I just got my Realforce 104UG Hi-Pro model Yk2100 and wanted to post some first impressions and information I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere. I might expand this into a full review with pics but for now I just wanted to put this out there for people who are still looking at the 104UG. Either way I’m going to focus mainly on the key feel and caps since the body aught to be pretty standard.
Key Feel –
• The general feel of the keys is like a slightly lighter cherry brown. I also kind of think it’s a little lighter than a standard profile topre 45g switch, which may be due to heavier keycaps, not that the keycaps feel especially thick or weighty.
• Reports of slightly loose, jiggly caps are true. The keycaps do have some give to them. I haven’t decided if that’s a big deal but it is something to note.
Keycaps –
• Finding the Home Row – When I heard this keyboard was missing those handy home row marker bumps on ‘F’ and ‘J’, I was worried I’d miss the ability to land my hands on just the right spot without looking. It turns out that’s not such an issue for this board. While all of the keycaps have a spherical indentation, the dominant home row keys ‘SDF’ and ‘JKL’ have uniquely profound indentations. They are so pronounced in fact that they just tend to grab your fingers. When I draw my fingers across the board those six fingers settle unmistakably into those divots and I’m instantly confident that I’m on the home row. You do have to be cognizant of the feel of a greater area than you do with classic home row marker bumps, you can’t find your way with a finger after all, you need three points of assurance per hand, and that can be a little tricky and might take some practice. You could mistakenly think you’re in the right spot with your pinky on Caps Lock so get a feel for it.
• Uneven Topography – Though the extra deep home row does solve the problem of finding the home row, it also makes for a generally uneven topography. I find I do catch the edge of some keys when I normally wouldn’t. This may be due to the fact that I’ve only been using this keyboard for a few hours, but it’s definitely something that’s going to force a bit of adaptation. The awkward topography isn’t all negative, the heightened back of the number row really helps me strike those keys more confidently, even hitting the backspace is a nicer experience, I like the way it seems to cradle my pinky; helps me strike with authority.
Maybe more to come; I gotta get some time on this thing first.
