Topre switch / Cherry MX compatible

[matt3o]

Leopold 660: plate mount, very compact PCB, sturdy case = thock
Realforce: large PCB, loose case, plate mount = tick
HHKB: case mounted (plastic), compact layout = clack

[luckynet2]

Leopold 660: plate mount, very compact PCB, sturdy case = thock
Realforce: large PCB, loose case, plate mount = tick
HHKB: case mounted (plastic), compact layout = clack

i'm so close to getting a 660 if it were no for this keyboard. CM my money is yours! btw, about the weight, will it be variable or uniform?? or did someone already asked that (can we have a mini FAQs page), also, since there's already a topre version, when's the alps adapter is gonna come out??

[matt3o]

45g uniform

[Muirium]

Hmm. I find an HHKB richly thocky too, so it's a subjective thing. Mind, I haven't tried the 660c.

[matt3o]

Hmm. I find an HHKB richly thocky too, so it's a subjective thing. Mind, I haven't tried the 660c.

this.

the best definition of the leopold is "spring rain drops"

[Stabilized]

Leopold 660: plate mount, very compact PCB, sturdy case = thock
Realforce: large PCB, loose case, plate mount = tick
HHKB: case mounted (plastic), compact layout = clack

Only have a Realforce so can't comment on the others but I was definitely expecting more thock from it.
Have to say that I am in the same boat, I want another topre (fallen in love) but want to wait until this thing comes out before choosing.

[matt3o]

yeah you can't really say without having all of them in front of you.

I have this nice sound sample of the Leopold.

http://cubiq.org/dropbox/leopold.ogg

[Stabilized]

I think that would be one of the only things I would consider using as AMSR (if it actually did work for me)

I am really interested in the FC660C myself, can I ask you how you managed to get ahold of one in the EU?

[matt3o]

korean proxy, from Leopold directly

[Muirium]

We must try a little GB sometime!

[matt3o]

for small quantities... say max 5 we can try

[Stabilized]

I would really be interested in this.

[luckynet2]

also i'd like to suggest a 60% version for this keyboard, because, erm, science??

[Muirium]

Okay, time for some crops:

Real NovaTouch TenKeyLess


Mock FunctionKeyLess

Mock NovaTouch FunctionKeyLess.jpg (865.76 KiB) Viewed 5491 times

Mock 60%

Mock NovaTouch 60%.jpg (736.99 KiB) Viewed 5491 times

Mmmm!

[adhoc]

Love the 60%! Where would ESC be, though?

[Muirium]

Top left, as usual. In fact those caps live another life on a 60% like this:



I suggest CM uses my layout, with HHKB arrow layer, if they ever do a 60% for us cool kids!

[cookie]

My HHKB thocks awesome!
@Mu for My taste the HHKB Arrow cluster has flaws, Home/End is bad placed

[Muirium]

Just needs a Teensy, like the one I made…

Ironically, HHKB Home and End positioning is fine by me. Same for Page Up and Down.

[Monkay]

I just found out that the functionless is my favorite Layout! I would instantly buy this, are there Keyboards with that layout? The closest I know is the FC660C

[Muirium]

That's the closest one I know, too. I'm thinking of building one myself. It's such a natural shrink of TKL yet no one seems to do it. Function keys are the most natural thing of all to put in a function layer. And the reduced height looks great.

[Hypersphere]

That's the closest one I know, too. I'm thinking of building one myself. It's such a natural shrink of TKL yet no one seems to do it. Function keys are the most natural thing of all to put in a function layer. And the reduced height looks great.

Agreed!

[avtar]

Mock FunctionKeyLess

Mock NovaTouch FunctionKeyLess.jpg

Mock 60%

Mock NovaTouch 60%.jpg

Mmmm!

I like both of the above. Although for the FunctionKeyLess it would be nice if five rows of 1u keys were added to maximize the use of the space on the right and compensate for lack of function keys. So 15 keycaps including the arrow cluster.

Or Topre Lightsaver (without the lights):

[adhoc]

Top left, as usual. In fact those caps live another life on a 60% like this:



I suggest CM uses my layout, with HHKB arrow layer, if they ever do a 60% for us cool kids!

Love that keyboard!

Top left is marked as tilde key. Is ESC on FN?

[Muirium]

Escape is on the main layer, while ~ is Fn+ESC. Caps Lock is actually a second Fn key, now with a latching MXLOCK underneath for Fn lock mode!

Nice layout there, Avtar. I'd still lose the sixth row up top, though. But you're right: a tight numpad / nav cluster makes as much sense as a sparse "FKL" cursor and nav block. Depends on taste, really.

[avtar]

I'd still lose the sixth row up top, though.

I agree. I was too lazy and uncreative to fire up Photoshop

So how does one convince Cooler Master to convince Topre to make a fully configurable keyboard?

[Muirium]

Tough call. But plenty of people talking about it on forums might just do the trick!

[Hypersphere]

For my money, the best form factor and layout are to be found in the HHKB Pro 2.

At the very least, if CM wants to do a TKL, make it sufficiently user reconfigurable (DIP switches and/or programmable plus corresponding keycap swaps) so that one could have layouts of choice, e.g., HHKB, Dvorak, etc.

Still, I am one of many who can do just fine without the F-key row; as Mu and others have said, this one is the easiest to put into the Fn layer in a highly intuitive manner.

[Muirium]

For my money, the best form factor and layout are to be found in the HHKB Pro 2.

At the very least, if CM wants to do a TKL, make it sufficiently user reconfigurable (DIP switches and/or programmable plus corresponding keycap swaps) so that one could have layouts of choice, e.g., HHKB, Dvorak, etc.

Still, I am one of many who can do just fine without the F-key row; as Mu and others have said, this one is the easiest to put into the Fn layer in a highly intuitive manner.

If CM does a 60% NovaTouch Micro (or I guess they could call it the µTouch to really float my boat!) they ought to make it something very distinct from the HHKB. That little gem already exists! The reason I made my own MX based 60% was because I wanted an HHKB and Poker hybrid: something I couldn't get off the shelf. Aim at the blue ocean, guys.

[avtar]

Yeah why should they create another HHKB? At the very least they should add arrow keys.

[Muirium]

Yeah why should they create another HHKB?

Exactly! The one good reason I can think of is MX compatibility, and I guess there's always price of course. But the HHKB is already there, unsurpassed, and it's better to create something new.

At the very least they should add arrow keys.

Ah, well, PFU already tried that…



Ew.