Realforce product cycle

[colomb]

I waited for the Novatouch, and although I like it, it appears the general consensus is that there are better topre boards out there. So, I'd like to try a Realforce board next. Ideally, I'd like a uniform 45g TKL silenced version. Unfortunately this doesn't exist. The question is, how often are new Realforce models released? Is there any point in waiting or should I choose from the current stock of Realforce models?

[Elocutive]

This doesn't really answer your question, but you could mod it. I just recently bought a 55g silenced realforce from brocaps. There are a couple of write ups on how to do it. Only issue is you need to basically scrap one board for parts, but you can still sell the donor board for a decent amount.

[Puddsy]

You could always just get a 45g uniform, then do the dental band mod.

[Cherry1990]

I don't have a reply to your question... Unfortunately. But I have your same doubts...  I like the 104UG HiPro 45g Black but the all dark grey keycaps are horrible... The 104UW Black on Beige has a very nice keycaps set but its switches are old (30 millions vs 50 millions). The 104UB-DK has a wonderful keycaps set, black chassis but the same old switches...

I also think that current Topre line is old and outdated. Probably all the keyboard with "30 million key life cycle non-contact electrostatic capacitance switches" will be discontinued in the next months...

Don't buy an expensive keyboard if you are not really sure. I am thinking a lot in these days...

[Xowie]

I waited for the Novatouch, and although I like it, it appears the general consensus is that there are better topre boards out there. So, I'd like to try a Realforce board next. Ideally, I'd like a uniform 45g TKL silenced version. Unfortunately this doesn't exist. The question is, how often are new Realforce models released? Is there any point in waiting or should I choose from the current stock of Realforce models?

Here is a list of all Realforce models with their release dates. Unfortunately I have not heard any rumors about new products.
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Topre_Realforce

[strict]

This doesn't really answer your question, but you could mod it. I just recently bought a 55g silenced realforce from brocaps. There are a couple of write ups on how to do it. Only issue is you need to basically scrap one board for parts, but you can still sell the donor board for a decent amount.

You're lucky you bought that board when you did or it would be on it's way to me right now 

[oscillik]

I also think that current Topre line is old and outdated. Probably all the keyboard with "30 million key life cycle non-contact electrostatic capacitance switches" will be discontinued in the next months...

which Topre boards have 50 million keypress switches?

[saint_james]

I recommend you first try the regular (unsilenced) RF 87u and see if it is quiet enough for you... I have a 55g model and it is pretty damn quiet... quieter than any other keyboard I have used.  The plate mounting makes it much quieter than the standarrd case-mounted HHKB Pro 2. 

[Puddsy]

For the record:

30 million keystrokes on one switch is something that RARELY happens. And they're RATED at 30 million, but they can probably go far further than that. If you're nice to your keyboard, you'll probably get 60 million plus out of a Topre, and 100 million plus out of an MX switch. Kale switches are... not this blessed, but 60 mil is pretty good too.

I've been using whatpulse since March, and I've JUST TODAY hit 2.5 million on my whole keyboard.

[Hypersphere]

My first Topre board was a Leopold FC660C, which was very solid, but the layout was not quite to my liking, and I didn't like the stock keycaps, so I gave it away.

Next, I got a HHKB Pro 2, which I particularly like for its 60% form factor and excellent layout. Although I like the downstroke "thock" of the HHKB, I don't particularly like the return stroke "clack", and I would consider getting a Type-S or doing a foam pad mod.

More recently, I got a Novatouch. I like its main selling point -- compatibility with Cherry mx keycaps -- and I like typing on it more than any Cherry mx keyboard I have tried, but it does not sound or feel as good as my Topre Realforce keyboards.

Currently, I have a RF 87ub 55g and RF 87ub 45g ("EK Edition"). I really like the Realforce boards. The have a timeless classic design that looks much better "in person" on my desk than portrayed in the photos on the EK site. They are also much quieter than my HHKB. Whereas I am still thinking of a Type-S HHKB or doing a silencing mod, I feel no particular need to get a silenced RF or to do a silencing mod on the RF.

