Keyboard Recommendations

[Vogelbung]

Anyone have good experiences with topre keyboards?

Heavy typing, with some moderate gaming.

I've been using a Deck (Cherry MX Clear) for quite a while, and while it's not a bad keyboard, it's getting a bit old (still in good condition though--that thing is incredibly sturdy).

Depends on what sort of feel you want really. It feels like a full-travel rubber dome with a totally predictable actuation point. It is absolutely suitable for heavy typing especially in terms of the end of keystroke feel in comparison to a Cherry keyboard - yes, even those 'enhanced' with the laughable addition of o-rings.

A lot of the posters above have new-mechanical-keyboard-itis so obviously they'll be ramming those down your throat. The Topre is a different kettle of fish. So yes - it depends on what you feel you don't like about the Cherrys.

Personally, as I've said many times before, I prefer - for both typing and gaming (the latter, maybe a tad less when we're talking Reds but still preferred) - the Sidewinders. Yes, even compared to a Topre.

But if you have Q's ask away - I have every mainstream Cherry switched key type / mount type and variable / fixed Topres.

[yhyoon12]

I would seriously consider the Razer Blackwidow if you're doing a serious amount of typing on it. Still, as many have said before me, it comes down a lot to subjective preference.

[hiarieshi]

Go for a keyboard that has Brown switches. It's an in between blue and black. Since you'll do typing and gaming browns seem to match with your needs.

[s0ysauce45]

I'd also suggest Filco and ducky brands which are really good quality (a notch below das keyboards).

There's also mionix zibal 60 (which I currently use) which uses black cherry mx keys and backlighting also built like a tank.

Disagree that Filco is a notch below das. If anything, Filco's are considered the king of mechanical keyboards, and ducky and das are a below them. I've had both das and Filco and the build quality and sturdiness of Filco's are unrivaled. Das (imo and many others) has cheap plastic, not to mention the shininess is a fingerprint magnet. I guess looks can be subjective, but the quality of Filcos are much better, hence the higher premium.

As someone suggested above, if you do a mix of gaming and typing, go with something with Cherry MX Browns. They feel amazing if you're coming from a cheap keyboard. Blues have a click and noise, which I find very therapeutic, so I went with a Filco 10keyless Cherry MX Blue.

I suggest you go to geekhack.org, its like the NBR of keyboards

[ijm_155]

Completely agree with the poster above. I bought a filco's for my first mechanical keyboard and it lasted me over 3 years!

They're the very best at keyboards

[Vogelbung]

Any half-decent keyboard should last you three years. Mechs have to last for ~10 years (including cost of spare keycaps during that time) to actually make the claim of superior longevity worthwhile.

[hiarieshi]

^ what he said, I mean I have stock dell keyboards which are nearly 9 years old, and could go for several more years. They're just rubber dome keyboards too.

[Vogelbung]

Anyhoo, I see everyone's piling in with recommendations for Cherry stuff, but do any of you own a Topre, which is what I believe the OP asked?

[Vogelbung]

BTW FWIW after much fiddling around with rubber feet I accidentally discovered my potentially perfect Topre typing angle when I sat one of my Realforces on the lip of a Filco wristrest. For me personally, a flatter profile works better for fast typing and the thickness / key angle of any of the Topre-based keyboards has never quite agreed with me 'as is'. So I've used various combos of sorbothane to compensate.

One of these days I'm going to have to see if I can sink a Realforce into one of my desks.