New favorite Keyboard.

[megnin]

I just got my Realforce 87UW, all 45g this morning.  The more I type on it the more I like it.  I thought it couldn't get any better than Cherry MX Browns.  The best way I can describe it is the combination of Cherry Browns, Cherry Reds and KY Jelly.  The MX Browns and Reds both are "clacky" by comparison.  I can see how you can get hooked on the Topre switches.  This is my new main desk keyboard.  Let's see, I've got two more computers here at work and two at home... crap, I have to start saving up.  At least I do have one HHKB Pro 2 on the way.   It's white; I need a black one now and a black RF 87U.  I'll be keeping my eyes on the Classifieds.  ;-)  I'm not quite so anxious to see the Leopold LC700R anymore.  I did not know that Realforce was distributed by Leopold.

I'm rambling on, mainly because I just don't want to stop typing on this thing.  People at work problably think I'm being extra communicative today... "Hi, I just wanted to follow up with you on that thing we talked about last week... just going the extra mile..." ;-)

[fossala]

The best way I can describe it is the combination of Cherry Browns, Cherry Reds and KY Jelly.  

Sounds like a bizarre night in.

[o2dazone]

I'm glad you dig the switches. They're definitely not as black and white as a rubber dome to cherry switch, but there's a fine medium between loving that specific tactile collapse, and it not being tactile enough. I think Topre dances that line, which is why there's a great divide between people who love it, and people who don't.

[Kamikaze K]

Nice. Welcome to the Topre Brotherhood. "One. of. us..... One. of .us."

[megnin]

Nice. Welcome to the Topre Brotherhood. "One. of. us..... One. of .us."

LOL.  Thanks!

USPS says my HHKB Pro 2 is "out for delivery".  I think I'm going to need some more KY!

[megnin]

OT: I like the little LED's blinking on the keyboards in your sig

Can you make out what the typewriter is typing?  ;-)

Also, the Pure and Race are both in "Breath" mode.  ;-)

[patrickgeekhack]

I just got my Realforce 87UW, all 45g this morning.  The more I type on it the more I like it.  I thought it couldn't get any better than Cherry MX Browns.  The best way I can describe it is the combination of Cherry Browns, Cherry Reds and KY Jelly.

You are finding this keyboard to be much better because it's your brain telling you that it's better. It is trying to find a good way to justify spending that much on a keyboard. The only possible answer is that it is better. Think about it, it's basically a rubber dome keyboard. Did you hear that? Ruberrrrr Domeeeeee keyboard.

Sorry, I was just kidding. Congratulations on your purchase!

[lightsout714]

Can you make out what the typewriter is typing?  ;-)

Geekhack

[megnin]

You are finding this keyboard to be much better because it's your brain telling you that it's better. It is trying to find a good way to justify spending that much on a keyboard. The only possible answer is that it is better. Think about it, it's basically a rubber dome keyboard. Did you hear that? Ruberrrrr Domeeeeee keyboard.

Sorry, I was just kidding. Congratulations on your purchase!

Thanks.

Partly true.  Fearing it was true, I dug out my very best Dell keyboard and did a side-by-side comparison.  Dell keyboards feel pretty good for a $12.00 keyboard, but, to continue the metaphore, it was like comparing peanut butter to KY.  The Dell just doesn't have that smooth-as-butter feel and requires more force to press the keys.

I love the fact that the imbeded number pad sends true numpad codes.  :-)

[seferphier]

i got a realforce and wasn't so impressed with topre keys. hm.. i'm wondering if i should sell it or not.

[patrickgeekhack]

Thanks.

Partly true.  Fearing it was true, I dug out my very best Dell keyboard and did a side-by-side comparison.  Dell keyboards feel pretty good for a $12.00 keyboard, but, to continue the metaphore, it was like comparing peanut butter to KY.  The Dell just doesn't have that smooth-as-butter feel and requires more force to press the keys.

I love the fact that the imbeded number pad sends true numpad codes.  :-)

The more you use it the more you'll like it.  It's true that the Topre is smooth-as-butter. The more I use my Topre, the more I like it. I guess the same can be said for many keyboards. The more you use it, the more you get to know it, and the more you learned how to get the most of it.

[patrickgeekhack]

i got a realforce and wasn't so impressed with topre keys. hm.. i'm wondering if i should sell it or not.

