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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Deverica Wolf on Tue, 13 September 2011, 00:58:43
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Yo. Simple question, simple answer.
What's the top ones around? I know about the Black Widows and XArmors having supposed issues. OK, but what else is there? Cherry, Rosewill, Das...
It doesn't matter to me if it's LED back-lit or not, just name the best. I was thinking any Filco? Am I wrong? Advise me. please. :juggle:
(http://www.chamoxa.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/k/fkbn104mceb2_01.jpg)
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Filcos are pretty top-notch, apparently. The Rosewills are, or were, essentially rebadged Filcos. So you're getting a bit more bang for your buck there. The Das boards are comparable quality, for a lower price point, but the glossy finish turns a lot of folk off. The Leopolds are pretty good, but apparently have a different stabilizer that isn't as good as the Filcos. I believe the same can be said for Duckies. The Pokers give you a smaller form factor and a PCB-mounted plate. Most all have their own benefits and detriments.
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I have a Filco with Cherry MX blues. I absolutely love it. It feels very solid and nice to type on. No matter how or where i press there is no flexing or bending, which I like. The only thing I wish was different about it is the colour - I really wanted a white Filco but couldn't find one at the time when I bough this.
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The Leopolds are pretty good, but apparently have a different stabilizer that isn't as good as the Filcos.
As far as I understand, the Leopolds use cherry stabilizers where as Filcos use wire stabilizers. How do you figure that the former is "not as good"?
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I have a WASD and if anything it feels "deader" (less resonant, not less crisp to type on) than my Filco. I don't like the styling of the case as much, but it's also a Costar-made board. Really can't find any negatives about it at all.
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Filcos are good, but there are a lot of comparable boards for less money. Filcos have their share of little issues also, the key caps wear quickly, the rubber feet fall off easily, and at that price point they are notably short on features (no USB ports, no detachable cable, etc). The Filcos are so spartan in terms of features it makes it more challenging to justify the extra coin, IMHO.
Rosewill, Ducky, and Leopold all offer very similar boards with very similar features for notably less money, especially on a full-size keyboard where the Filco styling isn't as differentiating as it is on the smaller tenkeyless boards.
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I'm strongly considering an RK9000 now, especially since they have the nice woven detachable cord which (correct me if I'm wrong) similar Filco models do not sport. My only question is this: does anybody sell alternative meta keycaps of any sort for these or will I need to jump into a groupbuy to get them?
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I'm strongly considering an RK9000 now, especially since they have the nice woven detachable cord which (correct me if I'm wrong) similar Filco models do not sport. My only question is this: does anybody sell alternative meta keycaps of any sort for these or will I need to jump into a groupbuy to get them?
That's right, Filco cables are plastic-sheathed and permanently attached. Leopolds have detachable cables as well (also plastic sheathed).
Das and WASD sell Linux penguin (http://store.daskeyboard.com/b/2258669011) and blank "indented circle" (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/individual-keycaps/row-1-size-1x1-25-command-cherry-mx-keycap.html) modifiers, respectively.
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Shillco.
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I'm strongly considering an RK9000 now, especially since they have the nice woven detachable cord which (correct me if I'm wrong) similar Filco models do not sport. My only question is this: does anybody sell alternative meta keycaps of any sort for these or will I need to jump into a groupbuy to get them?
WASD keys are same profile as Filco and Das and therefore presumably Rosewill as well, but they only do engraved ("laser etched"). But they'll put pretty much anything you want on the key.
Someone posted just the other day that Das was going to re-release the Apple command key, and Das sell the Tux key on their web site right now.
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I think plate mounted Filcos are generally well regarded and I have never had any issues with the several I own.
Then again, I have a strange fondness for my TVS Gold "Made in India" 25 buck special. It feels very light and flimsly compared to the Filcos, but provides a very nice typing experience with it's scooped lasered key caps and is remarkably stable when I'm pounding away on the keys. I much prefer the TVS Gold over other so called "premium" keyboards like the Das. After all, Blue Cherry MX key switches are a commodity and the German conglomorate that acquired Cherry also owns TVS Electronics in India.
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the rubber feet fall off easily, .
Mine have not fallen off as of yet, but where would one obtain the rubber feet?
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Abideco.
How can you say no to that face?
( insert OP avatar here)
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Filcos are good, but there are a lot of comparable boards for less money.
He want the best. Not the best for the money
Filco is the best
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He want the best. Not the best for the money
Filco is the best
That's kind of interesting. I got a Filco TKL when Elite Keyboards just got them in.
I owned it for about a week, typed on it for about five minutes, and then sold it and went back to the ugly Unicomp. I don't remember anything particularly amazing about it.
What's your quantitative criteria on "best"?
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I got my Leopold in the mail today and it is great. I originally purchased a ducky but sent it back because the spacebar didn't match. The Leopold is much more sturdy. Last week there didn't seem to be any filcos available unless you went overseas (I am in the US, so I wasn't eager to wait for weeks).
FF
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My brother has a Das and I a Filco, both brown. We both agree that my keyboard feels better to type on.
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My brother has a Das and I a Filco, both brown. We both agree that my keyboard feels better to type on.
Having owned both a Das and numerous Filcos, I'll second that statement
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WASD is by far ahead of the competition. Build quality, price, excellent customer service. And you can't beat customized keycaps.