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Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

switchandclick.com

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Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#391

Post by krackpot »

MrApathy wrote: post #195
formerly_proven wrote: post #45

The notion that a capacitive switch is somehow expensive to manufacture because the PCB is allegedly "special" (doubt) seems odd to me. All other capacitive sensing stuff uses bog-standard PCBs with nothing special about them at all and it's not like the rubberdome is hard to manufacture either (considering that a more complex kind of rubberdome mat is the centerpiece in cheap rubberdome membrane keyboards). And then…

Re: "Rigorous Japanese Quality Standards," earlier this year I ordered a Leopold FC980C. It arrived with a warped case that would not lay flat on my desk (tested on multiple surfaces to make sure the problem wasn't with my desk). So much for legendary QA.

Leopold is a Korean brand.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#392

Post by BoorishBears »

r5Khe wrote: post #304
BoorishBears wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the exact HHKB I have and trust me, it's a noisy rattly mess compared to a good mech. Like just lightly glide your fingers across the keys and you should feel/hear the rattle. That same rattle continues as you type, it's just mixed in with the sound of bottoming out. For comparison, my mech is a solid feeling piece of aluminum, the keys have 0 wobble, and there are no rattles at all. It's night and day, I coul…

I currently use an HHKB (for almost 10 years now) and I love it. But RSI has pushed me towards building my own split ergonomic ortho keyboard. What switches are you currently using on your daily driver mech? I got some 67g Zilents that I'm hoping give me a fairly close feel to my Topres when lubricated.

Boba U4

Having used every tactile from Zilents to Holy Pandas, these are the first switches I'd consider a strict upgrade over the competition (including Topres)

They're crisp, come in silent and unsilenced (I prefer silent), and have uncanny tolerances which results in a consistency Topres can't match.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#393

Post by BoorishBears »

comboy wrote: post #387
BoorishBears wrote: post #295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like I said, mine is a Type S. They are inherently rattly. Plastic case plus very loose tolerances on the switches = it rattles. It's great if it doesn't bother you, it didn't really bother me until I got to experience better. Even something as small as resting fingers on a key feels so much nicer when the switch has 0 play

I examined mine carefully after reading your comments and.. did you buy it directly from HHKB? Maybe you have some counterfeit? But you may be right, I'm not such a keyboard aficionado, I only had a few mechanical keyboards and maybe my standards are too low (or rather, at level which keeps me happy). But as somebody else noted if you found the holy grail please share.

I mentioned it before, Boba U4s are the holy grail.

And no, it's not a counterfeit.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#394

Post by BoorishBears »

imposterr wrote: post #322
BoorishBears wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the exact HHKB I have and trust me, it's a noisy rattly mess compared to a good mech. Like just lightly glide your fingers across the keys and you should feel/hear the rattle. That same rattle continues as you type, it's just mixed in with the sound of bottoming out. For comparison, my mech is a solid feeling piece of aluminum, the keys have 0 wobble, and there are no rattles at all. It's night and day, I coul…

Which keyboard/switches are you using if I might ask?

Boba U4 62g in a Millmax'd Tofu 65

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#395

Post by bjoli »

susodapop wrote: post #374
bjoli wrote: post #367

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The matias quiet click arent really meant to be very silent. I think it alludes to the tactility of their clicky switch minus the click. Their quiet linears are dampened light linear switches, and sound less than most rubber domes. Matias boards are just no-nonsense boards for typists. I dont like fiddling with my keyboard. No keycaps. No lubing. No swapping switches. I have done that. It is a distraction for me. I l…

After five years, I gave up my Matias quiet click due to its abysmal reliability. I had three units during that period: my original and two replacements under warranty. I love the keyboard and their customer service. But the interruption and administrative hassle were too much. I use a Leopold with Topre 45g silent switches now. It’s not as nice IMO but it works all the time.

You share that experience with what seems a lot of people. The quiet clicks seem to have chattering issues.

I have probably been lucky. A friend had one switch that chattered, but I opened it up and cleaned out some of the lube and it was fine.

That is why I usually recommend the clicky switches. They seem to not have that problem. They feel even nicer to type on IMO, but I am not the kind of guy to spend $150 on a keyboard when I have one that I like (a 2015 secure pro that never had issues).

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#396

Post by Havoc »

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…

>key testers: the red keys are less noisy

You get red silents too, which end up not just less loud but also feel wise a little closer to traditional keyboards (which might be seen as a negative by the hardcore mech crowd)

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#397

Post by [deleted] »

BoorishBears wrote: post #393
comboy wrote: post #387

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I examined mine carefully after reading your comments and.. did you buy it directly from HHKB? Maybe you have some counterfeit? But you may be right, I'm not such a keyboard aficionado, I only had a few mechanical keyboards and maybe my standards are too low (or rather, at level which keeps me happy). But as somebody else noted if you found the holy grail please share.

I mentioned it before, Boba U4s are the holy grail. And no, it's not a counterfeit.

[deleted]

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#398

Post by bayindirh »

someuname wrote: post #362
bayindirh wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have a bunch of old Sun Microsystems mechanical keyboards at the office, and they're not loud. I use a Cherry MX Brown equipped keyboard and it's not loud either. Does everyone use "Blue" switches over there? BTW, I don't believe mechanical keyboards are a fad. They're much better than the better rubber dome keyboards. Especially as they age.

>Cherry MX Brown Significantly louder than a standard Dell membrane keyboard, or Logitech MX Keys, or Apple.

I personally use MX Browns at home, but they're not significantly louder than a full size, well used membrane keyboard. Membrane keyboards tend to get noisier as they age and their stems wear down and their lubricants degrade.

On the other hand, there are far more silent mechanical switches available. There are "Silent Brown" switches, "Red" switches without any tactile feedback, or "Silent Red" switches, with even less noise.

If I decide to change my office keyboard one day, I'd buy Red or Silent Brown switches, not because standard Browns are actually annoyingly noisy, but we as people are under stress in the office and get irritated sometimes, and I want to be polite.

As I said before, mechanical keyboards are not about the noise they make primarily, they're much more comfortable to use and they last a long time. Oh, I like the sound of my Browns, but it's just a secondary effect.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#400

Post by firemelt »

papandada wrote: post #226

I skipped the whole mechanical keyboard acquisition cycle (thanks to a comment or two from HN), bought a Niz, totally happy with it and best keyboard I've used, haven't been tempted to keep searching.

I wiz they re release niz 75 the best layout 60% with function row
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