Noppoo tease a very familiar capacitive switch design
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Um… Elite Keyboards is US based. In fact, they're California based, which is a bit of a pain for sales tax.
Europe is the place with shitty Topre coverage. We have the Keyboard Company whose prices are startlingly insane ($300 for a base Realforce including our higher tax) and the selection is greatly inferior. You can't even buy an HHKB in Europe. That's why I imported, as everyone does. Mostly from EK no less!
Europe is the place with shitty Topre coverage. We have the Keyboard Company whose prices are startlingly insane ($300 for a base Realforce including our higher tax) and the selection is greatly inferior. You can't even buy an HHKB in Europe. That's why I imported, as everyone does. Mostly from EK no less!
- zslane
- Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Main keyboard: RealForce RGB
- Main mouse: Basic Microsoft USB mouse
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
Yes, and I was planning to buy their keycap holders when they became available. I dismissed them before because they don't sell Filco, and virtually no full ANSI-sized boards of any kind. They do carry Topre, but only one model is in stock from what I can tell. That's only one model away from not carrying the brand at all. Things may be "worse" in UK/EU, but it can't be by much.
- Hypersphere
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Silenced & Lubed HHKB (Black)
- Main mouse: Logitech G403
- Favorite switch: Topre 45/55g Silenced; Various Alps; IBM Model F
- DT Pro Member: 0038
The RF 104UK HiPro can be requested from "widebasket", a S. Korean vendor on eBay. The most recent price I have seen is 340 USD + 35 USD shipping. Not cheap, but apparently available. It is a beautiful board. I wish it were available in a TKL or 60% form factor.Muirium wrote: ↑You mean the Just Systems HiPro of my dreams?
It's awkward to buy, but far from impossible. (Japanese proxy service) Tenso could probably handle it. I used them with great success for my HHKB Type-S, bought from Amazon Japan for a great deal less than Elite Keyboards price, all included.Spoiler:
Of course, you'd have to learn to love JIS. Those extra mods! That itty-bitty PBT spacebar! Mercy.
There is another tasty HiPro out there that's the hardest of the bunch to source. It's a Korea-only exclusive for Leopold, the HiPro 104UK:
Not the easiest, let alone the cheapest, thing to get hold of, that one! But I think it is ANSI, which is a plus. Albeit with multilingual Korean + English legends.Spoiler:
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
It's way too much money for me to even consider it.
That's largely because of Leopold, by the way. Keyboards are crazy costly in Korea! The JustSystems HiPro (which I like the look of even more than the cream Leopold HiPro) costs a lot less, simply because it's sold in Japan instead of Korea.
My HHKB Type-S benefited from that domestic Japanese pricing, too. Japan is *the* place to pick up Topres at sensible prices.
That's largely because of Leopold, by the way. Keyboards are crazy costly in Korea! The JustSystems HiPro (which I like the look of even more than the cream Leopold HiPro) costs a lot less, simply because it's sold in Japan instead of Korea.
My HHKB Type-S benefited from that domestic Japanese pricing, too. Japan is *the* place to pick up Topres at sensible prices.
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
I've seen a few Realforces in Japan for true bargain price. 002 sometimes spots them on Yahoo Auctions or the like and shares a link. Even new in box or straight from a retailer. If I was a keyboard nerd based over there, I'd have a Topre stash the size of my IBM mountain!
Amazon Japan's regular prices are pretty damn good besides.
Amazon Japan's regular prices are pretty damn good besides.
- 002
- Topre Enthusiast
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Realforce & Libertouch
- Main mouse: Logitech G Pro Wireless
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: 0002
There's actually a NISSHO KB106DE on yahoo auctions right now for 23 EUR
http://page10.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/a ... m138062022
http://page10.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/a ... m138062022
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
See what I mean! So, uh, how do we aquire that for Deskthority? We need spherical Topres for a tour. /I wouldn't mind looking after it!
- _PixelNinja
- Main keyboard: RAMA M60-A
- Main mouse: LOGITECH G102 White
- Favorite switch: C=Q/V=ε(A/t)
- DT Pro Member: -
Reading the last pages is a danger for my wallet... Ugh.
- _PixelNinja
- Main keyboard: RAMA M60-A
- Main mouse: LOGITECH G102 White
- Favorite switch: C=Q/V=ε(A/t)
- DT Pro Member: -
Danger of going further down the Topre rabbit hole...
- zslane
- Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Main keyboard: RealForce RGB
- Main mouse: Basic Microsoft USB mouse
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
Hmm. What's this?
I find it amusing that they provide a keypuller in the box. What keycaps do they imagine I'm going to replace these with?
A box of bubble wrap.
No, its a keyboard. A Topre RealForce no less.
Now this looks promising.
Yep, just like it says on the label.
Apologies for the low-grade iPad photos, and for the minor thread-jack. I find it amusing that they provide a keypuller in the box. What keycaps do they imagine I'm going to replace these with?
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Wut? It doesn't even come with a Control and Caps Lock key swap? Next you'll be saying they didn't include a dayglo WASD.
That colour combo is quite luxurious. I know the exact shade of the box, and my white 87U is so pale in comparison.
Anyway, time to ruin you on MX for life!
That colour combo is quite luxurious. I know the exact shade of the box, and my white 87U is so pale in comparison.
Anyway, time to ruin you on MX for life!
- _PixelNinja
- Main keyboard: RAMA M60-A
- Main mouse: LOGITECH G102 White
- Favorite switch: C=Q/V=ε(A/t)
- DT Pro Member: -
Just feel lucky they did not decide to throw in one of those PFU style keyscratchers.zslane wrote: ↑I find it amusing that they provide a keypuller in the box. What keycaps do they imagine I'm going to replace these with?
