PBT Topre Spacebars — Ends June 4

[Nuum]

Works fine for me, but it's still a shitty move of them requiring to log in or use a weird "Guest-URL". The price is 215$.

[scottc]

Works fine for me, but it's still a shitty move of them requiring to log in or use a weird "Guest-URL". The price is 215$.

It's required by American law to do so if you're advertising products for under their RRP. So it's stupid, but understandable.

[Nuum]

Really? Now that you say it, I've actually seen this on other sites before, too. But it is allowed to bypass it with a changed URL?

[Muirium]

Wait, you see what? What URL are you using? All I get when I visit is this:

Spoiler:

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https://www.massdrop.com/buy/topre-real ... guest_open

(Gotta love browsing in 4k.)

[chzel]

They broke the guest access...If you are logged in it works, but if you log out you get ^that^

[Muirium]

Cack.

Well, I ain't registering, MassDrop. I'll rely on my minions to appraise me of your schemes! As always…

[Nuum]

Sorry, my fault! I was indeed still logged in.

[Vizir]

$215 for the 55g 87u with one each of the pbt spacebar colors. $205 for the variable force 87u with one each of the pbt spacebar colors.

[Zensuji.]

don't worry I should end up with some spares.

Thanks matt3o! You're a star! put me down for a single white!

[Muirium]

Now what have we here? Can you tell which one is the Topre ABS original, and which is Matteo's PBT?

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The Realforce is wearing the replacement! I made the test a little easier on my HHKB…

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Here's the detail view, from below. The one on the top is my Realforce's original. Pretty damn nice match!

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So, how do they feel? The answer is as Matteo said: awesome. In fact the sound, especially on my standard non-silenced Realforce, is gloriously thocky, just like Topre should have made in the first place. My HHKB handles its new spacebars just as nicely (of course I got a white one for it too), and sounds as silenced on the spacebar as before. Excellent results!

One thing to watch out for, as Matteo put it:

Also --as you also noticed-- the spacebars are mint. They need some break in. The stabilizers are very tight the first time you place the spacebar, so be sure to push it deeply. Better, put the spacebar in place, remove it, and put it again.

Correct! I hadn't even taken off the stock spacebar from my Realforce yet, and the first time I tried one of these replacements I found it super tight. But just take it off and pop it back on again and that's fixed quite nicely. I've been swapping them around since then without worry. Indeed, they're handling well through several days heavy use.

I think we've got a winner here!

[002]

Sweet
Can't wait to get mine!

[macmakkara]

I WANT MINE! Any idea when massdrop will ship ones ordered from there?

[Khers]

Even though there is a distinct shortage of light in your pics, Mu, the spacebars look perfect. Can't wait to get mine!

[matt3o]

I WANT MINE! Any idea when massdrop will ship ones ordered from there?

we should be really close now

[Khers]

I WANT MINE! Any idea when massdrop will ship ones ordered from there?

we should be really close now

Excellent

[Muirium]

Even though there is a distinct shortage of light in your pics, Mu, the spacebars look perfect. Can't wait to get mine!

Tell me about it. I'm in Scotland! Summer ended last month…

Someday I'll get a modern Canon with a faster sensor than my 10 year old 350D. But that day is far off, as they are an expensive piece of kit that I technically have already. Just not with that performance. ISO 400 is as fast as I can go. Brighten those pics and all you'll see is noise.

[002]

Alright!
A nice little parcel arrived for me today from Italy
I got to say, these are *great*. Much better than I was expecting. First impression though was that they are very light weight. It wasn't until I popped off the ABS spacebar on the Realforce that I realised they actually weigh about the same. I guess the only PBT spacebars I've handled are chunky Cherry and NMB ones so it was just a small surprise, that's all.

I also had some minor frustration with the fit as you guys pointed out and I was getting a bit gun-shy when removing and re-seating the spacebar. Definitely nerve-wracking! Once it's on though...holy cow...The fit is superb and the spacebar doesn't wobble *at all*. It's hard to describe but it's like it's part of the keyboard now, as opposed to some flimsy, rattly tumour. The sound is improved too. More subdued thock and no tinny rattles like the ABS.

Colour: Pretty good! Matt probably has a sharper eye for inconsistencies than I do but I think they are perfectly suitable as they are.

Bravo! Very impressed.
The caps seen below are ALL PBT, baby








Now that the ABS freak has been removed, PBT spacebar is returned to his brethren in the all white Topre keycap set

[matt3o]

glad you like them

[andrewjoy]

They look amazing. Hopefully it would improve the feeling of the spacebar as although i liked topre, they are a little overpriced and overrated but still good overall however the ABS spacebar was driving me nuts .

I wonder if you could sell them directly to realforce ?

[seebart]

I like them too matt3o, don't forget me!

[Muirium]

Nice to actually see them for a change. It's permagloom up here, still just as shitty as my pictures a few posts up. And when I turn on the lights, all my keyboards come out in pictures just like that custard yellow Ducky I had…

Aye, they're great spacebars Matteo. What did you tweak for the final production run? Gotta be minor. Just like 002, I was surprised how perfect these are already. Picky!

[matt3o]

I told you I was an asshole.

[Muirium]

And I just thought you were being self-deprecating. But no, it's more than that! In a good way, of course…

[romevi]

matt3o, any chance you have spares of all 4? If so, wondering how much they each will be. Cheers!

[002]

Brought the black spacebar into work today for the 87U.
Definitely a touch darker than the rest of the keys, as pointed out by matt3o on the previous page.
I can take some pictures if anyone is interested.

NOTE: I don't think mine are the final version.

[matt3o]

Yes the black one needs a little more attention.



I believe we will be able to reach 96% color matching.

[cookie]

96%

OUTRAGE!

[Kristoffer]

Anyone have a extra spacebar? i missed this deal, and really want a new one for my HHKB, preferred in white.

[matt3o]

On HHKB. I believe color matching is in the 98-99% range now.

[Muirium]

Ah, I like! And I might even need…