So I've been using my Realforce 55g 87uw for a little while now, and I thought it was high time that I gave it a review!
After using an HHKB for a couple years I knew that I would enjoy Topre switches of any flavor and therefore felt justified dropping way too much money on a Realforce to try their 55g switches! I have a really heavy handed typing style, and since I enjoyed greens quite a bit I thought that 55g Topre switches would be right up my alley. Well, I'm happy to report that I was right! These switches seem pretty perfect for me.
What kept me from springing for a Topre board for so long was the aesthetics of them. I was really turned off by their plastic cases, which I thought looked pretty tacky and outdated. When I received the board and actually held it, I realized that it was actually pretty well proportioned and looked one hell of a lot better in person than in the pictures I had seen online. But, I had already bought a Digil0g case for it in the classifieds so out of that plastic case it went! The only hiccough getting it out of the case was detaching the ground on the built-in USB. The screwdriver I was trying to use had too small a handle and wasn't getting enough torque on the screw. Eventually I found one that fit better and that I could get more leverage on and it popped off incredibly easily. Always have a good set of screwdrivers on hand
Typing impressions: Now that I had it in its aluminum casing it actually seemed a bit louder than before, but noise has never been an issue to me. I would say that the 55g domes have a louder, deeper thock than the 45g HHKB domes, but I don't have both keyboards on hand at the moment and can't make an accurate comparison. I don't find typing on them fatiguing but people who are used to lighter switches may. For me, they seem heavier to type on than most of the common MX switches, except for possibly blacks. Eventually I'd like to get a wrist wrest that hopefully more of less matches both this and my KMAC. I feel that raising my wrists a little bit more to the level of the board would make for a much more ergonomic typing experience. As is right now the case is a bit higher than I was expecting it too be: The bevel on the side of the case is at the height of my KMAC. It's amazing that such a small difference in height can make such a difference in typing experience when you're so used to one thing.
All in all I'm very glad I got it. I really enjoy the sound and feel of 55g Topre switches, and I love the weight that the Digil0g case gives it! It was super easy to change the case, and having a removable USB is a nice bonus.
Thanks for reading.
