Author Topic: Got my grimey hands on a Topre... (Read 5038 times)

rio · « **on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 00:58:30 »

...a 91UBK from a certain great member on this forum though a smooth sale.

I have to say that at first, I was really impressed. I love the brown lettering on the keys (I still want a dark brown keyboard though, heh) and it really does have no flex at all. It's heavy, it doesn't budge, and it's cute yet classy at the same time. The layout is ok with me, I do not have any problem with the Japanese layout at all.

And of course, the keyswitch is the big draw. At first, it felt like I was typing on a cloud. But the more I use it, the more I feel like I am typing on rubber - which I am naturally, but not in the good sense.

At first I typed on it for a few days and the Filco browns felt really light in comparison, in a bad sense, but now I go back to the Filco and I feel great with it. It feels like it has more finesse and snap to it than the Topre. I also like the finish more - the Topre's keys feel like they are made of rubber themselves.

Am I a heretic for having such feelings? It IS an amazing keyboard, and I have no regrets at all buying it. It is fantastic. But I find myself loving the browns more and more.

I am torn!

lam47 · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 03:43:09 »

You know its strange you say this as I have put my HHKB back in the box since modding a board with brown cherries.
I intend to order a realforce soon but the cherry browns are making me think twice.
They have such a positive feel to them it helps me type quickly and accurately.

Do you have any pictures of your realforce?

FKSSR · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 08:46:51 »

I need to try out the cherry browns. I'm a bit timid about buying a board with them, though as I know I like alps switches, but I know I'll never truly know what I like best until I start trying more switches.

bigpook · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 09:08:07 »

Quote from: FKSSR;23565

but I know I'll never truly know what I like best until I start trying more switches.

Welcome to the club : )

I had a filco mini with brown cherries that I sold on ebay. I am kind of wishing I held on to it. Once I had gotten used to the light key action I kind of started to like it.

FKSSR · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 09:25:55 »

Well, my biggest question right now is whether to go with browns or blues for my next keyboard.

Since I like clicky alps (ABS M1 and Macally MK96), I think I will like the blues more, but it may be good for me to try out the browns for a while to see if I get used to them and end up liking them better.

I'm still not sure exactly what "linear" means, so I'm afraid to try the blacks. I assume that linear means that there is no click or tactile feedback.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 09:38:28 »

The blacks aren't that well liked on here, IIRC... and, yeah, that's exactly what linear means. I think I've typed on a keypad using blacks, and it sucked. (It's been almost a year since I last typed on it, so I don't remember what it was... but it was some USB thing for logging into a lunch system. Of course, the fact that the thing was dreadfully slow didn't help my impression, either.)

itlnstln · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 09:39:27 »

Quote

I'm still not sure exactly what "linear" means, so I'm afraid to try the blacks. I assume that linear means that there is no click or tactile feedback.

This is exactly right. For the record, the Alps switches in the M1 are not considered clicky, just tactile (the Macally is by all means clicky, though). Not to split hairs or anything.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 09:39:27 »

Anyway, try to get a Compaq MX 11800 if you want to try browns. They're cheap.

(I probably should get one eventually... not now, though.)

itlnstln · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 09:41:12 »

XsPhat said that the blacks are nice after they wear in and loosen up. I am sure the reds would be much better since they would have lighter springs.

alpslover · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 09:43:19 »

Quote from: rio;23556

Am I a heretic for having such feelings? It IS an amazing keyboard, and I have no regrets at all buying it. It is fantastic. But I find myself loving the browns more and more. I am torn!

there's no reason why you should have to like a keyboard just because others do. i personally find the topres a bit overrated. as far as quiet(ish) keyswitches go, they're nice, but i still prefer loud tactile mechanical ones.

FKSSR · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 10:00:47 »

Thanks guys!

I did notice the difference between the ABS and Macally. The ABS is better for gaming, as I don't want the click there, but I like the click for typing. Since my gf took the MK96, I'm going to have to find another clicky keyboard for me. I could buy another MK96, but I think I'd rather try and get a Filco, since I use a PC, and I'd have to buy a ADB to USB converter anyway (costing me $30-40 more...). I'm a little too scared to try my luck with an Ione Scorpius M10.

And, I am going to try and give the Compaq a try for the browns. That's def a good way to do that.

itlnstln · « **Reply #11 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 10:09:23 »

The MX-11800 is a nice 'board, but more than likely, you will find it used, and it will probably be well used. When I got mine, the switches were well broken-in, so you might not get an accurate picture of what you get with a new 'board, but you will certainly know what to expect a few years down the road.

FKSSR · « **Reply #12 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 10:45:01 »

Quote from: itlnstln;23576

you might not get an accurate picture of what you get with a new 'board, but you will certainly know what to expect a few years down the road.

Yeah, I thought of that. Since both the AT101Ws I bought were used by different people (and likely different time periods), I noticed the difference just between those two.

