So I recently got one of these: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rf104&pid=yk2100 and promised to review it after a few days. It's now been a few weeks so I'm ready. I've been using a standard Realforce 104 before this.
Like all Realforce keyboards (aside from the Type Heaven which I haven't tried) this thing is built like a tank.
The keyboard looks really nice. The black/grey combo is pretty in a retro way, and the shape of the keycaps reminds me of the old-school terminals we used at RIT during systems programming. Really classy. The font on the keys is a bit wonky in places, but you don't really notice it unless you're looking for it. Still, for $300 it's a bit weird that they can't get the lettering consistent.
I'd still prefer a space cadet color theme but since that's not gonna happen unless I get someone to make a custom set of keycaps, this is the next best thing.
The key switches feel like Topre switches, so look on my blog for my Realforce 104 review to read about that. I'll only go over the differences from the standard 104 here.
The high-profile keys feel awesome. The tops are slightly concave, so they cup your fingers like an enthusiastic TSA agent. I really like them.
One thing that surprised me: there are no "nubs" on the f and j keys to help you know where your fingers are supposed to sit. At first my right hand kept falling one key to the right of where it was supposed to go and I'd need to look down to align it. After two weeks this doesn't really happen any more, so it's not a huge deal. You could always put a drop of superglue on f and j if you wanted to have the nubs again, but try it out for a bit -- you might decide you don't really need it after all like me.
Now, the bad part: as far as I can tell, you can only get these things in uniform weighting. After using my variable-weighting Realforce 104 for months before this, it's really hard to go back to a uniiform weight keyboard. I use my pinkies a lot and the 35g weighting on my 104 is a godsend. My pinkies are actually starting to hurt a little bit at this point.
So I think what I'm going to do is take this keyboard to the office and use it when I'm visiting, but keep my normal 104 at home for the majority of my typing. It's disappointing because I love the high profile keys, but my pinkies will hate me if I don't go back to variable weighting.
Topre, if you're reading this, here's my dream keyboard:
- Full size (tenkeyless boards are bullshit)
- Variable-weight 35/45/55g Topre switches
- High profile PBT keycaps
- No caps/scroll/num lock LEDs (I never ever use them)
- No little "bubble" on the "Windows" keycap. Just make it a normal key like all the rest.
- Blank (unlettered) keycaps
- Space cadet color scheme (white body, space cadet blue and grey keys)
I would give you a lot of money for this because it would end my search for the perfect keyboard. Call it the SpaceForce.
Great review! I was wondering whether I should get one myself.
My only gripe from what I've seen so far is the Windows logo on the Super key since all the machines I use at work and at home are either Macs or Linux boxes, but it's not a huge deal.