torn between MX brown and Topre

[irendulic]

A little extreme case, just that titanium case costs like 2 cherry or more than 1 topre keyboard. And it all came down to which switches someone prefers.

[kansas city shuffle]

Topre, nothing quite like it once you start using it.

[riotonthebay]

A little extreme case, just that titanium case costs like 2 cherry or more than 1 topre keyboard. And it all came down to which switches someone prefers.

And you can't even see the "shelf liner" mod I did with hundred dollar bills.

[histevenhere]

Topre because of that buttery smoothness .

[wharrislv]

I have and use both, for someone who doesn't care about gaming performance, the topres are much better.  I keep my brown TKL as a display piece for keycaps.

[naasfu]

Topre feels so much better than MX Browns, and the thock sound is wonderful.

However, if you want lots of choices for keysets, wait for the CM Novatouch as others have suggested.  Or just buy one of each.  MX Browns aren't too bad.

[aref]

I use a 55-gram 87U; but I also have a CMQFR with Cherry MX Blue switches I use as my alternative keyboard. If I owned one keyboard only
(may this never happens), it would be my 87U/55-gram RF. Nonetheless, I do like the sound and feel of the CMQFR with Cherry MX Blue switches.

[FinancialWar]

Brown!

Topre is nothing but a marketing gimmick for stupid people. It feels exactly like rubber dome.

[yasuo]

i dont have both but i have grey not really like i dont the tactile

[Hypersphere]

My keyboard journey has taken me on the following progression:

IBM Model M --> IBM SSK --> IBM Model F XT --> Cherry mx (blue, green, brown, clear, black, red) --> various Alps and Matias --> HHKB Pro 2 --> RF 87ub 45g --> RF 87ub 55g.

Favorite for key action/feel: IBM Model F XT.

Favorite for form factor and layout: HHKB Pro 2.

Favorite overall: RF 87ub 55g.

I still have a WASD V2 87 with mx browns that I use mainly as a display board for my Cherry keycap collection.

I am also keeping my eye on new projects that include a Matias switch option, such as the Infinity 60 kit GB and the Matias 60 GB. While my favorite switches are IBM Model F and Topre 55g, I like Matias switches better than any Cherry mx switch.

[skuko]

tell you what...i just picked up my brand new RF 87uw 55g uniform from the customs office and i can honestly say that this board feels freaking awesome

first impression is that it's even better and more tactile feeling than the leopold FC660C.

i am literally grinning as i'm typing this...pure joy...

i can tell you that i don't like the fact that the case does not have rubber feet under the top side (F keys) so it slides slightly more that say a Filco, but that's not really an issue, just my OCD kicking in.

typing feel on this = WOW.

can't wait to take it home and try some guild wars 2 gaming on it

the Filco with MX browns i had and sold felt kinda "sandy" to me, a bit scratchy, like there's sand in the switches...that's probably what people mean by MX browns feeling "scratchy" or "dirty", i did not like it, but this realforce is really tactile and snappy. i'm at work at the moment and have a relatively unused rubberdome board next to it and it feels squishy and mushy, so anyone who claims that topre is just a glorified rubber dome could not be more far from the truth....well worth the money, if i should judge from my first impression

[saturnotaku]

Garbage for gaming.

Only the variable-weight Realforce is what I would put in that category. If you can make the layout work to your advantage, even the HHKB is perfectly acceptable for gaming. I tried it myself, but using the function layer has been engrained into my playing for a decade, so the layout is not ideal.

A uniform Realforce works perfectly fine for gaming. The only barrier, IMO, is the price. $170-180 used for a Realforce is not a small chunk of change when there are lots of great Cherry MX tenkeyless boards on the market for 1/2 to 2/3 the cost.

[Ngt]

Thanks for the help (and emotional support). I've decided to pull the trigger on the 45g Topre! Now the waiting begins.

I love browns and I hesitate on Topre too so I'd like to know what you think of your Topre board once you'll have it.

[Grim Fandango]

Personally, I would say that for your purposes, you should go for the switch first. Worry about aesthetics later.

The dye sub on the black 87u is so dark that unless you are in a room lit with natural light, it will be very hard to see. To me, it is similar to having blank keycaps. But there is also the beige version available, and there are keycaps sets available (they are, however, very expensive).

If noise is an issue for you at all, then I would recommend Topre. Cherry MX are much louder. Even with 40-AL o-rings my experience is that they are still a fair bit louder than normal Topre (and far louder than any silent version HHKB or Realforce).

