Author Topic: Under $100 mechanical keyboard for gaming and typing, possible? (Read 59491 times)

British · « **Reply #100 on:** Fri, 25 June 2010, 03:16:46 »

Quote from: xavier;195712

I would really like to have something like Filco Tenkeyless NKRO with Cherry MX Browns. But as long as I live in the Czech Republic, the shipping would cost me a fortune. I guess about $160 or even more for keyboard and shipping.

You don't have to buy in the US...
Check the Keyboard Company (they have a subforum here): about 17€ from UK to Czech Republic (same in black).

xavier · « **Reply #101 on:** Fri, 25 June 2010, 06:42:32 »

Quote from: British;196188

You don't have to buy in the US...
Check the Keyboard Company (they have a subforum here): about 17€ from UK to Czech Republic (same in black).

Hey, thanks for the information. I will certainly take this into consideration. However I have already ordered Steelseries 6Gv2 which will actually cost me less than a half in comparison to Filco from UK. And I have a chance to give it back in 14 days if I didn't like it.

Anyways if anything was wrong with the Steelseries, it's good to know about all the possibilities.

gr1m · « **Reply #102 on:** Fri, 25 June 2010, 07:28:33 »

Where the heck did you find one? I can't find any for sale in North America. They aren't released yet, apparently.

When you get it, can you share your thoughts on it?

xavier · « **Reply #103 on:** Fri, 25 June 2010, 08:56:29 »

That's strange. I always thought it's hard to get some specific stuff here in Europe. My reseller claims they can provide me 6Gv2 in two days. At least until now they always could. I've ordered it today. So we'll see this time and I'm really hoping I'll be lucky with this one.

Be sure I'll post my impressions.

yann3804 · « **Reply #104 on:** Fri, 25 June 2010, 09:25:35 »

Quote from: gr1m;196228

Where the heck did you find one? I can't find any for sale in North America. They aren't released yet, apparently.

When you get it, can you share your thoughts on it?

Hi Afrodisiac (Yann3804 from OCN)

I too am living in Montreal and got my filco blue cherries shipped from the US. One thing to notice is that the shipping will cost you $29, but the customs rate will make you pay $20 more. (PST + GST of the keyboard)

It came to $200 all included (that was a while ago) but I think it's worth it. I adore my filco!

And you should also try to check NCIX.com that is based in Vancouver. They got the DAS model S for $109 or something, or bestdirect.com, I can't remember.

gr1m · « **Reply #105 on:** Fri, 25 June 2010, 16:58:38 »

Yeah Yann, I can get the Filcos fine, but not the 6Gv2.

gr1m · « **Reply #106 on:** Fri, 25 June 2010, 22:25:17 »

Any Metadot Das keyboards that do what I ask? I just heard of that 32% student discount. I looked around Canadistan and there's a mixed jumble of Das Ultimate and Professional with blues and browns and USB hubs oh my.

The good news:
Cherry Browns
NKRO (can I connect the keyboard with PS2 and still use the USB hub?)

The bad news:
I'm not too big of a fan of the styling
Kinda big

The I don't know:
How's the quality?
What's Geekhack's opinion on them?

washuai · « **Reply #107 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 03:13:19 »

DAS and Filco are made by Costar. They're both plate mounted. Aside from the batches that have issues, which have been corrected, the people I know that have DAS, <3 theirs.

If money isn't an issue, it sounds like you'd be happier with the Filco. The smaller size of the Filco is definitely worth it. I'm seriously thinking that I don't want to buy any more full sized boards, ever again. I can end up paying more for a separate keypad, when I have to cross that bridge.
Honestly, if DAS with browns had been in stock, when I got my Filco, I would have got the DAS to save a few clams. It wasn't even a savings anywhere near as good as 32% discount. If Déck hadn't upped their price $19, I might have gotten theirs, because I appreciate their return policy, even if I don't agree with their choice of fonts.
I know now that I prefer blank keys to scratchy laser keys, but DAS does blank. There are DAS reviews, comments et cetera already all over geekhack, they aren't that hard to find.

gr1m · « **Reply #108 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 04:27:43 »

Money is a bit of an issue. I can make it not be but... I don't want to pay $170 (with shipping and customs fees) for a $121 keyboard. That really bugs me. The Steelseries 7G is easy enough to find at all Canadian etailers so I'm assuming the 6Gv2, once it rears it's ugly head, will be easy to find and buy.

