What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
Seriously
Nobody knows why "Topre" became a holy name in the community, and nobody knows why the community HAS to say it's the best thing in the world, it's like an indoctrination. The truth is that it became the holy grail back in the days when it was a novelty, and a group of hipsters managed to create and pass the tale of the "Topre magnificence ".
To this day it's still unclear why a keyboard with the feeling of a membrane should be worshipped, and everyone who bought a topre indoctrinated himself and self converted to the cult, mainly because he couldn't handle the fact that he just spent a ton of money for a durable high quality membrane like keyboard. You either choose to join the topre church or you get driven crazy by the guilt thinking about all the money you spent.
By looking into it a little bit you'll realize that everyone that got a Topre will tell you that "at first it doesn't feel right, but then it grows on you", which is a clear sign of the indoctrination
Is $275 really too much for a true soulmate and artificially intelligent keyboard (imbued with the 3 laws of robotics plus the Zeroth-law) that will stand by your side for the rest of your life? OK, so shipping to Europe is $5 million. That' a bit steep.
now seriously, what is possibly so attractive about topre that makes it worth this much money
Here is why this board cost so much, and why people still buy it:
Topre boards are an entirely different breed of mechanical keyboards than most. Unlike most modern mechanical keyboards that rely on a switch stem pushing a metal leaf to actuate the switch, Topre is utilizes electrocapacitive switches. These switches use high quality rubber domes as their source of resistance and tactility:
This particular model is more expensive because it is a silent model. Even though this is an inherently "silent" keyboard (non-clicky), it does make some noise when the slider hits the top of the slider housing when it resets. Topre has dampened this noise by placing a small rubber ring on top of each slider:
#topre4lyfe
Once you go thock, you never go back.
I mean, I could rant for hours about how MX style switches are inherently garbage when compared to switches like beamspring and magnetic valve, but at this point comparing them just isn't really valid or productive. The same goes for comparing Topre to MX.
However, it turns out that's not quite how it works for all Topre owners. Some of us started with Cherry MX and other mechanical switches, and thought Topre prices seemed crazy. Could typing on a borrowed Topre board change someone's mind?
I started with a few Cherry MX Clear, Brown, and Black boards from different vendors (WASD Code, Deck, etc) and even an Alps board (Matias Pro). The Alps and Cherry Clear became favorites, but they were just "better", they weren't "great." The Cherry boards were a huge improvement over the standard smushy Apple and Dell boards, but Cherry still felt "cheap" in some way. The best I can describe it is, for all colors of Cherry MX switches, key-travel felt "dry" or "sandy", the keypress actuation-point versus the click-point was a bit "off". and keypresses felt "hollow" (that's the best I can describe it) regardless of ABS or PBT caps. I couldn't quite get back to the "don't bottom out" typing that I recalled from IBM keyboards, or even Selectrics before that. I suppose I could have disassambled each Cherry switch and lubed each stem (assuming you can get past the debates over which stem lube is best for each type of Cherry switch).
Instead, I had an opportunity to type on a borrowed Topre board (HHKB). Have you ever typed for a while on a Topre board?
The Topre key-travel felt "solid" like none of the Cherry boards. That's nice and all, but doesn't mean squat unless the whole activity is improved, so I measured my typing. Speed and accuracy both improved, compared to my main Cherry Clear board (WASD Code). I realized that my search was over, but there was no way I was going to pay Topre prices. $300 for a HHKB or Realforce 87U, or $400 for a Realforce Silent? That's nuts! (This was from Elite, before Massdrop even had the first poll for Topre boards.) Still, those sandy-feeling Cherry keys grated on my nerves for a few months, before <wincing> I plunked down the $$ and bought my first Topre.
So, for me, it came down to typing speed, accuracy, feel, and sound, in that order.
Was it worth the price? Before I tried Topre, I would have said no-way. Typing on one convinced me, and now I have a HHKB Pro, and two Realforce 87U. BTW, I bought my Topre boards before Massdrop started carrying them. I guess I could have saved some money if I had waited. I still have a couple of Cherry boards, but I rarely use those.
Interestingly, I stopped paying attention to keyboards. Before Topre, I spent plenty of time (and money) in the mechanical keyboard "community". Since switching, I don't pay attention to mech keyboard stuff anymore. I guess I feel like I solved that problem and don't need to focus there anymore. (I only happened across this thread because I want to swap out my third ABS spacebar for PBT -- I swapped the other two spacebars a year or two ago when Massdrop had their first Topre PBT spacebar drop.)
I think it comes down to whether you type extensively (coder, writer, etc), or are just answering emails and the like. I'm in the former camp, and other coders I've lent a Topre board to didn't want to give it back. :) 'Nuff said. Good luck and happy typing!
I mean here's the thing, i believe Gateron switches to be even better than Cherry, and i know that many that tried Gateron think the same. That switch is lighter, smoother, and significantly cheaper but with pretty much the same build quality.... If i were to give a rating, let's say i give Gateron a 8, and let's say Topre deserve 9 or even 10, but damn is it worth it? A numpad with topre switches cost as much as an entire full size RGB Gateron board, and i'm not even exaggerating. My mind just can't conceive such a ridiculous price, i'm sorry but i'm just blocked on this, it's beyond me Altough i can respect your decision
This is a very valid point. It's a switch that will feel very good and natural for heavy every day use. This is the exact reason I've used Topre for so many years now. It feels great, but its so natural feeling that I never think about it anymore.
Crap RGB backlighting, but otherwise a solid feeling board that has MX stems and was silenced long before Topre made this specific model. Bonus is that I picked it up for just under $50 on eBay NIB. Ive collected and tinkered with many MX boards and even lubed some Zealios, but nothing competes with how completely satisfying typing/gaming is on EC boards <3