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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Bromono on Wed, 11 March 2015, 05:59:24

Title: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Bromono on Wed, 11 March 2015, 05:59:24
Only seems to be rumor but here is the post on reddit.


(http://i.imgur.com/96bQO7I.png) (http://i.imgur.com/96bQO7I.png)
http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/2yml69/cm_possibly_making_a_60_topre_novatouch/ (http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/2yml69/cm_possibly_making_a_60_topre_novatouch/)

I see it as a cheaper option to mod my HHKB with hopefully.


Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: azhdar on Wed, 11 March 2015, 06:01:36
CM never done 60% I'm unsure they'll start that with a NT but a man can hope.

Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 11 March 2015, 06:14:49
Thread in their vendor subforum: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=53481.0

No mention of it there yet... Maybe needs a bump so we can get some fresh info?
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: snipars on Wed, 11 March 2015, 06:27:29
i don't think if they were to make it it would be great, the novatouch tkl really lacks something that the other topre boards have
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Want on Wed, 11 March 2015, 07:37:10
I think the Topre market is hard to enter. All the keyboards already out are higly esteemed as great keyboards, and they're available in all main layouts plus the FC660C.

Why are we not seeing the stems sold separately yet though? I feel stupid buying a NT TKL for just the stems  :(
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: GL1TCH3D on Wed, 11 March 2015, 07:45:12
I think the Topre market is hard to enter. All the keyboards already out are higly esteemed as great keyboards, and they're available in all main layouts plus the FC660C.

Why are we not seeing the stems sold separately yet though? I feel stupid buying a NT TKL for just the stems  :(

They wouldn't make nearly as much money just selling the stems.

Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: spiceBar on Wed, 11 March 2015, 07:54:34
i don't think if they were to make it it would be great, the novatouch tkl really lacks something that the other topre boards have

Once silent-modded using the ironed landing pads methods, it's one of the greatest Topre board I have ever used.

Better tactility and better sound than the Realforce and the HHKB, and even when they are also modded.

It turns out that the Novatouch must have something that the other ones do not have.

And don't forget Cherry MX compatibility.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Wed, 11 March 2015, 08:05:36
As stated in the OP, this is only a rumor. There will be public announcements made around Computex since Cooler Master intend to present new peripherals at the convention.

Why are we not seeing the stems sold separately yet though? I feel stupid buying a NT TKL for just the stems  :(

Because Topre will not allow them to be sold separately. It's not going to happen.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: azhdar on Wed, 11 March 2015, 08:07:25
Also without custom layout 60% is meh, and I don't see CM coming up with programmability on their board.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Dee1 on Wed, 11 March 2015, 09:08:57
A 60% might be neat, but personally I'd prefer something like a 75% novatouch. :)
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Wed, 11 March 2015, 09:45:55
Might make me finally buy a Topre if they come out with this.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 11 March 2015, 09:51:41
I hate the stabilizer rattle of the Novatouch and don't care for the feel.  I'd take a 60% Novatouch over the FC660C, but the HHKB would still be my top choice.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Sed8op8 on Wed, 11 March 2015, 10:06:27
I just returned my novatouch tkl as it was too loud it also had a weird rattle that I didn't like(I know there is a fix but it seemed overly technical for my noobish skills) but besides that I found the build quality to be pretty solid and the fact you can use MX caps is HUGE. So I would definetly buy a 60% novatouch !  I'm pretty sure it would be an extremely popular board as long as they didn't **** it up. Hopefully it's more than just conjecture time will tell.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: SL89 on Wed, 11 March 2015, 10:07:26
needs more fullsize
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Wed, 11 March 2015, 10:15:32
Regardless of what format CM goes with on their new Topre x MX board, hopefully they will have used the community's feedback to make some improvements (stabilizer rattle etc.)

One thing I am worried about though, is what they will do in regards to aesthetics — my contact at CM has told me they have received a lot of negative feedback by the common folk in regards to it's understated appearance.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Nai_Calus on Wed, 11 March 2015, 11:18:41
I feel apathy. 60% is admittedly much better than TKL, but really, fullsize or GTFO.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Dihedral on Wed, 11 March 2015, 11:19:29
Maybe a nice new entry level TKL - rapid 2? Considering the old one is practically impossible to find now.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Sygaldry on Wed, 11 March 2015, 11:21:10
Swapped Control/CapsLock and \|Backspace and I'll buy.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: FoC_Tow on Wed, 11 March 2015, 12:12:12
Regardless of what format CM goes with on their new Topre x MX board, hopefully they will have used the community's feedback to make some improvements (stabilizer rattle etc.)

