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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Ihales on Tue, 22 May 2012, 08:50:45
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Hi,
I would like to buy my first mechanical keyboard and I would appreciate your tips. I will use it for typing and gaming. I don't need fancy stuff like additional buttons, but good quality is important for me.
My preferences:
price under 130 €
brown switches
full size
6 or n-key rollover.
backlighting isn't necessary but it would be nice bonus.
It must be available in Europe.
I like Das keyboard professional silent, but I am not sure if it is the best what I can get for that prize. Could you confirm my choice or give me some better options?
Thanks.
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Here (http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=932) is a Filco brand new from The Keyboard Co. based in the UK. As shown, it's £100 (which converts to approximately 123.65€). This meets your budget and, from a general consensus, seems to be favored over the Das. I don't really know where you are in Europe, but if you go to The Keyboard Co.'s main website (http://www.keyboardco.com/index.asp), they have alternate layouts for sale as well.
Brown switches are a good place to start, so you made a great choice there. I'd personally say go with the Filco or the Das and to look no further - either one will be a good starter! Do note that the Das has a glossy finish and is said to be a dust magnet.
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Thanks, I didn't know that Filco is available in Europe. I guess now it will be just personal preference whether Das or Filco.
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Thanks, I didn't know that Filco is available in Europe. I guess now it will be just personal preference whether Das or Filco.
No problem! If you don't mind me asking, what keyboard(s) have you used previously? Also, what will your primary use be for the keyboard? I can personally attest to the Filco being a great keyboard for all around use. I type a lot, game a lot, and do pretty much a bit of everything and my MJ2 with browns has been nothing but perfect!
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Welcome to Geekhack!
Thanks!
No problem! If you don't mind me asking, what keyboard(s) have you used previously? Also, what will your primary use be for the keyboard? I can personally attest to the Filco being a great keyboard for all around use. I type a lot, game a lot, and do pretty much a bit of everything and my MJ2 with browns has been nothing but perfect!
My current keyboard is Logitech Wave, it isn't bad keyboard but some keys are really hard to press (they get little stucked). I spend about 60% time on computer with typing and the rest is playing games (mostly MMOs), that why I choose brown switches. Blue switches would be probably too loud at night.
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I have one more question. I am really considering Filco and I wonder about quality of lettering. Do they wear off like on classic keyboards or do they have some better design?
If they wear off I will go for ninja version otherwise normal majestic 2 is fine for me.
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they will wear off.
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Thanks for quick response.
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But if the ninja version scares you too much (you are not a confident touch typist), you can always buy another keyset afterwards (Filco ABS sets go out for 20, 30$, and PBT sets(better quality) go out for 50*60 $ (PBT sets for iso layouts (everything with a two line enter key) are impossible to find atm), or even a nice ABS doubleshot keyset in a group buy (still abs, but the legend won't fade).
But it will only be qwerty most of the time.
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No, ninja doesn't scare me :) I need only special symbols which I don't use very often. Perhaps without letters on top I will start to type faster.
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Thanks!
My current keyboard is Logitech Wave, it isn't bad keyboard but some keys are really hard to press (they get little stucked).
I experienced this with my Logitech Wave aswell, has to be a design flaw by the engineers or something. The key printing was also absolutely horrible, my 's' was gone after just a month or so.
And I was in the same position as you; scared of the key printing to tear off on my precious Filco and therefore bought the Ninja version. Remember; when you buy a mechanical keyboard which uses the common switches thare MXs are it's easy to get replacements (although not æøåä and such).