Realforce 86U/87U vs. HHKB

[Jim66]

I'm teetering on the verge of buying a HHKB, but before I do, I have one question.

The realforce board that I'm typing on feels ultra solid and I'm pretty sure that this is having a large effect on my current typing experience. Previously on here and GH, I've heard some people say that they think that the realforce boards are build more sturdily than the HHKB.

With this in mind, my question is: is the construction of the HHKB that different that it has a significant effect on the typing experience? Is it say, the night and day difference between plate and PCB mounted Cherry switches?

Am I going to be disappointed?

I actually think that this video sounds nicer than the realforce I'm typing on...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... WPH7FAUfUY

[isman]

If I say hhkb is better, would u gimme ur 10th Anniversary RF to get one ?

[itlnstln]

If you're looking for feel, you might be disappointed with the HHKB. The all-plastic construction just isn't as solid as the RF. Whatever you feelings you have about smoothness and oneness with cup rubber will be replaced with "typical rubber dome."

It's similar to the plate-mounted vs. PCB-mounted Cherrys effect, but instead of being "different," it's just worse. The HHKB layout can't be beat, though. It's a shame. I would save your money unless you really want to check out the layout. There are AutoHotKey scripts that can emulate the HHKB layout on a regular keyboard, too.

[ktkr]

They feel considerably different but both are equally awesome. There are days when I prefer the HHKB feel and vice versa. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose the Realforce all things considered.

[webwit]

I love my HHKB.

[Jim66]

If you're looking for feel, you might be disappointed with the HHKB. The all-plastic construction just isn't as solid as the RF. Whatever you feelings you have about smoothness and oneness with cup rubber will be replaced with "typical rubber dome."

It's similar to the plate-mounted vs. PCB-mounted Cherrys effect, but instead of being "different," it's just worse. The HHKB layout can't be beat, though. It's a shame. I would save your money unless you really want to check out the layout. There are AutoHotKey scripts that can emulate the HHKB layout on a regular keyboard, too.

Thanks for your honesty, it's pretty much what I expected. Shame really, as I love the look of the blank white HHKB.

Hmmm, I think I might just give it a miss; while the layout is great, I think it would be wasted on me as my work only involves word processing.

[Jim66]

I love my HHKB.

The layout and size?

[itlnstln]

That's really the key. You can't beat the HHKB for a portable keyboard with its detachable USB cable and layout. If you don't need that, or you're not addicted to the layout, I would pass.

Although, I would murder kittens for a brown Cherry HHKB.

[webwit]

Layout, size and Topre switches, which are much better than ordinary rubber domes.

The only people who complain about the HHKB are people who can't handle the pro layout and need an excuse to prefer a boring keyboard made for bankers.

No matter what you mount switches on, the feel of the actual key travel is identical. And it is no cheap, flexing construction which some Cherry boards sport - it has a solid construction, made by Topre, the same manufacturer as the Realforce. The reason it has no metal plate is to keep it light and mobile, not to make it cheaper. Surely the only difference in feel constitutes the bottom out feel, which would be the difference between a solid plastic plate and a metal one using a switch which doesn't require much force. Here's why I have difficulty believing the claimed experience of a difference between day and night, between a pro switch and a typical rubber dome. Itlnstln is a drama queen! And a banker. Woo wee.

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[Jim66]

Surely the only difference in feel constitutes the bottom out feel, which would be the difference between a solid plastic plate and a metal one using a switch which doesn't require much force.

I think this is nail on head. Don't most people tend to bottom out when they type? I know I do.

EDIT: When I say bottom out, I meant occasionally. Not this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeE5PbXdqRs

[Minskleip]

I love HHKB. That's why my Tipro's get the HHKB treatment.

[trax]

Surely the only difference in feel constitutes the bottom out feel, which would be the difference between a solid plastic plate and a metal one using a switch which doesn't require much force.

I think this is nail on head. Don't most people tend to bottom out when they type? I know I do.

EDIT: When I say bottom out, I meant occasionally. Not this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeE5PbXdqRs

LOLD SO HARD.

[webwit]

Bottoming out is ok, I'm just saying the effect should be minimal instead of dramatic because the switch itself is not affected and the plastic plate is thick and solid.

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[RiGS]

Also Realforce QA is horrible, as most of their metal plates are full of tiny scratches.
Yes, I got this information straight from the Korean distributor.

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[ripster]

Japan QA >>>>> Korean QA>China QA>Signature Plastics/Unicomp USA lack of QA

[RiGS]

While the build quality is very good. Their quality control still desires some improvement.

[ripster]

Says the Korean.

BTW anybody notice that Geekhack has turned Weeaboo?

[RiGS]

While it is a very nice keyboard, here are a few common problems: twisted keys, ping, sticky sound, scratches on the metal plate, the domes are not uniform across the board(+-15cN is beyond tolerable), the color of the spacebar doesn't match the rest of the keys, the legends are not consistent on full sized keyboards, the key texture is also inconsistent as some of the keys are more texturated than the others.

[webwit]

My understanding is that Topre quality control is best in the business, and a big reason why they are so expensive. Each key is tested and must pass quality standards. This is why banks like Topre keyboards. Missing a 0 because your keyboard is not reliable may have big consequences.

[RiGS]

I think this is just pure speculation or bias towards Japanese goods.

[webwit]

It's from an inside source, one of sixty's contacts. It's up to sixty if he can/wants to reveal more. I was impressed.

[RiGS]

In theory it sounds good, but in practice it still could be different.
I got the +-15 cN variance from their specs. Also many geekhackers reported that their uniform weighted boards weren't uniform. Some of the domes are sligthly lighter or stiffer than the rest.
Cherry switches are better in this regard.

[Jim66]

Just to be clear, I was intending this to become a HHKB bashing thread, I was just trying to figure out if the two boards feel different and whether that difference is pleasant.

Just so I'm clear, the cursor keys, are they only accessible by pressing the right Fn key?

[cactux]

[Account and posts deleted on request]

[ktkr]

Also Realforce QA is horrible, as most of their metal plates are full of tiny scratches.
Yes, I got this information straight from the Korean distributor.

Not sure if troll or retard. Who the fuck cares about a plate you can't even see normally?

[Minskleip]

You can setup the left diamond key to be FN as well, but yes.

[Jim66]

Via dip-switch?