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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: phinix on Sat, 16 March 2019, 14:45:25
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I wanted to now what are the options for Topre.
We have Realforce TKL and full board, HHKB, Leopold - what else?
I'm skipping cheap ass Plum alternative...
Would it be possible to create custom pcb and actually build Topre board?
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Answer nothing else.
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Would it be possible to create custom pcb and actually build Topre board?
Theoretically possible? Yes. Practical? No.
Keep in mind that like most capacitive switches the switches themselves don't attach directly to the PCB, they just kind of sit on top of it. It's the case that actually keeps them in place. So for a PCB with a different layout it is necessary to design a new case to go along with it as well.
Also the rubber domes are typically in the form of a single sheet, designed so that the domes are were the keys are in a given layout. Now it could be cut up and basically still work (which is actually what people do for some of the aftermarket replacement domes out there), but some people would be reluctant to do that. So you might have to make domes as well or just direct people to some of the existing aftermarket options.
With all this in mind you're basically talking about making an entirely new keyboard. The only parts you would really be preserving would be the springs and sliders, neither of which are terrible expensive or complicated. And I guess keycaps as well...though that could also be an issue for alternative layouts. I guess you could go all in and make new sliders that were MX-compatible as well at which point literally the only the that would carry over would be the springs...yay?
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Might like RGB. Many say it is not real Topre but I hear/feel no difference. My favorite board. Had custom case made for it because the case does kind of suck but all Topre do.
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Might like RGB. Many say it is not real Topre but I hear/feel no difference. My favorite board. Had custom case made for it because the case does kind of suck but all Topre do.
Interesting. What custom case was it?
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I wanted to now what are the options for Topre.
We have Realforce TKL and full board, HHKB, Leopold - what else?
I'm skipping cheap ass Plum alternative...
Would it be possible to create custom pcb and actually build Topre board?
Realistically no...It would probably be incredibly expensive.
R2s are interesting....better than the RGB by a landslide as far as sound/feel.
There are some customized cases so that can trick it out a bit...
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R2 is better but I feel/hear no difference to my 104UB. I had a case made and they robbed me. I do not even want to talk about it. It is blue anodized titanium. I said what I paid elsewhere but really sad I did. Electronics fab down the street ripped me off huge. I did not know until it was ready than he said he would sue me. Nice folks. Now it is stuck in a tray and I am afraid to pull it up and scratch it. This site does not host pics or I would at least take the top. Nothing special just got robbed. Than I found out there are already cases available. I made my own cable. Just a telco cable with paracord.
I have the skull and bones from DECK on my escape. I used 3 sets of GMK to get what I wanted. I put like 4 grand in this board. Shoot me please. I have silencers so maybe why it sounds/feels better.
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R2 is better but I feel/hear no difference to my 104UB. I had a case made and they robbed me. I do not even want to talk about it. It is blue anodized titanium. I said what I paid elsewhere but really sad I did. Electronics fab down the street ripped me off huge. I did not know until it was ready than he said he would sue me. Nice folks. Now it is stuck in a tray and I am afraid to pull it up and scratch it. This site does not host pics or I would at least take the top. Nothing special just got robbed. Than I found out there are already cases available. I made my own cable. Just a telco cable with paracord.
I have the skull and bones from DECK on my escape. I used 3 sets of GMK to get what I wanted. I put like 4 grand in this board. Shoot me please. I have silencers so maybe why it sounds/feels better.
Damn dude. You can use imgur to link images (http://putimgurlink.png here)
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I'm pretty sure it will be a bit trickier to find R1 versions of these Topre boards. That was my hugest motivation for buying them while they were still on Amazon. While I do wanna try the R2s at one point, I'm pretty content with this more old school type of design on these things. It's so different from a lot of my other boards and part of the reason why I'm always typing on this thing now. :D
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I wanted to now what are the options for Topre.
We have Realforce TKL and full board, HHKB, Leopold - what else?
I'm skipping cheap ass Plum alternative...
I have a Realforce 87U and a cheap ass Royal Kludge alternative. I like the both equally well- they feel different, but that's because the RK is factory dental band modded and silenced. So I wouldn't write off the clones so quickly.
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I wanted to now what are the options for Topre.
We have Realforce TKL and full board, HHKB, Leopold - what else?
I'm skipping cheap ass Plum alternative...
I have a Realforce 87U and a cheap ass Royal Kludge alternative. I like the both equally well- they feel different, but that's because the RK is factory dental band modded and silenced. So I wouldn't write off the clones so quickly.
I have a clone Topre for the office...it feels decent but not as good. I'm sure better rubber domes would help...
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If y'all haven't tried them yet, another option for modding the feel of Topre boards are the BKE domes. I know feel is entirely subjective, but I'm really liking the break and return of the BKEs. The lights are decent and much snappier than stock Topre domes, but my preference lies with the cloud-light ultra-lights, and the stiffer and thockier heavies. They've made my stock Topre domes feel spongy, and between my seven Topre boards, I only have two running their stock domes.
My current favorite HHKB is built as follows:
White HHKB Type-S case. board, and sliders with silencers
Hasu BT controller
BKE Ultra-light domes
Blank White POM keycaps with light blue ESC and VIM keys