CMStorm Novatouch Unbox and Review

[duzeyao]

Was thinking about waiting for the 55g but wtf: I'll bite. even though the lack of leds is a real head-scratcher.


duzeyao, xie xie!!

Thx. 
I really can't understand why they gave up with the leds. It was a very confusing decision.

I can't seem to load any pictures, does anyone know why?

http://speedcap.net/sharing/screen.php?id=files/e0/9b/e09b8d0a730488a3486eb61c8fdc492d.png

Let me know your email address. I'll mail you the pic pack.

[SL89]

Was thinking about waiting for the 55g but wtf: I'll bite. even though the lack of leds is a real head-scratcher.


duzeyao, xie xie!!

Hopefully biting now ill also show CM some love and they might expedite the 55g or even (crosses fingers) a Fullsize option!

[CPTBadAss]

CMStorm held an activity and rewarded me with this for coming up with its Chinese name.

What's the Chinese name?

紫星, The Purple Star.

I actually like that name better that Novatouch!

I had the chance to try the Novatouch at Keycon. Like mkawa, I thought it felt like 55g. But for some reason, I have this nagging feeling that someone told me it was 45g. Regardless, I think if I were to get a Topre keyboard, this would be on the short list of boards I'd get. I was pretty impressed by the board and I really like the MX compatible stems.

And thank you for posting pictures and sharing your review .

[dante]

If the Novatouch feels like 55g - what will the 55g version feel like - 60g?

[duzeyao]

CMStorm held an activity and rewarded me with this for coming up with its Chinese name.

What's the Chinese name?

紫星, The Purple Star.

I actually like that name better that Novatouch!

I had the chance to try the Novatouch at Keycon. Like mkawa, I thought it felt like 55g. But for some reason, I have this nagging feeling that someone told me it was 45g. Regardless, I think if I were to get a Topre keyboard, this would be on the short list of boards I'd get. I was pretty impressed by the board and I really like the MX compatible stems.

And thank you for posting pictures and sharing your review .

Thank you. Yesterday I got a Realforce 45g Hipro and now have the chance to make a comparison.  Novatouch is silightly quieter.  )
I have to admit the Realforce keycaps are the best keycaps I've ever seen. The keys are in perfect order and the dye-sub is astonishing. I don't know how but the long keys of Realforce feels perfect too, even without stabilizers.

If the Novatouch feels like 55g - what will the 55g version feel like - 60g?

Novatouch feels a bit heavier because of the additional spring on spacebar. The other keys are just fine. So you don't have to worry much. 

[Sniping]

Was thinking about waiting for the 55g but wtf: I'll bite. even though the lack of leds is a real head-scratcher.


duzeyao, xie xie!!

LED's wouldn't be practical for anything more than a caps lock LED or something. If you think about the design of the switch, it's impossible to have the LED's in the middle like with Cherry. If you look at the LED's on existing Topre keyboards they're all located on the corner of the switch and wouldn't light up a key properly unless the window for the LED is in the corner like on Topre keysets.

[korrelate]

that's all i wanted though: just the caps and scroll lock. just because it feels more complete that way.

[taylordcraig]

This is the board that will sell me on Topre.

[mkawa]

CMStorm held an activity and rewarded me with this for coming up with its Chinese name.

What's the Chinese name?

紫星, The Purple Star.

I actually like that name better that Novatouch!

I had the chance to try the Novatouch at Keycon. Like mkawa, I thought it felt like 55g. But for some reason, I have this nagging feeling that someone told me it was 45g. Regardless, I think if I were to get a Topre keyboard, this would be on the short list of boards I'd get. I was pretty impressed by the board and I really like the MX compatible stems.

And thank you for posting pictures and sharing your review .

to clarify, CM.Nurumu said definitively that the initial novatouch will be 45g, and will be very close to the one we fondled at keycon.

[rlnation]

He bought white PBT blank keycaps (of Cherry profile) from a Chinese factory and dyed them into various of colors. It is sold in Taobao for around 45￥. I can give you the Taobao link if you want.

Yes, I would like the link please.

[Elrick]

to clarify, CM.Nurumu said definitively that the initial novatouch will be 45g, and will be very close to the one we fondled at keycon.

Can't wait to start fondling this keyboard as well.  Just love touching a new, fresh keyboard, that has a lot to offer with endless possibilities  .

[dante]

I do have a question that I hope someone can answer - while I understand you can put O-Rings on this board - with the new switch design can you still silence it on the upstroke?