I think with Realforce, the first impression is the most important. Some people fell in love right away, some were not impressed at all, and started to regret the money spent. Some do see something different and learn to like it the more they use it.

I was probably in the last category. I think the reason why I "could see" something different was because I was moving to lighter and lighter keys: buckling spring, black Alps, blue Cherry, brown Cherry. I could have been disappointed had I tried the Topre just after having used a buckling spring keyboard.

[seferphier]

I think with Realforce, the first impression is the most important. Some people fell in love right away, some were not impressed at all, and started to regret the money spent. Some do see something different and learn to like it the more they use it.

I was probably in the last category. I think the reason why I "could see" something different was because I was moving to lighter and lighter keys: buckling spring, black Alps, blue Cherry, brown Cherry. I could have been disappointed had I tried the Topre just after having used a buckling spring keyboard.

i was hoping for topre keys to be lighter than my brown cherries. it seems to me that they are much heavier in feel.

[patrickgeekhack]

i was hoping for topre keys to be lighter than my brown cherries. it seems to me that they are much heavier in feel.

Is it because the brown Cherry is "springier"?  It is indeed very light compared to any of the other keyboards in my collection. I am not saying that you are wrong. Each person's taste is different after all.

[megnin]

i got a realforce and wasn't so impressed with topre keys. hm.. i'm wondering if i should sell it or not.

What color is it?  :-D

[seferphier]

Is it because the brown Cherry is "springier"?  It is indeed very light compared to any of the other keyboards in my collection. I am not saying that you are wrong. Each person's taste is different after all.

yea, i get you. i think the recoil when pressing the keys are bigger with the topre. so it seems to me that topre is heavier than browns. maybe it has to do with the keycaps as well.

i have a uniform 45G 86u, black.

[fossala]

Uniform 86u? AFAIK they are very new and only available in japan.

[seferphier]

yep. i got it from the official distributor of Realforce on taobao.

model number: SE05D0

[fossala]

yep. i got it from the official distributor of Realforce on taobao.

model number: SE05D0

Congrats.

[Grond]

Hi Megnin, sorry for going ot, but I notice you have a bluetooth filco in your sig. How come? I thought that was presented at some event, but not put on market. Indeed it's not even listed on Diatec's website...

[megnin]

Hi Megnin, sorry for going ot, but I notice you have a bluetooth filco in your sig. How come? I thought that was presented at some event, but not put on market. Indeed it's not even listed on Diatec's website...

I ordered it several years ago through a buying agent.  

If I had to give up all my keyboards but one, that's the one I would keep.  

I mostly just use it with my iPhone now but it was my daily driver until I recently started collecting other keyboards.
Oh, it came with printed key caps but I took the Otaku caps off a DAS keyboard and put them on it.

Someone said something about batteries not lasting long in bluetooth devices.  Two rechargeable AA batteries last for months.  I've never noted the exact amount of time they last because by the time I have to change them (with daily use) I can't remember the last time I had to change them.  No exaggeration.

It's got MX Browns.  FTW!

[Grond]

So it used to be on sale and they just stopped making it? Such a shame, I'd love one. Do you know if it also existed in tenkeyless version?

[megnin]

Impressive collection.

Now you have to start on ALPS.

What are ALPS keys like?  I've never tried them.  Is there a "first ALPS keyboard" that you recommend?

[1391406]

What are ALPS keys like?  I've never tried them.  Is there a "first ALPS keyboard" that you recommend?

I'd vouch for the Apple Extended Keyboard II. Relatively cheap and feels great.

[Typhaeon]

Dell keyboards feel pretty good for a $12.00 keyboard, but, to continue the metaphore, it was like comparing peanut butter to KY.

I hope you don't tongue-touch-type.  Tongue-type?

Why didn't you go with the variable-weight model, by the way?

[modulor]

the Siig Minitouch seems pretty popular, but there is a wide variety:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=ALPS+switches

If you prefer MX Browns, check out section 2.1.2 for tactile non-clicky ALPS

[seferphier]

I ordered it several years ago through a buying agent.  

If I had to give up all my keyboards but one, that's the one I would keep.  

I mostly just use it with my iPhone now but it was my daily driver until I recently started collecting other keyboards.
Oh, it came with printed key caps but I took the Otaku caps off a DAS keyboard and put them on it.

Someone said something about batteries not lasting long in bluetooth devices.  Two rechargeable AA batteries last for months.  I've never noted the exact amount of time they last because by the time I have to change them (with daily use) I can't remember the last time I had to change them.  No exaggeration.

