Help Recommending a Keyboard

[didjamatic]

I have a few Model M's including one of the earliest known Silver Labels Manufactured in Jan 86 but have realized they are just too loud to use with sleeping kids around or in my office environment where I'm surrounded by nerds in silence.

I've been using a Compaq 8100MX with Brown Cherry's for a week at work.  I really like the feel of it, but it's a little light so I bump keys a lot.  I do bottom out on it so it's actually very "clacky" which I'm working on.  I do not like the layout:


This is the layout I need because i use Windows keys a lot for kb shortcuts including some custom one-handers which I can only do with this layout.  THis rules out HHKB and most space saving designs, in fact it rules out most designs period because I'm so picky about enter and backspace keys.  
10 key is not necessary and I'm leaning toward tenkeyless but not committed.


The boards I've been considering are Filco and Realforce from Elitekeyboards.   The tenkeyless filco is available in brown now and blue sometime in the future, the Realforce is only available in the 103 key version.

I've heard lots of samples and the Blues don't SEEM to be that loud, but I've read some say they are louder than Buckling Spring Model M's.  I have also read conflicting opinions of Topre Capacitive switches with some saying they wear you out and others saying they are perfect.

The Realforce is touted as being very quiet but I wonder if it's as gratifying as say the Blue or Brown Cherrys are.  At such a premium, it's hard to justify.  But IF it's the best thing out there I would rather spring for it than trying a stack of "cheaper" $100+ boards and end up with one anyway.  I don't even know Elite's price on the 87u.

Has anyone used a Realforce and gone back to Brown/Blue Cherrys?

Am I missing another option besides Filco and Realforce?

[didjamatic]

I'd rather sit next to someone diligently typing away at a Model M than someone imitating Mr. T dangling his gold with a Blue Cherry board. People might have to kill you for it, which is not very ergonomic.

ROFL!!!

I found this Realforce Topre video and it looks and sounds incredible.

As for the early Silver Label, I'll think it over.

[AndrewZorn]

i have [only] a brown cherry filco and a topre switch (what is used in realforce) hhkb.

i use the hhkb because of the layout.  if i had the true choice between what switches to use, it would be a hard decision...

brown = tactile, really light
topre = non tactile, bottom out constantly, nice noise, way smoother

they are about the same noise level, brown maybe being slightly more clickety, making it sound louder.

[microsoft windows]

I've heard that Model M's can be quieted by putting grease in the springs.

[ch_123]

I've heard that Model M's can be quieted by putting grease in the springs.

I still wouldn't call it 'quiet' when greased, but it's quieter than a Cherry or possibly even Black Alps.

[microsoft windows]

Well, it's hard to get a quiet keyboard unless it's some mushy piece of junk from Apple.

[AndrewZorn]

i wouldnt say topre is much (if any) louder than a rubber dome
err, your NORMAL rubber dome

[rdjack21]

And yeah, there are plenty of people who have Topres but prefer the Cherry switches.  Few people sell the Topre, they just end up rotating them in when they want something quiet.

Signed,
MrT

Yes but if you look at those that have both and prefer the cherry it is the blues not the browns that they prefer. Personally I don't like the blues the high pitch click just gets on my nerves.

Between a brown and a Topre I much prefer the Topre but I can live with the browns. Like someone else said the Topre is so smooth that once you get used to that smoothness it is hard to go back. It should also be noted that the Topre is just as light as the browns but feels heaver than a brown. But in either case I think you should give the brown a little more time before you make up your mind. The Topre is a big jump in price but I think it is worth the price even though some do not.

[rdjack21]

i wouldnt say topre is much (if any) louder than a rubber dome
err, your NORMAL rubber dome

I actually think the Topre's are quiter than most if not all cheap rubber dome boards. Mostly because the keys really don't rattle as much. My Topre at work is the quietest board in the place. But then again I don't bottom out the keys any more on it which will reduce the sound considerably.

[AndrewZorn]

yeah i still cannot help bottoming them out
its really holding back my speed when compared to the browns