[clacktalk]

I do have a question that I hope someone can answer - while I understand you can put O-Rings on this board - with the new switch design can you still silence it on the upstroke?

Since the o ring is installed on the outside of the slider, yes the mod would still work. The change in slider design seems to mostly, if not all, be internal to the cylinder.

[dante]

I do have a question that I hope someone can answer - while I understand you can put O-Rings on this board - with the new switch design can you still silence it on the upstroke?

Since the o ring is installed on the outside of the slider, yes the mod would still work. The change in slider design seems to mostly, if not all, be internal to the cylinder.

Thanks for that.  I think I am going to cave ... but I'm going to wait until the 30g model hits the shelves first.

[Photekq]

Thanks for the review. I'm curious.. Can I take the stabilisers from the Novatouch and install them in a RF, or are they totally different?

[Flyersfan1]

Thanks for the review. I'm curious.. Can I take the stabilisers from the Novatouch and install them in a RF, or are they totally different?

I'll try and find the link, but I believe Ripster confirmed that the stabilizers are interchangeable between a RF and Novatouch.

[clacktalk]

Thanks for the review. I'm curious.. Can I take the stabilisers from the Novatouch and install them in a RF, or are they totally different?

I'll try and find the link, but I believe Ripster confirmed that the stabilizers are interchangeable between a RF and Novatouch.

http://reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/2c1z7q/novatouch_stabilizers_are_also_interchangeable/

[Photekq]

Nice! Thank you!

[duzeyao]

Thanks for the review. I'm curious.. Can I take the stabilisers from the Novatouch and install them in a RF, or are they totally different?

They are totally different. And I do believe you don't have to use stabilizers for Realforce keyboards. As long as I can say, (a 45g Hipro version)  Realforce provides perfect long keys experience even without stabilizers.

[henz]

Verry Nice, thanks for the review

[repiv]

Thanks for the review. Looks like a solid board for those that want a Topre board with custom keycap sets.

[Hypersphere]

Having recently made the switch from the HHKB Pro 2 45g to the RF 87u 55g, I find that I much prefer the 55g weight. Therefore, although I like the fact that the Novatouch has Cherry mx compatible stems, I think I will wait until they introduce a 55g option. I hope that the rumors are true and that CM is serious about additional models, including 55g switches. If they were to introduce a 60% board with HHKB layout compatibility and 55g switches, this would be the ultimate board for me.

[PadawanGeek]

I have only participated in one GB, and that was for the Miami key set.....which I'm embarrassed to admit has been neglected and unused. Upon buying the Novatouch, I'd used it since it was a full set and was kept in a plastic bag. Now I get why some love getting custom key caps! I'm having fun with it on the Novatouch, so much fun that I've ordered the Bumble Bee set as well. When it arrives, I'd in all likeliness get a 2nd Novatouch just for the Bumble Bee set......and I'm actually looking around for more key sets. I'd never thought of buying the Bumble Bee set although I liked it a lot, but this Novatouch has inspired me to it, and perhaps others to play around with. I'd thought of buying a second Novatouch now, but am torn as I'm looking at buying a completed Ergodox as well.

BTW, duzeyao, you did a bang up job with the review ......you've covered some points that had not occurred to me at all, hence my reluctance to do a review myself.

[zennasyndroxx]

gonna add in one picture here:

[rowdy]

[Hypersphere]

Thanks for the review. I was able to get a Novatouch after all, and I have posted a brief review over on DT for those who might be interested:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/cm-novatouch-review-t8687.html

Bottom line for me: although it is nice to be able to put Cherry mx keycaps on a Topre-switch board, I prefer the appearance, sound, and feel of the RF 87u 55g and the HHKB Pro 2 45g to the CM Novatouch. Overall, among Topre-switch boards I have tried, the HHKB Pro 2 wins for me after considering its additional advantages, including the 60% form factor, symmetry, and efficient layout.

[Hypersphere]

Nice review, great pics.

Funny that it comes with two sets of o-rings. They could have cut that crap out as well as gone easier on the packaging and made it a bit cheaper.

Mine came with only one (1) bag of O-rings, and they were two short of a complete set unless you are not supposed to install O-rings on keycaps that have more than one stem. Does anyone here have an answer to this? Should O-rings be installed only on the center stem in a keycap that has three stems?

