deskthority

Hi!

I was just recently in Tokyo and wanted to get a cheap Filco for a friend. Unfortunately Yodobashi and Sofmap didn't have an english layout with MX browns, but I finally had the chance to test a Leopold / Topre Switches. When your only real retailer of Filco or any other non-gaming mechanical keyboard is in another country, it is quite nice to stand in front of a wall of Topre's and Filco's and get to try them out with a connected game of Typing Of The Dead . Anyway, I saw the Leopold FC660C, typed on it and fell in love. I really liked the resistence the keys gave me. I write mostly code on my keyboards and since I am not a VIM user the layout was unfortunately not for me. It looks really nice, but I cannot live without a function row and at least page up/down keys. The only english layout Realforce had a broken case so I was not really impressed with the looks of that one and didn't even really try it out (yeah, yeah, I know). I thought about getting home, doing days of research and ordering a Leopold which fits my needs. Well, I didn't find one so I thought about getting a Topre but I also didn't find one either because I noticed that I don't want to have a keyboard without mx stems for my SA keycaps (FC980C is therefore no option afaik). I then found the Realforce RGB and now I am thinking hard about ordering one. I don't necessarily need a number pad and prefer a TKL for the looks, but I don't have a problem with it except for the higher price for key caps. I also don't need LED's on my keyboard, but who knows...

Anyway, I have two questions before ordering one: Will the Realforce RGB give me the same sensation as the Leopold FC660C or are there major differences with Topre Switches between different keyboards? I am used to a Filco Majestouch 2 TKL with brown MX switches with SA keycaps. And how does the backlight of the RGB work? Is there some kind of API for it so that I can make us of it for notification purposes?

Thanks in advance for some input!

I have never used a Leopold, but the TMX switches in the RealForce RGB feel the same to me as those in a NovaTouch, and essentially the same as the (pure Topre) switches in my RealForce 104UK Hi-Pro board. I have SA keycaps on my RealForce RGB boards and I love the combination. I don't use the backlighting personally, but I do believe it is configurable through the FN key. I haven't really explored it enough to know what you can make the backlighting do (aside from a bunch of gimmicky preset patterns).

BTW, if you really, really want a TKL, then put out a WTB request here and over on GeekHack for a NovaTouch. It may be a discontinued product, but in the last year I managed to score two of them from previous owners through the online classifieds here and on GH.

That's a good starting point! I have read that the keyboard is not produced in Japan by Topre itself and feared that it might be overpriced if it isn't a 'true' Realforce. I would still love to hear if the feeling is roughly the same than the Leopold keyboard. I might be tempted to try out the FC980C if there is a bigger difference. I would certainly save some money on new keycaps then... I will also look out for the Nova Touch, maybe it's a cheaper alternative to dip my toes in.

Is there any more news about the upcoming TKL Realforce RGB?

It's supposed to come out this year. It may even be this month.
Also planned are full size US layout, and TKL versions of the new Realforce R2 boards.

Sweet, will change from my fullsize to TKL in the blink of an eye!

002 wrote:It's supposed to come out this year. It may even be this month.
Also planned are full size US layout, and TKL versions of the new Realforce R2 boards.

002,
Just your guesstimate or you have concrete contact with topre ?

I don't like JIS layout and would prefer US layout if it is available.

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hasu wrote: 002,
Just your guesstimate or you have concrete contact with topre ?
I don't like JIS layout and would prefer US layout if it is available.

It's a bit of both
The guesstimate is more for Realforce RGB TKL keyboard, that was based on a Reddit thread so take it with a grain of salt. There's definitely a prototype for that keyboard though where the page mentions a 2018 release.

The R2 I am not sure of the date but I am friends with a sales rep from Topre who said:

Is the full-size R2 available yet? And is it available in any case color other than black?

Not in US layout yet.
There are 8 Japanese models, 4 white and 4 black: http://www.realforce.co.jp/products/index_office.html
At least for the refresh they made the space bar longer so they're probably a bit easier to use for people accustomed to US and EU layouts. I'm not sure if this was a welcome change for the Japanese, but I'm guessing it is.

That RF RGB gives me friggin nightmares... I don't know why they do this.

RGB backlighting and ABS caps aside, it's still a solid keyboard, but the R2 is definitely more interesting to me. I'm torn between classic Realforce and its substantial, sexy forehead, and the sleek and modern R2. Curious to see what they do with the R2 TKL. I really dig the LED plate on the fullsize black R2 models (non-APC) but I'm guessing this won't exist on the TKL and they will instead go with windowed lock caps like the current TKL line. Glad they went with traditional slider design and PBT caps for the R2 as well.