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nickaa827
289
Feb 19, 2017
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$275? Someone explain what is so special about this kb
Feb 19, 2017
theplasmastorm
14
Feb 19, 2017
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nickaa827It's a Topre. That's it.
Feb 19, 2017
nickaa827
289
Feb 19, 2017
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theplasmastormelaborate pls
Feb 19, 2017
Sir_Playsalot
81
Feb 19, 2017
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nickaa827NOBODY KNOWS
Seriously
Nobody knows why "Topre" became a holy name in the community, and nobody knows why the community HAS to say it's the best thing in the world, it's like an indoctrination. The truth is that it became the holy grail back in the days when it was a novelty, and a group of hipsters managed to create and pass the tale of the "Topre magnificence ".
To this day it's still unclear why a keyboard with the feeling of a membrane should be worshipped, and everyone who bought a topre indoctrinated himself and self converted to the cult, mainly because he couldn't handle the fact that he just spent a ton of money for a durable high quality membrane like keyboard. You either choose to join the topre church or you get driven crazy by the guilt thinking about all the money you spent.
By looking into it a little bit you'll realize that everyone that got a Topre will tell you that "at first it doesn't feel right, but then it grows on you", which is a clear sign of the indoctrination
Feb 19, 2017
nickaa827
289
Feb 19, 2017
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Sir_Playsalotwell I mean...maybe its actually because its a good switch and you and I just don't know why...nobody would buy it if it really did feel like a membrane keyboard.
Feb 19, 2017
Kallium
144
Feb 19, 2017
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nickaa827You get four different colored spacebars. It's got an aluminum case. It's fully programmable including individual RGB LEDs in the keys. It connects via PS/2, USB, Bluetooth, Wifi, cell phone networks and all tachyon-based FTL protocols. It will make you instantly 10 lbs. lighter, 5x more attractive and more relaxed when you give large presentations. It's clinically proven to reverse male pattern baldness, freshen breath and whiten teeth. It is precognizant, correcting misspelled words before you even type them.
Is $275 really too much for a true soulmate and artificially intelligent keyboard (imbued with the 3 laws of robotics plus the Zeroth-law) that will stand by your side for the rest of your life? OK, so shipping to Europe is $5 million. That' a bit steep.
Feb 19, 2017
nickaa827
289
Feb 19, 2017
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Kalliumdank meme
now seriously, what is possibly so attractive about topre that makes it worth this much money
Feb 19, 2017
fx35s
156
Feb 20, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotYou're right up to certain point that people may try to justify their purchases. But even after spending thousands on Kustom keyboards I don't say Kustom Master Race nor try to justify the Kustom keyboard purchases.. so in a sense, Topre keyboard does feel and sound special especially the HHKB layout and if I had to choose 2 HHKB Type-S and BT.
Feb 20, 2017
Sir_PlaysalotThis was both uninformative and a very sad attempt at being funny.
Here is why this board cost so much, and why people still buy it:
Topre boards are an entirely different breed of mechanical keyboards than most. Unlike most modern mechanical keyboards that rely on a switch stem pushing a metal leaf to actuate the switch, Topre is utilizes electrocapacitive switches. These switches use high quality rubber domes as their source of resistance and tactility:
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Before anyone goes off about how "this is a rubber dome and this is crap" I should point out that the issue with rubber domes was NEVER how they felt, there are some terrific feeling rubber dome keyboards out there. The issue is that you have to bottom out the switches to actuate them, which can often lead to missed keystrokes and tire your your hands much quicker than with a mechanical keyboard that actuates mid-keypress (including Topre).
This particular model is more expensive because it is a silent model. Even though this is an inherently "silent" keyboard (non-clicky), it does make some noise when the slider hits the top of the slider housing when it resets. Topre has dampened this noise by placing a small rubber ring on top of each slider:
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I have many keyboards (https://deskthority.net/photos-f62/lsb-s-collection-t13590.html), and THIS keyboard is what I type on for any extended writing that I have to do. I've used these for years. I think they feel great. The tactile bump is slightly more noticeable than an MX Clear switch, but it is also far smoother. These boards are just workhorses. I agree they are very expensive, and definitely not for everyone, but there is absolutely a reason why people like these so much.
Feb 20, 2017
sooned
71
Feb 20, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotTopre was love at first clack for me. Nice try though.
Feb 20, 2017
KONATAonPC
45
Feb 20, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotPlease do go on about how you're the 1% who doesn't love it, we totally care.
Feb 20, 2017
cbalcom03
283
Feb 20, 2017
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soonedI have to agree. The first key press on my 87h 55g was heaven and have been a fan ever since. i didn't have to convince myself of anything.
Feb 20, 2017
Rifleman
69
Feb 20, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotRubberdome <> membrane. Please stop mixing up these terms.
