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Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

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Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#71

Post by comboy »

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…

My HHKB Hybrid Type-S is definitely less noisy than MX-Brown (at least in WASD keyboards edition).

It may be more silent than my typing on macbook air, but it's hard to compare because it produces lower frequencies, definitely nicer sound than macbook keyboard to me and never even thought about it as noisy.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#72

Post by lmilcin »

InternetPerson wrote: post #67

For me, one nice thing about working from home all the time now is that I don't have to listen to everyone's annoyingly loud mechanical keyboards. I kinda hope this fad dies before I have to work in an office again...

There are good mechanical switches that are silent. For example Cherry MX Silent Red. I also have a keyboard with Cherry MX Browns with o-rings to dampen them a little bit.

There is no excuse, other than being totally obnoxious prick, for using a loud keyboard in an open office.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#73

Post by Hikikomori »

rp1 wrote: post #47
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.

The Filco Majestouch 2 is a great keyboard. This is an older model, and it existed before the mech keyboard craze took off. Mine was sitting in the closet collecting dust having long ago been replaced by "fancier" keyboards with esoteric switches and other random features. Using it for the first time after a long hiatus was an "aha" moment. The typing experience was so much nicer. Upon reflection, here is why: 1. Pla…

Used a majestouch for almost 10 years. Bought an Varmilo VA109M after looking at keyboards for a month or so, couldn't find one with topre keys and Nordic layout. Not regretting it at all so far, feels amazing, similar in features to the majestouch, both have brown switches.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#75

Post by bayindirh »

InternetPerson wrote: post #67

For me, one nice thing about working from home all the time now is that I don't have to listen to everyone's annoyingly loud mechanical keyboards. I kinda hope this fad dies before I have to work in an office again...

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.

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#76

Post by wellthisisgreat »

If you are looking for quiet tactile mechanical switches, the best current option is getting Outemu U4 switches (current best silent tactile switches) and replacing the springs in them with 55gram TX springs. It’s about 2 hours long project for a full-size keyboard but is the best you can do now if you want silent switches that have distinct tactile feedback and are yet easy on the joints.

After years of climbing and grappling I am very wary of keyboards that trigger some kind of sensation in my joints. Heavy switches for 6-8 hour typing sessions seem like a recipe for some life—altering RSI

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#77

Post by csdvrx »

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 Thinkpad keyboard (TrackPoint Keyboard II Bluetooth 4Y40X49493): the island version (current) is more comfortable than the previous version where the keys were touching (SK-8835 family if you want a numpad) as it leaves some room for nails.

Mechanical keyboards seem preferred by gamers, but in my opinion, they make little sense in an office setting.

However, my new favorite mouse is the Logitech G600 that's popular for MMOs: after purchasing a few different mice that had been recommended here and testing them all, it's the one that fits the best in my hand, even if it's still too large (why can't they make smaller mice??)

What I like the most is how it has side keys that can be mapped in the firmware to physical keys (persistent setting) and to elaborate actions in AutoHotKey!

Now give me the same thing 30% smaller, wireless with bluetooth, with a left hand option, and I'd happily pay $200 for it!

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#78

Post by wellthisisgreat »

TrainedMonkey wrote: post #29
dmbaggett wrote: post #10

I've been really impressed with Wooting keyboards for gaming after trying many alternatives. (My daily driver for coding is a Kinesis Advantage2 due to RSI, but they suck for games.) Has anyone tried both Wooting and Topre? Or for that matter, Wooting and anything they liked as much or better?

Negative data point, Wooting Two HE keyboard right now is best one I've used. Comparing it to a das keyboard mx brown, couple of mechanical gaming, and a smattering of modern apple keyboards. Also a callout to Wooting wrist pads, they are sturdy, easy to clean, and feel amazing. The only bad part is availability in different sizes/colors, I've looked for similar products, but no dice.

How does the Wooting sound? Is it loud or silent X

Is it lighter or heavier than MX Brown?

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#79

Post by rozab »

gh02t wrote: post #56
nix23 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Topres are expensive because it's a luxury item and they get away with it. Because it's a high quality tool, long time ago the US firm IBM made some high quality keyboards too...long time ago. BTW: I can buy 6 HHKB for 1 Iphone (what is the luxury item here?)

IBM keyboards were also astronomically expensive, the Model M was around $250 in 1985 which is something like $600 in 2021 dollars. The modern Unicomp incarnations made on the same tooling are not as nice as the OG Model M's, but they're a reasonable approximation and still only $100. I have no doubt the pricing on the HHKB and other Topre boards provides a very comfortable profit margin. Which is fine, if people are…

Wow, I had no idea the Model M was so pricey. I always assumed it was a big standard accessory that became a cult classic

Re: Why Are Topre Keyboards So Expensive?

#80

Post by formerly_proven »

rozab wrote: post #79
gh02t wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IBM keyboards were also astronomically expensive, the Model M was around $250 in 1985 which is something like $600 in 2021 dollars. The modern Unicomp incarnations made on the same tooling are not as nice as the OG Model M's, but they're a reasonable approximation and still only $100. I have no doubt the pricing on the HHKB and other Topre boards provides a very comfortable profit margin. Which is fine, if people are…

Wow, I had no idea the Model M was so pricey. I always assumed it was a big standard accessory that became a cult classic

And the Model M is actually the result of a series of cost-reduction measures from prior IBM keyboards, and received numerous cost-cutting changes during its production cycle.

Though I'd guess it was a standard accessory - you gonna order an IBM AT PC without a keyboard? Probably not. And that AT would have been around 5000 $ or so, so 250 $ for the keyboard isn't that outrageous. Computers were expensive.

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