I also found that with O-rings installed and seated properly, some of the keycaps would come loose very easily. However, I am using a set of IMSTO thick PBT caps that tend to have a relatively loose fit compared to some Cherry keycaps.

I am still trying to decide if the board feel and sounds better with or without the O-rings.

Overall, among Topre-switch boards, I prefer the sound and feel of the RF 87u or HHKB Pro 2 to the Novatouch. However, considering boards that can accommodate Cherry keycaps, I prefer the Novatouch to any Cherry mx board that I own or that I have tried (with or without O-rings).

[Prime Time]

@Hypersphere

Mind came with 1 back of O-ring as well.

[Hypersphere]

Update: The keycap on the "O" key on my Novatouch is so loose that it pops off while I am typing, and it falls off when the keyboard is inverted. To test whether the problem was in the keycap or the switch stem on the keyboard, I reversed the "I" and "O" keycaps. Now it is the "I" keycap that pops off while I am typing and falls off when the keyboard is inverted. Therefore, it appears that the problem resides in the switch stem on the Novatouch. Of course, there are workarounds for such problems, such as putting some tape or plastic wrap in the keycap. Nevertheless, CM ought to take a look at this issue. It might just be a matter of tightening up the tolerances on their quality control procedures.

[rowdy]

Update: The keycap on the "O" key on my Novatouch is so loose that it pops off while I am typing, and it falls off when the keyboard is inverted. To test whether the problem was in the keycap or the switch stem on the keyboard, I reversed the "I" and "O" keycaps. Now it is the "I" keycap that pops off while I am typing and falls off when the keyboard is inverted. Therefore, it appears that the problem resides in the switch stem on the Novatouch. Of course, there are workarounds for such problems, such as putting some tape or plastic wrap in the keycap. Nevertheless, CM ought to take a look at this issue. It might just be a matter of tightening up the tolerances on their quality control procedures.

This is the sort of valuable feedback that I imagine CM would welcome.

Have you informed them directly, even if only by PMing Carter?

[Hypersphere]

Update: The keycap on the "O" key on my Novatouch is so loose that it pops off while I am typing, and it falls off when the keyboard is inverted. To test whether the problem was in the keycap or the switch stem on the keyboard, I reversed the "I" and "O" keycaps. Now it is the "I" keycap that pops off while I am typing and falls off when the keyboard is inverted. Therefore, it appears that the problem resides in the switch stem on the Novatouch. Of course, there are workarounds for such problems, such as putting some tape or plastic wrap in the keycap. Nevertheless, CM ought to take a look at this issue. It might just be a matter of tightening up the tolerances on their quality control procedures.

This is the sort of valuable feedback that I imagine CM would welcome.

Have you informed them directly, even if only by PMing Carter?

Thanks. I agree. CM certainly deserves to know about any issues concerning the quality of their products so that they can work to improve them in future releases. Although I would suppose that Carter would be following the threads on CM products, I was also planning to send him a PM with potentially helpful feedback after I had more or less finished testing the board and accumulated most of my observations about it.
 

[elton5354]

Any discount code for CM website?

[moemoe666]

He bought white PBT blank keycaps (of Cherry profile) from a Chinese factory and dyed them into various of colors. It is sold in Taobao for around 45￥. I can give you the Taobao link if you want.

Yes, I would like the link please.

While waiting for the nova touch I would love to know too ))

[telegraphist]

It would be so cool if the PCB was able to fit into this case. Unfortunately the layout of the PCB looks different from qfr/filco

Your feeling is true. The PCB can't fit into any known custom cases. 

but not  from this great concept of a topre board.

[telegraphist]

This is a premium product and not aimed towards the general consumer.  Think of it as the high end Swiss watch of keyboards.  The Cherry keycaps freaks that also like Topre will snap this up.

If this was a swiss watch look to be paying anywhere around $2100 to $21000 (on average).

This keyboard would be great in a brand new aluminum case (altogether) worth around $800.00USD  .

Nope! Unreasonably high.

[telegraphist]

...even though the lack of leds is a real head-scratcher...

Can't agree more

[telegraphist]

I will make one of these fit into an aluminum case.  I will not rest.

I hope someone does.    That way I can know what kind to get 

Given that this case is aimed to please numerous Cherry MX key-swappers, who are quite often can modify their boards a bit further and also swap entire case, there is I think a fairly well founded speculation on my part that there will be an aluminum case designed just tor this board available in a future. A least I hope so.

