Topre switch / Cherry MX compatible

whitecitadel · 04 Apr 2014, 10:22

CM Bram wrote:With first half 2014 I mean they should hit the shelves and stores by then ...

: Take my money; Shut+up+and+take+my+money+fry+futurama+twilight+avatar.jpg (69.49 KiB) Viewed 11097 times

CommonCurt · 04 Apr 2014, 12:00

CM Bram wrote:The purple is indeed like Carter mentioned on GeekHack not because of the Topre Silent Switches but our exclusive switch color to differentiate our switch from the rest of the Topre switches..

Small update, how about this font style:

CM Bram,

Please tell me you guys will offer a gray case version also.

Muirium · 04 Apr 2014, 12:04

Grey metal would be nice…

Actually, there really ought to be some nice aftermarket cases available for this board. I'm used to heavy metal Model Fs and my custom!

Bramster · 07 Apr 2014, 13:21

We did make a small change after the sample we have send to Matteo and Muirium for testing and feedback. However I do not yet have a picture or sample of that new housing on hand at this moment.

If you all are interested in a gray housing you could always mod the NovaTouch ....

?

whitecitadel · 07 Apr 2014, 13:52

Muirium - adhesive lead group buy?

matt3o · 07 Apr 2014, 14:01

some more pictures from a lucky guy who got the prototype

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56756.0

avtar · 09 Apr 2014, 09:51

CM Bram wrote: If you all are interested in a gray housing you could always mod the NovaTouch .... ?

Are you able to confirm that existing aluminum cases (Vortex, etc.) can be used with the Novatouch? I'm wondering if there will be any issue with the micro USB port.

Bramster · 11 Apr 2014, 08:14

Hey everyone...

Just some pictures here today that we had taken with some aftermarket key caps provided to me by (and special thanks to) Tim Mammatt from qwerkeys.co.uk

(Do not that he stock caps on this one are not final... We improved to the pic I sent last top top left and a bit smaller.. The sample shown in these pictures is the same sample as sent to Matt3o and Murium)

imbattable · 11 Apr 2014, 09:14

You should really join matt3o's groupbuy and order 1e6 dsa profile pbt dyesub sets from signature plastics

matt3o · 11 Apr 2014, 09:18

imbattable wrote:You should really join matt3o's groupbuy and order 1e6 dsa profile pbt dyesub sets from signature plastics

THIS!

Findecanor · 11 Apr 2014, 09:30

CM Bram wrote:

I'm not sure about the font, but I do like the colour, font sizes and text adjustment.
BTW. the right/left Windows keys should be swapped.

Muirium · 11 Apr 2014, 11:30

CM Bram wrote:The sample shown in these pictures is the same sample as sent to Matt3o and Murium)

Oh, I'm free to talk about the thingamabob and the whatsit now?

Free as in Round 4 SPH shots?

Grond · 11 Apr 2014, 12:54

matt3o wrote:
imbattable wrote:You should really join matt3o's groupbuy and order 1e6 dsa profile pbt dyesub sets from signature plastics
THIS!

That would mark a massive price-drop in the GB!

But seriously, I understand those keycaps may be too expensive for mass market, but what about a limited edition? 100 keyboards with those keycaps would go like hot cakes.

avtar · 11 Apr 2014, 17:22

CM Bram wrote:Hey everyone...

I don't care about the font since I almost have replacement keycaps for this board. The new dark grey colour of the case is really awesome though

Hypersphere · 11 Apr 2014, 19:33

Thanks for an advanced look at this product. It is an interesting venture.

One of the main problems with some of the Topre-switch boards is a lack of replacement keycaps for Topre-switches. If the CM board will have true compatibility with Cherry keycaps, this could be a definite advantage.

During the past year, I have tested a wide variety of keyboards of various form factors, layouts, and switch types. After considerable testing, two boards have emerged as all-time favorites:

1. IBM SSK
2. HHKB Pro 2

These two might seem disparate, but they share some elements of excellent design and build quality. Both come equipped with beautiful two-tone dye-sub PBT keycaps in a tasteful and attractive font.

The things I especially like about the HHKB are the form factor and layout. However, I think I would prefer a 55-gram Topre over the 45-g in the HHKB. I think I would also prefer a silenced model. I like the downstroke sound, but I do not like the upstroke "clack" sound.

The things I like about the IBM are its solid construction, precise feedback, beautiful dye-sub PBT keycaps, and flexible design. As an example of the SSK's flexibility, I have remapped its keys to the HHKB layout and switched keycaps to match the layout.

I might try a Topre CM, but I could be even more excited about a 60% form factor, especially if its layout could be reconfigured to the HHKB layout, complete with swapping keycaps as needed. I would also prefer to have silenced Topre switches, as in the Type S HHKB.

