Topre Realforce 87U SE17T0 with PBT Spacebars Discussions | Drop

Topre Realforce 87U SE17T0 with PBT Spacebars

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Feb 9, 2018

I need someone to please explain this keyboard to me, using really tiny words. This price, for a keyboard, seems more than excessive, but having said that, I used to have a keyboard that I absolutely loved. The touch was just right, but I never did figure out what was so right about it. I wore the lettering off the keys, but still used it. One thing that keyboard DID have, was a little nib on the letter "k" so I could tell without looking at the keyboard, that I had my fingers on the right keys. I think it was a quiet keyboard. Other than that, I don't know what made it such a great keyboard, but it seemed to have just the right touch. No keyboard has been even close to that one. Wish I would have kept that keyboard.
I don't know enough about keyboards to have a clue what the description says about this keyboard. I don't know what a PBT Spacebar is... well, I know what a spacebar is, but a PBT spacebar?? Am I reading this correctly, so that you can select the pressure of the keys?
If someone could please tell me about this keyboard, I would be forever grateful. I see there are other keyboards on sales, too, but they are quite a bit cheaper than this one. I don't even know what the difference between a "manual" keyboard and this one is... DAH?
Thank you, Brenda

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CaptainShwah

Feb 9, 2018

brenda52411This is expensive because Topre switches pretty exclusive. They get away with it because they are well respected and these are very well made keyboards. On this board the lettering is dyed so it won't wear off and they do have homing nubs on F & J.
The stock spacebar is ABS plastic (standard keycap material, gets shiny relatively quickly) because PBT plastic (rougher, almost chalky feel that gets shiny much more slowly) spacebars are hard to make since they are prone to warping. The rest of the caps are PBT so it's nice to have a consistent feel for the spacebar, plus the extra colors make great accents if you'd want. Though not universally true, PBT is considered to be higher quality than ABS.
The 55g option is relatively heavy but a lot of people (myself included) absolutely love how it feels. The 'variable weighting' isn't selectable but it means that there are lighter switches on the letters you hit with your pinkies. The majority of the switches are 45g with 35g on the pinkies.

Feb 9, 2018

brenda52411Not sure why you would have a nib on the K, although I don't know what layout you used or country you are from. Traditional ANSI layout usually has bumps or something similar on F and J to center your hands if you type in a traditional way.
Most membrane keyboards are fairly quite and at least somewhat tactile, so Topre switches might be right for you!
PBT is a plastic that is more durable than the ABS more commonly used. Not that ABS is necessarily bad, but PBT has greater wear resistance, especially for those of us prone to wearing out keycaps.
I posted a response to general questions in the comment you responded to earlier for other information. CaptainShwah seems to have everything else covered.

Muffin_Smasher

Feb 9, 2018

brenda52411I would probably not advise someone to buy this keyboard if you are just looking for a typical office or gaming keyboard. As others have mentioned what makes this keyboard special is the Topre key switches. These switches are made in Japan and thus cannot be cheaply reproduced like the vastly cheaper (but still good) keyboards made in China that you can find everywhere else.
Also, this board has the option of uniform 55g pressure switches. These switches are heavier than most keyboards (may fatigue some people over prolonged use) but people who type harder/heavier really love them. As such this has become a niche keyboard that is unique and highly regarded.

Feb 9, 2018

CaptainShwahThank you so VERY much. I am (slowly) beginning to understand what makes this keyboard so great. You like the 55g option? That is another question I had been wondering about.
Can a person ever buy a PBT plastic spacebar for extra money, or is that just not anything enough people want?
Thank you again.

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CaptainShwah

Feb 9, 2018

brenda52411Yep, you can get PBT spacebars separately from a store like KBDfans. You just have to look for topre or 'electrostatic capacitive' compatible ones.

Feb 9, 2018

CyphreI am not sure why that keyboard had the bump on the letter k, but it just allowed me to know that I had my finger on the right key. I had worn the letters off the keys, so the bump was helpful. It does make more sense to have the bump on the letters f and j. I just have never had a keyboard with bumps before, or since.
I just use the normal ANSI keyboards, and am located in the USA. Again, not sure why the bump on the letter k, but it gave me the knowledge of where my fingers were, after wearing off the letters.
Am going to get one of these keyboards. They sound fantastic. Thank you for helping me through this. As you can guess, most of the discussion sounded like it was 5 miles over my head (and it was). The conversations are now starting to sound like they make sense.
Thank you, Brenda

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Feb 9, 2018

Muffin_SmasherI will be using this just in my home. I spend a lot of time on my computer, and do a lot of typing. I am a volunteer, trying to help adoptees find their birth parents. That is only one of the many things I do, but I do enjoy a nice keyboard. This one sounds fantastic.

