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Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

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Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#401

Post by davidjytang »

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…

There are bluetooth mechanical keyboards with low profile, shorter travel, silent actuation, lightweight touch. The combination is there. Don't hate every mechanical keyboard.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#402

Post by davidjytang »

clon wrote: post #102
csdvrx wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Exactly the same sentiment. My yearlong experiment to try to love mechanical keyboards left me with a thousand euro hole in my wallet and physical problems spanning from fingers to upper body musculature. I loved the tactile feel, but hated what they did to my body. I think mechanical keyboards are just too high, with excessive travel. You sort of have to keep your hands floating in the air, which transfers stress to…

Not all mechanical keyboard share the same key travel and profile height.

Mainly you can look up Chocolate switches.

[Example](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/736191/49698493-06...)

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#403

Post by Aloha »

mewse wrote: post #329
jolux wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes it is, it’s buckling springs.

Some folks like to make a technical argument that no, it's not; the buckling spring on a model m keyboard isn't what actuates the keys on the Model M and similar keyboards; instead, the springs are mounted on top of a fairly traditional keyboard membrane layer, and it's the membrane layer that acts as the "switch". So there are mechanical components and it mostly feels mechanical, but there's a membrane underneath it…

Sort of? they feel like different beasts, and both literally and functionally are different beasts.

It feels very very different than a mechanical key switch, to the extent that I love Model M's, but I'm generally meh about mechanical key switches (not enough auditory or physical feedback), a really good rubber dome keyboard is preferable to me over a mechanical key switch keyboard.

With a Model M, I type less harshly than on any other kind of keyboard, and thats because the keyboard gives me an auditory and physical feedback as soon as the keypress registers (back pressure rises right up to the trigger point, then it drops again after and then rises again right to the bottom out point). I regularly will bottom out a mechanical keyswitch keyboard, I never do on a Model M, and only occasionally do so on a rubber dome (it depends on the keyboard).

I've used enough mechanical key switch keyboard that have issues with key switches binding up, that I dont care for them, I shouldnt need to worry about lubricating my keyboard ;-)

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#404

Post by Aloha »

meepmorp wrote: post #313
Aloha wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My cube mates threatened to shove it where the sun don't shine if I dared used the one I brought to show off at work.

The nice thing about the Model M, and still more so the Model F, is that in addition to being a keyboard, they're very effective melee weapons.

Indeed! Thought I dont like the layout of the Model F, and I dont get the folks who really want a Model F.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#405

Post by Aloha »

GekkePrutser wrote: post #256
Aloha wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a diehard Model M guy, but it's not a mechanical key switch.

Buckled spring is about as mechanical as it gets though. I really hated those back in the day because of the clangy noise and the heavy resistance. At the time I thought it was made to appeal to the tastes is mechanical typewriter users who were still very common in those days. I just had a cheap BTC foam-foil one which was really nice actually but did need a full take-apart and clean every year or so. But the touchw…

They feel very different than a Selectric I/II, but the Selectric III uses a similar keyboard action. A manual typewriter feels very very different (and is impossible for me to use, as someone who is a key pounder at times - like my cube mates could tell when I was writing an angry email by how my keyboard sounded, lol)

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#406

Post by firemelt »

chana_masala wrote: post #114
cameroncooper wrote: post #60

The world of mechanical keyboards is really expansive, and actually a lot of fun. I'm currently driving a RAMA M60 which has the same HHKB layout, but uses Cherry MX key switches. It's also solid metal and weighs like 10 lbs. https://rama.works/#/m60-a/

Thank you for sharing. This looks exactly like what I've been wanting in a layout. I first went tenkeyless at 60% but now even that feels excessive

if you really want that go check kbdfans d60 is more have reasonable price than rama

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#407

Post by BoorishBears »

gennarro wrote: post #382
BoorishBears wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My HHKB Type S collects dust since the Boba U4 came out. It's a mechanical switch with a D shaped tactile bump. The end result is a bottom out that feels similar to a Topre, but a much crisper action up and down.

Just bought some demo switches based on your tip. Thank you!

You're definitely in for a treat :)

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#408

Post by andrewzah »

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 honestly have no idea what the parent is referring to. My HHKB feels solid, and I prefer it to the other mechanical keyboards that I've tried.

It is not loud due to the o-rings.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#409

Post by strbean »

aix1 wrote: post #314
vehemenz wrote: post #216

Topre switches are great! But can someone explain the draw of HHKBs? Aside from nerd street cred, that is. A lot of programmers swear by them, but I don't understand why. Let's talk about the layout. As a Vim user, I need my CapsLock->Esc. Fine, so I'll remap Ctrl—but inexplicably, there are huge gaps where the regular Ctrl keys would be. There are no arrow keys or nav cluster, which means you need to use layers or k…

> There are no arrow keys or nav cluster, which means you need to use layers or key combinations to access them. I have no problem relearning how to use my keyboard, but dedicated keys are still faster and easier. "Easier" is subjective and so I won't address it. As to "faster", I have ♢+{🄸,🄹,🄺,🄻} mapped to {up,left,down,right} making them much quicker to access than reaching for a dedicated cluster of arrow keys…

IJKL instead of HJKL? Charlatan!

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#410

Post by noradev »

psyclobe wrote: post #209

Of all the keyboards I own, I most often use my 103ub (55g weighted keys) purchased from elitekeyboards way back in the day.

Hey psyclob , i also use the same brand and they are literally perfect for online typing jobs. because in typing practice smooth and clean keyboards plays a vital role. I always practice on https://cpsandtypingtest.com/5-minute-typing-test this platform they always guide about keyboards.
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