Topre Realforce 104UW review (Topre variable-weight capacitive)

Chyros · 07 Jul 2018, 09:45

Finally I get to review this board! Hope you enjoy the video

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Sangdrax · 07 Jul 2018, 15:19

Yeah, the price itself is probably what causes the most divisiveness, because for $200+ smackers you better REALLLY like it, or at least Apple post-purchase rationalize yourself. But then I laugh when you can get NIB Wyse BTC stuff for like $15 shipped.

The one thing I really like about capacitive though, is with a new controller/firmware, you can set the actuation point to whatever you want. I find it much more handy with old linears but it's a neat feature.

Laser · 07 Jul 2018, 17:03

Sangdrax wrote: when you can get NIB Wyse BTC stuff for like $15 shipped.

Do you have a link to something like this available, or more recently sold ?

Sangdrax · 07 Jul 2018, 17:34

This is the one I bought back in May. https://www.ebay.com/itm/WYSE-102Key-PS ... 2313280450

The trick is to look for the actual models instead of stuff like "BTC"

Laser · 07 Jul 2018, 17:40

But which models then?

Or is any non-mechanical Wyse keyboard a good membrane keyboard? (I genuinely don't know)

Sangdrax · 07 Jul 2018, 17:48

It's listed on the wiki. wiki/BTC_51_series . Just find the OEM's that match. That WYSE is a 5149. The Packard Bells like Thomas showed are super common too. 5100C's are super common too if you like 75% boards.

Laser · 07 Jul 2018, 20:06

Thanks

lhutton · 08 Jul 2018, 04:09

I'm with you. Topres are nice, I'm just not sure they're $200+ worth of nice. I've got a soft spot for old NMB dome and sliders myself so I'm fine with their construction. Just that price tag. Ouch.

Bass · 08 Jul 2018, 05:31

Nice to finally see you review a review a realforce. I think Topre switches sound fairly nice especially once they are lubed and silenced, but even then I still think Scorpius Dome with Slider sounds MUCH better. But I am the type who prefers louder switches in general

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I know you have said multiple times that you have also tried BKE domes, are you ever planning on doing a review of them or at least a comparison video with stock Topre domes and other dome with slider switches?

Elrick · 08 Jul 2018, 09:50

"If it Works well and it Feels Good who cares how it works or what it's made out of" this describes the "Thorpie" phenomenon perfectly

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Refuse to call it anything else, my prerogative in pissing off all those that WORSHIP this style of keyboard.

Just having certain people who get upset that anyone's mentions anything contrary to their "Thorpie Belief System", cheers me up to no end

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Have a few of the Realforce's but they're not my end-game keyboard, can never be in this reality

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Thank you for a another honest review concerning this Japanese made keyboard (best one done by them).

Chyros · 08 Jul 2018, 10:19

Thanks guys, glad you enjoyed it!

I've had one of these for about two years and was aching to review it xD .

Bass wrote: I know you have said multiple times that you have also tried BKE domes, are you ever planning on doing a review of them or at least a comparison video with stock Topre domes and other dome with slider switches?

I've been working on getting something like this arranged but it'll probably take a while

. It'll almost certainly happen at one point though.

Laser · 08 Jul 2018, 11:08

For me, no keyboard beats the feeling of typing on a FC660C: thocky sound, the right amount of force, nice keycap texture, nice keycap lettering, small format with arrows ... and, with Hasu's alternate controller, having it completely programmable.

the_marsbar · 10 Jul 2018, 14:07

Reviews are funny. Of course, since they reflect the subjective view of the reviewer, they should not be seen as the ultimate answer to how the viewer/reader/listener should think about the subject covered. My point being; in most cases I can't see how anyone would be offended by a review of any kind (your opinion is as good as mine, I'd say).

I recently bought a 104 with purple sliders, and to be honest, I like it more that I thought I would. The variable weighting, to me, doesn't feel obtrusive in any way. However, I'm partial to silenced Topre. In fact, it's the only variant I like. Maybe that's why I like it.

The point about †actile feel is a property of the Topre domes the way I see it. It's also fairly easy to change the domes to more tactile ones now that the BKE redux domes are available (they're very tactile I'd say).

The importance of the different aspects (sound, tactile feel, build quality, form factor) of course depend on personal opinion, typical use case, etc.

Nice review, again