Many Topre questions, Topre experts needed.

[hfcobra]

Hello everyone! 

It has been a long time since I have been here (been busy with school and work).  I have been thinking of buying a Topre board for a little while now and I see there are some new boards available to buy over at EK.  Just looking for some opinions on what to buy.

Last time I posted I was pretty noobish and could not even help people help me since I had not tried out many boards.  I think that all I had tried back then was browns and blues.  Now I have tried out cherry MX blues, browns, blacks, reds, buckling springs (IBM Model M) and I bought a Topre variable weighted board a while back and used it for about a week then resold it (never really planned to keep it, funds were tight and I just wanted to give it a try).

My favorite board is MX browns for cherry and I have yet to determine for Topre.  The blues were a lot of fun and I did not dislike them, but I just liked the less pronounced bump on the browns more.  Blacks were too heavy and reds were too light for me to use hands down.  Did not really like the BS board that much I am sorry to say since many people on here really love the board.  The BS felt like Blues but a little more squishy which I did not like compared to the blues (the bump increased more slowly on the downstroke compared to blues and then fell away too fast when the spring activated).  I really liked the variable weighted Topre that I had although the 35g keys on my pinky were too light and I kept pushing them down without realizing it.  I tried pushing the Esc key to feel what an all 55g weighted Topre would feel like and I am almost sure that 55g Topre would be too heavy for me to be comfortable typing on.

So that brings me to an all 45g weighted Topre board.  There are several over at EK like the EK edition board, the "Silent" Topre 45g board, and the standard all 45g board.  Just wondering what people's opinions on all of these boards is.  Also, since EK is getting new full-size Realforce boards, will they be getting an all 45g weighted full-size Realforce board?   I prefer full-size boards more than space saving ones since I like my number pad.

Also, now that I think about it, how does the silent Topre sound compared to a normal one?  I emailed Brian about it and he told me that they felt and sounded the same on the downstroke but were quieted on the upstroke somehow.  Is there a sound file comparing the two or anything like that?  Also, even though they feel the same on the way down, is there a noticeable difference in feel on the upstroke?

[002]

45g uniform is my personal favourite.
This short video I recorded might give you an idea of the sound difference between a 45g silenced board (the HHKB) and a standard 45g board (far right, Topre NCR keyboard).

[hfcobra]

45g uniform is my personal favourite.
This short video I recorded might give you an idea of the sound difference between a 45g silenced board (the HHKB) and a standard 45g board (far right, Topre NCR keyboard).

Thank you very much!  Would you say that they feel different at all during the upstroke or are they only different in how they sound?   I think that I will skip the "Silent" Topre since standard Topre is already so much quieter than a cherry switch board.  I like my keyboard making a little noise anyways, but how they feel will always be first and foremost.

EDIT:  Do you personally like how quiet the silenced keys are?  They sound like they make no noise at all and while that would be really cool to have I think that I could go either way and might save some money by just getting the non-silenced all 45 gram full size Realforce if one is available.  Just wondering since I have grown very used to how clacky my browns are when I use them and I do not know how much I would like a completely silent board.  The noise really lets me know that I am using a very nice keyboard and I really like it I suppose.   

[TheProfosist]

I use hhkb pro2 dg/b, 23UB, lime green caps and 87ub 45g dg/b, 23UB, cherry blossom pink caps. On every Esc there is a red cap and the return is lavender.

[sth]

love my 87u 45g. have not tried 55/vari yet. Might see how I like 55 then try to get a 10th anniversary if I like it.

[dorkvader]

Don't the "silent" topres just have some foam on the switch? If that's the case, I would imagine they feel the same coming up.

[hfcobra]

Well judging from the posts here I will definitely get the all 45 gram Realforce.  I wasn't really expecting to get anything else anyways but wanted to hear some opinions.  Now the only question is whether or not to get the silent model....

I don't bother anyone with my typing but I do like the noise so the standard type is looking to be the winner right now, especially since it does not cost as much as a silent Realforce.   Thanks you all for your opinions!

[TheProfosist]

Well judging from the posts here I will definitely get the all 45 gram Realforce.  I wasn't really expecting to get anything else anyways but wanted to hear some opinions.  Now the only question is whether or not to get the silent model....

I don't bother anyone with my typing but I do like the noise so the standard type is looking to be the winner right now, especially since it does not cost as much as a silent Realforce.   Thanks you all for your opinions!

they dont make a silent all 45g unless u get a HHKB.

[hfcobra]

Well judging from the posts here I will definitely get the all 45 gram Realforce.  I wasn't really expecting to get anything else anyways but wanted to hear some opinions.  Now the only question is whether or not to get the silent model....