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Actually "the Topre tongs" are pretty good if you use them right. I was skeptical at first, used to my wire pullers, but the slide-in-from-the-side technique is better for large caps. Especially if you have two sets of tongs! I got them with my Realforce and the spare HHKB cap set I bundled with my Tenso order.
Now, about that ABS spacebar…
Now, about that ABS spacebar…
- _PixelNinja
- Main keyboard: RAMA M60-A
- Main mouse: LOGITECH G102 White
- Favorite switch: C=Q/V=ε(A/t)
- DT Pro Member: -
I'd take wire keypuller any day over those abominations. On some keyboards there is no way of using them without causing mayhem because of the space between the caps and the case of the keyboard.Muirium wrote: ↑Actually "the Topre tongs" are pretty good if you use them right. I was skeptical at first, used to my wire pullers, but the slide-in-from-the-side technique is better for large caps. Especially if you have two sets of tongs! I got them with my Realforce and the spare HHKB cap set I bundled with my Tenso order.
Now, about that ABS spacebar…
- Khers
- ⧓
- Location: Sweden
- Main keyboard: LZ CLSh
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Ergo
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs | Topre | Nixdorf Black
- DT Pro Member: 0087
Ohh, what do we have here...
Very nice indeed zslane! Your first taste of Topre? What do you think of it?
I'd go for the most complementing if you decide to go for a PBT spacebar. I guess that means red. But should ideally be accompanied by a red Esc or similar, like the one on the JUST Systems board.
Very nice indeed zslane! Your first taste of Topre? What do you think of it?
I'd go for the most complementing if you decide to go for a PBT spacebar. I guess that means red. But should ideally be accompanied by a red Esc or similar, like the one on the JUST Systems board.
- zslane
- Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Main keyboard: RealForce RGB
- Main mouse: Basic Microsoft USB mouse
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
Can't really say yet. I haven't spent any meaningful time with it. What little I did experience was...interesting. Compared to the soft linear feel of MX reds that I've become so accustomed to lately, the Topres feel odd. And this is not exactly a Type-S, so naturally they make a little noise on the up-stroke. Only time will tell what I really think of it.Khers wrote: ↑Ohh, what do we have here...
Very nice indeed zslane! Your first taste of Topre? What do you think of it?
Interesting idea. I will have to give that some thought. But where does one get just a red 108UW Escape key? Trade perhaps?Khers wrote: ↑I'd go for the most complementing if you decide to go for a PBT spacebar. I guess that means red. But should ideally be accompanied by a red Esc or similar, like the one on the JUST Systems board.
- Khers
- ⧓
- Location: Sweden
- Main keyboard: LZ CLSh
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Ergo
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs | Topre | Nixdorf Black
- DT Pro Member: 0087
Yeah, I know where you're coming from. Topre was hardly an instant hit for me either, but after using it for a couple of days I had a hard time going back to Cherry. They felt scratchy in comparison to the smoothness of Topre.
If you think it's too loud, there is always Hyper's silencing rings
If you think it's too loud, there is always Hyper's silencing rings
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
I've said it before and I'll say it again:
Now, I wonder how much this beauty cost…
I don't think Matteo's PBT spacebars are even the right shape for HiPro. Anyone tried them on one?Muirium wrote: ↑Topre is a subtle switch. A point that comes up again and again. Beware the meh! But once you've gotten into their flow, like after a long evening session of busy typing, they're magnificent. The opposite of so many chintzy clicky switches (MX blue I'm looking at you) that make you smile the first time you meet them, but get tiresome when you're really getting things done.
Now, I wonder how much this beauty cost…
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0061
- Contact:
I'd love that but zslane is not in the EU and we don't have a HiPro to go on tour!cookie wrote: ↑how about a HiPro Europ tour?
- shreebles
- Finally 60%
- Location: Cologne, Germany
- Main keyboard: FaceW 45g Silent Red /NerD60 MX Red
- Main mouse: Logitech G303 / GPro (home) MX Anywhere 2 (work)
- Favorite switch: Silent Red, Old Browns, Buckling Spring,
- DT Pro Member: 0094
Well, they expect you, being a keyboard enthusiast, to love and care for your keyboard for years to come, and take it apart periodically, to wash the keycaps and dust under the switches every once in a while.zslane wrote: ↑ I find it amusing that they provide a keypuller in the box. What keycaps do they imagine I'm going to replace these with?
- Hypersphere
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Silenced & Lubed HHKB (Black)
- Main mouse: Logitech G403
- Favorite switch: Topre 45/55g Silenced; Various Alps; IBM Model F
- DT Pro Member: 0038
@zslane: Beautiful board. I like the colors and the Korean legends give it an exotic flair. Where did you purchase this? Widebasket on eBay perchance? I'm eager to get your impressions of the particular combination of the switches and high-profile spherical keycaps.
BTW, I think that the HiPro keycaps cannot be used on a standard Topre board because of the differences in switch housings. Is this true?
BTW, I think that the HiPro keycaps cannot be used on a standard Topre board because of the differences in switch housings. Is this true?
- Hypersphere
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Silenced & Lubed HHKB (Black)
- Main mouse: Logitech G403
- Favorite switch: Topre 45/55g Silenced; Various Alps; IBM Model F
- DT Pro Member: 0038
@Mu: Are you saying it is not true? That is, you can indeed put HiPro caps on a standard Topre board?
Oh, but wait -- although the housing is shorter in the standard switch, it appears that the bit the accepts the cap stem is the same length in both switches. Hmm....
I would have thought that the longer stem of the HiPro cap would wobble in the shorter housing of a standard Topre switch.Oh, but wait -- although the housing is shorter in the standard switch, it appears that the bit the accepts the cap stem is the same length in both switches. Hmm....