Getting a Topre a Good Choice?

[tehsprayer]

My family is heading over to the United States in a little bit over a week and I am able to ship this keyboard to a location there to avoid paying Canadian taxes and duties.

After looking for many hours, the only other keyboard that would interest me is in mx clears and I've heard that they are very heavy to click down meaning I would have to mod it to ergo-clears (no idea on how to do).

Should there be any concerns when I buy this? If I don't like it I could resell in the classifieds but I'm from Canada so it is a little bit harder, my post count and feedback don't help either.


Btw, this keyboard is the TKL Realforce 87u 55g (black from elitekeyboards)

[Danule]

havent tried the 55g but im guessing it is a very very nice keyboard.

[tp4tissue]

No Getting any staggered keyboard topre or otherwise is a terrible choice.

Every choice will be the mere coat tail of the one and only ERGODOX.

[Hyde]

Mmmmmmm it's hard to say unless you tell us a bit more about your preference.  Also I've tried a Topre 55g briefly and I find it a little bit on the heavy side since I'm more used to MX Brown/Red.  So if you think MX Clear might be too heavy then I'm not sure if 55g is for you.  Maybe try 45g?

Also have you tried any of the Cherry MX switches yet?  Usually people start with those because it's a bit cheaper.  Jumping directly into Topre would be kind of like buying Ferrari as first car.

Another thing to keep in mind is that NCIX will carry Topre in Canada soon:  http://ncix.ca/search/?categoryid=0&q=topre

They should have stock some point in August. 

[tehsprayer]

Mmmmmmm it's hard to say unless you tell us a bit more about your preference.  Also I've tried a Topre 55g briefly and I find it a little bit on the heavy side since I'm more used to MX Brown/Red.  So if you think MX Clear might be too heavy then I'm not sure if 55g is for you.  Maybe try 45g?

Also have you tried any of the Cherry MX switches yet?  Usually people start with those because it's a bit cheaper.  Jumping directly into Topre would be kind of like buying Ferrari as first car.

Another thing to keep in mind is that NCIX will carry Topre in Canada soon:  http://ncix.ca/search/?categoryid=0&q=topre

They should have stock some point in August. 

My cherry mx blue gfr broke the other day, it was a good keyboard. I am currently using my brothers old fc200r Leopold Brown switches. I just thought clears being 80g activation force would be pretty heavy.

[AKIMbO]

45g is perfect at first, but then it starts to feel a little linear once it breaks in.
55g is heavy at first, but then it feels more like what the 45g feels like before it's broken in.

If clears are too heavy for you, you should probably get a 45g.

[tehsprayer]

I haven't tried clears, so not 100% sure, I've just read and people tended to prefer the 55g and 45g is too mushy.

[AKIMbO]

I haven't tried clears, so not 100% sure, I've just read and people tended to prefer the 55g and 45g is too mushy.

This is very true.....but the 55g still has some heaviness to it even after being broken in. 

[whiteduck]

No Getting any staggered keyboard topre or otherwise is a terrible choice.

Every choice will be the mere coat tail of the one and only ERGODOX.

Glad to see you are still alive tp, I was getting worried.  This forum is just not the same without you.

On topic - I have a 55g Topre and bought it from EK.  Its a great keyboard, extremely well built and Brian @EK is good people. 
If you get it and decide its not your cup of tea it should be ez to find an interested buyer in Canada; I just had a dude from up N ask to buy mine.

[Danule]

No Getting any staggered keyboard topre or otherwise is a terrible choice.

Every choice will be the mere coat tail of the one and only ERGODOX.

aww I thgouht you were gone...

[SpAmRaY]

No Getting any staggered keyboard topre or otherwise is a terrible choice.

Every choice will be the mere coat tail of the one and only ERGODOX.

Welcome back bro!

[Sniping]

No Getting any staggered keyboard topre or otherwise is a terrible choice.

Every choice will be the mere coat tail of the one and only ERGODOX.

Pretty long hiatus you were on considering you still haven't gotten all of Geekhack to be ErgoDox converts yet.
OT: The Leopold FC660c's should be back in stock any day now. They're a bit cheaper and have a great 60% layout.

[tehsprayer]

Unfortunately, I need to buy it today so it ships to the US by the time I go on vacation there.

[tehsprayer]

Please keep coming in with replies!

I have to decide if I should buy it by the end of the day.

[ImperfectLink]

Clears are 55g not 80. That's marginally heavier than Blues and lighter than Blacks.

[tehsprayer]

Clears are 55g not 80. That's marginally heavier than Blues and lighter than Blacks.

Oh ok, yeah blues were fine when I used them.

I thought stock clears were 80g (120g peak force) and that's why people often mod to ergo clears using a lighter spring.

[tp4tissue]

No Getting any staggered keyboard topre or otherwise is a terrible choice.

Every choice will be the mere coat tail of the one and only ERGODOX.