Feb 20, 2017
OnceThinkTwice
8
Feb 20, 2017
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livingspeedbumpDear LSB sir please accept my hug (づ。◕‿‿◕。)づ ♥ Awesome Topre collection you have there. *dat HHKB Pro 2 55g Hi-Pro EHMERGERDDD ㅠㅠ !!
#topre4lyfe
Feb 20, 2017
OnceThinkTwice
8
Feb 20, 2017
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cbalcom03That was my very first topre board and i absolutely loving it !
Once you go thock, you never go back.
Feb 20, 2017
nickaa827
289
Feb 20, 2017
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livingspeedbumpthanks for a decent response unlike some of these goobers :p
Feb 20, 2017
Kallium
144
Feb 20, 2017
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nickaa827Bottom line: Some people like the feel enough to pay for it. If there were more competitors that would match the feel and more buyers then no doubt the prices would drop. This is something I wouldn't buy without trying first but YMMV.
Feb 20, 2017
P1MPBOT5000
244
Feb 21, 2017
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nickaa827I guess you've never seen someone wearing Crocs before? Trends don't equal truth.
Feb 21, 2017
Fabliau
49
Feb 21, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotI actually can't wrap my head around why membrane like switches would be preferred over/more expensive than genuine mechanical switches
Feb 21, 2017
mrvco
500
Feb 21, 2017
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nickaa827This is a personal preference thing as much as anything. I didn't get it until I found someone with a Topre board and was able to try one for myself. That being said, I am currently using a Topre clone and am very happy with it (Plum 87).
Feb 21, 2017
FabliauBecause people have different personal preferences. As I've mentioned before, many keyboards that use rubber domes for their resistance and tactility feel very good.
I mean, I could rant for hours about how MX style switches are inherently garbage when compared to switches like beamspring and magnetic valve, but at this point comparing them just isn't really valid or productive. The same goes for comparing Topre to MX.
Feb 21, 2017
buybuybuy
36
Feb 22, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotHa, that reminds me of the insanely priced ultra high end "audiophile" speaker wire, at $10,000 - $50,000 for a normal setup. That's just for the speaker wire! (Oxygen-free, individual flat-rolled silver wires, suspended off the floor on mini non-conductive ceramic / porcelain towers. Seriously.) Audio afficionados who spend that kind of money claim they can hear the difference in sound quality compared to inferior speaker wire that "only" costs $10 a foot (say, top of the line Monster cable). As you pointed out, I think it's something like guilt. If they're spending that much they have to hear a difference (real or imagined), otherwise they would need to admit to themselves that they threw tens of thousands of dollars down the drain. ("cognitive dissonance" anyone?)
However, it turns out that's not quite how it works for all Topre owners. Some of us started with Cherry MX and other mechanical switches, and thought Topre prices seemed crazy. Could typing on a borrowed Topre board change someone's mind?
I started with a few Cherry MX Clear, Brown, and Black boards from different vendors (WASD Code, Deck, etc) and even an Alps board (Matias Pro). The Alps and Cherry Clear became favorites, but they were just "better", they weren't "great." The Cherry boards were a huge improvement over the standard smushy Apple and Dell boards, but Cherry still felt "cheap" in some way. The best I can describe it is, for all colors of Cherry MX switches, key-travel felt "dry" or "sandy", the keypress actuation-point versus the click-point was a bit "off". and keypresses felt "hollow" (that's the best I can describe it) regardless of ABS or PBT caps. I couldn't quite get back to the "don't bottom out" typing that I recalled from IBM keyboards, or even Selectrics before that. I suppose I could have disassambled each Cherry switch and lubed each stem (assuming you can get past the debates over which stem lube is best for each type of Cherry switch).
Instead, I had an opportunity to type on a borrowed Topre board (HHKB). Have you ever typed for a while on a Topre board?
The Topre key-travel felt "solid" like none of the Cherry boards. That's nice and all, but doesn't mean squat unless the whole activity is improved, so I measured my typing. Speed and accuracy both improved, compared to my main Cherry Clear board (WASD Code). I realized that my search was over, but there was no way I was going to pay Topre prices. $300 for a HHKB or Realforce 87U, or $400 for a Realforce Silent? That's nuts! (This was from Elite, before Massdrop even had the first poll for Topre boards.) Still, those sandy-feeling Cherry keys grated on my nerves for a few months, before <wincing> I plunked down the $$ and bought my first Topre.
So, for me, it came down to typing speed, accuracy, feel, and sound, in that order.
Was it worth the price? Before I tried Topre, I would have said no-way. Typing on one convinced me, and now I have a HHKB Pro, and two Realforce 87U. BTW, I bought my Topre boards before Massdrop started carrying them. I guess I could have saved some money if I had waited. I still have a couple of Cherry boards, but I rarely use those.
Interestingly, I stopped paying attention to keyboards. Before Topre, I spent plenty of time (and money) in the mechanical keyboard "community". Since switching, I don't pay attention to mech keyboard stuff anymore. I guess I feel like I solved that problem and don't need to focus there anymore. (I only happened across this thread because I want to swap out my third ABS spacebar for PBT -- I swapped the other two spacebars a year or two ago when Massdrop had their first Topre PBT spacebar drop.)