One thing I am worried about though, is what they will do in regards to aesthetics — my contact at CM has told me they have received a lot of negative feedback by the common folk in regards to it's understated appearance.

That's a very good point. I never tried the Novatouch but from what I read there are a few commonly mentioned issues like the spacebar.
I think the Novatouch has great potential and was something pretty innovative for Coolermaster to come out with (offering Torpe switches with mx compatible stems) but It has a few flaws.

So if they listen to the keyboard community's feedback and address things like the stabilizer rattle, their next board in the lineup could definitely be very interesting!
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Novus on Wed, 11 March 2015, 14:40:29
Stay Tuned = 1 year later lol
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Wed, 11 March 2015, 16:54:13
That's a very good point. I never tried the Novatouch but from what I read there are a few commonly mentioned issues like the spacebar.
I think the Novatouch has great potential and was something pretty innovative for Coolermaster to come out with (offering Torpe switches with mx compatible stems) but It has a few flaws.

So if they listen to the keyboard community's feedback and address things like the stabilizer rattle, their next board in the lineup could definitely be very interesting!
When I was doing testing for Cooler Master, I felt the same way; great potential with flaws that should be easily fixed. The reality of it though is that it's not easy. What most people do not know is that CM cannot really do whatever they want with these switches. If they want something modified, they have to go through Topre and from my discussions with other testers and a few other contacts close to one or either brand, let's just say that Topre are not an easy company to collaborate with.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: spiceBar on Fri, 13 March 2015, 01:05:23
That's a very good point. I never tried the Novatouch but from what I read there are a few commonly mentioned issues like the spacebar.
I think the Novatouch has great potential and was something pretty innovative for Coolermaster to come out with (offering Torpe switches with mx compatible stems) but It has a few flaws.

So if they listen to the keyboard community's feedback and address things like the stabilizer rattle, their next board in the lineup could definitely be very interesting!
When I was doing testing for Cooler Master, I felt the same way; great potential with flaws that should be easily fixed. The reality of it though is that it's not easy. What most people do not know is that CM cannot really do whatever they want with these switches. If they want something modified, they have to go through Topre and from my discussions with other testers and a few other contacts close to one or either brand, let's just say that Topre are not an easy company to collaborate with.

I don't think Topre assembles the keyboard, so I my opinion CM is directly responsible for the stabilizers rattle.

They should have fixed this with:
1. Thicker stabilizer wires. The ones in the Novatouch are too thin, they have too much room to move.
2. Grease. You don't sell a high-end keyboard without greasing the stabilizers.

I think CM is responsible for all the flaws in the Novatouch.

Fortunately, these flaws can be fixed, and then the Novatouch becomes one of the best Topre keyboards out there.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Fri, 13 March 2015, 05:15:01
I don't think Topre assembles the keyboard, so I my opinion CM is directly responsible for the stabilizers rattle.

They should have fixed this with:
1. Thicker stabilizer wires. The ones in the Novatouch are too thin, they have too much room to move.
2. Grease. You don't sell a high-end keyboard without greasing the stabilizers.

I think CM is responsible for all the flaws in the Novatouch.

Fortunately, these flaws can be fixed, and then the Novatouch becomes one of the best Topre keyboards out there.
The issues do not pertain to assembly but to (switch) design; those have to be greenlit by Topre, to the best of my knowledge.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: spiceBar on Sun, 15 March 2015, 02:02:05
I don't think Topre assembles the keyboard, so I my opinion CM is directly responsible for the stabilizers rattle.

They should have fixed this with:
1. Thicker stabilizer wires. The ones in the Novatouch are too thin, they have too much room to move.
2. Grease. You don't sell a high-end keyboard without greasing the stabilizers.

I think CM is responsible for all the flaws in the Novatouch.

Fortunately, these flaws can be fixed, and then the Novatouch becomes one of the best Topre keyboards out there.
The issues do not pertain to assembly but to (switch) design; those have to be greenlit by Topre, to the best of my knowledge.