[Hypersphere]

Today I moved the Imsto dye-sub thick PBT keycaps from my Novatouch to my new Kul ES-87 with mx clears. I also kept the O-rings on the keycaps. The O-rings are the ones that came with the Novatouch; I think they are 40A-L, but I am not sure. The change in caps and the addition of O-rings much improved the sound and feel of the mx clears.

I also moved the stock thin ABS keycaps from the Kul to the Novatouch. I had not expected this result, but now the Novatouch sounds and feels much better to me than it did with the Imsto thick PBT keycaps and O-rings.

One interesting thing I noticed about the Kul keycaps is that they snap into place on both the standard Cherry stems of the Kul and the hybrid stems on the Novatouch. In contrast, the Imsto caps slide into place with a somewhat loose friction fit -- much looser on the Novatouch than on the Kul.

Between the Kul and the Novatouch, although I like many of the features of the Kul, I prefer the sound and feel of the Novatouch.

Considering all of my keyboards, I prefer the IBM XT, RF 87 u 55g, and HHKB Pro 2 above all others.

[duzeyao]

yea some batches of imsto keycaps' holes are very loose, especially the earlier ones. They work fine on MX switches but, considering the fact that NT stems may be a bit smaller than stock MX stems, using OEM profile keycaps or cherry profile keycaps with strict holes may be more decent choices for NT.

Anyway my NT is an "early-access" one, I'm not sure if CM has made any changes to stock NT.  )

[Matter]

Anyone tried both the Novatouch and HHKB?

Want to compare them both in detail before I decide which one I want to buy.

[intelli78]

Anyone tried both the Novatouch and HHKB?

Want to compare them both in detail before I decide which one I want to buy.

They do feel different, the Novatouch bottoms out much harder, but when comparing these keyboards, the layout is going to be much more significant than minor differences in the key feel.

[Matter]

Anyone tried both the Novatouch and HHKB?

Want to compare them both in detail before I decide which one I want to buy.

They do feel different, the Novatouch bottoms out much harder, but when comparing these keyboards, the layout is going to be much more significant than minor differences in the key feel.

How abt build quality, switch quality wise?
HHKB has been around for many years and is very established and so I trust their build quality but not too sure if the Novatouch will have the "Scratchy" feel when keys with stabilizers such as "Shift" is pressed like the feeling when the keys have some friction when pressed or spacebar will rattle after some use.

Thanks.

[Hypersphere]

Some people get the mistaken impression that the "build quality" of the HHKB Pro 2 is not as good as that of the Realforce keyboards, because the HHKB Pro 2 uses case-mounted Topre switches, whereas Realforce uses steel plate-mounted switches. The Realforce sounds more solid and less hollow than the HHKB Pro 2 and the switches are less yielding. Some people prefer the sound and feel of the RF boards, but others prefer the sound and feel of the HHKB Pro 2.

The layout of the RF boards is standard. One selling point of the HHKB Pro 2 is its unique layout, which some people find intuitive and efficient, but others prefer a more standard layout.

The Novatouch has a standard TKL layout like a Realforce RF 87u keyboard.

To me, the Novatouch has a very light touch. My own preference ranking for sound, feel, and perceived quality among Topre-switch boards that I have actually tried is as follows:

RF 87u 55g > RF 87u 45g > Leopold FC660C > HHKB Pro 2 > Novatouch

For layout and form factor, I would rank the HHKB Pro 2 first.

The main attraction of the Novatouch for me is its compatibility with Cherry mx keycaps.

[breaker9691]

i heard someone told me that the keycaps of novatouch is PBT but it pretty thin, can you take a shot of the keycaps, i don't think that pbt can't be thin

[Hypersphere]

@breaker9691: The stock keycaps on the CM Novatouch are ABS, not PBT.

There are indeed examples of excellent PBT keycaps that are relatively thin. These include the stock keycaps on the HHKB Pro 2, Realforce 87u, and the cap piece on the two-piece keys found on IBM Model M keyboards.

[duzeyao]

i heard someone told me that the keycaps of novatouch is PBT but it pretty thin, can you take a shot of the keycaps, i don't think that pbt can't be thin

as Hypersphere said, it's ABS, and PBT can be thin. Check out KBC PBT keycaps.

[Sov]

Great review! Thanks for taking the time.  I've really been enjoying my Novatouch (only real complaint being that for $200, some decent stock caps would have been nice), and was interested in seeing what some other people thought.