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Comment by Pmop | Hacker News Reader

I happen to own a Topre keyboard: Leopold FC660C, the silent version.

I don't think it's expensive or a luxury item at all. If you indulge in mechanical keyboards with switches, your expenditures can easily go beyond $250 price tag: you buy expensive, special, limited supply switches because most switches are shit, and then you have to lube all of those or pay someone else to do it because otherwise it feels and sound like shit, then you have to buy a good case and plate because otherwise it sounds shit. Plus trad switches really don't like dust. I bought my FC660C and never did anything else, it works great, it feels great, it looks great, all by default, and it's dust proof.

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> I don't think it's expensive or a luxury item at all.

It's elite/niche so it costs more that regular things you can get off ebay.

I got my last TrackPoint Keyboard II Bluetooth 4Y40X49493 openbox (like new) for $40 shipped. It's silent, battery powered, slim, travels with me all the time.

At this pricepoint, I've a few similar ones, for when I need (say to use with my tablet) - quantity has a quality all its own

> or pay someone else to do it because otherwise it feels and sound like shit

I didn't waste more than a minute when I removed my $40 Thinkpad keyboard from its box.

> it works great, it feels great, it looks great, all by default.

Same, but how much did you pay? And how reasonable is it to get one for your tablet, and another one you'll leave in your car?

> I don't think it's expensive or a luxury item at all.

They are expensive though. I own three (I've got several computers and I take one with me when I travel) and I love them (daily driver since years and years and years: I can throw anything at them, they're rated for 150 million keypresses... per key) but... I do hate the pricepoint.

Just checking on Yahoo Japan for an HHKB Pro JP like I have: 40 800 JPY / 350 USD / 320 EUR.

Common... However good it is, it's still just a keyboard.

The criticism on the pricepoint / luxury item: I do agree with.

> daily driver since years and years and years

And yet you think $350 is expensive? There must be many more things that return less to you.

Use it for 10 years, that's about $3/month for comfort of daily typing.

> it's still just a keyboard.

Interface is where it matters. Keyboard, display, chair etc. I hate to work with an average keyboard.

One of the big draws to the FC660C for me was that there aren't any keycap sets for it.

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