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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: moshimalloe on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:07:19

Title: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: moshimalloe on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:07:19: I'm so in love with my Novatouch right now, and I was thinking about this. Couldn't quite find an answer online, but what is it in a Topre switch that differentiates it from a regular rubber dome?

I know that it's capacitive as opposed to by-contact, but that shouldn't change the feel of it. What makes the Topre rubber domes feel so much better than a mushy regular rubber dome?
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Hblue on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:17:22: The "stiffness" of the dome is much more even, meaning that the force required to depress it is pretty much equal from start to finish, which eliminate the god awful "dome break" that cheap rubber dome keyboards have in order for you to actuate the "switch". This also provides a smooth travel that mechanical switches tend to offer.

That alone makes Topre a lot better already then regular rubber domes, but having the option for high end caps in your case (and stock thick PBT caps on the HHKB/Realforce for instance) makes the typing experience even better while also providing a more solid feel as well as longer lasting caps.

The build quality is also often a lot better in Topre keyboards. The Realforce, Leopold, Novatouch, HHKB are all pretty solid keyboards.

Those are the reasons why I prefer Topre anyway. Others may have better explanations of how Topre works exactly if you're curious about that.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: beehatch on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:24:22: That's like asking what makes boobs boobs. You don't question it, just enjoy them.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: ghostjuggernaut on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:28:40: Quote from: beehatch on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:24:22
That's like asking what makes boobs boobs. You don't question it, just enjoy them.

This is some gospel level ****.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Charizard on Sun, 01 November 2015, 23:18:05: I agree with the earlier replies. For me the keypress is much more consistent than a rubber dome board. You never have to really mash on a key to get it to register the press on a topre like I find myself having to do from time to time on a rubber dome. I also greatly prefer the sound of typing on a topre when compared to a standard rubber dome.

Of course, your own impressions and opinions may vary.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: joc on Sun, 01 November 2015, 23:42:38: High quality components - Topre uses the best rubber available (http://deskthority.net/try-f29/novatouch-tkl-european-tour-t10716-210.html#p259761).
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: jerue on Sun, 01 November 2015, 23:43:57: Knowing you have become one with cup rubber...is there really any other way to describe it?
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Polymer on Mon, 02 November 2015, 00:35:18: They do have dome break..as in the pressure isn't equal from start to finish..but that doesn't matter..

For me sliders and how they're made is key...They add a lot of stability to the key from the time you press it till the time you bottom out. There isn't a lot of play and when it hits bottom it is an even solid feel across the key without a lot of excess squeek/movement you get from regular rubber dome keyboards which, when you hit bottom, you can continue to push it down further, move it around, etc.. The sliders stability also helps for the smoothness of the key.

That solid feel is really what separates the two...

Topre also feels a lot more responsive because it is actuating before you bottom out..It lets you be a bit lighter on your key presses as well as just feels like it is responding faster and with less effort...

Add to that the reliability...not requiring contact leaves very little for things to go wrong on the keyboard...
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: oxchamballs on Mon, 02 November 2015, 08:47:23: There's something in the rubber that makes it so good.. The Royal Kludge comes close but the dome sheet in it feels mushy compared to both my Topre boards.

btw 2nd post ever hi :D
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: tronbeaver on Mon, 02 November 2015, 09:00:30: HHKB is gods layout.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Bucake on Mon, 02 November 2015, 09:26:22: the high price tag
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: keshley on Mon, 02 November 2015, 09:49:16: Oneness with cup rubber!

Its a pretty luxurious feeling. I've had people try out my HHKB and absolutely love the feel without knowing it was an 'expensive' board.

Also, Type Heaven boards don't have high price tags.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: ice31000 on Mon, 02 November 2015, 12:20:11: thock and the HHKB layout.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Lurch on Mon, 02 November 2015, 12:22:28: Quote from: keshley on Mon, 02 November 2015, 09:49:16
Oneness with cup rubber!
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: GL1TCH3D on Mon, 02 November 2015, 13:25:38: Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Air tree on Mon, 02 November 2015, 13:53:10: because you get to be part of the super awesome elite topre club.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: keyboardia1 on Mon, 02 November 2015, 14:22:10: Quote from: Lurch on Mon, 02 November 2015, 12:22:28
Quote from: keshley on Mon, 02 November 2015, 09:49:16
Oneness with cup rubber!
which happens to be a good feeling.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: GL1TCH3D on Mon, 02 November 2015, 14:24:06: Quote from: Air tree on Mon, 02 November 2015, 13:53:10
because you get to be part of the super awesome elite topre club.

Yea

no newbs #420toprelyfe
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 02 November 2015, 16:21:56: * The stroke is very stable and smooth. There is no binding on off-centre key presses, very little wobble and no rattle.
Hitherto I have not tried any mechanical key switch that is as smooth as Topre, but I have heard that vintage hall-effect switches would come close.
* Actuation in the middle of the stroke (like mechanical metal-contact switches)
* Rubber dome tactility, except that
* There is no mushiness on bottoming out, but bottoming out is just right soft, not hard.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: SamirD on Mon, 02 November 2015, 19:21:58: Quote from: Findecanor on Mon, 02 November 2015, 16:21:56
* The stroke is very stable and smooth. There is no binding on off-centre key presses, very little wobble and no rattle.
Hitherto I have not tried any mechanical key switch that is as smooth as Topre, but I have heard that vintage hall-effect switches would come close.
* Actuation in the middle of the stroke (like mechanical metal-contact switches)
* Rubber dome tactility, except that
* There is no mushiness on bottoming out, but bottoming out is just right soft, not hard.

