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.

Topre’s factory silent switch

Now, I got my little hands on the Ducky Channel’s Realforce keyboard with the silent switch.  (Another good example keyboard that uses the factory silent switch is the ever popular Happy Hacking Keyboard Type-S.  Yes, the one that costs even more than the regular kind with Topre switches.)  I must say that it is different from the custom mod that I have written about earlier.  This version most definitely is different from the regular switch as well.  It’s kind of in the middle of those two extremes, I suppose.  So, in the one extreme, we have the custom mod, which is the quietest version that I have seen.  The factory silenced version is in the middle.  It’s fairly quiet, but not as quiet as the custom mod one.  However, it is also not as springy as the regular version either.  Again, there’s a cost for silencing the keys.  Physics always wins….  The bounciest Topre keyboard I have around is probably the Leopold FC660C.  That keyboard is one chatty and perky unit.  Anyway, back on topic.  The silent switch feels quite close to the original switches.  I suppose Topre didn’t want to compromise too much in the name of silence.  Thus, it’s more like a regular Topre Realforce than the one with custom mod.  The coveted “thock” sound is still present.  The upstroke clack is now more muted just like the mod version.

Overall, I think Topre leaned closer toward keeping as much of the regular feel as possible.  So, they didn’t go all out after silencing the key stroke.  After all, the auditory feedback is, for some folks, an important aspect.  The tactile change is also minimized.  I don’t see too much changes in this aspect either.  Due to the decompression of the O-ring (or disc), the key weight is slightly lower, but honest, it’s probably undetectable unless one is paying careful attention.

So, overall the silent switch on the Ducky Channel keyboard didn’t make too much compromise and kept as much of what makes a Topre switch a Topre switch.  The custom mod version probably took a bit too much out in my view, but again, that is in the eye of the beholder and ear of the listener.  The custom mod is one of the quietest keyboard I have worked on. So, if silence is golden, then be ready to pay the price of admission while retaining many of the welcoming aspects of the Topre switch based keyboard.  For some, that balance may have gone too far, so the middle ground is probably better suited.  Again, it’s good to have choices, once one understands the trade off and knowing the goals that one is trying to achieve.

It's been one year already?

Wow!  It's been one year already since I first stated this blog to share my experience trying out different mechanical keyboards.  It's been a fantastic journey thus far.  I believe that I am at a reasonable point where some keyboards and types of switches are now emerging as favorites.  I also found out that there are boards out there that drive me nuts.  Anyway, I learned a lot and still have much to learn from the community and beyond.

Thank you for walking along side with me and sharing your expertise.  The journey continues as the technology keeps moving forward and the user experiences are refined, challenged and redefined.  I hope to continue share my joy of discovery in this area.  So, here's to another round!

Das Keyboard 4 Professional Mechanical Keyboard- Soft Tactile (MX Brown) Image Gallery

I have meant to post this earlier, but just didn't get a chance to finally get that keyboard into the photos till recently.  Das Keyboard 4 Pro with Cherry MX brown is called soft tactile while the one with Cherry MX blue is called clicky.  Since the two versions are pretty much identical, I won't repeat the same images that are same except a few to show that they are the same.  Ehh.  However, as I mentioned, my MX brown version came with the new UV printed legend rather than laser etched.  For reference, check out the MX blue version from an earlier post.  Anyway, enjoy!

front view

showing Cherry MX brown switch and the key cap

left view

right view

key cap with UV printed legend

For comparison, here is the key cap from the MX blue version, which is an earlier edition with laser etched legend rather than the supposedly more durable UV printed one.

key cap with laser etched legend

Corsair announce a new Gamer focused K70 Rapidfire lines

Corsair is probably one of the few companies that closely identify itself with the PC enthusiasts.  Lately, they have been very focused on the gamer's market.  Corsair can probably say that their K keyboard product line aimed at gamers is quite successful.  Corsair, of course, has closely allied itself with Cherry.  Cherry has faithfully awarded Corsair's alliance with exclusives for years.  However, as Razer's rapid, short stroke switch based keyboard ascends in popularity, Corsair probably walked over to Cherry and said, "I want that."

