Topre keycaps as rare as Lanthanum

TuxKey · 27 Jan 2016, 13:33

After getting my first Topre keyboard FC660C

i started to look at possible keycap sets for future goodness..

I knew that choosing the FC660C would mean having non standard keycap sizes and the possible challenge in getting new keycap sets

There is of course the RealForce keycap set costing €138 (time of writing).
What i don't understand is why the heck is it so hard to just add an extra left shift key ?
We all know that changing a production process costs way more than just adding something..
There are plenty of tech examples out there that show this..

: RealForce Keycap Set sold Widebasket; RealForceKeycapSet.jpg (444.1 KiB) Viewed 2533 times

Apparently the asking price of €138 doesn't mean you get an extra keycap

Still aswome looking keycap set

You could just leave the right shift key or just skip the modifier keys.

If you have the extra $$ you could go for two sets so.. that's €276 for each color you would like ..
That's madness.. but if you can afford it and $$ is no object why the heck not..

You would be sending the wrong message to Topre but who says they are even listening

Still why not just add a set for the Other topre boards out there

This would mean you could potentially ask €138 for 66 keycaps saving 38 caps of a full size keyboard.
That's why i don't understand why sets aren't available.
Or you could sell a 66% set with two left shift caps and ask 60% less..and make a whole lot of people happy

Then there is the custom road Perhaps a bit more expensive but potentially more rewarding..
Massdrop & Matt3o to the rescue

: Topre custom Keycap Set designed by Matt3o; TopreCeycapSet.jpg (349.97 KiB) Viewed 2533 times

It appears that this drop failed

Reading the discussions on massdrop i somewhat understand the reason.. i found the price a bit to high considering
the set was not a 100% fit with my FC660C..

Who knows perhaps wil see this set return ..?? with a 31% discount for EU customers hahahaa
And perhaps talks with Topre will show them that there is a market for Topre keycaps ?

For now i'm hoping my Dye-sub keycap set wil last me for many years to come..And i will try to get my hands on a white or black pbt spacebar for my FC660C..
And keeping my eyes open for any changes / deals

...

Who knows perhaps we'll see a Topre stem solution saving me from these thin PBT keycaps..

ahahha nehh they are thiner than my other PBT caps but ok i guess ..

: Topre cherry compatible stem; Topre_cherry_stem.jpg (130.58 KiB) Viewed 2533 times

3d printing to the rescue

I don't know if this is the answer, considering the Topre Keycap profile

Take care guys...

jerue · 27 Jan 2016, 17:45

Because Japan.

I really think that's one of the only sound reasons...it took a lot of work for that drop to happen. The community warned that the lack of HHKB/FC660C support would make the drop fail...Topre didn't listen...sure enough, it failed. I can only hope they will be more open-minded, but such is the culture.

andrewjoy · 27 Jan 2016, 18:14

Because Massdrop.

If it was not on mass drop more people would buy it , its a terrible website that needs to go away.

Also

Because EU shipping

TuxKey · 27 Jan 2016, 18:38

jerue wrote: Because Japan.

I really think that's one of the only sound reasons...it took a lot of work for that drop to happen. The community warned that the lack of HHKB/FC660C support would make the drop fail...Topre didn't listen...sure enough, it failed. I can only hope they will be more open-minded, but such is the culture.

I can't really say i'm all that familiar with the culture.. Sure the cliches are know to everyone. Me included..

Having practiced Karate in my youth and knowing the Bushido code i only have the upmost respect for the culture.
But things don't always seem as they appear. From the outside i imagine it to be a pretty hierarchal respect driven business culture.. But again that's me and my cliches .. No actual knowledge or experience hahah

A part of me also thinks they are deliberately creating shortages ??
Well shortage is one thing this is actually ridiculous..
There are no commercially available kits at all for the FC660C or HHK. (As far as i know.?)

I assume that any Topre Patent has expired by now ?
So it must be a matter of demand or lack thereof

TuxKey · 27 Jan 2016, 18:51

andrewjoy wrote: Because Massdrop.

If it was not on mass drop more people would buy it , its a terrible website that needs to go away.
Also
Because EU shipping

I partially agree with that one.. i had a couple of discussions with Matt3o in regards to all the awesome keyboard goodies
he designs

And my main question always is "why o why don't we have an EU Massdrop" ?
Fragmentation of the keyboard market in the EU was one things i can recall as a reason

can't really say i disagree with that one..Demand could be greater in the US...

Also i asked Massdrop to consider opening a Warehouse in the EU..
Perhaps in Netherlands you know the tax heaven for the rich and powerful the 1% ers in the world..

For example there is a building in Amsterdam that has a dozen or more companies registered as having offices there..
And you see all the names on the mailboxes..But the whole building is empty ..

And now it's not a scene from the matrix but the building does look like that hahaha

Also as a Linux Nurd i'm a big fan of Jupiter BroadCasting they sell t-shirts and even they have an option to ship from an EU store..So if they can do it why doesn't massdrop do it..

I asked Massdrop not to go in to the subject with me , just promise me someone up the ladder get's my email and they would consider talking internally about potential possibilities..

And they told me that they would take care of my email..

So who knows if demand is high enough

One thing you should not do is avoid Massdrop ..I feel we should let them know we want and would be willing to buy if they found a solution for us EU folks..