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Author Topic: Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?  (Read 8603 times)

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Offline insilica

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 14:52:49 »
I have a Filco Brown TKL and I love them!!! I will be getting a Mac mini soon and will need another keyboard :(, I will use a KVM but only for Monitor.

I never thought I would have the itch to try Topre...

I would like an ANSI KB as oppose to ISO, I like the long shift! so sue me ...

Being in the UK I can only get a Realforce 86U from keyboard co. in black or white., i.e. ANSI and it will set me back a cool 170 GBP. At this point I can say that I can get a HHKB from EK for roughly 210 GBP including shipping.

ANSI 87U would set me back another 30GBP I think from EK ... i.e. 250GBP?

What to do ...

getting the hang of HHKB? easy?
« Last Edit: Tue, 01 November 2011, 14:55:56 by insilica »
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Offline itlnstln

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 14:57:29 »
Get the Realforce, better key feel.  The HHKB is easy to learn, but due to the all-plastic construction and other manufacturing differences, they just don't feel as nice.  I would get the Realforce for something parked at a desk all day, and the HHKB if you really need something to travel with and your keyboard snobbery won't let you type on your laptop keyboard.
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Offline jpm804

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 15:06:16 »
If you really need the small form factor of the HHKB then I would recommend the 86U as my suggestion for first choice. ..

Here is my suggestion in order:

1.RF 86U - Cheapest and gets you the topre feel, tenkeyless size like your filco with dedicated arrow and functions . Only bad part if you dont like variable feel then this would be the only drawback.

2. HHKB - gets you smaller form factor, no dedicated function and arrow keys. Backspace is in a different location but some dont have a hard time getting use to this, some do.

3.RF 87U - not unless you want a 45g or 55g uniform board then you might want to think this option. 87U variable is similar to 86U but includes integrated numpad and lighted caps lock / scroll lock..also pinkies are 35g instead of 30g on the 86U
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Offline insilica

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 15:06:48 »
Quote from: itlnstln;443514
Get the Realforce, better key feel.  The HHKB is easy to learn, but due to the all-plastic construction and other manufacturing differences, they just don't feel as nice.  I would get the Realforce for something parked at a desk all day, and the HHKB if you really need something to travel with and your keyboard snobbery won't let you type on your laptop keyboard.

Thanks itlnstln, as always your comments are very much appreciated :)

Quote from: jpm804;443520
If you really need the small form factor of the HHKB then I would recommend the 86U as my suggestion for first choice. ..

Here is my suggestion in order:

1.RF 86U - Cheapest and gets you the topre feel, tenkeyless size like your filco with dedicated arrow and functions . Only bad part if you dont like variable feel then this would be the only drawback.

2. HHKB - gets you smaller form factor, no dedicated function and arrow keys. Backspace is in a different location but some dont have a hard time getting use to this, some do.

3.RF 87U - not unless you want a 45g or 55g uniform board then you might want to think this option. 87U variable is similar to 86U but includes integrated numpad and lighted caps lock / scroll lock..also pinkies are 35g instead of 30g on the 86U

Thanks jpm ... that really puts the decision making in perspective
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Offline insilica

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 15:11:38 »
Quote from: ripster;443525
If you have a beard get a HHKB.  If not get a RealForce.
(Attachment Link) 30586[/ATTACH]

lol. No beard but having to grow a mustache for movember (http://www.movember.com/)
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woody

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 15:19:14 »
Stay out of Topre and save money. If the worm is eating you that hard, look around for a used and reasonably priced HHKB.
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Offline itlnstln

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 15:21:40 »
Quote from: woody;443535
Stay out of Topre and save money. If the worm is eating you that hard, look around for a used and reasonably priced HHKB.

That's actually a very good point.  After a RF 103UB and a HHKB,  I type on Cherry browns.  Topres are nice, but they're not great.
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woody

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 15:27:05 »
I keep one HHKB just for the small form factor. Nothing to write home about the switches, they even get on my nerves sometimes.
MX brown on the other hand are really nice, so your dream for HHKB with browns is something I agree to.

OP decides, it's his money anyway.
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Offline jpm804

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 15:33:02 »
Quote from: woody;443535
Stay out of Topre and save money. If the worm is eating you that hard, look around for a used and reasonably priced HHKB.

I think those days of reasonably priced HHKB's are over, this might have been true a couple of months ago but with the new price of HHKB's selling for $300 and over new then the used market prices have gone up also for HHKB's...