Thanks; I look forward to the possibility of trying out a Topre-switch CM keyboard.

whitecitadel · 11 Apr 2014, 19:55

Muirium wrote: Oh, I'm free to talk about the thingamabob and the whatsit now?

Free as in Round 4 SPH shots?

That is what we are all waiting for...

Hypersphere · 11 Apr 2014, 20:16

To summarize my wish list for the CM with Cherry-compatible Topre switches:

1. Ability to switch Backspace with Backslash (\), including a keycap swap for these positions.
2. Ability to convert Caps Lock to Control, including keycap swap.
3. Ability to exchange Win with Alt, Ctrl, or Fn.
4. It would really be sweet if you could split the Right Shift, putting Fn to the right of a shorter Right Shift.
5. Silenced Topre switches option.
6. 55-gram Topre switches option.
7. Non-rubberized case (is it so already?).

Future options:

1. 60% form factor, preferably with HHKB layout or DIP switch/programmable to HHKB layout.
2. Bluetooth or other wireless option.
3. See other options above.

matt3o · 11 Apr 2014, 20:20

Of all 55g topre is my top request. and not-rubberized finish. but you know that we are only dreaming...

Hypersphere · 11 Apr 2014, 20:24

One more thing:

I have a CM QFR with Cherry mx greens. One thing I do not like about the board is the USB connector and cable management. It is very difficult to insert and remove a standard mini USB connector -- not enough room in the housing cutout. I hope that this has been corrected in the new Topre-switch board. I am also not fond of the stiff cable supplied with the CM QFR.

It would be even better to use a micro-USB connector; these have longer lifetimes than mini-USB connectors, although hardly any keyboards come with micro-USB; the only ones I know of are the Matias Mini Tactile Pro and Mini Quiet Pro.

matt3o · 11 Apr 2014, 20:35

novatouch has micro-usb (I'm not revealing any secret here, the board has been already reviewed by some users on GH and they evidently don't have NDA restrictions)

Hypersphere · 11 Apr 2014, 20:49

matt3o wrote:novatouch has micro-usb (I'm not revealing any secret here, the board has been already reviewed by some users on GH and they evidently don't have NDA restrictions)

Excellent! This is a good sign.

Muirium · 11 Apr 2014, 21:11

whitecitadel wrote:
Muirium wrote: Oh, I'm free to talk about the thingamabob and the whatsit now?

Free as in Round 4 SPH shots?
That is what we are all waiting for...

Well, as you insist…

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That logo on the back is the only visible branding on the case. SPH fits very nicely. The white caps in those shots are some OEM profile Ducky PBTs I have and wanted to compare with, and the three black ones are the NovaTouch's own… at the time. They were updated as you've already seen in the thread.

It's still a work in progress. In fact, CM has been very good at listening to our feedback and made some real changes because of it. This one's their baby and they know they gotta get things right.

I'm looking forward to writing up a proper review if and when CM gives me the nod. It's a fantastic project!

quantalume · 11 Apr 2014, 21:19

Damn that's beautiful

Muirium · 11 Apr 2014, 21:21

Yeah, they did exactly the right thing for going sleek and minimalist. It really shows off the caps you choose to put on it.

whitecitadel · 11 Apr 2014, 22:09

Grond · 11 Apr 2014, 23:02

That's the way I like it: minimal, understaded case, almost no branding, no leds in sight, not to mention other silly features like extra media buttons and stuff. I still like the Filco case better because of the slight curve inspired by Model M (and no rubber finish), but this looks really good to me.
Looking forward for reviews and comparisons with other Topre keyboards.

Hypersphere · 11 Apr 2014, 23:05

Should look good with just about any profile, although I prefer a high profile as the stock caps on my IBM Model M.

Muirium · 11 Apr 2014, 23:13

Indeed, those SA profile tall sphericals tick all the boxes for me. They're good and high like IBM's best. But more like beam springs than buckling spring! Pretty apt for a Topre switch.

Bear in mind that Matt and I have prototypes, not final keyboards, like Bram said. So I don't know definitive answers to most anything, really. The NovaTouch is a work in progress. A pretty sweet one, and getting all the better I think.

matt3o · 12 Apr 2014, 00:07

you guys might be interested in this http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56838.0

I must say that it's very inaccurate

but it gives you an idea.

Hypersphere · 12 Apr 2014, 00:18

matt3o wrote:you guys might be interested in this http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56838.0

I must say that it's very inaccurate but it gives you an idea.

What are some of the inaccuracies, if you are at liberty to say?

The background noise in the typing video made it difficult to evaluate the sound of keyboard, but it seemed to have quite a lot of return stroke "clack" and not as much downstroke "thock" as in some other Topre-switch keyboards I have used. Looks like another board that could benefit from silenced Topre switches or perhaps a dental-ring or ironed-landing-pad silencing mod (although I am not yet convinced of the advisability of doing such a mod on a Topre-switch board).