BTC dome vs. Topre

[y11971alex]

How well does the BTC dome w/ slider design stack up to Topre?  I have been using the former for around two weeks now, and I'm positively impressed with both this specific keyboard and this switch.  I'm still open to Topre, but I would like someone in possession of both keyboards to enlighten me if buying a Topre is still a worthwhile investment after the BTC-5100C. 

[Wingklip]

Topres tend to resist a bit after buckling - it's like a tactile and linear combination. The btcs sound similar and feel like a heavy Topre - they are much more tactile than light topres, although the BTC is not capacitive unless you buy a foam and foil with buckling rubber sleeves

[chyros]

The BTCs are much more tactile, while Topre switches are a bit less extreme. BTCs are also a lot louder whereas Topre has the well-known thock sound. Topres feel more refined overall, although they feel more like rubber domes do overall than BTC.

[robbles]

I have an HHKB and BTC 5100C. Biggest difference to me is the key wobble. The BTC can wobble quite a bit and the caps feel looser and less tied to the switch than Topre does. I think that's what people mean when they say Topre feels so "solid". The keycap feels like it is perfectly seated on the switch with nothing in between. The sound on the HHKB is also better all around because of this. The wobbly, thin keys on the BTC create a high-pitched plasticky sound that isn't there on the HHKB. That said, I love both boards but the HHKB will always be my main.

[y11971alex]

I actually prefer loose to tight switches, like beam spring to Alps.

[1391406]

Not me. I don't like wobbly.

[Puddsy]

Biggest difference is build quality. Despite my RF being some kind of crazy 3-keyboard hybrid monster, it feels as solid as a factory one.

BTC boards feel more like my 1087XM, which is one strong gust away from falling apart.

[chyros]

Biggest difference is build quality. Despite my RF being some kind of crazy 3-keyboard hybrid monster, it feels as solid as a factory one.

BTC boards feel more like my 1087XM, which is one strong gust away from falling apart.

Really? I'd say most BTC boards are built much better than the HHKB. The HHKB is a tiny piece of plastic, the BTC is screwed into a metal backpanel, so it's got some impact resistance.

[Puddsy]

Biggest difference is build quality. Despite my RF being some kind of crazy 3-keyboard hybrid monster, it feels as solid as a factory one.

BTC boards feel more like my 1087XM, which is one strong gust away from falling apart.

Really? I'd say most BTC boards are built much better than the HHKB. The HHKB is a tiny piece of plastic, the BTC is screwed into a metal backpanel, so it's got some impact resistance.

BTC is wobbly. HHKBs, though light, are very solidly built. I could drop one and it'd be OK. BTC would shatter.

[y11971alex]

BTC would shatter.

I'm willing to test that out. 

[klennkellon]

Someone said that their BTC's feeling went to **** after a few weeks of heavy use. The rubber wears out quite quickly apparently.

[Wingklip]

Mike's hella well worn and it feels perfection

[Keycap]

The BTCs are much more tactile, while Topre switches are a bit less extreme. BTCs are also a lot louder whereas Topre has the well-known thock sound. Topres feel more refined overall, although they feel more like rubber domes do overall than BTC.

Really? Maybe my BTC domes have aged badly, but IMO they have a very subtle tactility. They remind me of soft, stiff MX Browns with a much more precise tactile bump. And my board is practically brand new in terms of condition.

Might have something to do with the fact that it's a BTC 5100C and not a Packard Bell keyboard, but it's still the PCB variant. Gonna have to buy another BTC board to see if the ones I have are in terrible shape or something.

[chyros]

The BTCs are much more tactile, while Topre switches are a bit less extreme. BTCs are also a lot louder whereas Topre has the well-known thock sound. Topres feel more refined overall, although they feel more like rubber domes do overall than BTC.

Really? Maybe my BTC domes have aged badly, but IMO they have a very subtle tactility. They remind me of soft, stiff MX Browns with a much more precise tactile bump. And my board is practically brand new in terms of condition.

Might have something to do with the fact that it's a BTC 5100C and not a Packard Bell keyboard, but it's still the PCB variant. Gonna have to buy another BTC board to see if the ones I have are in terrible shape or something.

I'm literally using them side by side right now, the BTCs are definitely a LOT more tactile. Much sharper, too. If anything the BTC feels more mechanical than the Topre does. For the record I'm comparing them to a RealForce right now. Never owned a 5100C, but have had well over a dozen different BTCs and I'd say they all feel similar.

[davkol]

Someone said that their BTC's feeling went to **** after a few weeks of heavy use. The rubber wears out quite quickly apparently.

Yeah, that sounds like one person's anecdote (I believe I've read the original post).

OTOH, I've just remembered, that we had a BTC rubber-dome keyboard at home—for 20 years; it felt fine until the end (I harvested parts from it, because I didn't like the layout, and nobody else would use it, because of yellowing and ugly hand-written extra legends on keycaps).

[NamelessPFG]

Seeing this thread makes me think back to my pair of BTC 5339 foam-and-foil capacitive boards.

As expected of capacitive boards, they're true NKRO, but they use springs instead of domes, which results in a linear feel I can't stand. (Keep in mind that my idea of tactility boils down to IBM buckling springs and Cherry MX Clears, with MX Browns being pathetically linear in feel.)

Would it be feasible to swap the springs for some kind of dome/sleeve for improved tactility?

[chyros]

Seeing this thread makes me think back to my pair of BTC 5339 foam-and-foil capacitive boards.

As expected of capacitive boards, they're true NKRO, but they use springs instead of domes, which results in a linear feel I can't stand. (Keep in mind that my idea of tactility boils down to IBM buckling springs and Cherry MX Clears, with MX Browns being pathetically linear in feel.)

Would it be feasible to swap the springs for some kind of dome/sleeve for improved tactility?

Yes, I found that swapping the coil springs for Mitsumi buckling sleeves made for a very tactile and fairly decent switch.

[NamelessPFG]

Seeing this thread makes me think back to my pair of BTC 5339 foam-and-foil capacitive boards.

As expected of capacitive boards, they're true NKRO, but they use springs instead of domes, which results in a linear feel I can't stand. (Keep in mind that my idea of tactility boils down to IBM buckling springs and Cherry MX Clears, with MX Browns being pathetically linear in feel.)

Would it be feasible to swap the springs for some kind of dome/sleeve for improved tactility?

Yes, I found that swapping the coil springs for Mitsumi buckling sleeves made for a very tactile and fairly decent switch.

I gotta find me some of those Mitsumi sleeves, then. Do you know of any good sources?

[chyros]

Seeing this thread makes me think back to my pair of BTC 5339 foam-and-foil capacitive boards.

As expected of capacitive boards, they're true NKRO, but they use springs instead of domes, which results in a linear feel I can't stand. (Keep in mind that my idea of tactility boils down to IBM buckling springs and Cherry MX Clears, with MX Browns being pathetically linear in feel.)

Would it be feasible to swap the springs for some kind of dome/sleeve for improved tactility?

Yes, I found that swapping the coil springs for Mitsumi buckling sleeves made for a very tactile and fairly decent switch.

I gotta find me some of those Mitsumi sleeves, then. Do you know of any good sources?

Mitsumi hybrid boards are prety easy to come by, but I've also salvaged a bunch off boards myself, so I can send you a bunch if you want.