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Feb 9, 2018

brenda52411Nobody starts out knowing it all! We all started somewhere.
The 55g may take a little getting used to since it is a bit heavier, but well worth it. If you find it too heavy, you can always try swapping out the domes to make them lighter if you happen to like tinkering: https://keyclack.com/product/bkeDomeReplacements Or possibly even trade with others in the mech keyboard community on r/mechmarket, since this particular model is sought after.

Feb 9, 2018

CyphreThink I am going to go with THIS buy, get it in white, and 55g. I'm not going to worry about the num keys.
One MORE question: should I be greasing the keys? I've never done that with a keyboard, but if it's going to make me love it even more, I can do it, if I know what kind of grease to get and how to do it.

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Feb 9, 2018

brenda52411Oh no, the only real maintenance would be blowing it out with a duster. You can definitely lube the sliders on Topre and MX switches, but it's typically a more involved process without much payoff with regards to key feel.

Feb 9, 2018

CyphreWHEW! Thank you again.

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yaeger77

Feb 10, 2018

brenda52411It took less than a week to get used to but the 55g are great. Actually, since using heavier switches I haven't gone back and now switch between this and mx clear. One of the best features for me is the bounce back when typing. When you're having a good typing day your fingers feel like it bounces back from pressing a bubbly button. The key sculpture feels more stepped, so it feels better with the legs up. Sometime when I'm typing very quick, I can feel my finger tips just curling in to press. Lastly, I like the black shell but the white keycaps easier to read so I'd go with the white model. Pricing will always be a debate but rarely do I hear someone regretting it after using it for awhile.

Cloakedbug

Feb 10, 2018

brenda52411This deal comes with 4 (non stock) PBT spacebars as well.

ZedPotts

Feb 10, 2018

brenda52411This keyboard is all about the build and feel. It's quite expensive, but it's very good for putting a zillion words into a document. It's very BAD for gaming, at least, for the price. They're not that loud, a very pleasant sound. I like them, but I can't say that the feeling is worth the price of entry for everyone - maybe this one would feel the way your favorite keyboard did? maybe not!
I think it bears mentioning that there are cheaper keyboards with topre switches in them. Not MUCH cheaper, but. You can get a typeheaven on Amazon for 170$.
Weirdly enough: this is a "good deal" on this keyboard.
Other keyboards to check out in case you're confused about what else you might want: Coolermaster Masterkeys PBT, Matias Tactile Pro, Unicomp Customizer from www.pckeyboard.com (it's the old Model M but made, well, today)
Best of luck!
PS these things do flip for good amounts if you DID decide to spend the money and then you decided you didn't like it.

Feb 10, 2018

CyphreSomewhere I thought I read one person taking his keyboard apart and applying grease. He then said that the keyboard felt a lot smoother. It must have been a different brand. I have been looking at all sorts of keyboards these past few days. I didn't realize there was a keyboard heaven, but I think I have found it. In the past, I've just gone to big box stores and tried to pick something that felt like I could tolerate it, but that was also based upon what was left on their shelves. :( And of course, big box stores, or at least around here, don't carry anything that is high end. High end to them wouldn't even make it to MassDrop.
Going to place my order right now. Thanks, everyone, for helping me. When I originally posted, I didn't mean it to sound as snarky as I'm sure it did. It was an honest question, because I've just used whatever kind of keyboards I could find locally, or online in a pc store.
MANY THANKS, everyone!
Brenda

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Feb 10, 2018

brenda52411"Lubing the sliders" is a fairly common practice among those trying to get the most out of their keyboard. Often also doing other modifications, like adding silencers, swapping keycaps, and other mods even I'm not that familiar with. The effectiveness certain varies based on the existing keyboard, like I would definitely lube sliders on certain brands of MX switches, and any Topre board that wasn't Realforce, Leopold, or HHKB.
Sadly, all the good keyboard stores are in Korea and Japan, where Leopold and Filco sit alongside other international brands.
Best of luck in your future endeavours! If you ever want to see the real insanity of this community, you can just stop by r/mechanicalkeyboards to gawk!

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