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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: deathsycthehe11 on Wed, 15 February 2012, 16:41:21

Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: deathsycthehe11 on Wed, 15 February 2012, 16:41:21
So, I've been trolling this forum for awhile, but think it's time to dive into the dark side.  I haven't tried an mechanical keyboard yet, but after reading all those post, it seems like cherry browns are the best place to start for me.  So far, I'm looking at buying either Rosewill RK-9000BR or Leopold FC500RT/AB or wait for the CM Storm Quickfire Browns to come out.  Any suggestions on which keyboard and why?  Here's my buyer's guide for more information.

General Questions

1) What is your budget?
Around $100

2) Where (country) will you be buying this keyboard and keyboard language layout?
U.S.

3) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you don’t really like?
Nope

4) Would you consider keyboards that are used?
Sure. if worth the price.

5) What are the primary tasks you will be performing with this keyboard?
Some gaming and random typing.

6) Will you be playing games on your keyboard? What type of games?
mmorpg mostly, but do play hon and looking to play sc2 and d3(whenever that comes out)

7) Would you prefer to see the keyboard you’re considering before purchasing it or buying a keyboard online without seeing it is OK?
Either is okay.

8) Will the keyboard be used for Windows, Mac, Linux, etc...?
Windows

9) What other keyboard(s) have you used before and why are you not using it/them anymore?
Had a sidewinder x6 - hated the layout!!  Bought a  Logitech illuminated but haven't opened it.  Using a old Dell QuietKey keyboard as of now.

Build Quality and Design

10) What size keyboard would you prefer?
c.Don’t Care

12) When are you buying the keyboard?
Waiting for a good deal or if not soon.

13) How long do you want this keyboard to last?
As long as it can.

Switch Questions

14) What key sound do you want?
a.Quiet
b.Medium

15) Do you want tactile feel?
c.Don’t Care

16) Do you want clickiness?
c.Don’t Care

17) How strong are your fingers?
f. Doesn't matter
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: Kisakuku on Wed, 15 February 2012, 16:59:10
Quote from: deathsycthehe11;515467
So, I've been trolling this forum for awhile, but think it's time to dive into the dark side.  

How were you trolling this forum if this is your first post? I think you were lurking.

I would suggest starting with a used tenkeyless Filco with browns as the safest choice. Don't get a full sized board for sure, you'll be listing it in the Classifieds soon enough.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: TopazPie on Wed, 15 February 2012, 17:26:22
I really like the cm storm keyboards. The quality is good for the price. It would easily be under your budget so you could even get some extra bits like o rings since you want it to be moderately quiet. No mech board is really quiet but you probably know this since you have been lurking for a while. Filco is a bit over budget. Leopold keyboards are a bit closer to it. There always seems to be a used one going for a good price in the classifieds too. Like the post above said, a used Filco would be a great choice too.

My recommendations are Leopold and cm storm. I've owned both and they are great. Good luck
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: Zamorph on Wed, 15 February 2012, 17:34:09
Quote from: Kisakuku;515477
How were you trolling this forum if this is your first post? I think you were lurking.

I would suggest starting with a used tenkeyless Filco with browns as the safest choice. Don't get a full sized board for sure, you'll be listing it in the Classifieds soon enough.
He was creeping hardcore
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: pitashen on Wed, 15 February 2012, 17:36:31
(http://i.qkme.me/7ckf.jpg)





if you are planning to own one and use it for a long time... get a filco
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: Tranquilite on Wed, 15 February 2012, 17:40:04
Quote from: Kisakuku;515477
How were you trolling this forum if this is your first post? I think you were lurking.

I would suggest starting with a used tenkeyless Filco with browns as the safest choice. Don't get a full sized board for sure, you'll be listing it in the Classifieds soon enough.


I suspect the word he was going for was trawling.
Quote
The word "trawling" has come to be used in a number of non-fishing contexts, usually meaning indiscriminate collection with the intent of picking out the useful bits.


As for a keyboard suggestion. I would suggest getting something with either brown or red switches (big fan of reds myself).
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: ryuhyoko on Wed, 15 February 2012, 17:40:38
Theres a misunderstanding about trolling. Maybe he means browsing under a bridge.

Anyway i'm loving my leopold tkl Browns.  I love it, but I'm already considering which switches I want next.  Its not because I have anything against these, but I'd like to try other switches.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: Caaaarrrt on Wed, 15 February 2012, 18:11:26
My first mechanical keyboard was a Leopold FC500R with browns and I love it, and would definitely recommend, it was a very good place to start.

I also have a Poker with reds now, and love that too. I think I want my next board to be a Filco tkl with blues.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: boredgunner on Wed, 15 February 2012, 18:15:37
I'd go with the Leopold, because if you wait for the QuickFire Rapid with browns to come out then you'll probably be waiting forever unless you order overseas (assuming you live in North America or Europe).  Waiting for the QuickFire Pro brown will take months or forever, who knows if they'll bring the brown switch model to the US or Europe.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: regca on Wed, 15 February 2012, 19:44:04
There is a white Leopold sale on EK for $89. Leopolds are fantastic!!
http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyless

Quote from: Kisakuku;515477
Don't get a full sized board for sure, you'll be listing it in the Classifieds soon enough.
Guilty. (though I sold it to my friend IRL instead of on GH)
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: Bertross on Wed, 15 February 2012, 19:54:01
this is what you get with a Filco MX Brown TKL... PURE SEX,

reasons are.