As for the size, that's one reason the keyboard I want (6Gv2) is similar to a Filco in size and all, because I love the complete lack of wasted space (except that it has a numpad, but I won't view it as a con because you never know when you'll need it). As for Steelseries vs. Filco, I know I shouldn't take any random thing I hear on the internet but it can't hurt to get as many issues as possible cleared before the purchase. I read somewhere here (can't remember) a member expressing the opinion that Steelseries keyboards are more solid (or feel more solid) than Filcos. Any truth to this?

In reality, although the 32% off is attractive, I hate the look of the Das enough to know that if I buy it, I'll regret it.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #109 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 08:28:45 »

Take DAS and spell it backwards. That's a good reason not to buy their junky, faulty keyboards.

British · « **Reply #110 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 14:29:19 »

I take it gr1m was referring to the 6Gv2, not the Filco.

ricercar · « **Reply #111 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 14:45:42 »

Quote from: gr1m;196547

NKRO (can I connect the keyboard with PS2 and still use the USB hub?

No way. USB Hub works only when connection to PC is USB. Hub or NKRO, not both.

British · « **Reply #112 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 15:03:52 »

Quote from: British;196698

I take it gr1m was referring to the 6Gv2, not the Filco.

Oops, looks like I missed a page when I answered that... spank me please.

kishy · « **Reply #113 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 15:16:54 »

Quote from: ricercar;196702

No way. USB Hub works only when connection to PC is USB. Hub or NKRO, not both.

Presumably it could be used by running a second cord and cutting some traces or internal wires (not familiar with the keyboard, but there are only so many ways you can integrate a hub with a device), but that's hardly elegant.

gr1m · « **Reply #114 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 17:16:25 »

Apparently the DAS has two USB cords. One for the keyboard (which you can convert to PS2), and one for the HUB. That's what it says in the product description.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #115 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 21:02:00 »

Quote from: ripster;196726

Somebody post the Das Student Discount code.

I thought you hated discounts, rippy? ;-D

What, trying to game the system? :-D Tsk tsk. I always say 1% of customers will do that to ya. :-D

Pretty sure they're handing them out one unique customer at a time for a good reason. Also pretty sure if they see a ton of requests they're going to ask for verification of student status. They should.

gr1m · « **Reply #116 on:** Sat, 26 June 2010, 21:04:26 »

I'd expect them too. Just as well, I have all the information they would need to verify that I'm a university student. How do I get it though? Do I have to buy from them directly? Or does the code apply to any store that sells the Das keyboards?

So, for the Das:
Ultimate is blank keycaps, Professional is labelled, Silent is Cherry Brown, non-Silent is Cherry Blue. So an Ultimate Silent would be what I'm looking for. Does anybody think the look can grow on me? I can get it for the same price as a 6Gv2 with the 32% student discount, I can easily find it in Canada and it has NKRO.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #117 on:** Sun, 27 June 2010, 00:02:06 »

Quote from: gr1m;196798

I'd expect them too. Just as well, I have all the information they would need to verify that I'm a university student. How do I get it though? Do I have to buy from them directly? Or does the code apply to any store that sells the Das keyboards?

just call or email their support folks, thats what i did.
http://www.daskeyboard.com/contact/

Tell them you saw the education discount part of the site:
http://www.daskeyboard.com/education-discount-program/

and you'd like to take advantage of it and that you have your credentials if they want to see them.

gr1m · « **Reply #118 on:** Sun, 27 June 2010, 20:40:05 »

How many of you have had this much trouble deciding what to buy? I'm levitating back to the Filco tenkeyless Otaku Cherry Brown. However, I do not want to pay $50 on top of a $121 keyboard for shipping and customs. Is there ANY way I can avoid this? Maybe find somebody selling one on Ebay?

