Comparing my experience with Matias quiet click and Topre switches

versus

Matias quiet click switch is probably one of the most searched topic on this blog for some reason.  I can understand why because it is a pretty good switch, but opinions about how it behaves compared to other switches are relatively hard to come by.  One of the reasons that I started this blog is to share and to hear from the community about their experiences with various keyboard switches and the keyboard themselves.  Anyhow, this time, I want to take a deeper look comparing the Matias and Topre switches.

As long time readers would know that I am a fan of Topre switches after a tortuous journey.  I really disliked the varying key weights format because I am so not used to such configuration.  I am sure that someone else would have a fabulous experience with these, but it just wasn’t for me.  Let’s be honest, there’s a reason that Topre keep making these boards and they must sell quite well.  Otherwise, they probably would be cranking out other stuff.  However, when I reluctantly tried out a uniformed version, I was far more impressed.

My experience with Matias switch is relatively similar.  I tried the clicky tactile switch first and it was driving me bananas for some reason.  The switch mechanic makes me very nervous while typing.  Just thinking about sometimes make me nervous.  Yeah, a keyboard can have a powerful effect, believe it or not.  Anyhow, I tried the quiet tactile switch because I really want to give Matias a fair shake.  This version is basically a dampened version of the clicky tactile.  The complex tactile behavior remains, but just in a much more subdued fashion.  So, it isn’t making me as nervous as much as I thought it might.  However, there’s still a hint of hesitancy from me while typing on the quiet tactile.  So, I think in the back of my mind, I am not used to the complicated force distance curve with multiple clicks and subtle signals that let the user know exactly where they are.  This would be an excellent switch for touch typists who doesn’t bottom out much because the secondary click let a person know that they are about to bottom out.  That subtlety is lost one someone like me because I tend to bottom out more often than not.

Like the Cherry MX brown with a deceiving subtle click to the bombastic buckling spring, the tactile feedback of a Topre switch is relatively simple when compared to the ALPS/Matias one.  In the end, I am a simple guy.  So, the straightforward approach works best of me.  However, Matias is such a sublime switch that one at least should try it out.  It’s not my absolute favorite, but it’s a pretty unique experience.  Comparing the two, I think that Topre won out at the end with simpler, more familiar feel.  Topre has a more straightforward and gentle response, while Matias has that whimsical and complicated vibe going for it.  So, it’s up to the user’s preference and familiarity.  Since I am a pretty simple guy, I think Topre is more my cup of tea.  That’s all.