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Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

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Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#221

Post by guenthert »

anonymousiam wrote: post #52
germinalphrase wrote: post #26

Can anyone recommend an entry level mechanical keyboard specifically for extended typing (as opposed to gaming)? Or, at least, specific features/qualities to seek out.

Not sure what you mean by "entry level", but I've been using Unicomp keyboards for about 10 years (ever since my last Dell PS/2 keyboard died). It's loud, but worth the hundred bucks. https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/NEW_M

Got the Mini-M last year, love it (but I'm not exactly a keyboard-aficionado nor a fast typist). Best keyboard (well only 'proper' one) I had since my Cherry branded keyboard in the early nineties. Slight annoyance though is that there seems to be a well-known firmware bug disabling the 'q' key every once in a blue moon (three or four times so far). Nothing a disconnect/reconnect can't solve, but it's annoying if your password has a 'q' ...

And yes, too loud for the modern office. At home I got used to it and don't really mind anymore. Too heavy to carry around in the back-pack, but I do appreciate the 'heft' on the desk at home.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#222

Post by jagger27 »

petepete wrote: post #198
jagger27 wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s the beauty of custom keycaps and boards with customizable firmware! Almost every premium GMK, ePBT, etc. keycap set will come with a Caps Lock replacement key labeled Control. It’s lovely.

So I just googled to see if my keyboard (Realforce 88u) has customisable firmware and apparently it has internal dip switches to configure the behaviour of ctrl and Windows keys!

The Realforce 88u I had came with alternate Caps Lock / Control keycaps in the box.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#223

Post by TacticalCoder »

nicopappl wrote: post #49

I have the privilege of owning a Happy Hacking 2, it has topre keys. I used it for about a year. And I hated it! It's insanely noisy, to the point of distraction. It's so damn loud. But the dealbreaker for me is how heavy and deep the keys are. It's just too much energy and travel time for efficient typing IMO. After long sessions my fingertips felt sore from the blunt damage of pushing down the keys. But I'll recogn…

I've got a totally different experience... I own three HHKB: two HHKB Pro JP (for they have a narrower spacebar and more modifiers: so less thumb travel: I do have very close Japanese family but I don't speak Japanese) and one HHKB Pro 2 (the first I got).

They are, to me, out of this world. They ruined me forever in that I'll never be able to use something else than a Topre. I've got lots of IBM Model Ms, several Cherry boards (including the ultimate Cherry MX brown: the split MX 5000), I worked for years (when I was doing typesetting) on the best keyboard Apple ever made (Apple Extended Keyboard II is the name I think, from the early 90s): it wasn't bad.

But Topre is the best thing that ever happened to keyboards: I don't know how to put it in any other way.

My only gripe is that there are so little models to chose from: all the enthusiasts making their own keyboards are using Cherry MX switches but it's not because they're better than Topre, it's because they have no choice. There are many MX switches to choose from, yet, to me, they're not anywhere near close the greatness of Topre.

I'd totally be in the "build your own keyboard" community if I could easily build one using Topre switches. Heck, I considered cutting two HHKB Pro JP in half each to build me a split one... (it's doable).

Regarding the noise: I'm that guy crazy enough to go live somewhere quiet. Not the city, not full rural either because I don't want to hear animal farms and tractors. I'm the crazy one who'll splurge $$$ to get a high-end luxury car only for the sound insulation.

I'm also one of those dinosaurs who know what it was it was like to type in a room full of IBM Model M terminal keyboards (or similar) hooked to an AS/400.

Topre switches aren't that loud: no need to apologize for coworkers (moreover there are different Topre switches, some of which are quieter than others).

I'm not saying it's for everybody but I do really think anyone who's never tried one should try: it may be the keyboard switch they'll use until their last day.

I know I'm not the only one who's tried everything that exists out there and settled on Topre for life.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#224

Post by intrasight »

I have purchased and tried many of the high-end keyboards over the years. I always switch back to my IBM Model M made in 1985. I have a couple of spares for parts. Every few years, I take it apart and put it in the dishwasher.

update: I just flipped it over and see that the particular Model M I'm typing on is from 1991.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#225

Post by gregwebs »

csdvrx wrote: post #77
nicopappl wrote: post #49

I have the privilege of owning a Happy Hacking 2, it has topre keys. I used it for about a year. And I hated it! It's insanely noisy, to the point of distraction. It's so damn loud. But the dealbreaker for me is how heavy and deep the keys are. It's just too much energy and travel time for efficient typing IMO. After long sessions my fingertips felt sore from the blunt damage of pushing down the keys. But I'll recogn…

I agree so much!! I've tried my best to like mechanical keyboards... but no, I hate them. The noise is distracting, they require too much strength on every key, and they are big and expansive! I thought I might have the wrong keytypes, so I even purchased key testers: the red keys are less noisy, but that doesn't solve the other problems. So I just can't find a reason to like them. My favorite keyboard is the Thinkpa…

Not all mechanical keyboards are loud. I have used fairly quiet cherry brown switches that nobody seemed to mind in my office settings. And not all require as much key travel and force. I am using louder and heavier keys now and I do agree with the general sentiment of your comment. I think the linked site has the best reviews but favors louder and heavier.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#227

Post by hnrj95 »

TacticalCoder wrote: post #223
nicopappl wrote: post #49

I have the privilege of owning a Happy Hacking 2, it has topre keys. I used it for about a year. And I hated it! It's insanely noisy, to the point of distraction. It's so damn loud. But the dealbreaker for me is how heavy and deep the keys are. It's just too much energy and travel time for efficient typing IMO. After long sessions my fingertips felt sore from the blunt damage of pushing down the keys. But I'll recogn…

I've got a totally different experience... I own three HHKB: two HHKB Pro JP (for they have a narrower spacebar and more modifiers: so less thumb travel: I do have very close Japanese family but I don't speak Japanese) and one HHKB Pro 2 (the first I got). They are, to me, out of this world. They ruined me forever in that I'll never be able to use something else than a Topre. I've got lots of IBM Model Ms, several Ch…

100%. i’ve tried everything. model m, model f, cherry, etc. nothing feels the same way the hhkb does for me. and the layout, as an emacs user, is sublime

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#228

Post by Findecanor »

Oddskar wrote: post #174
twhb wrote: post #161

The mechanical keyboard community is unfortunately really toxic. In addition to second hand accounts, I have a friend who’s a newbie in it who I encouraged to talk to people to get her bearings, and there was a basically unanimous chorus of “fuck off, until you have something to offer us you’re just a waste of time”. I think it’s partially because it’s largely gamers, and partially because it’s largely about perceive…

I think it depends on where you hang out. A lot of the DIY mechanical keyboard Discord communities are tremendously helpful and open to newcomers for instance. On the flipside of that is perhaps the geekhack forums, with a ton of elitists that sometimes have little patience for people that are not up to speed.

(Geekhack veteran here). My impression is that all kinds of people are on Geekhack and that all keyboard topics are welcome, but some users are definitely louder than others: mostly about pushing their preferences onto newbies and (mis)lead them into buying expensive things they won't like.

The forums I find worse are /r/mechanicalkeyboards on Reddit (elitist about customs) and Deskthority (elitist about vintage, and also unmoderated) For mech newbies, I have found various PC-hardware forums to be the most welcoming.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#229

Post by [deleted] »

darrylb42 wrote: post #16
whitepoplar wrote: post #4

I think it's because they're primarily sold to enterprises, so if you're buying one in a personal capacity you're paying enterprise rates.

What kind of enterprise buy these? I have only experienced enterprises buying the default keyboards that come with machines. $5 Dell specials.

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