The only times that I cannot decide what to buy are usually the times when I never was planning on buying the item in the first place and I had just made a thread for the hell of it. Is this really the case? I thought I actually wanted a mechanical keyboard.

ironman31 · « **Reply #119 on:** Sun, 27 June 2010, 23:19:16 »

Unless you're willing to wait for one to randomly be sold here, you might have to suck it up and pay the customs. You shouldn't be disappointed, adds a quality piece to your computing experience.

gr1m · « **Reply #120 on:** Mon, 28 June 2010, 00:58:56 »

Quote from: ricercar;191094

Give me $100 for my tenkeyless Cherry black TG3. Just like a red Deck tenkeyless; made by the same OEM.

After realising how much shipping would cost me if I bought new, was your offer $100 shipped?

xavier · « **Reply #121 on:** Mon, 28 June 2010, 15:10:26 »

All right. Steelseries 6Gv2 finally came today. I did have a chance to test it out in the shop before purchase. Well, what can you test if you have about 5 minutes to make a decision in order not to look like nuts? So I concentrated mostly on one thing - were those damned black switches so awful? Since I'm writing this on the 6G they apparently weren't.

Impressions? Yes, this thing IS stiff. But it's way better than I expected. It's definitely usable, you can actually write a text with it and (maybe because you don't have to bottom out) it definitely improves writing speed.

Erm, "not bottoming out" is probably more my feeling than reality. My girlfriend just complained about the clicking...

Of course I can't make a result from an experience lasting just few minutes. I'll give it a week or two and we'll see. Right now it looks more than good.
And yeah, according to current rate it cost me quite reasonable $84 including tax. No shipping.

itlnstln · « **Reply #122 on:** Mon, 28 June 2010, 15:17:27 »

It sounds like you got a good deal on it. Congrats, glad you like the 'board.

xavier · « **Reply #123 on:** Mon, 28 June 2010, 16:08:59 »

Thanks. It's still a bit early for conclusions. The 6G has some drawbacks from my point of view. For example the layout is not perfect (I prefer US layout), the blacks are stiff especially for pinkies and the keyboard is surprisingly high. This is probably similar to any mechanical keyboard.

But overall the 6G keyboard is a solid piece of hardware. And in comparison to anything I got so far it's just stunning.

Speaking of height, I could really use a palmrest. Of course it might be just a habit from low profile domes. Any recommendations?

gr1m · « **Reply #124 on:** Mon, 28 June 2010, 18:55:30 »

Do you mind sharing where you bought it from? I asked you before and you don't seem to want to give it up.

randku · « **Reply #125 on:** Mon, 28 June 2010, 19:17:22 »

Quote from: gr1m;197051

How many of you have had this much trouble deciding what to buy? I'm levitating back to the Filco tenkeyless Otaku Cherry Brown. However, I do not want to pay $50 on top of a $121 keyboard for shipping and customs. Is there ANY way I can avoid this? Maybe find somebody selling one on Ebay?

The only times that I cannot decide what to buy are usually the times when I never was planning on buying the item in the first place and I had just made a thread for the hell of it. Is this really the case? I thought I actually wanted a mechanical keyboard.

I obsessed with it for a while, I thought I wanted blues, then browns, then blues again. I finally decided on the blues solely because I loved the idea of the audio feedback, and I liked the sound itself after listening to a bunch of audio clips.

I had my eyes set on the Filco Otaku 104 key with N key rollover, but I ended up buying the Scorpius M10, because I like tinkering with things, and I decided that if key connections start failing, then I'd turn it into a project, replace the controller and add diodes for N-key rollover.

Then again, I'm pretty much insane. You should probably just go with the Filco. You won't have to invest in another keyboard for YEARS. Remember that. Rubber domes wear out pretty quickly, but mechanical boards will keep working for DECADES.