It's probably cheaper to get  used 86U which you see sometimes go for under $200..figure the new cost for a filco around $150 then its not that much of a difference

But i do see your point in that sometimes the cost to get a topre board might be worth it in the end to some users when they finally try it out.
« Last Edit: Tue, 01 November 2011, 15:35:57 by jpm804 »
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Offline hemflit

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 17:04:24 »
The main selling point of the HHKB is the layout, not the switch. And you can't ignore the layout once you've bought it, right? Have a close look at it online and see if you're interested in learning it. Realforce have ordinary layouts (only a couple modifier keys are narrower than on your garden-variety Windows keyboard).

The HH aren't only very small, they're reasonably light and portable. Realforce aren't huge either, but they're seriously heavy ****ers, easily double the weight, not something you'll enjoy lugging around every day if that's a consideration. On the other hand, of course they have a very solid feel on the desk, if you like that.

Thanks to the layout and form factor, an HH is an instant conversation piece for anyone who walks in. A Realforce (especially the lightless 86U) looks unassuming and is only a conversation piece for people who care about keyboards.

Resale value shouldn't be that bad, if you find yourself with buyer's remorse for either.

Ideally, of course, you would borrow one from somebody nearby for a week and see how it serves. Even a HH Lite should be interesting, for the layout.
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fossala

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 17:52:29 »
I found these a couple of days ago they are both from the same seller and both end just after midday tomorrow.
HHKB Pro 2
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290623447718?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Realforce 86U
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Topre-Realforce-86U-Tenkeyless-/290623451392?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_KeyboardsMice&hash=item43aa81f100
They are both 100gbp with no bids.
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Offline Trueepower

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 21:08:40 »
Quote from: insilica;443506
I have a Filco Brown TKL and I love them!!! I will be getting a Mac mini soon and will need another keyboard :(, I will use a KVM but only for Monitor.

I never thought I would have the itch to try Topre...

I would like an ANSI KB as oppose to ISO, I like the long shift! so sue me ...

Being in the UK I can only get a Realforce 86U from keyboard co. in black or white., i.e. ANSI and it will set me back a cool 170 GBP. At this point I can say that I can get a HHKB from EK for roughly 210 GBP including shipping.

ANSI 87U would set me back another 30GBP I think from EK ... i.e. 250GBP?

What to do ...

getting the hang of HHKB? easy?

I would recommend the Realforce boards unless you really like the HHKB's layout, and would really appreciate it. Both are excellent choices though, and you could easily sell the HHKB if you didn't like it.
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Offline Wallach

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 01 November 2011, 21:14:29 »
I've never tried a RealForce 'board, but I have owned a HHKBP2.

Compared to MX blues, I definitely found them less tiring. In fact I found the switches themselves quite pleasant, and satisfying to bottom out on somehow. I'm not sure they are less fatiguing than browns or reds though, and they have tactility somewhere between browns and reds (that is damn near none at all).

The nice thing about either 'board in your title is that they'll both have excellent resale value if you find you don't like the switches. Main factors here are really price and layout; do you have any interest in learning a new layout or do you want dedicated function and arrow keys? If the layout doesn't feel like the determining factor somehow, then I would take whichever one I could find cheaper, as they are very expensive boutique items.
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Offline SadButTrue

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 07:30:55 »
I'm bidding on the realforce in the ebay auction above. If I don't like the topre switch I'll be putting it back up for sale.
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fossala

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 07:32:46 »
I know of a couple of other people that are bidding on that one. Good luck.
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Offline SadButTrue

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 07:41:15 »
Here's hoping they get too busy at lunch and forget :)
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Offline insilica

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 08:35:27 »
difficult to believe when HKKB went for 165 GBP inc postage
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fossala

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 08:37:50 »
Yeah just saying that on DT
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Offline insilica

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #18 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 08:39:45 »
yea 132 GBP for RF 68U inc delivery --- not bad ... a steal :-)
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fossala

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 08:40:21 »
Was that anyone here?
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Offline SadButTrue

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 08:45:39 »
Ah well, saves me butchering it into a 45g uniform :)
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Offline insilica

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #21 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 08:56:04 »
tbh I had my finger on the bid button but I hung back namely because I think I need to get a set of blues first before going down the topre avenue now if only Bruce stocks a set of white ninja blues ....
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Offline hemflit

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Topre virgin! HHKB Pro2 or Realforce 86U / 87U [Ten-Key-Less], Which one?
« Reply #22 on: Wed, 02 November 2011, 09:19:18 »
Quote from: dante;443664
there is no way I'm paying more money for less keyboard (87U) with potentially easier to assemble requirements

Yeah, that rubs me the wrong way too, but it's just a subjective psychological effect in the end. I'd try to tell myself that the 103's and 108's are being discounted from their "real" price of $400 because they're **** and nobody wants them. :)

It's not like I'll ever be in the market for a "full-size" keyboard anyway, so...
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