Topre Realforce 104UB vs Ultimate Hacking Keyboard

Topre switches are a mix between mechanical switches and rubber dome switches. They have mechanical components, however they are covered beneath a rubber dome which protects the switch. They bring a mechanical feel, and mix it with the durability of a rubber dome switch.

Variable weights under each specific groups of keys was done in a bid to prevent RSI (repetitive strain injury). For instance, the groups of keys that the pinky finger hits are much lighter/softer than the rest of the groups of keys that are pressed by the rest of the fingers. Variable weights are achieved by having either heavier or lighter rubber domes. Whilst this idea is very useful for normal typing, for gaming it's not so great: for instance, when dealing with First Person Shooter games that requires WASD keys, those sets of keys feel very light when fingers other than the pinky are used to actuate them.

Silenced Topre switches are designed for those who do not particularly like the sound of keyboards being tapped on or for those who may be concern over disturbing others when using a noisy keyboard. Silencing is done mainly by placing a material that absorbs the sound of the slider when it makes contact with the slider housing. This thereby prevents excessive noise when the key has been released after it has been actuated. The overall effect of a silenced Topre is quite astounding as it may give the impression one is on a cheap keyboard (obviously, the reality is actually the opposite).

PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) keycaps last longer than other keycap materials, and are more durable. They are more expensive than ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), which is why they are less commonly found.

The UHK has a split design, since two keyboard halves result in a more natural typing posture. The halves are connected by a bridge cable, which expands and contracts as needed, occupying minimal desk space. The halves can be merged together as one, which is useful for transportation purposes or if you happen to prefer a one-piece keyboard.

Through the use of an app called Agent, users can configure the UHK to their liking.

You can attach trackpoint, trackball, trackpad and additional key clusters to the board. This allows for extensive feature customization, for increased productivity and convenience.

For maximum touch-typing productivity, one's hands should not leave the home row frequently. With conventional keyboards, this is not the case when navigation and function keys need to be used. On the HKB, via a thumb key press, several function layers can be activated, turning the home row keys into function keys.

The UHK is modular and has disassembly instructions embossed onto components and even printed on the circuit board. It records use data, so when key switches have reached the end of its lifespan, users can replace them.