Long and behold, Corsair has just announced K70 RGB Rapidfire, K70 Rapidfire and K65 RGB Rapidfire.  I will just focus on the K70 RGB since that's the flagship.  However, the rest are just tiers of the existing K keyboard line.  The K70 RGB Rapidfire keybaord itself is basically a RGB K70 keyboard with a new key switch type.  Ah...  See, it's the switch that is interesting.  Cherry has to respond to market pressure one way or another I suppose.  The switch is basically a modified MX red with shorten activation distance.  A typical Cherry MX design has about 2mm stroke distance for activation.  This new one shortens it to 1.2mm.  So, the keys activate faster because it has a shorter distance to travel.  The spring weight is kept around 45g, just like the MX red.  Also, it is a linear spring design.  Therefore, this is basically a short stroke Cherry MX Red.

I am guessing that Kailh must be doing quite well with the short stoke key switches they are selling to different keyboard vendors.  Each month or so, a new keyboard comes out with that particular feature.  Now, I am guessing such key switch design is gaining some popularity in the gaming circle, hence Cherry has no choice but to follow in this case.  It's interesting to think that we are going back to a shorter key stroke distance again because rubber domes and scissor switches tend to have shorter travel distance.  One of Cherry MX's claims to fame is the restoration of longer key stroke distance back to the good old days like the Model M.  I wonder how Cherry feels about that.

In any case.  Now, Cherry has come out with a short stroke mechanical keyboard switch.  Let's see if it shows up elsewhere like Ducky, Cooler Master or other vendors.  Then again, I wonder how long the time exclusive would be until we see another vendor get to use it.  As production cycle begins to shorten for keyboard switches like just about everything else, I wonder if Cherry can keep up with timed exclusives to a single vendor while allowing Kailh or other switch makers scoop up the rest.  Oh wait.  Kailh already did....

The other trend I worry about is the beginning of the short travel distance arms race.  Just watch, somebody is going to come out with a new switch with 1mm activation, and then another one with 0.5mm and finally Apple will just point and laugh at everybody because the virtual keyboard, technically, has no travel distance....

Microsoft Sculpted Ergonomic Keyboard Long Term Use Review

Again, after using or trying to use the keyboard for a while is the only way to understand if such board can be incorporate into someone’s workflow or part of the day to day system setup.  The person style can change and adapt.  So, sometimes, a person’s perception changes after using a keyboard for a while.  My impression and opinion for Topre switch changed and morphed a few times and finally settled down.

In any case, this is a quality Chiclets keyboard.  The key caps are broad, stable, just flat and tactile enough so that one’s fingers don’t just glide off too easily.  It has that soft curve eye appeal along with plush palm rest with a good design DNA and thoughts put into it.  The key switch are crisp, dances with agility and quiet elegance; for a scissor switch that is.  Indeed, it does deserve its moniker as a sculpture.  However, it is still a scissor switch based keyboard with flat Chiclets design.  So, if one simply cannot abide in shallow key travel distance, rubber dome like force distance curve behavior or simply don’t like the flat keys, there’s no need to apply.  However, if you are a fan of Chiclets style board with Natural Keyboard ergonomic sense, then you might have just found your perfect keyboard.

The Chiclets style keys caps are large, comfortable to type on.  The tactile feedback is pretty good for scissor switch, even though the key travel is relatively shallow compare to a standard mechanical keyboard switch.  If someone who has used any laptops for the last 5 years or so, one should be pretty familiar with the Chiclets keyboard design.  There’s no need to pound on the keys like some of the stiffer scissor switches out there.  The keys switches are fairly quiet, a bit better than most of the mainstream products in the same class I believe.  This is a very good office keyboard because of this.  Overall, this is a good, comfortable keyboard based on the popular Chiclets keyboard design and engineering.