I don't bother anyone with my typing but I do like the noise so the standard type is looking to be the winner right now, especially since it does not cost as much as a silent Realforce.   Thanks you all for your opinions!

they dont make a silent all 45g unless u get a HHKB.

Not even the new models that might be coming out?

[TheProfosist]

Well judging from the posts here I will definitely get the all 45 gram Realforce.  I wasn't really expecting to get anything else anyways but wanted to hear some opinions.  Now the only question is whether or not to get the silent model....

I don't bother anyone with my typing but I do like the noise so the standard type is looking to be the winner right now, especially since it does not cost as much as a silent Realforce.   Thanks you all for your opinions!

they dont make a silent all 45g unless u get a HHKB.

Not even the new models that might be coming out?

i havnt seen the new models, i was actually just asking in another thread if you can finally put ctrl where caps is on fullsize boards.

[hfcobra]

I see.  Then I will just have to wait and see what EK starts to carry in the coming weeks.  I thought that there might be some info about it floating around here somewhere but it seems that nobody knows anything right now.

Hopefully there is an all 45g weighted full size Realforce somewhere in that lineup since that is exactly what I am looking to buy.  While a 87 key RF would be nice for portability, I am 6'5" and a keyboard with a couple extra inches on it doesn't really bother me.  I actually prefer the extra size.  Plus the numpad is so useful for entering information into Excel, etc.

[002]

There is one 45g full-sized ANSI board but you'll have to be crafty to get your hands on it
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3762835901&

You could always enlist a buying agent like Lin?

I have one of these too - it's nice

[hfcobra]

There is one 45g full-sized ANSI board but you'll have to be crafty to get your hands on it
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3762835901&

You could always enlist a buying agent like Lin?

I have one of these too - it's nice

Lin is a user here, correct?   If so I might look into it depending on the price.  I will see what EK carries in the coming weeks first though.

Thanks again!

[karljs]

I own a 55g full-size Realforce and for the first few months thought it was too heavy. After bringing it home from work, I realized that my wrist position made a huge difference in how the keys felt -- I have a wrist rest at home. With my hands in that slightly elevated position the keys suddenly stopped feeling too heavy and I learned to love the board.

Just some food for though.

[daerid]

Coming from the 45g board, the 55g felt way too stiff at first. But now I feel like it's the perfect all around board for gaming and typing. The 45g board would cause the fingers of my left hand to start hurting because I needed to use more muscle to lift the finger back up while repeatedly pressing keys while playing MMOs. With the 55g I suffer no such problem. The 45g board is now at work, where it's perfect for long days of coding.

[hfcobra]

That is how I feel about the board as well.  The 55g Esc key felt way too stiff on my variable weight board.  I don't really want to try a bunch of Topres at the moment so I will go with a 45g board for now and perhaps try a 55g board later.

[MarkPharaoh]

People say that you need a week or more to get use to the RF 55g. IDK, when I got mine I was already convinced to sell all my brown and blue boards with just two hours of use on the RF. It's just that good.

[redpill]

I have a 103UB 55g at work and an 87UB 55g at home, I couldn't ask for better daily drivers.  I pull out a board with blues or browns for fun sometimes, but typically it's Topre.  I bottom out frequently, even with the 55g, and the cushion of the Topre cup really helps with finger fatigue too.

[hfcobra]

I have a 103UB 55g at work and an 87UB 55g at home, I couldn't ask for better daily drivers.  I pull out a board with blues or browns for fun sometimes, but typically it's Topre.  I bottom out frequently, even with the 55g, and the cushion of the Topre cup really helps with finger fatigue too.

People say that you need a week or more to get use to the RF 55g. IDK, when I got mine I was already convinced to sell all my brown and blue boards with just two hours of use on the RF. It's just that good.

How big are your fingers?  Just asking because I am a HUGE fan of my browns so I don't see how 55g Topres would be better than 45g.  My hands are very large but slender since I am a skinny guy.  I think I will still try to get a hold of a 45g board first, then try a 55g one much later when I am done with college.

[_js_]

I've never liked the variable weighting.  Uniform is my choice.  But 55g is too much to my taste.  45g is my favorite.  As for silent, the regular old Topre's are silent enough for me!

[hfcobra]

I've never liked the variable weighting.  Uniform is my choice.  But 55g is too much to my taste.  45g is my favorite.  As for silent, the regular old Topre's are silent enough for me!

Yes I ended up getting the 45g version and I love it.   