Topre would have to approve the wire size and the fact that grease is going to be applied?

If so, it would be a deliberate sabotage by Topre: all the Topre keyboards I own have thicker stabilizers wires, except the Novatouch.

I still think that Topre has nothing to do with this and that it's 100% CM's responsibility.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: _PixelNinja on Sun, 15 March 2015, 10:55:38
Although I do not understand how you could say Topre has nothing to do with the product, you are obviously entitled to believe whatever you want. I am simply trying to provide insight based on what I know.

Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: spiceBar on Mon, 16 March 2015, 08:38:25
Although I do not understand how you could say Topre has nothing to do with the product, you are obviously entitled to believe whatever you want. I am simply trying to provide insight based on what I know.

Where did I say that Topre has nothing to do with the product?

I said that I think that Topre does not assemble the keyboard. Am I correct or not?

I guess they provide the PCB, the domes, and probably various plastic pieces (switch housing, sliders). They most probably don't provide all the pieces that go into the keyboard. Is that correct?

If Topre has vetoed the wire size or provided an undersized wire for the Novatouch or forbidden CM from greasing the wires and you know it, just say it.

Or maybe I'm wrong about the wire size and the problem is with the plastic piece (the sliders of the stabilized keys), which are maybe provided by Topre? But even in this case, CM could have greased the wires to solve the problem.

Anyway, when you bring a product to market under your name, you are ultimately responsible for it. It was CM's responsibility to solve the stabilizer rattle.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: daerid on Mon, 16 March 2015, 10:23:56
if CM does a fully programmable 60% ANSI layout Topre board, I will MAKE. IT. RAIN.


RAIN
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: choc on Mon, 16 March 2015, 11:34:58
This->Caps Lock LED!!!

Add it plz, CM!!!
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: monotagary on Mon, 16 March 2015, 12:08:34
if CM does a fully programmable 60% ANSI layout Topre board, I will MAKE. IT. RAIN.


RAIN

Standard layout 60% Topre would be hella dope... Imagine if it's compatible with all the aftermarket 60% cases too.  :eek:
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: davkol on Mon, 16 March 2015, 12:16:14
This->Caps Lock LED!!!

Add it plz, CM!!!
Why? Who needs Caps Lock anyway? All five programmers in ancient languages?
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Jixr on Mon, 16 March 2015, 14:42:27
This->Caps Lock LED!!!

Add it plz, CM!!!
Why? Who needs Caps Lock anyway? All five programmers in ancient languages?

I'm not a programmer and I use caps lock all the time. When I reviewed the Novatouch it really bothered me that there was no LED for it.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: KHAANNN on Mon, 16 March 2015, 15:20:01
i feel super gut about it, hope they cram some dedicated arrows into it
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: davkol on Mon, 16 March 2015, 18:02:29
This->Caps Lock LED!!!

Add it plz, CM!!!
Why? Who needs Caps Lock anyway? All five programmers in ancient languages?

I'm not a programmer and I use caps lock all the time. When I reviewed the Novatouch it really bothered me that there was no LED for it.
(http://www.pleacher.com/mp/mgifs/gifs15/graph59.png)

I mean, seriously. Novatouch is advertised as a keyboard for pros. I'd expect pros to, y'know, not look at the keyboard. Especially if putting a Caps/Num/… Lock indicator (similar to layout indicator) into the DE panel is a piece of cake.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: choc on Tue, 17 March 2015, 01:06:04
I'm not a programmer and I use caps lock all the time. When I reviewed the Novatouch it really bothered me that there was no LED for it.

I used to be a programmer and I used caps lock sometime. :-) I remember some earlier test version of Novatouch had some indicator LED, not quite sure.

This->Caps Lock LED!!!

Add it plz, CM!!!
Why? Who needs Caps Lock anyway? All five programmers in ancient languages?

Although I use Shift mostly(>98%), there is sometime I use Caps Lock for long specific input.

I don't care whether the keyboard has a Caps Lock key, but I do care whether there is a indicator LED telling me if my next keystroke is Capital or not, and if the win key is locked(Novatouch's feature).

