Topre Realforce 87U and HiPro keycaps the same colour scheme (black)?

[snuci]

I am on the Massdrop for the Topre Realforce 87u Black 55g but am unsure about the key cap color in case there is not enough contrast from the black text on dark gray key caps.  I may switch to white.

Can someone tell me if the dark key caps on the black Topre Reaforce HiPro and Topre Reaforce 87U are the same colour scheme? I have the Topre Realforce HiPro but I have only seen pictures of the 87U that look darker, at times, than others and it's really hard to tell. Bonus points to someone who can post a side-by-side of both black keyboards (with the same lighting).

Thanks in advance.

[XMIT]

Hi snuci - the HiPro has dark gray caps with black dye sublimated lettering. The black 87U has charcoal (very) gray caps with black dye sublimated lettering.

On my HiPro all the keys are the same color, and all are (much) lighter than those on the 87U. You can only really see the legends on a black 87U in good light.

I hope this helps.

[snuci]

Wow, that is tremendous help.  Thank you.

I think I'll have to replace the key switches on my Hipro with the 55G from the 87u like you did or go with the white 87u.  If the white had darker grey keys on the sides, I'd do that in a minute.

Thanks again.

[XMIT]

The 55g HiPro is one of my favorite keyboards now. Which is odd: I find that non-HiPro cylindrical 55g Topre is brutal (even though I like buckling spring and Cherry MX Clear plenty), and that 45g HiPro is too light and clack-y to be useful. Somehow 55g HiPro is just right.

To each their own.

[SpAmRaY]

Wow, that is tremendous help.  Thank you.

I think I'll have to replace the key switches on my Hipro with the 55G from the 87u like you did or go with the white 87u.  If the white had darker grey keys on the sides, I'd do that in a minute.

Thanks again.

One thing to note is you aren't replacing switches with topre all you would swap is the rubber domes and you'll only have enough for a partial swap. Again maybe you know this I'm just posting as this gets asked about all the time. 

[XMIT]

That's correct. Unless you're willing to modify some domes one way or the other to create cutouts for LEDs and what not you'll have an imperfect swap.

On my boards the 55g HiPro has a 45g Esc, PrtSc, Scroll Lock, Pause, and numpad, and the 45g 87U (not pictured here, I have a white one) has 55g on LCtrl, PrtSc, Scroll Lock, and Pause IIRC. I did the swap hastily and didn't take photos or notes. That's okay, I plan to open the both up later to install damping rings.

[snuci]

One thing to note is you aren't replacing switches with topre all you would swap is the rubber domes and you'll only have enough for a partial swap. Again maybe you know this I'm just posting as this gets asked about all the time. 

Nope, I didn't know that so thanks for the reply!  I'm good with a partial dome swap but I was going to ask XMIT if he did a write up and taken some photos but...

I did the swap hastily and didn't take photos or notes. That's okay, I plan to open the both up later to install damping rings.

I do love the HiPro key caps being a vintage computer guy but I also feel that the 45g are a little light coming from an IBM Model M SSK.

I'll wait for your pics XMIT (unless someone else has done this and taken pics/documented the process).

Thanks.

[O(logn)]

I have the white 55g 87u and I think it looks amazing!! There are so many keyboards these days that are black and I think the white on gray classic look is unique.