Since they do not sell the 45g versions with silencing it is not silenced but I don't mind since Topre are very quiet to begin with.  Plus, I kind of like the thunk as I type.  Just tells me that I am using a special keyboard since rubber domes usually don't make any noise.

[metalliqaz]

Strange, I love the variable.  The variable board is entirely 45g except for pinky keys.  I can't notice it at all when I type, it just "feels" right.  I have to specifically poke at them to tell the difference.

[hfcobra]

Strange, I love the variable.  The variable board is entirely 45g except for pinky keys.  I can't notice it at all when I type, it just "feels" right.  I have to specifically poke at them to tell the difference.

I kept hitting the pinky keys without realizing it when I used the variable, so I knew that I would need to get a 45g in order to really enjoy the keyboard.  I do, quite a lot lol.   

[YoungMichael88]

I have a Q in need of an A.   Topre..... How is it pronounced?  Toe-per? Toe-pray? Toe-pruh? 

[daerid]

I always read it as "Toe-preh", since it's short for Tokyo Press

[hasu]

This is a Japanese pronunciation. We speak it like this.

http://tts.imtranslator.net/MYgz

[peter79]

I would like to purchase Topre realforce 104. But I am confused which one to buy. I just started to use Filco blue swtich, which is more similar to blue switch typing feel? The variable 35,45,55 gr is better or 45 gr and 55 gr?
Is the variabel one the best design? Pinky finger use 35 gr because it has less power, or uniform 45 or 55 gr better?

Between 45 and 55 gr which one is better for typing?

[unnatural]

I would like to purchase Topre realforce 104. But I am confused which one to buy. I just started to use Filco blue swtich, which is more similar to blue switch typing feel? The variable 35,45,55 gr is better or 45 gr and 55 gr?
Is the variabel one the best design? Pinky finger use 35 gr because it has less power, or uniform 45 or 55 gr better?

Between 45 and 55 gr which one is better for typing?

there's a recent thread solely about 45g vs 55g probably should have used the search function before bumping a thread that's almost a  year old.

here it is http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45708.msg957639#msg957639

[TimIsABat]

I forget if I asked this somewhere else, but how light are the switches in comparison to ergoclears an reds.

[CPTBadAss]

I forget if I asked this somewhere else, but how light are the switches in comparison to ergoclears an reds.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43110.0

[hasu]

I would like to purchase Topre realforce 104. But I am confused which one to buy. I just started to use Filco blue swtich, which is more similar to blue switch typing feel? The variable 35,45,55 gr is better or 45 gr and 55 gr?
Is the variabel one the best design? Pinky finger use 35 gr because it has less power, or uniform 45 or 55 gr better?

Between 45 and 55 gr which one is better for typing?

I believe variable is the best. I'd recommend it.

[peter79]

I would like to purchase Topre realforce 104. But I am confused which one to buy. I just started to use Filco blue swtich, which is more similar to blue switch typing feel? The variable 35,45,55 gr is better or 45 gr and 55 gr?
Is the variabel one the best design? Pinky finger use 35 gr because it has less power, or uniform 45 or 55 gr better?

Between 45 and 55 gr which one is better for typing?

there's a recent thread solely about 45g vs 55g probably should have used the search function before bumping a thread that's almost a  year old.

here it is http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45708.msg957639#msg957639

Thanks for your info

[peter79]

I believe variable is the best. I'd recommend it.

I believe so, it's the selling point and it's available in all countries. Unlike 45 gr only available in Taiwan and 55 gr available in Korea. I prefer black key caps compare to white and gray 104 ub-dk models.
It's only 200 aud in Australia, I will ask my cousin to buy it for me 
Since the spacebar is abs plastic, where can I find one for spare? I don't want to buy 1 set of key caps, just the space bar only.

[rowdy]

I believe variable is the best. I'd recommend it.

I believe so, it's the selling point and it's available in all countries. Unlike 45 gr only available in Taiwan and 55 gr available in Korea. I prefer black key caps compare to white and gray 104 ub-dk models.
It's only 200 aud in Australia, I will ask my cousin to buy it for me 
Since the spacebar is abs plastic, where can I find one for spare? I don't want to buy 1 set of key caps, just the space bar only.

There are few enough Topre keycap sellers, never mind trying to find one that sells just a space bar.

Even EK has the space bar only in a complete set.

Your best bet would be to put a strip of stick tape on the space bar to prevent shine.

[peter79]

There are few enough Topre keycap sellers, never mind trying to find one that sells just a space bar.

Even EK has the space bar only in a complete set.

Your best bet would be to put a strip of stick tape on the space bar to prevent shine.

Good idea! I will put black tape on it.