RF keyboard has then?
I guess I could I just want to make sure.  :)

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Ngt on Sun, 22 February 2015, 14:33:41

For me the difference between the NT and other Topre board is that it requires some mods to be as good (even better considering the customization). The rattling on the mods is bad and the stem need silencing. Otherwise the build quality is definitely a good according to me.

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: Novus on Sun, 22 February 2015, 17:20:45

Don't forget to take a look at the HHKB type S during your preliminary considerations!

Title: Re: Is there a big difference between plastic and metal plate?
Post by: spiceBar on Sun, 22 February 2015, 21:02:19

Quote from: Hauksort on Mon, 19 January 2015, 13:05:48

Quote from: Data on Mon, 19 January 2015, 13:00:43

All I know is that a good steel plate is a thick-ass mofo that don't bend for NOBODY.

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/8Bebwfw.jpg)

True, and that's why I want one of those in my life!

I could go for the Novatouch. Can I change the keycaps to higher quality keycaps similar to the keycaps the RF keyboard has then?
I guess I could I just want to make sure.  :)

You will have more choice of high quality keycaps with the Novatouch.

I have both keyboards, and what I find utterly irritating on the RF88UB is that the legends are unreadable. So if you don't have the right keycaps set, go for this RF, because you won't be able to tell what's on the keys anyway. :)

Seriously the Novatouch is in my opinion a better deal because the build quality is equivalent to a Realforce, and the ability to install Cherry MX compatible keycaps is huge.

But to be honest, out of the box the Novatouch does not sound as good as the RF. There is a little bit of play on the stabilizer keys wires which causes a little bit of noise, and on the upstroke the keys produce a "click" sound that is slightly louder than on the RF.

It is possible to mod the Novatouch to silence it, and once it is done it becomes superior to any Realforce, even silent-modded ones. To mod the board, you need soft landing pads from EliteKeyboards, a clothing iron, a nut of thick grease, and an evening of work.

I have documented the silencing mod here:
  https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=65853.0