Pretty long hiatus you were on considering you still haven't gotten all of Geekhack to be ErgoDox converts yet.
OT: The Leopold FC660c's should be back in stock any day now. They're a bit cheaper and have a great 60% layout.

I was on temp-ban due to what I consider a misunderstanding. I put up what I thought was a whitty remark, and the mods considered it was offensive.

I forgive them, as I could somewhat understand how they felt considering I often have TOO MANY whitty remarks.

[tp4tissue]

Unfortunately, I need to buy it today so it ships to the US by the time I go on vacation there.

ehi.... That really means no Ergodox for you.. Unless you can find a US seller right away.

Consider waiting if you could...

If you continue down the road of mechanical keyboards, you EVENTUALLY you'll land on the ergodox.

The keyboard has been a shapely rectangle for too long, and if you at all care about your hands/ wrist/ and shoulder health...   The ergodox is the Masiah.

[eth0s]

@OP:  Get the 45g RealForce.  Or get the variable weighted.  Either is a great choice, especially since MX Clears are too stiff for you.

@tp4tissue:  I'm glad that you finally found a keyboard that makes you happy.  I was worried that you hated everything.  Now you have finally experienced the pure joy the rest of us feel about our keyboards.  But best of all I'm so glad that there is no tp4tissue-type troll out there to p!ss on what you love.  That is not a pleasant thing to experience.

[TimIsABat]

Ergo-clear mod is super easy if you have a PCB mounted board like the Poker X...I use the file of a nail clipper (with the curved tip) and a flat head screw driver to open up the switches.

I like the ergo clearing with 62g springs is probably the best fit if you like light but not too light tactile switches.

I am wondering the same...I am wondering if a HHKB is worth the money...I love 60% boards but never tried a 87 keyboard yet.

[tehsprayer]

@OP:  Get the 45g RealForce.  Or get the variable weighted.  Either is a great choice, especially since MX Clears are too stiff for you.

@tp4tissue:  I'm glad that you finally found a keyboard that makes you happy.  I was worried that you hated everything.  Now you have finally experienced the pure joy the rest of us feel about our keyboards.  But best of all I'm so glad that there is no tp4tissue-type troll out there to p!ss on what you love.  That is not a pleasant thing to experience.

I heard the activation force of MX Clears were 80g, i'm used to blue switches whhich I think are 50g activation (peak 60g), very tough decision but i'm leaning towards 55g.

[tehsprayer]

Last chance for ordering this baby!

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rftenkeyless&pid=rf_se1800

[eth0s]

Yes, get it.  Please note that the Black on dark grey keycaps are very hard to see in low light.  You're basically getting otaku or near otaku.  Personally, I prefer otaku blank keycaps.  However, if you need/ want easily readable keycaps, get the white version.  Also I would still recommend the 45g.  But, maybe you'll be happier with the 55g.  How can I predict what you will like?

[tehsprayer]

Yes, get it.  Please note that the Black on dark grey keycaps are very hard to see in low light.  You're basically getting otaku or near otaku.  Personally, I prefer otaku blank keycaps.  However, if you need/ want easily readable keycaps, get the white version.  Also I would still recommend the 45g.  But, maybe you'll be happier with the 55g.  How can I predict what you will like?

I ordered the 55g, I imagine I will like them better as I prefered my mx blues over mx browns.
I really don't need readable caps other than the symbols with the numbers that I do not have completely memorized or the keys such as Pause/Break, Insert, PrntScr.

Edit: I also didn't really like red switches when I went to stores, they felt too light which makes my opinion more in favour of 55g, no going back now!

[eth0s]

Yes, get it.  Please note that the Black on dark grey keycaps are very hard to see in low light.  You're basically getting otaku or near otaku.  Personally, I prefer otaku blank keycaps.  However, if you need/ want easily readable keycaps, get the white version.  Also I would still recommend the 45g.  But, maybe you'll be happier with the 55g.  How can I predict what you will like?

I ordered the 55g, I imagine I will like them better as I prefered my mx blues over mx browns.
I really don't need readable caps other than the symbols with the numbers that I do not have completely memorized or the keys such as Pause/Break, Insert, PrntScr.

Edit: I also didn't really like red switches when I went to stores, they felt too light which makes my opinion more in favour of 55g, no going back now!

You can always buy moar keyboards!

(and you can always sell a 55g RealForce if you don't like, so no worries!)

[AKIMbO]

Yes, get it.  Please note that the Black on dark grey keycaps are very hard to see in low light.  You're basically getting otaku or near otaku.  Personally, I prefer otaku blank keycaps.  However, if you need/ want easily readable keycaps, get the white version.  Also I would still recommend the 45g.  But, maybe you'll be happier with the 55g.  How can I predict what you will like?