It's got MX Browns.  FTW!

not the realforce? i wonder why they discontinued the bluetooth version.

[megnin]

I'd vouch for the Apple Extended Keyboard II. Relatively cheap and feels great.

Does it work with a PC?

[megnin]

Why didn't you go with the variable-weight model, by the way?

It was an eBay sale.  If it had been the variable-weight model I would still have bought it.  I've read several threads here on GH where the person was specifically looking for the all 45g version and a time or two where the person passed on a sale because it was the variable-weight version.  I actually made an offer on a black 87UB variable-weight that was for sale here, but someone beat me to it by two hours.  I would like to try the variable-weight.

[megnin]

not the realforce? i wonder why they discontinued the bluetooth version.

Oh, I'm loving the Realforce and really loving the HHKB.

I don't know why Diatec discontinued the bluetooth Filco, but I do know that it didn't pass FCC requirements for import into the US, but I don't know why.  It is definitely NFS.  ;-)

Oh, this was my 100th post.

[megnin]

not the realforce? i wonder why they discontinued the bluetooth version.

Oh, I'm loving the Realforce and really loving the HHKB.

I don't know why Diatec discontinued the bluetooth Filco, but I do know that it didn't pass FCC requirements for import into the US, but I don't know why.  It is definitely NFS.  ;-)

Oh, this was my 100th post.

[1391406]

Does it work with a PC?

Yes, with an ADB to USB adapter.

[Wildcard]

The best way I can describe it is the combination of Cherry Browns, Cherry Reds and KY Jelly.

ROFL :heh:

[seferphier]

Oh, I'm loving the Realforce and really loving the HHKB.

I don't know why Diatec discontinued the bluetooth Filco, but I do know that it didn't pass FCC requirements for import into the US, but I don't know why.  It is definitely NFS.  ;-)

Oh, this was my 100th post.

which do you prefer? HHKB or Realforce?

[captain]

We ought to do a "pass around" Realforce / HHKB Pro, so we can all try one out in person.  :-)

[hcry4]

It might never leave the first person...

[captain]

I'd go for a White Complicated Clicky ALPS.

That is what got me started in all this mess.  If my FK-5001 hadn't died on me, I'd still be happily typing away on those Complicated ALPSes instead of spending all my money on Filcos and keycaps!  :-P

[captain]

We ought to do a "pass around" Realforce / HHKB Pro, so we can all try one out in person.  :-)

It might never leave the first person...

Well, that would be the point.  If you really like it, then you buy one, and send the class slut on to the next guy.  If you don't like it, then you're only out the shipping.

[captain]

We ought to do a "pass around" Realforce / HHKB Pro, so we can all try one out in person.  :-)

It might never leave the first person...

Well, that would be the point.  If you really like it, then you buy one, and send the class slut on to the next guy.  If you don't like it, then you're only out the shipping.  This would work great if someone has one that he doesn't like.  We get a list of who wants in, divide the cost among us, first guy pays the seller, second guy pays first, etc. etc.  and each iteration the cost goes down, so we all end up funding the initial sale, but no one is out the entire cost of a keyboard, and by the time it gets to the last guy, he only has enough invested in it to either keep it, or recoup the investment with a quick sale on the classifieds board.  There may be a flaw in this idea, but it seemed like a cool way for a bunch of us to get to try something we otherwise wouldn't get to.

[megnin]

which do you prefer? HHKB or Realforce?

For compact size:  HHKB
Feel of the keys:  Realforce.  The HHKB keys are a bit stiffer.  I mistype a lot on them.
Layout:  The HHKB takes some getting used to.  For daily programming where I'm using Ctrl-Home, Ctrl-Shift-End, Shift-Down Arrow, etc. constantly to copy and move blocks of text arround, the Realforce is easier.  It's the standard layout.  That being said, I'm using the HHKB because it's "cooler". ;-)

HHKB = More fun
Realforce = Easier

To answer the question; I'd have to say HHKB since that's what I'm using on my primary computer (and secondary and at home).  I have the Realforce on an auxiliary computer in my office and the one I'm actually using right now.

I'm finding that after typing on the HHKB all day, when I try to use someone else's computer I fumble with their keyboard, punching caps lock instead of Ctrl, missing the back space and "\" keys and such.  :-/