After more than a decade of MX-style mechanical keyboards (mainly linear, but have tried others), I decided to shake it up a bit and hop on the Topre train. I made the decision after borrowing a Realforce 104UB (with the variable weight keys, but not silent). I like it, much in the same way one would like and learn to appreciate the differences between a German and an Italian sports car.
There are two main problems with the RF 104UB, the black character keycaps (ok, fixable w/aftermarket, but the cost does rise..) and the lack of backlighting, which kind of kills it for me when working in the dark, as I need to check sometimes.
So, with that said, I have a few questions:
A) If I need backlit, the Realforce RGB is my only option, right? Say I go with that one, how does the key sound and feel compare to the 104U – is it as bad as some claim it to be? What proven mods can I perform to make it better in some regards (silence, feel, Keycaps etc.) - I've read on the board about lubing, rings, but not sure?
B) If I’m losing out too much with the RGB, what are the best options with a numpad (can’t do without it)? What about keycaps in this scenario, what works best in the dark?