I ordered the 55g, I imagine I will like them better as I prefered my mx blues over mx browns.
I really don't need readable caps other than the symbols with the numbers that I do not have completely memorized or the keys such as Pause/Break, Insert, PrntScr.

Edit: I also didn't really like red switches when I went to stores, they felt too light which makes my opinion more in favour of 55g, no going back now!

Nice!  Be sure to give it a week or two before coming to a judgment on it.  The board will break in and your fingers will get stronger...so the board will feel completely different to you.

[tehsprayer]

Yes, get it.  Please note that the Black on dark grey keycaps are very hard to see in low light.  You're basically getting otaku or near otaku.  Personally, I prefer otaku blank keycaps.  However, if you need/ want easily readable keycaps, get the white version.  Also I would still recommend the 45g.  But, maybe you'll be happier with the 55g.  How can I predict what you will like?

I ordered the 55g, I imagine I will like them better as I prefered my mx blues over mx browns.
I really don't need readable caps other than the symbols with the numbers that I do not have completely memorized or the keys such as Pause/Break, Insert, PrntScr.

Edit: I also didn't really like red switches when I went to stores, they felt too light which makes my opinion more in favour of 55g, no going back now!

Nice!  Be sure to give it a week or two before coming to a judgment on it.  The board will break in and your fingers will get stronger...so the board will feel completely different to you.

Ok thanks for the tip!

[jackstar7]

Please report back on your experience as well. Curious to know how someone making the move over to topre experiences the change.

[tehsprayer]

Please report back on your experience as well. Curious to know how someone making the move over to topre experiences the change.

Ok will do.

[czarek]

Topre is great and one of my favourite switches. But I wouldn't recommend that as a first mechanical keyboard to anyone simply because it doesn't really feel mechanical. It feels like super nice rubber dome and that's what it pretty much is.

[smknjoe]

Topre is great and one of my favourite switches. But I wouldn't recommend that as a first mechanical keyboard to anyone simply because it doesn't really feel mechanical. It feels like super nice rubber dome and that's what it pretty much is.

You are right, and technically speaking rubber domes are mechanical. It really pisses people off when I say that but it's true. For the sake of this site they are not referred to as such.

Congrats on the board OP! Report back when you have time. Also, clears aren't heavy at all. Blacks feel heavier than clears.

[tehsprayer]

Topre is great and one of my favourite switches. But I wouldn't recommend that as a first mechanical keyboard to anyone simply because it doesn't really feel mechanical. It feels like super nice rubber dome and that's what it pretty much is.

You are right, and technically speaking rubber domes are mechanical. It really pisses people off when I say that but it's true. For the sake of this site they are not referred to as such.

Congrats on the board OP! Report back when you have time. Also, clears aren't heavy at all. Blacks feel heavier than clears.

Yeah I must've been mistaken by clears being heavy.

[smknjoe]

Topre is great and one of my favourite switches. But I wouldn't recommend that as a first mechanical keyboard to anyone simply because it doesn't really feel mechanical. It feels like super nice rubber dome and that's what it pretty much is.

You are right, and technically speaking rubber domes are mechanical. It really pisses people off when I say that but it's true. For the sake of this site they are not referred to as such.

Congrats on the board OP! Report back when you have time. Also, clears aren't heavy at all. Blacks feel heavier than clears.

Yeah I must've been mistaken by clears being heavy.

Well, you really can't trust anyone's opinion but your own.

[morpheus]

Topre is my favorite. If I could, I'd sell all my cherry boards back and just get Topre. In fact, I'd just keep getting Topre until I wore them out. I could type on them forever.

[oTurtlez]

Topre is my favorite. If I could, I'd sell all my cherry boards back and just get Topre. In fact, I'd just keep getting Topre until I wore them out. I could type on them forever.

That's how I was. And then I typed on a friends plate mounted reds and there was just some feeling of missing in my collection, so I bought a Phantom )

[dreamingftw]

Topre is my favorite. If I could, I'd sell all my cherry boards back and just get Topre. In fact, I'd just keep getting Topre until I wore them out. I could type on them forever.

That's how I was. And then I typed on a friends plate mounted reds and there was just some feeling of missing in my collection, so I bought a Phantom )

You really do need a variety to mix it up a bit.

[oTurtlez]

Topre is my favorite. If I could, I'd sell all my cherry boards back and just get Topre. In fact, I'd just keep getting Topre until I wore them out. I could type on them forever.

That's how I was. And then I typed on a friends plate mounted reds and there was just some feeling of missing in my collection, so I bought a Phantom )

You really do need a variety to mix it up a bit.

I had all cup rubber and no clickity clack. It's nice being able to change it up every now and then. The 87u Silent for work and the Phantom for home. I actually look forward to going and typing on the different boards.

[fantus]

Hope you like it, from my own anecdotal experience the 55g takes 2 weeks with plenty of typing to get your finger strength up (even if the keyboard has been broken in by someone else before).