Really, my next keyboard all depends on if I can get a Steelkeys 6G or not. I believe they are black cherries, since that is what the 7G is (according to the geekhack wiki). I'm more interested in the 6G for other features of the keyboard than the switches (heavy cord, usb, heavy duty, interchangeable gray keys). If I don't like the black cherries, I'm sure I can sell the keyboard, but it might be really good for gaming, even though it's not tactile like the brown cherries.

If I can't get the 6G and like the feel of the Compaq, I'll likely buy a Filco tenkeyless with brown cherries for gaming.

Depending on all that, a blue cherry Filco or an Ione "gamble" may be in my future...

lam47 · « **Reply #13 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 10:58:11 »

Quote from: bhtooefr;23569

The blacks aren't that well liked on here, IIRC... and, yeah, that's exactly what linear means. I think I've typed on a keypad using blacks, and it sucked. (It's been almost a year since I last typed on it, so I don't remember what it was... but it was some USB thing for logging into a lunch system. Of course, the fact that the thing was dreadfully slow didn't help my impression, either.)

Just like to say that blacks do not 'suck'
I think you are referring to the board but just to make sure.
The switch is the same quality as every other cherry it just differs in that it is linear and a bit firmer.
For some people it could well be the perfect switch.
For gaming its excellent.

zwmalone · « **Reply #14 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 15:29:07 »

Quote from: itlnstln;23572

XsPhat said that the blacks are nice after they wear in and loosen up. I am sure the reds would be much better since they would have lighter springs.

Where is xsphat anyway? I haven't seen him around in quite some time...

lam47 · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 15:38:25 »

I think he is just busy.
Nothing to worry about I'm sure.

You know I just had another go on my HHKB before it goes on holiday to see Chloe.
And I loved it again

There is something very special about it for sure.

From all the boards I have tried (and I am getting through them)

The top 3 in no order would be.

Topre HHKB
Model M Mini
Cherry Browns with dual injection caps (they are lovely)

As far as alps go I could take them or leave them. Fake or real.
Even the ones with the rubber dampers feel ruff and nasty after the HH etc.
I would like another blue cherry board though. I didnt get to have a proper go with the Das.
I may just go for a g80 3000.
Need a realforce too.
Hmm.
Need some more cash

What topic is this again?

FKSSR · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:02:01 »

I still can't find a G80 3000 with blues that I can buy easily in the US. I may be just totally missing something on the forums, but it seems that when I go to US sites, they don't have the blue cherry models.

I feel I'd rather have a G80 3000 than an Ione M10, but I can't find the former. If anyone can point me directly to a place, I'd appreciate it.

Again, I've looked on the forums here, but I don't see any direct links to a place that sells the G80 3000 with blue cherry switches.

zwmalone · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:04:50 »

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=1391&highlight=cheap+cherry+blue

FKSSR · « **Reply #18 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:09:11 »

I actually saw that post, but I actually want one with the long, horizontal left Shift key and Enter key. Sorry, I should have said that...

Is there a site that sells the black US/EU version?

FKSSR · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:10:52 »

Oh wait, the pics further down in the thread are just like I want.

Is the picture on the site just completely wrong?

zwmalone · « **Reply #20 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:12:30 »

Ya, the pic on the site is wrong, its the LSRC-2 which means it's black and standard US Layout. I'm guessing they used a generic G80 3k pic.

FKSSR · « **Reply #21 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:20:27 »

sweet! I think the extra money for the G80 3000 would be better than buying an Ione.

Thanks!!!

EDIT: $20 for shipping! Arg! That makes it $30 more for the G80 3000 than the Ione... Not sure about that. It may be better to take a gamble with the M10...

zwmalone · « **Reply #22 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:22:05 »

No prob. I turned that board up when looking for a G80-3000 on google shopping a few months ago...

FKSSR · « **Reply #23 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:32:30 »

This may have been answered elsewhere, but has anyone used the G80 3000 and the Ione M10? Are they supposed to be from the same manufacturer?

I'm trying to tell if it is worth it to spend $30 more on the G80 3000.

zwmalone · « **Reply #24 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:34:43 »

Cherrys are made by cherry in the Czech republic I think... The M10 is made in china by Qtronix IIRC. Cherry boards don't suffer the reliability problems of the m10.\

FKSSR · « **Reply #25 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:36:21 »

Alright. That's good enough for me. $30 isn't the end of the world. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't paying more for something that was essentially the same.

My gf will be happy I'm buying a board from the Czech Repub. She studied abroad there, speaks the language fluently, and I'm actually learning the language, too. Shhhhh...It's a surprise.

lam47 · « **Reply #26 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 16:39:17 »

All the cherry boards I have are of a high quality.
They may not have the metal plate some do but they make up for it with a solid case that wont scratch and a controller that does what its supposed too

bhtooefr · « **Reply #27 on:** Thu, 05 March 2009, 22:09:44 »

Well, to be fair, the M10 has that, too. It's just not put together well.

Anyway, by the black keypad sucking... well, I think the horrendous input lag on its part made it worse than the switches really were. You bottomed it out every time because you would have to wait forever to see if it took the keypress...

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Author Topic: Got my grimey hands on a Topre... (Read 5038 times)