Priced very well for its performance. Sure its a little over $100 but its worth the extra investment. Quietish / Tacktile / Sexy / Sturdy

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40691[/ATTACH]
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: deathsycthehe11 on Wed, 15 February 2012, 20:05:29
Quote from: Kisakuku;515477
How were you trolling this forum if this is your first post? I think you were lurking.

I would suggest starting with a used tenkeyless Filco with browns as the safest choice. Don't get a full sized board for sure, you'll be listing it in the Classifieds soon enough.


Yep, definitely meant to say lurking...  Don't know what got into my head to say trolling, maybe saying the word too much lately.  But I don't really care bout TKL or Full size but why is TKL preferred?  Just want an opinion on it.  I guess with my cramp desk, it's could be better.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: HeavyArms on Wed, 15 February 2012, 20:06:10
Quote from: deathsycthehe11;515467
So, I've been trolling this forum for awhile, but think it's time to dive into the dark side.  I haven't tried an mechanical keyboard yet, but after reading all those post, it seems like cherry browns are the best place to start for me.  So far, I'm looking at buying either Rosewill RK-9000BR or Leopold FC500RT/AB or wait for the CM Storm Quickfire Browns to come out.  Any suggestions on which keyboard and why?  Here's my buyer's guide for more information.

I haven't tried a mechanical keyboard****
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 15 February 2012, 20:07:54
Having been in sales for a while - there has been a debate since the beginning of time - do you start at the top or at the bottom with your proposal?

Do you offer the top-end product, and back down to meet the budget, or start at the base-line and add options until you break the bank?

Should a newcomer "ease into" this realm with something fresh and new and light and barely tactile and not clicky, then "work his way up" to more substantial feel and sound and weight,

OR

Should he "dive head-first" and buy a big bad heavy-ass ancient Model M/F to experience true awesomeness, then "back-slide" down to some lesser plateau where the spouse/co-workers stop complaining.

I'm just saying.

My Leopold Cherry blue is a worthy substitute for my Model M/Fs, but it is still a substitute.

PS - lurking is good, trolling is bad.

(unless you are post-count ****)
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: deathsycthehe11 on Wed, 15 February 2012, 20:28:35
When you guys say Filco MX Brown, did you mean this (http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EB2/dp/B004WOF7QM/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt)?
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: hashbaz on Thu, 16 February 2012, 03:56:26
Quote from: deathsycthehe11;515677
When you guys say Filco MX Brown, did you mean this (http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EB2/dp/B004WOF7QM/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt)?

Yes.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: FinancialWar on Thu, 16 February 2012, 05:19:01
get anything but ducky, because as everyone on geekhack agree ducky is sucky.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: noGG on Thu, 16 February 2012, 07:41:49
I'd go with Leopold over Filco. I got two TKL around the same time, Leopold with MX Red and Filco with MX brown. Kinda wish I didn't buy the Filco since it was ~$130 and is more or less the same keyboard as the Leopold. Only difference is the stabilizers used for the enter key. Leopold uses Cherry, Filco uses Costar (I think). Filcos feel better but honestly, I wouldn't spend extra just so your shift key feels slightly better. I'd shy away from the electronics store brands (Corsair K60/K90, Razer Blackwidow, Steelseries 6gv2/7G) as I feel their build quality is far inferior to other brands. Maybe, I'm weird but I hated the 6gv2/7G (not just because of the black switches), the Razer Blackwidow made me briefly switch back to rubber domes, and the Corsair K60/K90 made me hate MX Reds until I tried em on a Leopold.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: Kamikaze K on Thu, 16 February 2012, 07:54:47
If you only have around $100 to play with I'd probably go with a Leopold too... Leo's are about to release their new model to succeed their 200 and 500 models.  By the looks of things the new model's going to be quite solid with PBT keycaps and a sturdier case.  They're sticking with their Cherry stabilisers from what I hear. Expect the price to rise a little compared to their older models.  I don't think it'll be that drastic a rise but just be aware.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: noGG on Thu, 16 February 2012, 07:58:49
Quote from: Kamikaze K;515985
If you only have around $100 to play with I'd probably go with a Leopold too... Leo's are about to release their new model to succeed their 200 and 500 models.  By the looks of things the new model's going to be quite solid with PBT keycaps and a sturdier case.  They're sticking with their Cherry stabilisers from what I hear. Expect the price to rise a little compared to their older models.  I don't think it'll be that drastic a rise but just be aware.
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?25649-FC700R-Leopold-TKL-new-details

They're looking mighty fine. Probably gonna sell my keyboards once this and my RACE comes in.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: Kamikaze K on Thu, 16 February 2012, 08:21:21
Will probaby grab one as well... But I ain't sellin' my boards!  lol

