Whoever has a novatouch how do you like it?

[ANightOnCloudNine]

cause i'm in conflict

[raymogi]

I'm on the fence with this keyboard for the longest time. Topre thock with MX caps is the main selling point but I'll probably save it until I have nothing else to buy.

[WhitePlate]

I'm gonna wait until CM releases a 60% novatouch then swap my hhkb sliders with the novatouch sliders.  I'll end up with a hhkb with thick caps and a 60% ANSI topre board   But from what I've heard the stabilizers from the novatouch rattle a lot unless you silence mod the board.

[CPTBadAss]

Here's a bunch of reviews. GH also has a bunch of them in the Reviews sub-forum.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

I'm gonna wait until CM releases a 60% novatouch then swap my hhkb sliders with the novatouch sliders.  I'll end up with a hhkb with thick caps and a 60% ANSI topre board   But from what I've heard the stabilizers from the novatouch rattle a lot unless you silence mod the board.

I'm very open to modding   

[saturnotaku]

The Novatouch has a dream feature set on paper, but the execution is a bit lacking given its premium price. No caps lock or LED indicator lights of any kind is a turn off, as is the use of a micro USB and its position on the board itself. Despite having genuine Topre parts, it doesn't feel nearly as refined as a Realforce or Happy Hacking Keyboard.

The Royal Kludge RC930 is the Novatouch done right. Yes, it's a Topre clone, but it's most of the way there. The available backlighting and two different weight options (45g & 55g) give it a competitive advantage all at a price that's roughly 50-60% of the Novatouch and Realforce. If you can get your hands on one, that's what I would recommend.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

The Novatouch has a dream feature set on paper, but the execution is a bit lacking given its premium price. No caps lock or LED indicator lights of any kind is a turn off, as is the use of a micro USB and its position on the board itself. Despite having genuine Topre parts, it doesn't feel nearly as refined as a Realforce or Happy Hacking Keyboard.

The Royal Kludge RC930 is the Novatouch done right. Yes, it's a Topre clone, but it's most of the way there. The available backlighting and two different weight options (45g & 55g) give it a competitive advantage all at a price that's roughly 50-60% of the Novatouch and Realforce. If you can get your hands on one, that's what I would recommend.

Keycaps are the biggest excuse to me, and I can mod.

[saturnotaku]

The RC930 is MX compatible.

[keshley]

I don't think the Novatouch is all that bad. My HHKB resonates better, but its still great compared to any of my MX boards. They are a bit overpriced though; can get a nicer Realforce for roughly 10-15% more at typical MAP. But you can also find them much cheaper than you'll find a Realforce, Leopold, or HHKB when deals happen.

If Topre feel is the primary concern, I'd aim for the Type Heaven. Otherwise MX compatible sliders only leave you a few options, as mentioned already.

Or could always just say screw it, and get the Novatouch just for the sliders...


Granted, my Novatouch is still in action, its just bastardized with two different kinds of sliders 

[saturnotaku]

But you can also find them much cheaper than you'll find a Realforce, Leopold, or HHKB when deals happen.

Problem is the Novatouch seems to be getting a bit thin on the ground, and prices have gone up lately as a result. A few months ago you could get one brand new for around $160, and they were available pretty much everywhere. You could even order one from Walmart. Now it seems that only Amazon, Newegg, TigerDirect, and MicroCenter have stock, and it's back up to $200+. Definitely not worth it at that price.

[Herothereu]

Great keyboard!  Topre feel with Cherry on top!

[keshley]

But you can also find them much cheaper than you'll find a Realforce, Leopold, or HHKB when deals happen.

Problem is the Novatouch seems to be getting a bit thin on the ground, and prices have gone up lately as a result. A few months ago you could get one brand new for around $160, and they were available pretty much everywhere. You could even order one from Walmart. Now it seems that only Amazon, Newegg, TigerDirect, and MicroCenter have stock, and it's back up to $200+. Definitely not worth it at that price.

Agreed. But used they go for a lot cheaper than the others. Assuming using a used board is acceptable

[Findecanor]

A Topre Realforce line has better quality. The only reasons to get a Novatouch would be if you require media keys for song playback (and are too lazy to use a program on the computer that interprets key codes) and if you want to use third-party keycaps.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

A Topre Realforce line has better quality. The only reasons to get a Novatouch would be if you require media keys for song playback (and are too lazy to use a program on the computer that interprets key codes) and if you want to use third-party keycaps.

I'm getting a realforce 87u before the novatouch, just that i'm gonna buy it later.

[saturnotaku]

A Topre Realforce line has better quality.

In terms of typing experience, I would agree, but for build quality, I think the Novatouch is slightly better made. The cases on Realforce boards can warp. Combined with the lack of rubber padding on the adjustable feet, and they will suffer from sliding around your desk at the slightest provocation. Never had this issue with the Novatouch, or the HHKB for that matter.

[atectatifern]

Loving it with silencing rings and SA keycaps. Was a little loud without the rings.

