Novatouch discontinued

[002]

Also it was officially cancelled before even RealForce RGB was announced apparently

I saw this and I feel it's a sneaky thing to say because it doesn't answer the question directly. The question was "Does the discontinuation have anything to do with the realforce RGB or is it just a lack of demand?" and he replies with "It was discontinued before the realforce RGB was announced."

Just because it was discontinued before the *announcement* of the RGB, doesn't mean that they had no idea that the RGB was coming or was in development. It still doesn't make sense to me that the NovaTouch was completely shit-canned. Maybe a CM rep can weigh in on it further but it might be sensitive info so I'm not holding my breath for a full disclosure.

[cryptix]

yah, anyway. More exciting news regarding RealForce RGB:

• $274~ USD
• Available by the end of the year.

My thoughts:

[the_marsbar]

I got a Novatouch from a European website for 135 euros incl. shipping. I had to get it, since I guess it will soon be impossible.

Some early observations:
- The keys don't rattle as much as I feared. However, at some point I'd certainly like to install silencing rings.
- The keycaps are really not very nice (I only own two other keyboards, a HHKB Type-S and a black Pro 2 with stock caps).
- The keyboard is heavy compared to the HHKB, not something I would ever consider lugging around.

I don't understand why they included a fancy USB cable. I feel like the keyboard would have been a better product (and value) if it came with nicer PBT keycaps, and a cheaper USB cable, even though the price might have been a bit higher.

Also, it seems like more keycaps are being made for Topre now, so I guess the MX compatibility wouldn't be a huge selling point in the future (again, I can only speak for myself, I own two HHKBs and three stock keycap sets, I don't have any MX keycaps lying around).

[Laser]

Also, it seems like more keycaps are being made for Topre now, so I guess the MX compatibility wouldn't be a huge selling point in the future (again, I can only speak for myself, I own two HHKBs and three stock keycap sets, I don't have any MX keycaps lying around).

You just have to visit the "market" section of this forum, or any "vintage keycaps" or high-quality keysets sections on ebay (and similar sites), to see that the market for MX keycaps is HUGE, overwhelming compared to Topre compatible keycaps ... If you're lucky, you can find cheap old keyboards with MX keycaps in good shape, high quality, that you can salvage and use on your Novatouch ... but you can't do the same for a HHKB. Realforce too is moving to MX-compatible Topre stems, and that is also telling something about the de-facto standard keycap mount.

[the_marsbar]

I'm sure you're right. I guess it's just because of my rather unconventional entry into the world of mechanical keyboards that I wrote the above.

However, I still have a hard time seeing the HHKB be updated with MX-compatible stems. Part of the cool thing about that board, in my opinion, is that it's difficult to find keycaps for it (however, I really like the stock keycaps).

[davkol]

Part of the cool thing about that board, in my opinion, is that it's difficult to find keycaps for it

Yay for artificial scarcity. something something Apple something something

[the_marsbar]

Come on. Is it wrong to appreciate that something isn't owned by everyone ?

[zslane]

If the market for Topre's MX-stemmed product(s) grows big enough, then third party vendors will get on board (no pun intended). Topre doesn't appear interested in making boards smaller than TKL, so that leaves the 60%ers to others. And I don't think they will ignore the MX keycap market if there is money to be made off it.

[Hypersphere]

My HHKB has keycaps from several different sets. Most of the alphas are from a RF blue set. The cursor diamond caps are stock black on white HHKB. Most of the mods are stock blank black HHKB. The spacebar is black PBT from the matt3o GB. The red Esc was purchased separately from EK, and the Fn key is a red up-arrow from a RF red set.

Something I appreciate about Topre/HHKB caps is that thus far they have all been made according to exacting specifications from Topre, and so they all fit the switches perfectly with no compromise of functionality. Each cap snaps smartly into place and everything "just works".

In contrast, Cherry mx caps are produced by many different companies. There are several different intentional profiles, such as DCS, DSA, SA; Cherry, OEM, and Leopold. Within each of these, there can be differences that may be unintentional. There are also differences in thickness, length of the stem relative to the skirt of the cap, and in the fit of the cap to the switch stem. These variations can affect the sound and feel of the keyboard and even affect its function. These differences can also make it difficult to use caps from different sets on the same keyboard, even when they are supposedly the same profile. Of course, variety is part of the fun and charm of the Cherry mx world, but it can also cause problems.

[zslane]

Yeah, problems like that are like having too much money, from different countries, to fit into your wallet. First world problems, dude. Besides, anyone who mixes caps from different manufacturers and profiles is just asking for trouble anyway.