Newegg has the Irocks with browns for 90 bucks if you want to go for that instead of the Filco. The layout's a bit wonky, but you could save some money by going that route. I'm pretty sure it's n-key.

EDIT: If by any chance you're a student, das offers a 32% discount, and you could grab a silent DAS for ~$90 shipped.

gr1m · « **Reply #126 on:** Mon, 28 June 2010, 19:42:33 »

But I think DAS keyboards are ugly. My dilemma is this: I don't want to pay $200 shipped/taxed/customs'd for a $121 Filco, but I want a $121 Filco.

I found a really old for-sale thread here on GeekHack that has a NIB non-Otaku tenkeyless Filco with browns selling for $120 shipped in Canada. I PM'd the guy, wish me luck. Wish me luck that he still has it on him I mean.

xavier · « **Reply #127 on:** Tue, 29 June 2010, 01:26:55 »

Quote from: gr1m;197401

Do you mind sharing where you bought it from? I asked you before and you don't seem to want to give it up.

It's from a local reseller from Prague. I think I've mentioned it.

Edit: AFAIK they don't normally send their goods abroad except for Slovakia.

gr1m · « **Reply #128 on:** Tue, 29 June 2010, 01:56:42 »

Alright. The idea of the Das is growing on me more and more.

gr1m · « **Reply #129 on:** Tue, 29 June 2010, 02:02:01 »

I'll keep that in mind. I wonder if they sell Filco keyboards at the NYC Asian Escort place.

chimera15 · « **Reply #130 on:** Tue, 29 June 2010, 07:50:28 »

lol Maybe you can get a girl that will wear the keyboard bra at least. lol

muchadoaboutnothing · « **Reply #131 on:** Tue, 29 June 2010, 08:26:53 »

Quote from: gr1m

But I think DAS keyboards are ugly. My dilemma is this: I don't want to pay $200 shipped/taxed/customs'd for a $121 Filco, but I want a $121 Filco.

EKB won't fake customs values so you're left with a tough choice there unless you can find someone who will.

It could be worse. I had convinced a guy in the Philipines to buy a Filco. He wondered how long it would take to get to him. I fed the shipping calculator Wednesday ship to the Philippines (got the city/zip from the guy) from Diamond Bar with the shipped weight (4.6lbs) and exact package size.

[strike]The shipping was more than the keyboard. $136 (he wanted an NKRO Tactile Touch) for Tuesday arrival (International Economy) and $141 for International Priority (arrive Saturday). He said he'd have to think about it because he has to pay customs on top of that.[/strike] EDIT: majestouch got back to me and replied that they use USPS on international shipments, which is a bucketload cheaper ($67 for 2 Tenkeyless', $71 for two 104 key boards to the Philippines).

Despite that, he said he'd have to consider it, but EliteKeyboards may make out better for it- he's considering ordering two.

I told him to come here and see if he can find another person in the Philipines that wants a keyboard. That won't help you on customs (they'd double), but it would probably help tremendously with shipping if shipped in the same box.

gr1m · « **Reply #132 on:** Thu, 01 July 2010, 06:23:30 »

Alright, win. My prefered Canadian store, NCIX just listed the 6GV2 for $99 ($107 shipped), backorder (but probably more accurately, preorder). Placing order right now.

I'm excited, this is gonna be my first non-rubber-dome keyboard.

gr1m · « **Reply #133 on:** Thu, 01 July 2010, 14:05:12 »

No congrats? Or "At first I saw you considering a Filco and was like YAY, but then I saw you bought a Steelseries and was like **** U"s?

washuai · « **Reply #134 on:** Thu, 01 July 2010, 14:10:05 »

You chose the blacks for more than the discounted DAS browns - you really don't like the DAS look, eh? Congrats on your first mech board, it should build you some fingers of steel.

gr1m · « **Reply #135 on:** Thu, 01 July 2010, 14:53:12 »

I play guitar anyway so I'm willing to wager that my fingers are more than strong enough for Cherry Blacks, and if they aren't, the extra exercise can't hurt. I actually do repetitive finger strength exercises for hours on end. Can't shred without finger strength breskis.

