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Topre Realforce aren't really mechanical keyboards — they are rubber dome keyboards. They get lumped together with them only because they are high quality rubbe

Topre Realforce aren't really mechanical keyboards — they are rubber dome keyboards. They get lumped together with them only because they are high quality rubber domes, with a luxurious feel. I would best compare Topre to Key Tronic Lifetime and ErgoForce rubber dome keyboards from the '90s. Both those and Topre are full-travel, and have a distinct bottom-out feel, but they still require you to bottom out. They are also comparable in sound, IMHO. BTW. I prefer low-profile rubber dome/scissor switches or full-travel mechanical Cherry MX Clear. I've used a Topre keyboard a few weeks at work some years ago but my fingers starting aching from having to push past that big bump in the key travel.

fomine3 5y ago
Libertouch was also a luxury high quality rubber dome keyboard like Realforce, but it's not known outside Japan. It uses simple electrical contact switch rather than capacitive, but feeling/mechanism are similar to Realforce. It also support changing weight by replacing rubber. US ANSI layout is also available. Libertouch is the best feeling switch I've ever used including Realforce/HHKB. I love this but its full layout with tenkey is pain.
- radicaldreamer 5y ago
  Are any of these still available for purchase? I saw a JP model but like they were discontinued
  - fomine3 5y ago
    It's gone so only available on Japanese second hand markets like Yahoo Auction and Mercari. You need to use proxy service to import. Some are brand new. https://buyee.jp/mercari/search?keyword=%E3%83%AA%E3%83%99%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%83%83%E3%83%81&status=on_sale&lang=en&category_id=7 https://buyee.jp/mercari/search?keyword=%E3%83%AA%E3%83%99%E... https://buyee.jp/mercari/search?keyword=libertouch&category_id=7&status=on_sale https://buyee.jp/mercari/search?keyword=libertouch&category_... https://buyee.jp/item/search/query/libertouch?translationType=1 https://buyee.jp/item/search/query/libertouch?translationTyp... https://buyee.jp/rakuma/search?keyword=libertouch https://buyee.jp/rakuma/search?keyword=libertouch
p_l 5y ago
Except they aren't rubber dome switches, the rubber is just part of the spring mechanism while the switching itself uses capacitive sensing. Similarly, infamous Hall effect switches, as well as the similarly rare optical switches, don't use mechanical component for switching itself... Rubber dome switches, however, technically do (switching happens when the keys cause physical hit on the membranes) P. S. Yes, I'm riffing about how it doesn't really matter.
bikingbismuth 5y ago
The MX Clear was the first switch I used that made me feel like I understood Mech keyboards. It eventually lead me to my current favorite switch the Zilent 67g.

fomine3 5y ago

Libertouch was also a luxury high quality rubber dome keyboard like Realforce, but it's not known outside Japan. It uses simple electrical contact switch rather than capacitive, but feeling/mechanism are similar to Realforce. It also support changing weight by replacing rubber. US ANSI layout is also available. Libertouch is the best feeling switch I've ever used including Realforce/HHKB. I love this but its full layout with tenkey is pain.

radicaldreamer 5y ago
Are any of these still available for purchase? I saw a JP model but like they were discontinued
- fomine3 5y ago
  It's gone so only available on Japanese second hand markets like Yahoo Auction and Mercari. You need to use proxy service to import. Some are brand new. https://buyee.jp/mercari/search?keyword=%E3%83%AA%E3%83%99%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%83%83%E3%83%81&status=on_sale&lang=en&category_id=7 https://buyee.jp/mercari/search?keyword=%E3%83%AA%E3%83%99%E... https://buyee.jp/mercari/search?keyword=libertouch&category_id=7&status=on_sale https://buyee.jp/mercari/search?keyword=libertouch&category_... https://buyee.jp/item/search/query/libertouch?translationType=1 https://buyee.jp/item/search/query/libertouch?translationTyp... https://buyee.jp/rakuma/search?keyword=libertouch https://buyee.jp/rakuma/search?keyword=libertouch

p_l 5y ago

Except they aren't rubber dome switches, the rubber is just part of the spring mechanism while the switching itself uses capacitive sensing. Similarly, infamous Hall effect switches, as well as the similarly rare optical switches, don't use mechanical component for switching itself... Rubber dome switches, however, technically do (switching happens when the keys cause physical hit on the membranes) P. S. Yes, I'm riffing about how it doesn't really matter.

bikingbismuth 5y ago

The MX Clear was the first switch I used that made me feel like I understood Mech keyboards. It eventually lead me to my current favorite switch the Zilent 67g.