Trying Topre with minimal cost?

[ctm]

Any ideas? It seems there are some keyboards from 80s and 90s that use Topre switches (e.g. Sony NEWS keyboards). But I can't find any of them on eBay. Is there some place that I am more likely to find them?

[katushkin]

Topre Type Heaven if you can find any.

[CPTBadAss]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=64602.0

[ctm]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=64602.0

Thank you! Sadly I do not have 100 posts. I just joint recently.

[CPTBadAss]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=64602.0

Thank you! Sadly I do not have 100 posts. I just joint recently.

You're only 85 posts away. Posting is free

[Firebolt1914]

You could buy it, try it, then sell it. That would get you the best representation of topre.

[SpAmRaY]

You could buy it, try it, then sell it. That would get you the best representation of topre.

This is my problem, buy to try then just keep it because #keyboardhoarder

[Defect]

Press on a rubber dome sheet

[SpAmRaY]

Press on a rubber dome sheet

[Novus]

Life is short, if it interests you and you don't have other topre boards just buy it.

[plegnic]

You could always fly out to Japan and try an HHKB. A little cheaper than buying one.

I kid, I kid  ) Your best bet is probably that tour that was linked above or trying to find someone who lives near you and is willing to let you borrow it.

[saturnotaku]

You could always buy a Novatouch from Amazon and return it if you don't like it.

[Hyde]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=64602.0

Thank you! Sadly I do not have 100 posts. I just joint recently.

You're only 85 posts away. Posting is free

Damn it's times like this where I wish I was in the states, CONUS only always screws me over. 

As for OP, I vote buying a Type Heaven.

It cost the same as any othery Cherry MX mechanicals and despite being "budget Topre" it's still an amazing board.  It's my daily driver at work now.

[Touch_It]

Trying to decide if I want to try this.  I'm attempting to convince a co-worker to split the cost with me.

[Novus]

You could always buy a Novatouch from Amazon and return it if you don't like it.

ugh, don't encourage people to do this.

[saturnotaku]

ugh, don't encourage people to do this.

So you've never returned anything to a store that you didn't like?

[ablooga]

You could always buy a Novatouch from Amazon and return it if you don't like it.

You're so white.
Only white people have the audacity to order at a restaurant and demand a refund if they simply don't like the food they ordered.

[daerid]

You could always buy a Novatouch from Amazon and return it if you don't like it.

You're so white.
Only white people have the audacity to order at a restaurant and demand a refund if they simply don't like the food they ordered.

I wouldn't order a refund, but I'd ask for a different meal. And Amazon's return policy allows this, for specifically this scenario. What the hell is the problem with it then?

[saturnotaku]

You're so white.
Only white people have the audacity to order at a restaurant and demand a refund if they simply don't like the food they ordered.

We can talk when they start selling edible keyboards at Ruth's Chris, racist.

[Novus]

ugh, don't encourage people to do this.

So you've never returned anything to a store that you didn't like?

Well I don't buy something with the intent to try it out and then return it.

[Touch_It]

You could always buy a Novatouch from Amazon and return it if you don't like it.

You're so white.
Only white people have the audacity to order at a restaurant and demand a refund if they simply don't like the food they ordered.

I wouldn't order a refund, but I'd ask for a different meal. And Amazon's return policy allows this, for specifically this scenario. What the hell is the problem with it then?

I haven't read the specifics but I would imagine there are some different interpretations.  In my option, nothing else, I believe the policy exists for someone truly wanting to buy something but finding it either isn't what they wanted or broken, not just to purchase something to try without any intention of keeping.  It doesn't sound like a good business practice, though there would be no way to stop this.

[Novus]

If it's defective they take care of it for you.
If you changed your mind you pay restocking and return shipping.

That's usually how it goes.

[Novus]

You still mess with people's livelyhoods when you do this kind of stuff though.

[MajorMajor]

I've sold some stuff on Amazon using FBA and the fees aren't too terrible as a merchant, so long as you don't damage it to the point where Amazon can't relist it.

[ctm]

You could always buy a Novatouch from Amazon and return it if you don't like it.

ugh, don't encourage people to do this.

I don't feel like doing that either. I will feel kind of guilty doing so.

[Jersern]

Your best bet is to join a tour as someone suggested. (Start posting!  )

Don't buy Novatouches from Amazon and then returning (kinda unethical?) <- well you get what I mean. I am running a tour for HHKB in Australia but it is a silenced version and you're in the US correct? I guess I am happy to send it over at the end of the tour provided you pay the exorbitant costs. (Probably not that worth in the end... )

[ctm]

Your best bet is to join a tour as someone suggested. (Start posting!  )

Don't buy Novatouches from Amazon and then returning (kinda unethical?) <- well you get what I mean. I am running a tour for HHKB in Australia but it is a silenced version and you're in the US correct? I guess I am happy to send it over at the end of the tour provided you pay the exorbitant costs. (Probably not that worth in the end... )

Thank you! Indeed the international shipping both ways is likely to cost as much as half a Type Heaven lol.

[pr0ximity]

A tour is great if you can get one.

Personally I went the "buy it. If I like it, keep it. If I don't like it, sell it at a good price to someone and pay my 'try-Topre' fee" route.

[Jersern]

Thank you! Indeed the international shipping both ways is likely to cost as much as half a Type Heaven lol.