This sounds really good. I'll have to definitely try one someday. :thumb:
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: gadzkun on Tue, 03 November 2015, 05:34:57: what makes topre topre i think..
rubber dome feels but still mech keys :thumb:
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: slaction on Tue, 03 November 2015, 22:56:04: They are really expensive, so people assume they are good. It's all hype/marketing. HHKB people sold a rubber dome keyboard to mech keyboard fans and charged them 2x more than a mech...that's some marketing genius right there.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: oxchamballs on Tue, 03 November 2015, 23:10:16: Quote from: slaction on Tue, 03 November 2015, 22:56:04
They are really expensive, so people assume they are good. It's all hype/marketing. HHKB people sold a rubber dome keyboard to mech keyboard fans and charged them 2x more than a mech...that's some marketing genius right there.
(http://i.imgur.com/pPCzbJm.jpg)
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Glenmael on Tue, 03 November 2015, 23:31:39: Quote from: beehatch on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:24:22
That's like asking what makes boobs boobs. You don't question it, just enjoy them.

preaaach!
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: fuzzybaffy on Wed, 04 November 2015, 06:00:28: Quote from: oxchamballs on Tue, 03 November 2015, 23:10:16
Quote from: slaction on Tue, 03 November 2015, 22:56:04
They are really expensive, so people assume they are good. It's all hype/marketing. HHKB people sold a rubber dome keyboard to mech keyboard fans and charged them 2x more than a mech...that's some marketing genius right there.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/pPCzbJm.jpg)

Apparently slaction doesn't understand the concept of higher quality components being more expensive for manufacturers to make.

People can subjectively hate on Topre switches all they want, but objectively there is flat-out no denying that they are better built and better quality than Cherry MX switches.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Polymer on Wed, 04 November 2015, 08:20:57: Quote from: slaction on Tue, 03 November 2015, 22:56:04
They are really expensive, so people assume they are good. It's all hype/marketing. HHKB people sold a rubber dome keyboard to mech keyboard fans and charged them 2x more than a mech...that's some marketing genius right there.

That was a long time excuse....until cheaper Topre came out and then it wasn't really a factor vs. MX boards...and suddenly a ton of Topre users came out of the woodwork because it was cheaper...No more excuses any longer...
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: swimmingbird on Wed, 04 November 2015, 16:48:29: Quote from: fuzzybaffy on Wed, 04 November 2015, 06:00:28
Quote from: oxchamballs on Tue, 03 November 2015, 23:10:16
Quote from: slaction on Tue, 03 November 2015, 22:56:04
They are really expensive, so people assume they are good. It's all hype/marketing. HHKB people sold a rubber dome keyboard to mech keyboard fans and charged them 2x more than a mech...that's some marketing genius right there.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/pPCzbJm.jpg)

Apparently slaction doesn't understand the concept of higher quality components being more expensive for manufacturers to make.

People can subjectively hate on Topre switches all they want, but objectively there is flat-out no denying that they are better built and better quality than Cherry MX switches.

Yeah this belief that mechanical switches are always better than anything else is something that I think stems quite a lot from Corsair marketing and reddit users who haven't even used Topre before.

I can honestly say that while I love my GON with Ergo Clears, the typing experience on my RF 87u 55g still feels more refined
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: tronbeaver on Thu, 05 November 2015, 10:56:39: Wait, I've used both Topre and Reddit before.

Your correlation is flawed.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: swimmingbird on Thu, 05 November 2015, 22:46:01: Quote from: tronbeaver on Thu, 05 November 2015, 10:56:39
Wait, I've used both Topre and Reddit before.

Your correlation is flawed.

I never stated that reddit users who have never used topre before were all reddit users

lrn to rd
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Weltschmerz on Mon, 09 November 2015, 04:27:28: Quote from: joc on Sun, 01 November 2015, 23:42:38
High quality components - Topre uses the best rubber available (http://deskthority.net/try-f29/novatouch-tkl-european-tour-t10716-210.html#p259761).

That sounds like some premo rubber right there.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: ideus on Tue, 10 November 2015, 08:04:59: Quote from: GL1TCH3D on Mon, 02 November 2015, 13:25:38
Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock

After reading the posts at this thread, and this in particular, I was almost talked into the Topre madness. :p
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: MeltingTeeth on Tue, 10 November 2015, 11:06:23: Topre is worth trying.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: jerue on Tue, 10 November 2015, 11:44:47: Quote from: ideus on Tue, 10 November 2015, 08:04:59
Quote from: GL1TCH3D on Mon, 02 November 2015, 13:25:38
Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock

Thock thock thock thock

After reading the posts at this thread, and this in particular, I was almost talked into the Topre madness. :p

Just make your 2nd mech a Topre one ideus. Do eeet. Do eeet NAO
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: Bromono on Tue, 10 November 2015, 11:48:09: Quote from: beehatch on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:24:22
That's like asking what makes boobs boobs. You don't question it, just enjoy them.

+1

but in all seriousness, Topre is just a very high quality rubber dome. I mean have you seen the logic board on those things? ziiing
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: demik on Tue, 10 November 2015, 11:57:40: ****'s cash.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: KeypressGraphics on Tue, 10 November 2015, 12:40:18: The noise the keys make is definitely part of the appeal for me. Also the lack of key wobble Cherry switches can have. Quality PBT keycaps as standard, a nice profile and a very predictable keyswitch action that varies little between keys.
Title: Re: What makes Topre Topre?
Post by: TimIsABat on Tue, 10 November 2015, 12:56:39: Being one with the cup rubber