geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: dannyp on Fri, 27 May 2011, 18:43:45
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Hi I've been laying low for a while, now it's time to pounce on a board. Pardon the double entendre.
I've been looking for a board for a while now that fits my criteria. So I'm reaching out to you, the gh community for some help!
I'm looking for the following feature set:
Full Keyboard
NKRO
MX Blues
Blank Keys
Here are the boards that fit most of my requirements:
Cherry G80-3000LSCEU-2
Filco FKBN104MC/EB2 (full size)
Das Keyboard Professional Model S
Adesso MKB-135B (full size)
Rosewill RK-9000
I'm mostly considering the Filco, and the Das. I would prefer the Filco with blanks but I really don't know how to go about that. I know you can get a set of blanks but they're costly, and I don't want to have the problem of getting rid of printed caps.
I read the reviews for Das, Filco, Cherry, and Rosewill. Most of these seem pretty good for my use. The downside of the Das to me is the glossy board. It's a good choice on the other hand because it fits the general features that I want. The Filco is great except for the Keys. I would consider the Cherry but there's something about the design that bugs me a little, but it's probably not a deal breaker. The Rosewill is an option that I wouldn't mind considering. Out of all these, the only one I see with blank keys is the Das.
Any suggestions here? I want to order fairly soon but I want to entertain all options before I decide.
Thank you!
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outside of waiting or buying a set of keys and swapping, the das ultimate (professional isn't blank) is probably your only option. and if you are a student their 20% discount is very generous.
I'm typing on a das ultimate now. i was worried about the gloss as well but it really isnt as bad as most people make it out to be.
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I'm not too interested in tenkeyless. I might in the future but I'm set on the full. I'll keep an eye out on the Leopold's. I thought they were tenkeyless only though!
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BiNiaRis: who gives the 20% discount?
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ripster: hot
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In all honesty, your best bet is probably going to be going with the Das Keyboard Ultimate Model S. It's blank, Cherry Blues, NKRO under PS/2 and 104 key. If the shine bugs you that much, you could always take some fine grit paper to it after removing the keycaps.
I was thinking about doing that to mine, cuz the shine bugs me too
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You can get the Filco setup you want for about $200.
http://www.gameshop.com.sg/product_info.php?products_id=6998
http://www.gameshop.com.sg/product_info.php?products_id=5151
Just a thought. :)
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You can get the Filco setup you want for about $200.
http://www.gameshop.com.sg/product_info.php?products_id=6998
http://www.gameshop.com.sg/product_info.php?products_id=5151
Just a thought. :)
True, but at that point I would probably consider Realforce action.
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the das ultimate (professional isn't blank) is probably your only option. and if you are a student their 20% discount is very generous.
I'm typing on a das ultimate now.
I know students receive a discount on their refurbished keyboards, but I don't believe they still give students 20% off their new stock.
However it could be possible that I am completely off base here, and evidently my dementia is becoming worse. :fish:
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My bet is on dementia because they for sure do. 20% on new 15% on refurbished.
I bought one after sending them a scan on my student ID 2 weeks ago. They then send you a one time use code for checkout.
There's info on the student discount tucked away on their site somewhere.
I know students receive a discount on their refurbished keyboards, but I don't believe they still give students 20% off their new stock.
However it could be possible that I am completely off base here, and evidently my dementia is becoming worse. :fish:
Sent from my EVO
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Thanks BiNiaRis, I did some searching, here you go gh:
http://www.daskeyboard.com/education-discount-program/
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I would recommend getting the DAS with blank keycaps, and you have a plus which is the USB hub. Also, if you want to have media keys, you could always make a script with AutoHotKey (works on all the mentioned keyboards and non mechanical). See it this way, a DAS like the one you want with the student discount, is around 100$, the Filco is 2X that cause you want the blank keycaps. Personally I don't have both keyboards to make this statement but I've read from others who have both, that the difference between both is not 2x so you might want to save a little and go for the DAS :) Eventually you will want another keyboard and those 100 may come handy ;)
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thanks man you may have sealed the deal heh :D
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thanks man you may have sealed the deal heh :D
Also, you could get a Filco and buy a set of blank keys from someone here. I actually don't plan on using both my sets of the round 3 group buy keys that I ordered (because imsto ships in less than 6 months) and will be selling one of them (most likely the black set) for cheap.
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If I see the Filco Majestouch-2 with blues soon I would consider buying your set. Let's see if they're out soon. Thanks for the heads up!
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my problem too in that case:
ultimate s blues vs professional s blues vs filco blues or reds. wouldnt be there filcos with reds my 1st choice would be one das with blue mx
but after i saw ripsters keycap wiki thread especially for these two boards i think the das is something i would favour because filco isnt perfect quality for its price in comparsion to the das or other 100-150$ keyboards
i want light switches and good quality worth its price
i know me, i ll end up with a filco red and das with blues :D my wife will kill me after that anyway.
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my problem too in that case:
ultimate s blues vs professional s blues vs filco blues or reds. wouldnt be there filcos with reds my 1st choice would be one das with blue mx
but after i saw ripsters keycap wiki thread especially for these two boards i think the das is something i would favour because filco isnt perfect quality for its price in comparsion to the das or other 100-150$ keyboards
i want light switches and good quality worth its price
i know me, i ll end up with a filco red and das with blues :D my wife will kill me after that anyway.
Filco keys are very, very good compared to your day to day rubber dome still. Yeah they get a little shiny but they still feel pretty neat. I actually kind of like the worn down feel of them, I just prefer the texture of KBC PBTs and Topre keys. If there weren't another option I wouldn't complain one bit. I was heavily using my brown 104 every night for Starcraft for 6 months and not a single key showed any wear beyond a little shiny.
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thats the only argument i have against filcos this shiny thing after some time of use. :-)
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Oh I think I got that mixed up, I thought the Das keyboards had shiny keys after a bit. I mean I know the board itself is a bit glossy but I thought the keys ended up that way, but you guys are saying that Filco's get shiny. I'm gonna see what I can do to get that student discount pretty soon. :) Just finalizing the details on the computer I'm building to plug into the perfect keyboard :D
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Yeah, my DK is almost completely shiny (I've had it since December).
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Yeah, my DK is almost completely shiny (I've had it since December).
Damn. So what is the real deal? Do both keyboard keys get shiny fairly quick? I thought one keyboard had a more matte/textured feel on the keys.
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Damn. So what is the real deal? Do both keyboard keys get shiny fairly quick? I thought one keyboard had a more matte/textured feel on the keys.
No idea, honestly. I haven't had my Filcos long enough to tell yet. But then again, I was mainly using the Das for 12+ hours a day 7 days a week from December to April, so YMMV.
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You guys make this hard. You want me to buy both huh? >:P
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Well, duh. I've got 3, probably gonna shell out $120+ for new keycaps, and my next paycheck will probably see either a HHKB, or a Realforce (just to try the Topre switches)
*Edit* Scratch that. The topre switches sound way too much like a rubber dome. The sound sets my teeth on edge.
I think I'll just stay with MX boards for now.