Quote from: washuai;198356

You chose the blacks for more than the discounted DAS browns - you really don't like the DAS look, eh? Congrats on your first mech board, it should build you some fingers of steel.

Yeah. It was an inexplicable hatred. The USB hub bulge + the glossy finish (on a keyboard? seriously) just killed it for me. The Steelseries is minimalist like the Filco which I like. No tenkeyless but on the plus side, I didn't spend $200 on a Filco. Besides, all the posts about how Cherry Browns are not very stiff (less force than rubberdomes, amirite?) kind of made me want to levitate towards blacks so that I could use a veritable tank of a keyboard instead of a soft, comfortable one.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #136 on:** Thu, 01 July 2010, 15:59:44 »

Quote from: gr1m;198386

I play guitar anyway

what do you play? (ie, make and model as well as genre)

gr1m · « **Reply #137 on:** Thu, 01 July 2010, 23:32:08 »

Currently rocking an el-cheapo Ibanez. I play metal and neoclassical (Paul Gilbert, Michael Romeo, etc.). The sterile "8 million notes per second" music that people say has no soul because they can't play it.

ricercar · « **Reply #138 on:** Thu, 01 July 2010, 23:36:06 »

What do you think of {preston reed | kaki king | michael hedges } guitar style?

wellington1869 · « **Reply #139 on:** Thu, 01 July 2010, 23:41:11 »

Quote from: gr1m;198564

The sterile "8 million notes per second" music that people say has no soul because they can't play it.

lol, i've said that. and yea, i cant play it

I'm a former metal head now mellowed out a bit. My latest love is an el-cheapo gibson melody maker. Absolutely love it even tho its the equivalent of the rubber dome keyboard of the guitar world ;-)

gr1m · « **Reply #140 on:** Fri, 02 July 2010, 01:59:51 »

I respect all guitar styles and all guitarists. I don't respect guitarists who don't respect shred. Like Ted Nugent. But Stranglehold wins.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #141 on:** Fri, 02 July 2010, 02:16:14 »

I just bought an el-cheapo Nady wireless system. from Target! lol. Havent tried it yet, but it actually got decent reviews online.
Pairing it with sony infrared wireless headphones running out of my amp. Together, in theory, I should have a completely cordless system that, as a bonus, wont bother my neighbors one bit.

gr1m · « **Reply #142 on:** Fri, 02 July 2010, 03:10:45 »

I'm old-fashioned when it comes to equipment. Guitar -> cord -> amp -> air -> ears.

SpatiallyAware · « **Reply #143 on:** Fri, 02 July 2010, 07:43:32 »

I'm relatively new to the mechanical keyboard stuff..

I started out with a tenkeyless filco w/ blues

I realized that I didn't like the release point when playing FPS so I bought a tenkeyless w/ blacks.

I hated blacks for everything (way too heavy for typing and IMO for extended FPS gaming) so I bought a tenkeyless with browns.

Browns are awesome for gaming but sorta stink for typing so I bought a 104 key w/ blues (again) for work.

So I then wanted a clicky keyboard at home and thus ended up with a tenkeyless with fukkas. Fukka fukka fukka.

Long story short - IMHO, for 'my style' of gaming, browns are the only decent choice from Filco.

......and I still want another tenkeyless with blues for at home. It's a disease.

itlnstln · « **Reply #144 on:** Fri, 02 July 2010, 08:00:51 »

Quote from: ricercar;198565

What do you think of {preston reed | kaki king | michael hedges } guitar style?

I love me some Kaki King.

wellington1869 · « **Reply #145 on:** Fri, 02 July 2010, 10:00:32 »

Quote from: gr1m;198608

I'm old-fashioned when it comes to equipment. Guitar -> cord -> amp -> air -> ears.

ya, i cant afford that (my neighbors would kill me -- try turning up an amp in a manhattan apartment building. I even got complaints about my ibm M keyboards back in the day).

they're doing marvelous things with headphone amps these days though.

