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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: gr0undzer0 on Sat, 09 June 2012, 00:17:10

Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: gr0undzer0 on Sat, 09 June 2012, 00:17:10
I'm looking for a WHITE full size keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches and preferably as little lighting as possible.

Most importantly I'd like it to be available. As in .. not impossible to find. Which has been the case when I tried to find : White Filco with Blue Switches, fc700r blue switches, and a few others. I really want something on par with Filco... and that's white... AND HAS blue switches.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: urbanus on Sat, 09 June 2012, 01:26:26
Where are you?
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: gr0undzer0 on Sat, 09 June 2012, 01:53:43
USA and I should have also said I would love beige more then white.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: dchang0 on Sat, 09 June 2012, 02:08:22
I wonder if a good 'ol Cherry Corp. keyboard would meet your needs. They tend to make theirs in beige, with as little lighting as possible. And of course most of their models are top-shelf in terms of quality.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: The_Beast on Sat, 09 June 2012, 02:29:06
Rosewill but they don't have a white case
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: Reptile on Sat, 09 June 2012, 02:52:56
Keycool
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: squarebox on Sat, 09 June 2012, 05:19:55
Keycool uses the Leopold style spacebar which is crap IMO.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: Netdewt on Sat, 09 June 2012, 08:08:31
Did Leopold discontinue the full size white boards?
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: funxion on Sat, 09 June 2012, 08:43:16
The Filco shipment should be hitting Amazon mid-June...

Not sure about the FC700R.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 09 June 2012, 09:05:27
Rosewill will have white version sometime soonish if you're not in a hurry. Cherry G80 is an option, though if you want normal ansi layout and better than 2kro it gets harder. Ducky Rabbit, but it was 'limited' and I don't see any in stock at the moment from usual places. Word is Ducky will be doing some white boards soon, but maybe only applies to shine. Keycool... but their fullsize board is real ugly.
If you don't mind used you might be able to get Filco or Leopold in white, try make a wtb in marketplace. Failing all, you could get any keyboard and vinyl dye or wrap it to make white/beige.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: terrpn on Sat, 09 June 2012, 10:02:22
Buy a CM Storm, pull the face plate, get some Krylon Fusion Beige or white paint (if that is the color you want) for "plastic" and just apply a couple thin coats. Give it a good day to harden up and put back together. After 7 days you can't chip it with a file nail.........very durable.

Rustoleum has a beige plastic paint that is pretty spot on to the older vintage "beige" keyboards, I've matched it up, used and no one would ever know.

Keyboard is under 80 bux, can of paint is about 6 bux...........blue switches, done deal. I don't own one but everybody swears by them- except the crazy finish with too many logo's. You can change the caps at will. Somebody is always offering some used that are in decent shape for a decent $.

Some of the older AT boards you find with futaba switches that will take cherry keycaps are pretty decent, I know they are not cherry switches and all that, but still not to shabby- depending on what your standard is. I've seen a few come with double-shots as well. Even if they are yellowed you can pop apart and do an "oxyclean" soak in the sun for about 6-8 hours and it will come back 90% to the color it was when new. I have a blue cherry, a futaba, white alps, a blue alps and a buckling spring (IBM M) and to be honest it's a toss up up between the blue alps and futaba switch. I'm probably biased liking the older boards and do a lot of typing, where I'm sure the majority swings to the newer boards.

Of course if you are a heavy gamer I don't how well they will stand up- I bump to others who have more knowledge than I for that:>}

Quote from: gr0undzer0;610139
I'm looking for a WHITE full size keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches and preferably as little lighting as possible.

Most importantly I'd like it to be available. As in .. not impossible to find. Which has been the case when I tried to find : White Filco with Blue Switches, fc700r blue switches, and a few others. I really want something on par with Filco... and that's white... AND HAS blue switches.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: dorkvader on Sat, 09 June 2012, 10:54:05
Quote from: terrpn;610311
Buy a CM Storm, pull the face plate, get some Krylon Fusion Beige or white paint (if that is the color you want) for "plastic" and just apply a couple thin coats. Give it a good day to harden up and put back together. After 7 days you can't chip it with a file nail.........very durable.
I would imagine the "rubberized" coating on the CM wouldn't take paint well.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: gr0undzer0 on Sat, 09 June 2012, 11:02:05
nkey rollover is something I surely want that's why I just didn't buy the keycool. I might just have to wait till mid June and see if any blue switches in white appear. The cherry sounds promising. How hard are the keys to replace? Is it US layout?
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: gr0undzer0 on Sat, 09 June 2012, 11:20:04
by the way those Cherry Keyboards in beige with blue switches in US layout are hard to find as well.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: terrpn on Sat, 09 June 2012, 12:05:25
Yup..............ya wanna try to get rid of, scuff with some fine grit sandpaper, wipe with detergent, etc. Regardless it is an inexpensive option and just biased on part beings that I refinish antiques. Like I said I have not seen one up close- so you guys know wuts best.

nkey rollover rules out old boards:(

Thought I saw somebody on ebay trying to get rid of a white filco for $170.00 but don't recall the switch type? Little pricey...........
Quote from: dorkvader;610334
I would imagine the "rubberized" coating on the CM wouldn't take paint well.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: gr0undzer0 on Sat, 09 June 2012, 12:24:44
Quote from: terrpn;610356
Yup..............ya wanna try to get rid of, scuff with some fine grit sandpaper, wipe with detergent, etc. Regardless it is an inexpensive option and just biased on part beings that I refinish antiques. Like I said I have not seen one up close- so you guys know wuts best.

nkey rollover rules out old boards:(


Really I thought older pst keyboards were rollover.
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: funxion on Sat, 09 June 2012, 12:26:05
Quote from: terrpn;610356
Yup..............ya wanna try to get rid of, scuff with some fine grit sandpaper, wipe with detergent, etc. Regardless it is an inexpensive option and just biased on part beings that I refinish antiques. Like I said I have not seen one up close- so you guys know wuts best.

nkey rollover rules out old boards:(

Thought I saw somebody on ebay trying to get rid of a white filco for $170.00 but don't recall the switch type? Little pricey...........


I may actually do this...
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: jdcarpe on Sat, 09 June 2012, 12:27:18
Quote from: gr0undzer0;610357
nkey rollover rules out old boards:(


Really I thought older pst keyboards were rollover.

Older PS2 keyboards might have NKRO, if they have a diode installed for every keyswitch. No diodes = no NKRO. :( I mean, diodes are cheap...
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: terrpn on Sat, 09 June 2012, 18:55:38
Quote from: funxion;610359
I may actually do this...

Here's a post someone already offered and I recommend

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:30620

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:30620&do=comments

If you decide to go ahead just PM me and I'll walk you through it.

Patience, prep and numerous "thin" coats...........YOU CAN DO IT!
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: ZcHuer on Sat, 09 June 2012, 23:51:14
Is FC700R available in the market now? I think it is still a lab item...
Title: Filco Alternatives.
Post by: hoggy on Mon, 11 June 2012, 15:54:29
I think wasd are looking to bring out a white case soon.  Not sure when, though.