Parents traveling to Tokyo, tips on acquiring a Topre?

[IonutZ]

So my parents are gonna spend 4 days in Japan, and I was looking at Realforce 87U (ANSI) on Google.co.jp lol! And they're about $160-$170... which is a hell of a deal right?! The only thing is I have no clue how to go about getting one shipped to their hotel or have them go somewhere to get one... Was wondering maybe someone here might have hands on experience... Also what other cool stuff is in Japan that we can't find anywhere else? lol

[002]

If they know their way around they could go to the clevery shop(s) in Akihabara. Should be able to get an 87U there but I don't think it'd be that cheap. Could I have a link for the $170 one?

[IonutZ]

Well here's a Realforce 91UBK for $140 on amazon http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%9D%B1%E3%83 ... B000EQHU6M

(although I have no clue what those extra 4 keys do haha)

[002]

The four extra keys are for switching between input methods, etc.
That keyboard ships "within 1 - 2 *months*' so you might be waiting for a while

In honesty I think it's gonna be difficult for your p's to get a good deal if they go into a brick and mortar store over there. The alternative would be to have it shipped to a domestic location, so maybe if you have friends in Tokyo they can help you out.

Not sure if you've read my thread here, but if not, you might find it useful.

[vardhana]

Last year, Clevery was bankrupt

[002]

Oh! That's right...I forgot about that
Is there another keyboard shop in Akihabara?

[vardhana]

There is a keyboard section in Yodobashi. Maybe it's the biggest in Akihabara.

According to this article (Sorry, written in Japanese),
http://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/hot ... rf87u.html
there will be stock in TSUKUMO honten and TSUKUMO eX.

Edit:There is no keyboard specialty shop in Akihabara

[002]

Good to know, thanks!
@IonutZ: I guess if you can direct your parents to TSUKUMO you can get an 87U, but the price doesn't look too amazing really (22,000 yen). Maybe they will be on special?
Either way, you save on shipping an import costs at the very least.

[IonutZ]

Yea I really wanted an 87U 55g but it doesn't seem I can find it anywhere...

[Muirium]

The uniform 55g is an Elite Keyboards exclusive, so I've heard. Even branded with their logo on the bottom.

[IonutZ]

I'm guessing nobody's ever tried to create their own keyboard with Topre switches have they lol

[Muirium]

No. But everyone wants to. Matt3o wants a uniform 55g HHKB, but has to stick with his TKL instead. The switches aren't discrete like Cherry's: you can't just take them out one at a time. The rubber domes are on a sheet, so I understand, so Matteo would have to destroy one keyboard to mod another one.

[IonutZ]

Quite a lump sum of money to potentially wreck... wouldn't feel as bad about using a Type Heaven for the switches though...

[Muirium]

Type Heaven is 45g though, surely? Anyway, Topre and buckling spring are alike: both great switches that don't actually come in switches. That's why they're so rare in custom keyboards. You have to build something around an existing keyboard's insides, instead of just ordering up or harvesting a bag of switches.

[IonutZ]

Ya I hear that, I'm about to chisel off the plastic rivets on my Model M! It stinks, gotta go for the bolt mod to clean everything inside.

[Muirium]

Sharpen your chisel! I made things harder for myself by forgetting that when I tried. Got to sand those buggers back down now so I can start again.

[IonutZ]

002 / vardhana the Yodobashi store is in Shinjuku?

[vardhana]

I've never visit Yodobashi in Shinjuku.
Yodobashi-Akiba (in Akihabara) is the biggest Yodobashi in Tokyo.

TSUKUMO shops are also in Akihabara.

[IonutZ]

ya I don't think I can get my rents to go to Akihabara, it seems overwhelming enough lol, these guys are staying in Shinjuku and the Yodobashi in Shinjuku is right next to the train station which would've been ideal

[Muirium]

Then it's worth a shot. If they find the Topre there, great. And if they don't, then at least they'll know what the store looks like if they build up the courage to venture into Akihabara!

[IonutZ]

So many colors, that's awesome!

[vardhana]

It's nostalgic! 2007 spring?

[Game Theory]

It's nostalgic! 2007 spring?

Here's my Spring 2007 photo of electric town

Akihabara

DSC01472.JPG (356.6 KiB) Viewed 5834 times

[matt3o]

No. But everyone wants to. Matt3o wants a uniform 55g HHKB, but has to stick with his TKL instead. The switches aren't discrete like Cherry's: you can't just take them out one at a time. The rubber domes are on a sheet, so I understand, so Matteo would have to destroy one keyboard to mod another one.

As far as I can see from pictures of the two keyboard internals it seems there are a couple of layouts for the dome sheet. I believe it would be possible (without destruction) to build a 55g HHKB but of course you end up with a frankenstein RF. So far the cost of the two keyboards held me back, but I'm in US right now and I might decide to grab a HHKB at the end.

[Muirium]

Intey…resting. You mean cut the alpha block out of a 55g Realforce, while everything else that doesn't match the HHKB remains the same? A TKL Realforce with 45g alphas and 55g elsewhere sounds a nice keyboard in its own right. Does the 55g EK special come in white? (Realforces, like HHKBs, come in the right colour and the wrong colour!)

[Muirium]

The answer: YES! A White all-55g TKL Realforce exists:

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php? ... =rf_se0800

But out of stock until November! Boo.

[matt3o]

Intey…resting. You mean cut the alpha block out of a 55g Realforce, while everything else that doesn't match the HHKB remains the same?

yes, precisely. and that would be revertible, only viable if I can sell the RF I'd say.

[IonutZ]

I need to go to Japan now ...

I've been tracking that page for changes, that doesn't mean you guys should do it too!!! I'm buying like 5 white 55gs when they show up in November... I don't even care. That's an easy $100 on ebay a month later, or maybe I'll flip them on GH for twice the money, seems fair.