Topre Realforce OEM versions

[ch_123]

This supposedly used Topre switches -



Just remembered - that numpad has been discussed here recently. Supposedly it sold for the equivalent of about 280 euros...

As does this monstrosity -

[namelessguy]

Seems that the 30g advertised key force is bogus.

Ah, that was true, but is not true.

Actually, they announced that the keys are all 30g at first, but due to some error in manufacturing process, somehow the usual "differently weighted" rubbers in Realforce got mixed in some of them (so they basically were just another Realforce91UBK with different logo) and the "defect" products were recalled in January 2009.
Current model is all checked and certified, but still it's not so popular thanks to the price, I guess.


Oh, and one more thing. While the discrete keypad of Epson's has been discontinued, the "business full keyboard" set (BFKBPS2R) seems to be still available, in a price you don't want to think about.

[itlnstln]

Ripster, you have some broken links on the first few (they're not being Websensed).

[MsKeyboard]

My browser did that at first also, but after I loaded it the second time everything was OK.

I really like that wrist rest / cover.  Will have to look into those.

Thanks

[itlnstln]

Try clearing your cache. I've noticed lately Vbulletin (or something) is causing me to do this often lately.

I tried that, and it didn't work. I just went into the properties for the pics and went to the URL.
 
EDIT: Weird.  Suddenly, it worked.

[rdjack21]

Ah, that was true, but is not true.

Actually, they announced that the keys are all 30g at first, but due to some error in manufacturing process, somehow the usual "differently weighted" rubbers in Realforce got mixed in some of them (so they basically were just another Realforce91UBK with different logo) and the "defect" products were recalled in January 2009.
Current model is all checked and certified, but still it's not so popular thanks to the price, I guess.

I think it would not be popular because of the 30g keys. Man that is light. I think the 45g/35g on the Realforce boards is just about right any lighter and I would have problems with it.

Oh, and one more thing. While the discrete keypad of Epson's has been discontinued, the "business full keyboard" set (BFKBPS2R) seems to be still available, in a price you don't want to think about.

holy cow they want $677 or 64,723 yen for one of those. And here we thought that Realforce keyboards are expensive.

[namelessguy]

How about these ones?

http://www.vshopu.com/souldout/TP_DG0380/index.html
MD01B0 - Topre capacitive compact keyboard.
This uses the same mechanism as Realforce, but has a shorter key travel (3mm).
And it does look like just another cheap low-profile keyboard with scissor switches.


http://www.vshopu.com/item/208X-0101/index.html
QK01X0 - USB version of Realforce 106. This one too looks like just another nondescript USB keyboard.

They've got no brand name on them, and I don't really know why.

[rdjack21]

Why does it have to be exceedingly rare! I really like it. There are some minor layout issues but other than that man I want one of those.



EDIT: webwit asked about this board on this thread http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=5409

[itlnstln]

I like the mini-layout of that 'board, but I wouldn't like to use short-throw keys for any extended period of time.

[rdjack21]

Here is a page that shows it taken apart really interesting

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://mineko.fc2web.com/box/kb-room/items/topre-dg03b0.html&ei=SDt8Sv_lKZTKtge1xdz6AQ&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DTopre%2BDG03B0%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

[itlnstln]

Here is a page that shows it taken apart really interesting
 
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://mineko.fc2web.com/box/kb-room/items/topre-dg03b0.html&ei=SDt8Sv_lKZTKtge1xdz6AQ&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DTopre%2BDG03B0%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

The switches don't appear to be any shorter-throw than normal Topres.  Maybe they were just talking about the keycaps.  Even with the thinner keycaps, the travel of the switch wouldn't be any shorter.

[rdjack21]

Well, the specs say 3mm keystroke at 45g.  Kinda moot since we'll never see this board in real life in our lifetimes (wait as Majestouch announces it tomorrow just to prove me wrong).

I thought the pics of the old style rubber domes were interesting.  The old design was much better in terms of making it easy to swap domes.

I think I have found 10 of them on one Japan auction site. And maybe another one on another auction site. I don't have the cash to get one right now and you would have to go through a buying serves as well which really increases the cost. But still I may try to get cresent to verify that they are really up for sale. If so I just may have to dig deep and come up with the cash. Oh if anyone can verify here is the translated link:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://auction.jp.msn.com/pitem/120105043&ei=SDt8Sv_lKZTKtge1xdz6AQ&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=7&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DTopre%2BDG03B0%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

and non translated: http://auction.jp.msn.com/pitem/120105043

If it is for real please don't get all of them I really want one.

[namelessguy]

Nameless, are you in Japan or follow that market closely?

Well, I don't deny that, though I'm not really into the keyboard market.

The switches don't appear to be any shorter-throw than normal Topres.

It's on the official spec sheet. It's gone from their official site, however, so you need to find it via the Wayback Machine.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060626073206/www.topre.co.jp/products/comp/pdf/cap_key.pdf

But I doubt any online translation will translate non-text sections on a PDF, so I'll do that instead.

Code: [Select]

actuation force  40+-15g
 key travel  3.0+-0.5mm
 actuation point  1.8(?)+-0.8mm
 key feel   tactile feeling
 lifetime   more than 20,000,000 keystroke
 MTBF  120,000 hr
 chatter  free
 key shape   sloped
 other functions   n-key rollover capable
 letters on keycap   sublimation printing
 dimentions   320mm x 180mm x 13.3mm

[rdjack21]

That confirms what I saw on that site that has it taken apart. It had the keys at 40g so slightly lighter than a HHKB Pro. Man I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and get one if I can that is.

[namelessguy]

If it is for real please don't get all of them I really want one.

The MD01B0 board actually isn't THAT rare, and some PC shops still have them in stock. For example http://www.clevery.co.jp/eshop/g/g2030423060013/ But perhaps you'd better hurry anyway, it is not a good sign that Diatec online shop has it out of stock.

[rdjack21]

That one you linked to is cheaper. But would still have to go through Crecent to get it though. Which means I have to pay their fee I guess I'm going to have to see how much that is going to set me back.

Man this keyboard obsession is really starting to hurt my wallet.

[rdjack21]

Found one on Yahoo japan and almost got it but someone sniped me :mad2:

Oh well at least I have confirmed where a new on is at. But still that one I almost got was much cheaper.

Oh if anyone is wondering why those Model M's that went to Japan went so high. While I was bidding on the Topre board I saw two Model M space savers go for over $200 and they were not NIB boards.

[skyian]

Hi, ripster.

I would like to ask you if you could let me know where did you find this portable palm rest for Realforce 87.



It seems pretty good. One small gadget is made with two functions.
I have two RF87. Hence if not too expensive, I would consider buy one. ^_^

[keyb_gr]

Maybe I'll take a bunch of Model M Minis to Japan in a suitcase and come back with a suitcase full of Topres.  By the time it arrives though the Minis will have lost all their rivets.....

We're a bit rivet-phobic today, aren't we?

For that to happen it would need an, err, airplane dropping test.