I think it comes down to whether you type extensively (coder, writer, etc), or are just answering emails and the like. I'm in the former camp, and other coders I've lent a Topre board to didn't want to give it back. :) 'Nuff said. Good luck and happy typing!
Feb 22, 2017
Sir_Playsalot
81
Feb 22, 2017
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buybuybuyThat makes sense, but i don't know. There is something in me that just completely stops me from liking something that much more expensive.
I mean here's the thing, i believe Gateron switches to be even better than Cherry, and i know that many that tried Gateron think the same. That switch is lighter, smoother, and significantly cheaper but with pretty much the same build quality.... If i were to give a rating, let's say i give Gateron a 8, and let's say Topre deserve 9 or even 10, but damn is it worth it? A numpad with topre switches cost as much as an entire full size RGB Gateron board, and i'm not even exaggerating. My mind just can't conceive such a ridiculous price, i'm sorry but i'm just blocked on this, it's beyond me Altough i can respect your decision
Feb 22, 2017
Sir_PlaysalotIt's definitely not a choice just because Topre is smoother, it is only worth it if you really like the tactility and weight of the switches as well. The tactile bump is unlike anything MX has or ever can produce, so the unique tactility+smoothness+sound+professional looks are all important features to like, or I agree, this is not worth the heavy price.
Feb 22, 2017
fx35s
156
Feb 23, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotI mean, you don't have to like Topre keyboard, some may or may not like Topre and it's all in one's satisfaction- a keyboard that makes you think, "Ok, crap, I think I'm done now; Topre."
Feb 23, 2017
buybuybuy
36
Mar 7, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotFair questions. Sound like I need to try Gateron switches at some point. Thanks for the heads-up!
Mar 7, 2017
srdiamond
3
Jun 16, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotTopre keyswitches appeal to me, not because of some or other great characteristic, but because of the absence of unfavorable characteristics. MX browns, my next favorite, feel gritty. Blues feel wobbly. Buckling springs are too hard to press and sound like a truck. When you try topre, you may be unimpressed. What's so great? But, perhaps, don't look for some great characteristic; notice that there's nothing to annoy you.
Jun 16, 2017
srdiamond" But, perhaps, don't look for some great characteristic; notice that there's nothing to annoy you. "
This is a very valid point. It's a switch that will feel very good and natural for heavy every day use. This is the exact reason I've used Topre for so many years now. It feels great, but its so natural feeling that I never think about it anymore.
Jun 16, 2017
Warong
45
Jun 18, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotFor me I began with using Cherry red, Cherry blue, Geteron brown, RK Topre clone. I thought I would settle with Topre clone and Geteron brown because the price was right for me and the feel for Topre clone with SA profile caps are fun to type. I liked it but I needed a separate numpad and at the time Massdrop didn't have many numpads available. I remember there was Keycool once and then nothing for many months then Realforce 23U numpad came along. It was very costly but I thought I'd give it a try and I didn'r regret. I liked it even better than Topre clone. Even my 60 year old mother likes the feel of the Topre clone saying this feeling is something she always wants to have on her keyboard and Cherry red and blue didn't satisfy her. So when I visited Japan in late April I went to 7-8 large electric stores in Tokyo looking for cheapest HHKB and Realforce HiPro. It was considerably cheaper then buying one online and ship it to Thailand and even cheaper than buying it locally from grey importers(those importers charges more than 100$ extra from what I got). It is by far the most expensive keyboard I have but I don't regret buying it at all because I like it. In the end I think it is a matter of liking it then you buy it, things might cost a lot but only you can justify spending such amount on something that you will like and will enjoy using.
Jun 18, 2017
g3m1n1
58
Sep 4, 2017
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Sir_PlaysalotWas Topre created by the Scientologists or something? LOL
Sep 4, 2017
Clarid
145
Jan 30, 2018
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OnceThinkTwiceMy first Topre board was an RC930 by Royal Kludge :3
Crap RGB backlighting, but otherwise a solid feeling board that has MX stems and was silenced long before Topre made this specific model. Bonus is that I picked it up for just under $50 on eBay NIB. Ive collected and tinkered with many MX boards and even lubed some Zealios, but nothing competes with how completely satisfying typing/gaming is on EC boards <3
Jan 30, 2018
DEADication
49
Jan 31, 2018
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Sir_PlaysalotI've yet to acquire a Topre of my own but the Plum 75 Bluetooth (with XDA Canvas) and Novatouch (Skull Squadron) are my favorite keyboards in my collection. My daily driver is an originally owned Dell Quietkey (baby's first keyboard) and my coworkers can't tell the difference in feel between the three of them. They all just give me the same look of, "Whatever helps you sleep at night." To each their own I say!
Jan 31, 2018
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