Since I do strike the key fairly hard at times, the keyboard does flex ever so slightly and makes little squeaky sounds when the rubber foot pad shifts position.  The magnetic foot bar sometimes pop out of place.  Perhaps a few more magnets would resolve that.  If that’s the only problem, I think I can overcome that.  However, there’s more.  Let’s just say that I want to like this keyboard because I am a huge fan of the Natural Keyboard.  However, because of a fatal flaw, this keyboard is off the short-list.  My last 3 keyboards have been Natural Keyboard family members.  So, it was not easy.  My muscle memories are so ingrained with its design.  However, I ran into a very serious issue that I didn’t expect:  wireless interference.  This is rather surprising, but then again, when everything these days are on the 2.4GHz band, I should be more surprised that there aren’t more interference.

Long story short, this keyboard misses key strokes.  If I type “Hello World.”, I get “hlllo Worl.”  Yeah, not going to work for me.  I moved the keyboard to another location, hoping that someone is not using their microwave oven or something, but the result is similar, just a bit more abated.  I might lose one character out of 20 or so rather than every 4 keys.  I thought I found the culprit: the number pad.  Maybe the two wireless transmitters are competing over the same band.  So, I gladly shut the pad off.  The situation improved somewhat, but it just wasn’t like using the Logitech Nano-receiver enabled keyboards; which hardly missed a beat.  Finally I figured it out….  The transceiver on the computer is too far from the keyboard.  The limit seems to be around a foot and half or so.  Probably in the name of saving battery power, the transmission wattage is probably too low to go beyond that.  So, this explains why I didn’t experience such issue with laptop setup, but for a desktop, it is a show stopper.  No, fresh battery didn’t make much of a perceivable difference.  Indeed Microsoft proudly boasts how long the battery lasts in its product page.  This might be a design choice or some hidden constraints that I am not aware of.  Either way, this is rather perplexing because Microsoft knows how to make wireless transmitters that also has a reasonable battery life; ex. Xbox wireless controllers, which work well over 10 feet with multiple devices in the same band. 

So, for my use case, this keyboard just didn’t work out.  I might get a USB extension cable to put the transceiver closer to the keyboard, but that kind of defeats the point of being wireless.  I might as well call it close to wired keyboard, but not really.  This keyboard is liken to a classical Greek tragic figure; great at just about everything; especially if you like the guy, but that fatal flaw is just too much to overcome.

In conclusion: this keyboard indeed has what it takes to continue the Natural Keyboard legacy.  However, the wireless transmission needs work.  Therefore, if you can put the USB receiver closer to the keyboard, then you shouldn’t experience any issues.  For my use case, I might as well hook up a wired keyboard for my desktop scenario.  I don’t experience any issues for laptop setup on the other hand.  So, unless I am dying to use a split ergonomic keyboard on a desktop, there’s little selling point given that there are so many other good choices out there.

Grade: B- as it stands, A- if the wireless issue is resolved

Going back to basics, SteelSeries introduces Apex M500

A recent trend in mechanical keyboard manufacturers is the move toward simplicity and more "office" like mechanical keyboards.   I was wondering who might follow suit after Logitech's announcement.   I guess we are coming in full circle in some shape.  It's no surprise that many of the big keyboard makers have at least 2 lines of  mechanical keyboards.  One kept the traditional gamer look while the newer products ascribe to a sleeker image.  Following the lead of Logitech and Cooler Master, SteelSeries recently introduced the Apex M500.

The Apex M500 is positioned similarly to Logitech's G610.  The emphasis is on the clean look and a design that is uncomplicated and not distracting.  Also similar to Logitech, instead of using the proprietary switch SteelSeries employed for the M800, it's back to Cherry MX.  In this case, just MX red.  In many way, the parallel is quite uncanny.  In many respect, the M500 has hit all the right check mark and a price that's quite reasonable, at $100 USD.  It is slightly higher than other offerings from say Rosewill.  I suppose SteelSeries is counting on the integration with its other product lines such as mouse with an unifying controller software.  Wait, isn't this the same strategy Logitech is using?

Anyway, let's see where this lead and see if other keyboard makers follow suit.