I am mostly curious to know how well SA keycaps will fit onto the new RealForce RGB switches. I don't anticipate any problems, but you just never know until you try it, and I'm hoping someone else will be the guinnea pig for me.

[Laser]

I prefer to pay for quality, rather than scarcity ... While the HHKB keycaps are great, nicely-shaped PBT and good font, there is still room for improvement (thickness, different profiles). And don't get me started on the prices of a single Esc key or Esc+Ctrl combo that you can buy from eBay, it's outrageous.

[zslane]

It's the price we pay for participating in a niche collector's hobby.

[Hypersphere]

In case anyone might be interested in buying a Novatouch, they are apparently still available on Amazon. The Barebones version is $169.99 on Amazon Prime:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K8 ... em_1p_0_ti

[Laser]

Old one, where the comments worth more than the actual review:
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/cm-storm-no ... -2426.html

[002]

I picked one up after all this time -- given that it might be my last chance to get a brand new one.
I think I will just do some nice tasteful modifications to it and call it a day.

Hypersphere rings
Black on not-so-black dye-sub caps
Lubed sliders
CMYK mods? No idea how this will look but I've had them for years so might as well put them to use

What are you guys rocking on your Novatouch boards?

[IKSLM]

Old one, where the comments worth more than the actual review:
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/cm-storm-no ... -2426.html

Wow what a shitty review, zero facts, full of brain farts.

[IKSLM]

...
What are you guys rocking on your Novatouch boards?

Nothing fancy, i love thin cherry pbt



I also tried these caps:



But it felt like the caps were hitting the switch housing so off they went.

[Khers]

I picked one up after all this time -- given that it might be my last chance to get a brand new one.
I think I will just do some nice tasteful modifications to it and call it a day.

Hypersphere rings
Black on not-so-black dye-sub caps
Lubed sliders
CMYK mods? No idea how this will look but I've had them for years so might as well put them to use

What are you guys rocking on your Novatouch boards?

Not mine, but my wife's. Hypersphere'd and lubed, wearing Granite.

With rings and lube it's not bad at all.

[the_marsbar]

That looks so nice. I think I have to try those keycaps, even though I have a feeling I won't like the profile.

[Khers]

Honestly, I don't like the profile at all, but my wife doesn't mind and it was the only keycap set I had on hand with Swedish legends...

[002]

That looks very nice, Khers -- and I am generally a bit iffy about two-tone or "stormtrooper" colourways.

On lubing, I've heard of some lubing the sliders, and others (e.g. Hypersphere) just lubing the rails.
What approach did you take, and what lube did you go with?

[Phenix]

For lubing the sliders:
I used silicone spray if I remwber correctly on the friction points.

[Khers]

I only lubed the rails, in my opinion that's sufficient for a nice feeling NT (for the record, I prefer my regular Topre unlubed). I used Geekhackers thin lube (and yes that's labeled as being for linear switches but I couldn't care less, it does the trick without feeling sluggish). I don't think the type of lube has that much of an impact though as long as you don't get too much on there so that the switches start feeling sluggish.

[derzemel]

What are you guys rocking on your Novatouch boards?

My current home daily driver:



Hypersphere rings, led under Caps Lock, alphas are Cherry SDUs, modifiers are GMK. I did not plan on lubing it as it does nto bother me. I would add something under the keycaps as the cherry profile hits the switch housing (maybe Wodan would make something with his 3D printer and some rubbery filament)

I also have an ISO novatouch in storage and I am still thinking what should I do with it. Maybe take it apart for the sliders...

[Wodan]

You guys crack me up

"Okay now that this board got discontinued and is basically sold out everywhere, post the mouth watering pic of your finest Novatouch keyboards and spread some remorse

[002]

Nice one, derzemel -- I have a set of Cherry ABS doubleshots (black + white legends) and I wanted to use them but I don't have the necessary mods and spacebar. Another set that I got a long time ago from Ascaii actually on geekhack.

Where did you get the GMK mods?

[002]

"Okay now that this board got discontinued and is basically sold out everywhere, post the mouth watering pic of your finest Novatouch keyboards and spread some remorse

You can still get one, buddy
Get one NOW before it gets too crazy. If you plan to use it heavily, get two and keep one in mint condition!

[Wodan]

I got some barebones from CM Europe ... they have ONE barebone left for 100€ right now

[Khers]

Quick! Someone buy it now, or regret it later!

[Wodan]

Quick! Someone buy it now, or regret it later!

I was already considering to get a nice even number together ... but .. nooo ... nooohoooo

Ops maybe I had it locked up in my cart, should be available again now.