Zensuji · « **Reply #146 on:** Sat, 03 July 2010, 06:03:24 »

Quote from: SpatiallyAware;198640

I'm relatively new to the mechanical keyboard stuff..

I started out with a tenkeyless filco w/ blues

I realized that I didn't like the release point when playing FPS so I bought a tenkeyless w/ blacks.

I hated blacks for everything (way too heavy for typing and IMO for extended FPS gaming) so I bought a tenkeyless with browns.

Browns are awesome for gaming but sorta stink for typing so I bought a 104 key w/ blues (again) for work.

So I then wanted a clicky keyboard at home and thus ended up with a tenkeyless with fukkas. Fukka fukka fukka.

Long story short - IMHO, for 'my style' of gaming, browns are the only decent choice from Filco.

......and I still want another tenkeyless with blues for at home. It's a disease.

What's wrong with the release point on blues? I'm just trying to decide between brown and blue at the moment (mostly game) I do fully release the key though. It seem like its mostly preference as I keep seeing some prefer blues for gaming and some brown.

washuai · « **Reply #147 on:** Sat, 03 July 2010, 19:49:52 »

I've a BC Rich Warlock Platinum. I haven't been able to figure the year from the serial number. Guitar Center had their tag wrong, but they honored the $100 less retail price. This one is a year or two before they started putting the locking tremolo's on the platinum warlocks and I forget when they completely removed the tremolo altogether.

I love the guitar, though I definitely would prefer a locking tremolo and it does have a minor fretboard flaw, so I have to seriously clamp down on my bass E string or it will sound wrong. Last I checked the guitar is worth more than I bought it for, so its all gravy to me.

If I was buying a guitar now, I'd probably get a dimebag or a thunderbird, or maybe even a V (well in addition to an acoustic/electric), since it would be easier to handle. I still like having a guitar that's even more monstrous than most bass. I have the BC Rich hard case, though, not the coffin one (only other case that will actually fit it).

Both my amps (the mini Marshall I can clamp to my belt) and the Gorilla a buddy gave me are small & I can attach headphones, so I don't annoy my neighbors. Even though I'd definitely love me a half stack, there just isn't any point. These people freak out, if I leave the bathroom or kitchen fan running. Oh yea, my neighbors that party and either live band or karaoke are tone deaf people with some revolting taste in some kind of bland country crap that makes bad rap sound good. For them, I'd be tempted to hook up and musically harass. My singing isn't much better than theirs though, so I'd probably be better off just getting a real stereo & speakers and scaring them with some Cannibal Corpse. On the flip side, I would pump some opera, while I was at it. However, I actually like the people in my building, so I'd feel bad about torturing them more than the other neighbors.

My favorite music to play is blues (though I'm not good enough), followed by rock, surf, classical and well just about whatever. Most of the time, what I'm playing doesn't really match the metal looks of my guitar.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #148 on:** Sat, 03 July 2010, 20:15:06 »

Quote from: gr1m;198564

Currently rocking an el-cheapo Ibanez. I play metal and neoclassical (Paul Gilbert, Michael Romeo, etc.). The sterile "8 million notes per second" music that people say has no soul because they can't play it.

I play metal whenever I cut down a large tree.

gr1m · « **Reply #149 on:** Sat, 03 July 2010, 20:26:49 »

I can't stand V guitars. Playing them is so awkward and I could never get used to the "stick one horn between your legs" position. B.C. Rich guitars have dumb shapes but I love the headstocks. I also have a deep dislike for the Dean Dimebag guitars: the Duncan pickup they put in them is not the pickup Dimebag used, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. They're milking his name to sell mediocre, overpriced guitars. The only guitars I would ever buy myself are Ibanez Prestiges or Japanese ESPs. Since I already have an el-cheapo, the next step is a not-so-cheapo.

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Author Topic: Under $100 mechanical keyboard for gaming and typing, possible? (Read 59491 times)