do topre feel like the best rubber dome ever?

[fuzzybaffy]

Yes indeed I made assumptions, and I made sure I was clear about making assumptions... because I've never tried rubber domes with sliding mechanisms. LOL. Would you prefer that I make up lies about rubber dome boards with sliding mechanisms instead?

The important question is how does Topre age; what do vintage Topre keyboards feel like after some heavy use and abuse? How did they compare to their competition at the time? What will modern Topre keyboards feel like in a few years or decades?

Don't know since my Topre is only 2 years old.

That being said, I think it's a personal preference—"rubber dome over something" is a class of mechanisms just like "spring over membrane" or discrete mechanical switches; some people prefer tactile or even clicky switches, other like linears.

Yes indeed, it's personal preference.

When I tried an HHKB, it felt smooth and stuff, but very different from my BTC 51xx or the Preh, that are very strong on the rebound, creating yet another kind of tactility. I think the latter suits my current typing technique better.

I see. Well, I've never owned a BTC51xx or the Preh, so I can't comment. I do own a Filco with Cherry MX Browns, though, and I think I, ever so slightly, prefer the Topre. Personal preferences.

[davkol]

The point is, there's the word "ever" in the thread title.

FWIW there've been several threads about dome aging in Topre keyboards. Like this one: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=27474

[fuzzybaffy]

The point is, there's the word "ever" in the thread title.

I see. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but again, I've never tried the BTC51xx or the Preh, so I can't comment.

I'm also pretty sure the OP didn't mean "ever" literally. As in... he wasn't asking how the Topre compares to all the rubber dome boards that have ever existed in the history of the human race. He just wants to know what Topres are like in general.

FWIW there've been several threads about dome aging in Topre keyboards. Like this one: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=27474

That's great. Now you can get your answers from those sources, because, again, my Topre is only 2 years old.

[davkol]

...sooo we're back to Topre flamewar/circlejerk threads every other week? Cool, I missed it. >_<

[fuzzybaffy]

...sooo we're back to Topre flamewar/circlejerk threads every other week? Cool, I missed it. >_<

Wow. Re-read my first post in this thread. All I did was write up my experiences with the Topre board, and it was you who has been hounding me, asking all these unrelated questions, as if to infer and insist that Topre boards are so terrible. If you think that, that's fine. But don't bother me about it, because I have my own opinions.

[Quardah]

Please don't be mean to each other

Topre loves you all.

[davkol]

I ****ING LOVE TOPRE!!!1!

[cphead]

"do topre feel like the best switch ever?"

Yes ... yes.

[eth0s]

Topre is the cup rubber.  SO you can enjoy your feeling.  The feeling of oneness with cup rubber.  Sorry my English.

[cphead]

Topre is the cup rubber.  SO you can enjoy your feeling.  The feeling of oneness with cup rubber.  Sorry my English.

Good feeling of oneness. Mmm.

[davkol]

SO you can enjoy your feeling.

That's Vortex, isn't it?

[ideus]

Ah, now the difference is between rubber domes, and rubber cups? 

[rsantos97]

They do to me!  Loving my 30g's.  The smoothest and softest keyboard ever.  I also really like the sound the keys make when they travel back up.

[noisyturtle]

This is a known Topre circle-jerk site. Don't let them fool you into thinking there's some drastic difference between rubber domes and Topre when it comes to feel. There's definitely a noticeable difference, just not as pronounced as the difference between rubber dome and, well, any other switch type besides Topre. In short: yes. They feel like nicer rubber dome boards.

[rowdy]

Topre boards also seem to last longer than most rubber dome keyboards.

I have experienced RD keyboards becoming almost unusable after only a few months.

My HHKB was secondhand, and is still as smooth as silk even a year or so after I got it.

[noisyturtle]

Oh yes, the stock build quality of both Realforce and HHKB are fantastic. Superior to most any modern stock MX board.

[davkol]

The Leanord Elan I've mentioned in some other thread was made in '88 and it still feels great. WHERE IS YOUR THORPE GOD NOW?

[dante]

wtf do you guys do to your rubber domes 'omg I barely type on it and it's worn out already'.

I've typed on domes for years and never had a issue with them wearing out.  On the other hand I've had MX Blues/MX Greens/MX Whites lose their click, chattering, mini-usb connectors fail, sticky switches, etc...

I know you guys love your mechanicals but the bs is getting thick.

[rowdy]

Depends on the keyboard.

Some are rubbish right from the start.

Others last the distance - I have a Digital winkeyless keyboard that is still going strong.  A bit yellowed, but very consistent feel.

OTOH I have IBM RD keyboards that started off fine, but over a year or so haev become extremely mushy.

[Polymer]

wtf do you guys do to your rubber domes 'omg I barely type on it and it's worn out already'.

I've typed on domes for years and never had a issue with them wearing out.  On the other hand I've had MX Blues/MX Greens/MX Whites lose their click, chattering, mini-usb connectors fail, sticky switches, etc...

I know you guys love your mechanicals but the bs is getting thick.

You've never had them fail on you?  The do all the time..but when the replacement cost is 20 dollars, you don't think about it at all....And yes, I have old RD keyboards that have lasted a long long time..and some that have not.

The advantage of say, Cherry, is that they're rated to last longer..that doesn't mean every single board will, but in general, the parts are designed to last longer. 

As far as Topre is concerned..well, they've recently upped the rating but who knows about that...I would expect them to last as long as the best RDs have done..which is a long time.  I wouldn't expect them to be similar to cheaper RDs which tend to not last as long...

[fuzzybaffy]

This is a known Topre circle-jerk site. Don't let them fool you into thinking there's some drastic difference between rubber domes and Topre when it comes to feel. There's definitely a noticeable difference, just not as pronounced as the difference between rubber dome and, well, any other switch type besides Topre. In short: yes. They feel like nicer rubber dome boards.