At the moment, I am dithering over whether I prefer the 55g or 45g RF. I like them both. The difference seems subtle to me, but the 55g does seem to have a slightly better sound and feel than the 45g, but using Typeracer, my speed and accuracy are somewhat better on the 45g. There are other slight differences, such as the red LEDs and improved legends on the 45g, but the black on dark gray legends are virtually invisible anyway. I have swapped out the black alphanumeric and arrow keycaps with light blue caps with black dye-sub legends, leaving all the other keys black -- I think this color combination looks great on the black RF.

I am fairly certain that I would not like a variable weight RF, and I don't feel the need for a silenced version. The RF 87ub 45g and 55g boards are both excellent and are now among my top favorites of all keyboards I have ever tried (in addition to the HHKB Pro 2 and IBM Model F XT).

[a_ak57]

This doesn't really answer your question, but you could mod it. I just recently bought a 55g silenced realforce from brocaps. There are a couple of write ups on how to do it. Only issue is you need to basically scrap one board for parts, but you can still sell the donor board for a decent amount.

Wait, would it not be as simple as taking the silent silders from a silenced 87U and replacing the non-silent ones of a 45g board?  You'd end up with a silent 45g and a non-silent variable board, which I'd hardly call scrapping as it'd basically retain full value (for a used board).  Unless there's something I'm unaware of.

[dorkvader]

For the record:

30 million keystrokes on one switch is something that RARELY happens. And they're RATED at 30 million, but they can probably go far further than that. If you're nice to your keyboard, you'll probably get 60 million plus out of a Topre, and 100 million plus out of an MX switch. Kale switches are... not this blessed, but 60 mil is pretty good too.

I've been using whatpulse since March, and I've JUST TODAY hit 2.5 million on my whole keyboard.

in theory, if you were to graph the number of actuations to failure (of some sort. Defining the failure point is another problem) for a group of switches, you'd end up with a normal distribution (bell curve). The 30,000,000 figure represents the most likely center of the distribution. The way they actually measure this is by taking a thousand or so switches and actuating them until a statistically significant amount fail that they can extrapolate the rest of the distribution. In practise I am sure the numbers are sometimes as made-up as they sound.

[colomb]

Xowie, thanks for the link. Far more models than I expected.

Hypersphere, I used a HHKB Pro 2 Type-S and loved the sound and feel, although wasn't a huge fan of the layout. My only other topre (Topre?) experience is the Novatouch.

What makes this all so difficult is that I won't know whether or not I like any of the models until I try them. Trying becomes a very expensive proposition!! EK needs to open a show room in Chicago.

As far as modding, I'm open to it, but would rather avoid it if possible. I'm the type of person who would want the purple (longer) sliders and find a source for the foam pads they use. That would essentially snowball into buying two RF boards to make one...

Thanks for all the comments.

[Hypersphere]

Xowie, thanks for the link. Far more models than I expected.

Hypersphere, I used a HHKB Pro 2 Type-S and loved the sound and feel, although wasn't a huge fan of the layout. My only other topre (Topre?) experience is the Novatouch.

What makes this all so difficult is that I won't know whether or not I like any of the models until I try them. Trying becomes a very expensive proposition!! EK needs to open a show room in Chicago.

As far as modding, I'm open to it, but would rather avoid it if possible. I'm the type of person who would want the purple (longer) sliders and find a source for the foam pads they use. That would essentially snowball into buying two RF boards to make one...

Thanks for all the comments.

The dilemmas you describe are the essence of the life of a keyboard enthusiast!

It is indeed an expensive undertaking, although not as much so as sports cars or private aircraft. Moreover, when you are willing to part with a keyboard, you can often sell it for something near to the original price and sometimes more, depending on supply/demand.