Yep

[Special K]

Another option is to just buy a new one from Elite Keyboards/The Keyboard Co. or a used one in the GH marketplace.  If you don't like it, sell it back to another GH member (possibly someone else looking to try Topre for the first time) or on ebay.  Mechanical keyboards seem to hold their value reasonably well.  It might only "cost" you $20-$30 to try a Topre board.

[IPT]

If it's defective they take care of it for you.
If you changed your mind you pay restocking and return shipping.

That's usually how it goes.

he just said try it and if you don't like it return it to amazon.
I don't see what's wrong with this comment.
didn't read anything about not paying a restock/return shipping.

[Novus]

If it's defective they take care of it for you.
If you changed your mind you pay restocking and return shipping.

That's usually how it goes.

he just said try it and if you don't like it return it to amazon.
I don't see what's wrong with this comment.
didn't read anything about not paying a restock/return shipping.

I didn't say anything about that either. Don't read things out of context. I'm responding to touch it.

Although, that's exactly what's wrong.
You don't buy something from a store to demo it out.
Cost of doing business aside, many places such as EK and Mechanicalkeyboard would take significant hits if people started blatantly abusing this policy even if they charged a restocking fee.

[Sed8op8]

I'm in the same boat. I really want to try a topre board and someone just recently recommended a nova touch to me as well. They are $150 and also come with a cherry mx stem so I guess there is that. My only problem is that I have read that it feels a little off or strange compared to other topre boards. I have been looking at the Leo fc660c and the HHKB but they are only 45g and as cherry clears are my current favorite I'm wondering if I would like some heavier like the Realforce 87u with 55g keys.... Decisions decisions...

[Novus]

I'm in the same boat. I really want to try a topre board and someone just recently recommended a nova touch to me as well. They are $150 and also come with a cherry mx stem so I guess there is that. My only problem is that I have read that it feels a little off or strange compared to other topre boards. I have been looking at the Leo fc660c and the HHKB but they are only 45g and as cherry clears are my current favorite I'm wondering if I would like some heavier like the Realforce 87u with 55g keys.... Decisions decisions...

I guess a good starting point is what kind of mx switch do you like?

[Sed8op8]

I'm in the same boat. I really want to try a topre board and someone just recently recommended a nova touch to me as well. They are $150 and also come with a cherry mx stem so I guess there is that. My only problem is that I have read that it feels a little off or strange compared to other topre boards. I have been looking at the Leo fc660c and the HHKB but they are only 45g and as cherry clears are my current favorite I'm wondering if I would like some heavier like the Realforce 87u with 55g keys.... Decisions decisions...

I guess a good starting point is what kind of mx switch do you like?

mx browns/clears

[Sed8op8]

I'm in the same boat. I really want to try a topre board and someone just recently recommended a nova touch to me as well. They are $150 and also come with a cherry mx stem so I guess there is that. My only problem is that I have read that it feels a little off or strange compared to other topre boards. I have been looking at the Leo fc660c and the HHKB but they are only 45g and as cherry clears are my current favorite I'm wondering if I would like some heavier like the Realforce 87u with 55g keys.... Decisions decisions...

I guess a good starting point is what kind of mx switch do you like?

Is his a good deal  http://m.imgur.com/a/dvH5N. For $185 shipped ? I guess it was only used for a couple hours before being stored.

[strict]

Is his a good deal  http://m.imgur.com/a/dvH5N. For $185 shipped ? I guess it was only used for a couple hours before being stored.

Retail is $200 + $10-15 shipping so it's a pretty decent deal IMO

[Touch_It]

Newegg is running a sale on cm nova touch atm.  175 + free shipping and MIR

Edit:  link.

http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16823129034

[IPT]

If it's defective they take care of it for you.
If you changed your mind you pay restocking and return shipping.

That's usually how it goes.

he just said try it and if you don't like it return it to amazon.
I don't see what's wrong with this comment.
didn't read anything about not paying a restock/return shipping.

I didn't say anything about that either. Don't read things out of context. I'm responding to touch it.

Although, that's exactly what's wrong.
You don't buy something from a store to demo it out.
Cost of doing business aside, many places such as EK and Mechanicalkeyboard would take significant hits if people started blatantly abusing this policy even if they charged a restocking fee.

Their return policy is if you don't like it, return it. Just pay the fees. Obviously if you abuse it, you'll be banned or what not. For retailers that have this type of return policy, they charge the restock then they just sell it off at a open box price. So retailer still gets the $$ off the item.  For smaller companies, that's why they have limited return only on defects. But there's nothing wrong with doing a return on something you don't like from amazon or best buy. Just don't abuse the system and you'll be fine. The retailer will be fine

[saturnotaku]

Their return policy is if you don't like it, return it. Just pay the fees. Obviously if you abuse it, you'll be banned or what not. For retailers that have this type of return policy, they charge the restock then they just sell it off at a open box price. So retailer still gets the $$ off the item.  For smaller companies, that's why they have limited return only on defects. But there's nothing wrong with doing a return on something you don't like from amazon or best buy. Just don't abuse the system and you'll be fine. The retailer will be fine

Exactly. Comparing EK or MK to Amazon is disingenuous but at the same time those mega retailers do keep track of your returns. Best Buy scans your ID when you return something and Amazon has been known to ban people from buying all together.

Buying one item from Amazon or BB and returning it if you don't like it is not going to hurt anyone. Be honest, pay return shipping and/or any restocking fee, and all will be right with the world.