If you're talking about the "mechanicalness" of switches, then yes... Cherry switches are further apart from typical rubber dome switches than Topre switches are.

If you're talking about the quality of the switches, however, then Topre comes out further ahead and apart from typical rubber domes than Cherry switches do. Topre switches are way more smooth and stable (less wobbly) than Cherry MX switches.

[noisyturtle]

This is a known Topre circle-jerk site. Don't let them fool you into thinking there's some drastic difference between rubber domes and Topre when it comes to feel. There's definitely a noticeable difference, just not as pronounced as the difference between rubber dome and, well, any other switch type besides Topre. In short: yes. They feel like nicer rubber dome boards.

If you're talking about the "mechanicalness" of switches, then yes... Cherry switches are further apart from typical rubber dome switches than Topre switches are.

If you're talking about the quality of the switches, however, then Topre comes out further ahead and apart from typical rubber domes than Cherry switches do. Topre switches are way more smooth and stable (less wobbly) than Cherry MX switches.

You're absolutely right, the only switch I have tried that compares is lubed+stickered(yeah, they make a little difference) reds with o-rings. But that's a lot of parts to add to get a similar smoothness, and they also have a more solid/wobbly housing than MX too.

I just prefer MX because of the stark contrast and variance to a rubber-dome, and the extreme customability. To be totally honest I am hoping and praying someone picks up the Topre patent and starts making caps of all sorts of shapes fonts and color-ways. I wish there were tons of affordable housing options, and weight variances mods for Topre boards. Folks making custom Topre springs, and aluminum cases for less than $200. Novelty caps and Topre set groupbuys as far as the mouse can scroll. I want this so bad man, and it ****ing sucks none of it's happening. I don't hate Topre, I hate it's squandered potential.

[LouisHjelmslev]

...
I know you guys love your mechanicals but the bs is getting thick.

love it

[EvillePanda]

I have some Dell QuietKeys at work that aren't too bad to use.  RDs do wear out faster, but mine usually last a year or two before I toss them.

[TotalChaos]

do topre feel like the best rubber dome ever?

I own many different keyboards and the answer is "absolutely not".

My Topre keyboard is brutal and rough and hurts my hands a lot.
The rubberdome I am typing this msg on is not perfect but it is much softer and gentler than my Topre keyboard.

[strict]

wtf do you guys do to your rubber domes 'omg I barely type on it and it's worn out already'.

I've typed on domes for years and never had a issue with them wearing out.  On the other hand I've had MX Blues/MX Greens/MX Whites lose their click, chattering, mini-usb connectors fail, sticky switches, etc...

I know you guys love your mechanicals but the bs is getting thick.

I used an cheapy HP keyboard at work (like this one) and it didn't last even a year before some of my most used keys stopped registering and would require multiple key presses or slamming the key. The scissor switch keyboard on my Dell laptop at home does the same thing, 30% of the time the Windows key wont register unless I smash it.

However, I've got a Dell keyboard at home (this one) that I had used for over 8 years, including thousands of hours of gaming, and never had a bit of trouble with. It has since been retired for my Filco but it served me very well and I still keep it around as a backup board. If I were to renounce the mechanical religion that's probably the keyboard I would go back to.

Point being, build quality on these cheap boards can very drastically. Cherry switches aren't without their issues, but I think most would agree the positives outweigh negatives all day long (eg. show me a cheap rubberdome with PBT keys).

[ckar]

.

[davkol]

eg. show me a cheap rubberdome with PBT keys

Most hellgrau Cherry G83s. What else do you have there?

Obviously rubber domes are decent keyboards otherwise 99% of the population wouldn't use them.

BS. Majority of people use (or even eat/drink) whatever crap vendors throw at them.

[EvillePanda]

I would say a good portion of the population doesn't even know about mechanical keyboards and a decent portion of the ones that do are unwilling to pay the price for good mechanical keyboards.  I certainly didn't understand the difference until I started researching ergo boards.  Having said that, rubber domes work.  Most of them are poorly built, but they work.  Some of them are even comfortable.

I still prefer my mechanical board.

[Quardah]

eg. show me a cheap rubberdome with PBT keys

Most hellgrau Cherry G83s. What else do you have there?

Obviously rubber domes are decent keyboards otherwise 99% of the population wouldn't use them.

BS. Majority of people use (or even eat/drink) whatever crap vendors throw at them.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

DEM BLASTS HOMIE IS BE KILLIN' EM FAST CLEAN AND EZ PZ LEMON SKWIZI

#BALLHARD #HURTINGFEELINGS #ALLDAY #420BLAZIN' #AINTEVENMAD #CANTTESTTHEDAVKOL #ISRIGHTNOMATTERWHAT #DEMBLASTS #DEMLOWBLOWS #KNIVESBEFLYINGLOW #SHOWEDEM #KILLEM #MAPWIDEONEDEAG #SITDOWN #NOMOREARGUINGDAMASTASORRY #KEYBOARDMASTA #1337 #POWERLEVEL9001 #SNOOPSBEPROUD #OUTPLAY

Ok i overreacted.

[skcheng]

I wrote this review many moons ago ..... back in the day when Ripster and Webby ruled here on GH.   Back when keyboards were worth more than keycaps. 

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=9709.msg175778#msg175778

Unfortunately, after buying ANOTHER 87U, I still feel the same way about the Realforce (although I do prefer the beige verson).   I just don't like it.  Hey, to each their own. 

The "thock" still drives me nuts.     

So now I'll just use my 87U to display my artisan keycaps when I can't find the MX versions.   

[rowdy]

^ Wow, some of the names in that thread.  Most don't post any more