Maybe it's just my habit. I feel upset and weird without those indicator LED :'(
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Eziak on Tue, 17 March 2015, 01:44:31
I love my Novatouch. I'd probably buy a 60% novatouch as I've been looking at getting a 60% keyboard for a while, but don't know if I want to spend as much for a HHKB or get a Poker. I also really like the compatibility with cherry keys. It would bring a lot of customization that I like to something that's like an HHKB.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: livingspeedbump on Sat, 28 March 2015, 21:44:07
If the price is right I think it could make a wonderful "First Topre Keyboard" to people on the fence. I'd even probably buy one.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Dihedral on Sun, 29 March 2015, 03:01:17
If the price is right I think it could make a wonderful "First Topre Keyboard" to people on the fence. I'd even probably buy one.

I like to imagine it could be a Poker 2 of topre - reasonable price and customizable.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Hypersphere on Sun, 20 December 2015, 09:55:27
I would welcome a 60% Novatouch. My favorite form factors are 60% and TKL. I have tried many varieties of in-between boards, but I have not liked any of them. Most of the time I use a 60% board. I would definitely purchase a 60% NT.

Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Bromono on Sun, 20 December 2015, 10:01:28
I would welcome a 60% Novatouch. My favorite form factors are 60% and TKL. I have tried many varieties of in-between boards, but I have not liked any of them. Most of the time I use a 60% board. I would definitely purchase a 60% NT.

If they only would announce it =(
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: tronbeaver on Sun, 20 December 2015, 10:34:47
I would welcome a 60% Novatouch. My favorite form factors are 60% and TKL. I have tried many varieties of in-between boards, but I have not liked any of them. Most of the time I use a 60% board. I would definitely purchase a 60% NT.

If they only would announce it =(

Same here!  RGB Pok3r or 60% Novatouch could be my endgame.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: retrochick on Sun, 20 December 2015, 10:58:22
I would welcome it! HHKB for life, however this also means more keycaps and who knows, maybe more mods available?!
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Bromono on Sun, 20 December 2015, 11:22:33
[attachimg=1]



 :confused:
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: xondat on Sun, 20 December 2015, 12:59:12
(Attachment Link)



 :confused:

100% then :'(
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Vittra on Sun, 20 December 2015, 13:58:38
Keyboard with 2 keypads - one on each side.

"Go big or go home or go crazy or all three" - Coolermaster
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sun, 20 December 2015, 14:24:09
(Attachment Link)



 :confused:

100% then :'(
100% RGB with clear stems
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Hypersphere on Sun, 20 December 2015, 15:28:07
Definitely not interested in a full-size board. For me, it has to be either TKL or 60%. I already have the NT TKL, so I am still hoping that CM might seriously consider a 60% model with Topre switches and mx stems.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 20 December 2015, 20:05:34
(Attachment Link)



 :confused:

100% then :'(
100% RGB with clear stems

And 55g domes?
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: davkol on Mon, 21 December 2015, 10:50:33
I still remember the "gaming ergonomic keyboard" thread too. Oh, well… *sigh*
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: jerue on Mon, 21 December 2015, 11:08:03
55g RGB Novatouch with an Aluminum chasis and all PBT caps. Silencers available and optional. Only instance I'd consider full size :P

Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 21 December 2015, 11:41:47
55g RGB Novatouch with an Aluminum chasis and all PBT caps. Silencers available and optional. Only instance I'd consider full size :P
But it would probably cost $500 :eek:
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: crj3012 on Wed, 30 December 2015, 13:47:10
I am pretty sure it was "confirmed" that they aren't releasing a 60%, but are going to release a full size.
Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: Hypersphere on Thu, 31 December 2015, 08:04:30
Yes,  have seen hints that CM intends to release a full-size NT. However, I hope they will keep the 60% form factor in mind, possibly with a couple of options: (1) complete programmability; and (2) Bluetooth. Even without these extras, a 60% board with plate-mounted Topre switches and mx-compatible stems would be most welcome.

Title: Re: How do you feel about the 60% nova touch?
Post by: livingspeedbump on Thu, 31 December 2015, 16:41:01
The real winner here will be that if it is a Novatouch (which i think it will be) is that it will help introduce more people to Topre and 60% boards. This will really only help get more people hooked and hopefully get more interested in HHKB/RF/Leopolds :)