Trying to decide what switch to get... Leaning to the browns seeing that I don't have one yet.  My plan was for my cherry brown board to be a WASD Custom (have my custom keycap design all ready to go too) but I'm still waiting for them to exhaust their existing stock which have shorter than average cables (1.2M).  My PC's on the floor next to my desk so it's going to be a little too short for my likin'.  They do provide cable extenders for the as a courtesy but I rather have ones with a 1.6m cable. But I guess since the new Leo's are coming out... That'll have to be it for the time being.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: 1391406 on Thu, 16 February 2012, 10:18:49
Quote from: deathsycthehe11;515677
When you guys say Filco MX Brown, did you mean this (http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EB2/dp/B004WOF7QM/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt)?


Yes.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: mbc on Thu, 16 February 2012, 11:04:40
Quote from: deathsycthehe11;515467
So, I've been trolling this forum for awhile...  I haven't tried an mechanical keyboard yet...
:confused:
:eek:
:mad:
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: Kamikaze K on Thu, 16 February 2012, 11:46:10
Quote from: harrison;516074
thanks for coming out, how terribly insightful of you.  :rolleyes:


lol.  Not to mention original... Ripster give you permission to use that "Sucky" remark?
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: eth0s on Thu, 16 February 2012, 11:52:53
@OP:  I LOVED the Socratic dialogue!  What a lost art form.  So here is my response:

Socrates:             Young n00b, what is the truest Form of keyboard?
deathsycthehe11:  It's the Tenkeyless, is it not?

Socrates:             Ah, I asked you for the Form, and you give me the shape?
deathsycthehe11:  Well, I guess I didn't understand the question.  What the hell is a "Form" anyway?

Socrates:             The Form is the perfect embodiment of a thing, while it remains aspatial (transcendent to space) and atemporal (transcendent to time).
deathsycthehe11:  wut?

Socrates:             Well, what do you think a Form is?
deathsycthehe11:  How should I know?  And you can't just answer my question with a question.

Socrates:  Why not?
deathsycthehe11:  Because you're not actually teaching anything, you're just asking ridiculous questions, that are meant to confuse the student and make him feel stupid.

Socrates:             Am I?
deathsycthehe11:  Stop doing that.

Soctrates:            Doing what?
deathsycthehe11:  I give up.

Hmm, that Socrates was kind of a douchebag.  Anyway, to answer your original question, GET BOTH.  Get a Filco and a Leo.  You won't be sorry.  If you have to choose due to budgetary constraints, then let me compare the Filco and Leo for you.  The Filco is like the very sophisticated city-girl that you will meet at a Manhattan cocktail party.  She is very chic and very elegant, and reeks of class and money.  She's been to all the right schools, and is witty and charming and clever.  However, with all that sophistication comes an ability to mask her flaws.  And she has one, but it is also part of her strength.  In the case of the Filco, it is the metal plate upon which the pcb and key switches are mounted.  This metal plate gives the Filco it's strength and heft, but it also creates a vaguely metallic resonance to every keystroke.  This to some is a fault, but to me it is a note of quality.  Now, on the other hand, you have the Leo, which is like the girl that is fresh from the cornfields of America, like maybe Iowa or Nebraska.  She's just recently arrived in Manhattan, and is eager to prove herself in the big city.  However, she is a still carrying a little extra weight, and is not wearing the right shoes.  She's a little socially awkward, because she doesn't really know what to say or do at a real grown-up party, the kind without a keg of beer in the middle of the room.  However, once you start to talk to her, you realize that this girl has a lot of potential, she has everything she needs to be successful, and one day will probably blow everybody away.  That is the Leo.  Right now, it's a little less sophisticated of a design, and is a little pugdy around the middle.  And the fold-down feet are just not great.   However, there is no metal plate, which may be a bad or good thing, depending upon how sensitive you are to certain sounds.   Overall Leo's are excellent keyboards, they just don't have the polish and sophistication of Filco's, or at least not yet.  But you won't go wrong with either one.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: alaricljs on Thu, 16 February 2012, 11:59:06
Quote from: eth0s;516127
However, there is no metal plate, which may be a bad or good thing, depending upon how sensitive you are to certain sounds.

Do tell, what Leopold are you speaking of that has no plate?  I've not seen a single plateless Leopold on offer.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: deathsycthehe11 on Fri, 17 February 2012, 23:20:18
Hmm, I'm leaning more towards the Leopold mostly because is cheaper and the Filco is not available on the amazon site.  If anyone know another place to buy it, please let me know.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: jellowiggler on Sat, 18 February 2012, 00:51:26
Nothing wrong with the Rosewill rk9000 either. Excellent majestouch 1 oem board. Has costar stabilizers too. There is no ten keyless version though.

I like it almost as much as my filco tenkeyless, and my model m.
Title: been trolling, now diving in
Post by: daerid on Sat, 18 February 2012, 01:07:40
(http://i.imgur.com/P7gNC.jpg)