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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: hfcobra on Sat, 15 September 2012, 18:24:58

Title: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: hfcobra on Sat, 15 September 2012, 18:24:58
How do they both feel compared to one another?  I have been curious for a while and if I end up liking a tenkeyless keyboard more than a full size when I order my Realforce 87U then I would like to know whether to get a tenkeyless Filco or Leopold with browns to replace my current full size Filco with browns.
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 15 September 2012, 19:18:14
What do you mean replace?

Are you just buying these things for fun? LOL
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: hfcobra on Sat, 15 September 2012, 19:25:12
What do you mean replace?

Are you just buying these things for fun? LOL

LOL!   No I would sell my full size Filco and buy the tenkeyless Filco/Leopold to own a total of 2 keyboards.    :P

I just like to have exactly what I want but I obviously do not have the money to buy one of everything to try it all and then sell what I don't like.  Just looking to be well-informed before I make a purchase.   :)
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 15 September 2012, 19:33:52
What do you mean replace?

Are you just buying these things for fun? LOL

LOL!   No I would sell my full size Filco and buy the tenkeyless Filco/Leopold to own a total of 2 keyboards.    :P

I just like to have exactly what I want but I obviously do not have the money to buy one of everything to try it all and then sell what I don't like.  Just looking to be well-informed before I make a purchase.   :)

Well, given that there exists a MOD to make a Cherry Stabilizer "feeel" like a Costar stabilizer,   while the reverse isn't true; does that answer your question?
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: hfcobra on Sat, 15 September 2012, 20:10:56
Well when I first got my filco the shift key felt a bit harder to push down than my old rubber dome.  Kind of like it was rubbing and causing unintended friction.  I hear that cherry stabilizers feel like there isn't anything there and if that is so then I think I would like a cherry stabilizer more.  I am not sure though so I thought I would ask to see how the cherry feels compared to the costar from people who have tried both.  I have only read things from people who have tried one or the other as far as I know.  Since I have used a costar stabilizer for a while I can relate to phrases like "It feels more mushy than a cherry" or "It requires less force than a costar."
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: nullstring on Sat, 15 September 2012, 20:15:38
I'd like to hear this too.

I know that most people seem to prefer costar stabilizers, but I haven;t heard the exact reason why.
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: alaricljs on Sat, 15 September 2012, 22:43:41
I've yet to run across a costar stabilizer that had any noticeable affect on the key feel.  Cherry on the other hand is designed to have a mushy bottom.  If you don't want to open up your board and do quite a bit of work modding the stabilizers (requires de-soldering some switches) to fiddle with the Cherrys then I would recommend a board with Costar stabilizers.  BTW - CM is moving ahead with less branding on their QuickFire Rapids, so that's a cheaper alternative to the Filco once supply has stabilized with the change.
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: hfcobra on Sun, 16 September 2012, 11:37:06
How mushy are we talking?   When you bottom out on a plate mounted cherry MX board the word mushy doesn't come to mind lol.  Is it mushy kind of like the shift key on a Topre?

EDIT:  I just want someone to describe as best they can what a cherry stabilizer feels like compared to a costar stabilizer.  I can shop around on my own when I am looking to buy a keyboard but I am not looking to buy just yet.  I mean no offense at all.  Just looking for a very detailed description from someone who has tried both.  Preferably someone who has tried both Leopold and Filco since those are the two I would consider purchasing if it came to it.  I just like the looks of a Filco a lot so I would rather get that than the CM keyboard despite the very obvious value of the CM.  If cherry stabilizers are decided upon then the Leopold is a good option and not too expensive either.

Thank you!    :)
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: alaricljs on Sun, 16 September 2012, 17:01:48
Although not with the same switches, I have used both.  Costar stabs have near zero impact on the feel.  Cherry stabs have this firm plastic "spring" that is very obviorus on lighter switches.  Presumably this effect is less the older the board is.  If you don't bottom or do so gently then it will be less noticeable as well.
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: hfcobra on Sun, 16 September 2012, 18:33:23
Although not with the same switches, I have used both.  Costar stabs have near zero impact on the feel.  Cherry stabs have this firm plastic "spring" that is very obviorus on lighter switches.  Presumably this effect is less the older the board is.  If you don't bottom or do so gently then it will be less noticeable as well.

Thanks I'll probably stick with a costar stabilizer then.   :)
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 16 September 2012, 19:25:48
Although not with the same switches, I have used both.  Costar stabs have near zero impact on the feel.  Cherry stabs have this firm plastic "spring" that is very obviorus on lighter switches.  Presumably this effect is less the older the board is.  If you don't bottom or do so gently then it will be less noticeable as well.

Thanks I'll probably stick with a costar stabilizer then.   :)

It really makes no difference. cherry is just slightly heavier.. In terms of smoothness, they're about the same.
Title: Re: Cherry vs Costar stabilizers
Post by: hfcobra on Sun, 16 September 2012, 19:39:15
Ok thank you.  I would rather stick with the lighter of the two then.   :)