[Freebird]

I loved my Poker II on browns till I got a board with topre switches...Now honestly, that Poker feels horrible in comparison. For pure typing pleasure I would say the topre. This is coming from someone using a Novatouch rather than an HHKB or a Realforce.

[Hypersphere]

For those who like the Novatouch better than a Cherry mx keyboard (this includes me), you may find (as I do), that a HHKB Pro 2 or Realforce is even better.

Here is my current ranking of switches:

Topre 55g ~ IBM capacitive buckling spring (Model F) > Topre 45g ~ IBM membrane buckling spring (Model M) > various Alps-type switches (white, orange, Matias tactile/click) ~ NBB Hi-Tek black or white space invaders > various Cherry mx (brown > green > red > blue > black > clear).

[redeye]

I've only owned brown switched boards, flico's (ansi and iso, tkl and full), poker 2 and noppo. I was hunting for a typing sensation similar to the old IBM buckling spring boards, I wanted some resistence and a bump. I really wanted to try clear switches because I wanted something more than the brown's were offering me but didn't want to risk it spending the cash and being disappointed.

So I must admit I was curious about topre boards they sounded the bees knees. So I made the jump to the novatouch, It was a risk, I had never tried a topre switch in my life. Some people stated that it took them a while to like their topre boards but liked mine instantly. The only negative are the three noisy keys. For me this is the best keyboard I've owned, so much so that I'm willing to take it apart and try to make it better, spicebar's mod is just too tempting.

As they say though Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Just to let you know I was pissed when I typed this post and it took me ages but I like using my novatouch so it was a great excuse.

[redeye]

Oh and by the way the "thock" can not be underestimated.

[kaiteoki]

Brown!

Topre is nothing but a marketing gimmick for stupid people. It feels exactly l
ike rubber dome.

sooo you're the scumbag who nerco bumped this topre thread just to bash on it. You looked for a topre thread that died about 10 months ago. Just to say it suks? Youre, oxic

[kaiteoki]

Brown!

Topre is nothing but a marketing gimmick for stupid people. It feels exactly l
ike rubber dome.

sooo you're the scumbag who nerco bumped this topre thread just to bash on it. You looked for a topre thread that died about 10 months ago. Just to say it suks? Youre, toxic

[jacobolus]

Topre is nothing but a marketing gimmick for stupid people. It feels exactly l
ike rubber dome.

sooo you're the scumbag who nerco bumped this topre thread just to bash on it. You looked for a topre thread that died about 10 months ago. Just to say it suks?

If you’ve been paying any attention, 90% of FinancialWar’s posts are trolling (of the lazy and boring kind). Don’t worry about it, just ignore him.

[kaiteoki]

Topre rules!

[Peinful]

Uhm I'm not sure what a tippy feels like but I've been using my ducky shine 3 with mx browns and i love them. No regrets

[_PixelNinja]

Garbage for gaming.

To each his own but I find Topre great for gaming, it just takes some getting used to coming from Cherry MX; notably if one tends to hover the keys close to the actuation point, which was my case. I know that some of the European based eSport teams sponsored by Cooler Master have been asking for Novatouches because they love the feel of Topre.

[Veridis]

Garbage for gaming.

To each his own but I find Topre great for gaming, it just takes some getting used to coming from Cherry MX; notably if one tends to hover the keys close to the actuation point, which was my case. I know that some of the European based eSport teams sponsored by Cooler Master have been asking for Novatouches because they love the feel of Topre.

Hi Pixel Ninja, do you remove the spring under the spacebar?

I like the stiffer spacebar for general typing, but yesterday after 2 hours of Team Fortress 2, my left thumb was cramping from jumping so much.

Took out the spring under the spacebar on the Novatouch, but now the spacebar feels easier press than normal keys because of the weight of thick PBT.

[_PixelNinja]

Hi Pixel Ninja, do you remove the spring under the spacebar?

I like the stiffer spacebar for general typing, but yesterday after 2 hours of Team Fortress 2, my left thumb was cramping from jumping so much.

Took out the spring under the spacebar on the Novatouch, but now the spacebar feels easier press than normal keys because of the weight of thick PBT.

Hi there,

Affirmative; one of the first things I did when I received my unit was to remove the spring under the space bar and place O-Rings on the stabilizers since the landing felt a bit harsh. I find this configuration to give me the most uniform feel in relation to the other keys on the Novatouch. I put the spring under the Esc key.