Topre KB0300
- 002
- Topre Enthusiast
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Realforce & Libertouch
- Main mouse: Logitech G Pro Wireless
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: 0002
I imagine most of you will file this under 'mildly interesting', but thought I would share anyway as new discoveries in the Topre world are few and far between.
I managed to get my hands on another Topre keyboard and found that does not use a metal mounting plate for its switches. It is the KB0300 and it was available in Japan in the second half of 2005. This was probably the first taste of Topre for the more budget-minded Japanese keyboard aficionado. At one point it was available new on vshopu for just 9,777 yen! The keyboard itself is very light compared to a Realforce and the switches definitely feel different -- probably much closer to an HHKB I would imagine. For some reason, they put an LED under the blank key next to the right Shift. Also strange is that they decided on Japanese legends for some modifiers and even put a legend on the space
As far as I know, the only other plastic moulded mounting plate keyboards made by Topre are the μTRON and the HHKB Pro series.
I'm sorry about the shit lighting on this pic -- I'll take a better one for the wiki page when I get around to writing it
I managed to get my hands on another Topre keyboard and found that does not use a metal mounting plate for its switches. It is the KB0300 and it was available in Japan in the second half of 2005. This was probably the first taste of Topre for the more budget-minded Japanese keyboard aficionado. At one point it was available new on vshopu for just 9,777 yen! The keyboard itself is very light compared to a Realforce and the switches definitely feel different -- probably much closer to an HHKB I would imagine. For some reason, they put an LED under the blank key next to the right Shift. Also strange is that they decided on Japanese legends for some modifiers and even put a legend on the space
As far as I know, the only other plastic moulded mounting plate keyboards made by Topre are the μTRON and the HHKB Pro series.
I'm sorry about the shit lighting on this pic -- I'll take a better one for the wiki page when I get around to writing it
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
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Eventhough I would not considder myself an Topre enthusiast, this is interesting.You should not even think about not posting something like this! Congrats to your rare find! Amazing board.
- 002
- Topre Enthusiast
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Realforce & Libertouch
- Main mouse: Logitech G Pro Wireless
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: 0002
Thanks guys
This one is uniform 45g. Now that you mention it, I am pretty sure that variable force is actually something unique to the Realforce line. The exception to this are collaborative keyboards (e.g. older Just Limited models, CS NEO, etc) which are essentially just modified Realforces.
This one is uniform 45g. Now that you mention it, I am pretty sure that variable force is actually something unique to the Realforce line. The exception to this are collaborative keyboards (e.g. older Just Limited models, CS NEO, etc) which are essentially just modified Realforces.
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Vintage looking, isn't it? Yet, for a little while, this was the Topre for all those who forever ask "but where can I get one for less than a [prized body part]?!?!" If they were in Japan…
The Type Heaven's ancestor. Those caps are lasered, right? The ESC key looks straight off my oddball "Vatican Edition" G80-3000LAMIT!
The Type Heaven's ancestor. Those caps are lasered, right? The ESC key looks straight off my oddball "Vatican Edition" G80-3000LAMIT!
- Khers
- ⧓
- Location: Sweden
- Main keyboard: LZ CLSh
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Ergo
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs | Topre | Nixdorf Black
- DT Pro Member: 0087
There is definitely a vintage vibe to it. Most everything else out there looks kind of like an IBM M. This is cool though!
Furthermore, there are semi-spheres on f and j rather than the nowadays Topre-typical (?) bars.
What cap material are we talking? Guessing ABS, but that's only based on price ^^
Furthermore, there are semi-spheres on f and j rather than the nowadays Topre-typical (?) bars.
What cap material are we talking? Guessing ABS, but that's only based on price ^^
- 002
- Topre Enthusiast
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Realforce & Libertouch
- Main mouse: Logitech G Pro Wireless
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: 0002
Caps are actually good old dye-sub PBT! I am pretty sure that the re-legendables are ABS, though.
Characteristic ABS yellowing is evident on other examples of Topre boards with re-legendable caps:
Characteristic ABS yellowing is evident on other examples of Topre boards with re-legendable caps:
Spoiler:
- photekq
- Cherry Picker
- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Various Cherry Corp keyboards
- Main mouse: Razer Deathadder (1st gen)
- Favorite switch: Nixdorf 'Soft Touch' MX Black (55g springs)
- DT Pro Member: -
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Ugh.. That's a beauty.
I really want some Japanese keycaps for my 87u 55 now
Actually, scratch that.. I really want my 87u 55 now, but don't have the money to pay for shipping from my proxy
I really want some Japanese keycaps for my 87u 55 now
Actually, scratch that.. I really want my 87u 55 now, but don't have the money to pay for shipping from my proxy
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Hmm. PBT, absolutely. But how do you know they're dyesub, besides an educated guess?
The lasered PBT caps on that oddball Cherry of mine aren't bad. But the legends are pale and insubstantial compared to dyesubs. This board looks a bit like it in the pics. How about comparing a cap against a Realforce? With an eye to legend quality in particular.
The lasered PBT caps on that oddball Cherry of mine aren't bad. But the legends are pale and insubstantial compared to dyesubs. This board looks a bit like it in the pics. How about comparing a cap against a Realforce? With an eye to legend quality in particular.
- 002
- Topre Enthusiast
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Realforce & Libertouch
- Main mouse: Logitech G Pro Wireless
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: 0002
I am pretty confident they are dye-sub. I am in the Myopia generation but my near-distance sight is still very good
I think the pics are not that great because the camera lens I am using is junk and you can see the chromatic aberration on the 'R'. I was using a pretty wide aperture I think so the tops of the caps being out of focus makes them blurry and doesn't help but if you really aren't convinced I'll break out the extension tube on the weekend and take some clearer pics.