[suby4me]

I just got the nova touch myself on Monday and it's not all bad. I have a HHKB which was great, but I just missed the arrow keys. I think the best thing to do when you get a nova touch is to slap on some pbt keycaps. With those caps on, it feels just as good compared to my HHKB.

I agree about the pricing though. It is a tad expensive and I would wait for it to be a tad cheaper. I was able to grab this one for 163.00 from amazon. If it was back to 199.00, I'd prob would have passed for the time being. The only reason I bit was because of the tour thread that I read and I was curious about the board also.

[gizzard]

Running mine with Thick PBT.  feels perfect..

[Findecanor]

A Topre Realforce line has better quality.

In terms of typing experience, I would agree, but for build quality, I think the Novatouch is slightly better made. The cases on Realforce boards can warp. Combined with the lack of rubber padding on the adjustable feet, and they will suffer from sliding around your desk at the slightest provocation. Never had this issue with the Novatouch, or the HHKB for that matter.

I had included the Realforce's stock keycaps in that judgement. I find them better than most keycaps I have found on Cherry MX, including third-party keycaps.
I never experienced any warping, and I don't use the keyboard feet so I have never had that problem.

But no, I think that in general, the Novatouch does not have a bad chassis. But the Space Bar on the Novatouch is louder for some reason, which I can only attribute to the chassis.

BTW, there are also silenced Realforce, variably weighted Realforce and more layout options than Novatouch. Getting a particular combination of those features might be difficult though.

[XMIT]

The Novatouch is way smoother than the RC930. I have both.

With silencing rings in place (thanks Hypersphere) the rattle is gone and the keyboard feels much better.

[Oobly]

1. Get a Leopold FC660C
2. Get a Royal Kludge RC930
3. Swap the sliders from the RC930into the FC660C
4. PROFIT! Especially if you put SA profile keycaps on it.

[saturnotaku]

BTW, there are also silenced Realforce, variably weighted Realforce and more layout options than Novatouch. Getting a particular combination of those features might be difficult though.

Pretty sure the silenced 87U has been discontinued. Variable weight is nice if all you do is type, but it's not so good for gaming. Not sure what you mean by "layout options" but both the Novatouch and RF are (were?) available in ISO format. I don't think too many people outside Japan would have bought one of the domestic-market Realforce models.

[Findecanor]

Not sure what you mean by "layout options" but both the Novatouch and RF are (were?) available in ISO format.

Not "ISO format": ISO layouts, plural. They are not one layout, and you'd want the one for the language's layout that you are typing in.

The Novatouch I have got came with "Nordic" keycaps, which are keys for four languages combined into one - and the printing is very ugly and sometimes incomprehensible, even. CM Storm did a bad job on that one.
If you want good keycaps on the Novatouch in an ISO layout then you would have to buy third-party keycaps with Cherry MX-compatible stem.
There have been very few group buys for key sets in any of the Nordic languages: the ones I know of were held by 7bit and matt3o respectively (who are both Europeans, who know about this problem) but it could get quite expensive to get both a "base set" and a "language kit".
The sets of vintage keys I have got were collected from several keyboards and took me two years before I got my first full set.
The only fast, not too expensive way to get high-quality keys in the layout for one of the Nordic languages would be to buy a set from Ducky - with the Ducky logo on the Windows keys, OEM profile and that is still a "Nordic layout" combination of different symbols. The Ducky key sets are not always available, however.

My Topre Realforce keyboard came with Swedish layout: no half-measure. Medium-thick PBT. Great texture and profile. Good-looking font. Out of the box.
To me, that makes the Realforce more valuable than the Novatouch. There is no need to change keycaps.

[Flyke]

You can get Vortex PBT keycaps in Nordic layout (multiple characters printed on two keys (?) ) with top or side print ( or no print at all, but that's just generic ISO and not specifically nordic ).
Corus Keyboards sells these - though they are out of stock now ( I wanted to get a side printed set for my CM Storm Rapid MX Black which I bought used with german layout ).

I own a Novatouch ( btw. they're on sale on komplett these days ).
I can only compare it to other CM Storm Rapid and Rapid-i boards I own.

I think the lack of LED indicators ( in particular for Caps Lock ) subtracts a bit from the board however not that much.
And I also have mixed feelings about the micro-usb ( I have RMAed a Rapid-i with failed connector ).
As mentioned already the keycaps does not match the keyboard, I don't mind the font but the letters wear out too fast and the keys ( in particular the space bar ) goes shiny extremely fast. I bought mine used and the space bar already had a shiny spot and some of the letters were clearly wearing out already - and it hadn't been in use much.

Other than that I really like the board! The issues mentioned are minor.
Changing keycaps is costly ( and it's near impossible finding good options for nordic countries ) so it makes for quite an expensive keyboard if you go that route ( I guess for most people in here that's not really an issue :-) ).

As for the switch vs. Cherry MX switches - it's really hard to say.
I can't really point out a favourite among the ones I have ( MX Red, Black and Blue and the Novatouch ).
So I guess you have to feel it for yourself :-)
The board is nice, very nice and even if it'll end up getting more shelf time than the other boards I cannot see myself parting with it.