I think the pics are not that great because the camera lens I am using is junk and you can see the chromatic aberration on the 'R'. I was using a pretty wide aperture I think so the tops of the caps being out of focus makes them blurry and doesn't help but if you really aren't convinced I'll break out the extension tube on the weekend and take some clearer pics.
- photekq
- Cherry Picker
- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Various Cherry Corp keyboards
- Main mouse: Razer Deathadder (1st gen)
- Favorite switch: Nixdorf 'Soft Touch' MX Black (55g springs)
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Those are absolutely dyesubs. No contest.
-
- Location: Seoul / Korea
- Main keyboard: Happy Hacking Pro 2 Type-S
- Main mouse: Logitech MX-518
- Favorite switch: None Click
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Look really good! I'm one of happy hacking user. So I have lot of interesting this style of switches.
Is this model only for Japan? Hmmm... I hope to get more chance for testing of local keyboards.
Where can I try to test typing in Tokyo? Tell me a good place for me.
Is this model only for Japan? Hmmm... I hope to get more chance for testing of local keyboards.
Where can I try to test typing in Tokyo? Tell me a good place for me.
- Cafeine
- Location: Paris / France
- Main keyboard: Leopold FC660C
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 7000
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
DAT FUNKY LAYOUT :) That's a nice catch, thanks for the write up! Love those rare beasts.
- 002
- Topre Enthusiast
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Realforce & Libertouch
- Main mouse: Logitech G Pro Wireless
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: 0002
Unfortunately the KB0300 isn't for sale anymore, but you might be able to find a second-hand one somewhere in Akihabara. Or you could grab the one currently on Yahoo Auctions: http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/a ... r126654607kbdcraft wrote: ↑Look really good! I'm one of happy hacking user. So I have lot of interesting this style of switches.
Is this model only for Japan? Hmmm... I hope to get more chance for testing of local keyboards.
Where can I try to test typing in Tokyo? Tell me a good place for me.
Another bit of trivia: Apparently this keyboard was made for Casio. They made 200 of them and I'm not sure what happened but at some point a whole bunch of them were in the hands of vshopu and some shops in Akihabara. Perhaps Casio didn't need them in the end and sold them all off? Or maybe they didn't quite need as many as they were given and got rid of the excess. This is what happened with the green and orange ilovex keyboard.
- dustinhxc
- Location: MN
- Main keyboard: Realforce 104 UB-DK 45G
- Main mouse: Roccat Kone Pure
- Favorite switch: 45g Topre/ Clears 62g
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Oh wow cool find man.. Love my Realforce, so this is neat to see....
- subcat
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: HHKB Professional
- Main mouse: Zowie EC2-A
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
I know this is an old thread, but I thought I'd add to the already plentiful information here. I recently found an alternate variant of the KB0300 with Casio branding. Here are some pictures.
- Elrick
- Location: Swan View, AUSTRALIA
- Main keyboard: Alps - As much as Possible.
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: Navy Switch, ALPs, Model-M
- DT Pro Member: -
Yeah some 'Thorpie' Love never goes astray, even here on DT Central .dustinhxc wrote: ↑Oh wow cool find man.. Love my Realforce, so this is neat to see....
Completely forgot about my collection of them which all seem to attract constant female usage in my household.
All the girls love the Realforce's (I only really bought them both 87 and full sized models).
IF Realforce could produce a full-sized keyboard ALL with 55g switches, then that would be my supreme keyboard along side the 55g Anniversary ones.
But again we have a company that seems to ignore us who want this type of model, without the RGB nonsense.
- subcat
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: HHKB Professional
- Main mouse: Zowie EC2-A
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
Actually, there is a Realforce 104U with uniform 55g weighting, I have one. Pretty sure it was a Korean market model though. 55g 103 and 108Us exist as wellElrick wrote: ↑Yeah some 'Thorpie' Love never goes astray, even here on DT Central .dustinhxc wrote: ↑Oh wow cool find man.. Love my Realforce, so this is neat to see....
Completely forgot about my collection of them which all seem to attract constant female usage in my household.
All the girls love the Realforce's (I only really bought them both 87 and full sized models).
IF Realforce could produce a full-sized keyboard ALL with 55g switches, then that would be my supreme keyboard along side the 55g Anniversary ones.
But again we have a company that seems to ignore us who want this type of model, without the RGB nonsense.
- Elrick
- Location: Swan View, AUSTRALIA
- Main keyboard: Alps - As much as Possible.
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: Navy Switch, ALPs, Model-M
- DT Pro Member: -
So not available via Fleabay or some external seller like Gmarket?subcat wrote: ↑Actually, there is a Realforce 104U with uniform 55g weighting, I have one. Pretty sure it was a Korean market model though. 55g 103 and 108Us exist as well
- subcat
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: HHKB Professional
- Main mouse: Zowie EC2-A
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
They are all old and rare models.
SE02C0: 103UB-55
XF01K0: 104UKW-55
XF11K0: 104UKB-55
SJ58B0: 108UBK-55
If you'd like to purchase mine, I would think about selling it. PM me
- TuxKey
- LLAP
- Location: Netherlands
- Main keyboard: Leopold FC660C, Leopold FC660M mx-clears
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Trackpad, ducky Secret (PBT mouse)
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX-clear, Topre 45gr/55gr
- DT Pro Member: 0137
could someone please help me out with my Topre problem??
i created a post here on DT..
keyboards-f2/topre-misbihaving-after-4t ... 18688.html
i'm at the point where i think i need to cut of some sides of my topre sheet don't know what to do.
i created a post here on DT..
keyboards-f2/topre-misbihaving-after-4t ... 18688.html
i'm at the point where i think i need to cut of some sides of my topre sheet don't know what to do.