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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: learjetz on Thu, 01 November 2012, 19:30:14

Title: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: learjetz on Thu, 01 November 2012, 19:30:14
I have a Filco Majestouch 2 Cherry Brown and I am looking into getting a Tenkeyless but we all know that they are no longer sold in the US. What brand should I go with instead?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 01 November 2012, 19:42:11
While Filco US distribution being handled by a UK company in a limited fashion via Amazon has not been ideal for some buyers, they are still available. Anyway, CM Rapid seems to be the favorite Filco substitute lately. Also Costar made, so it is quite similar in many ways.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: tcv on Thu, 01 November 2012, 19:51:34
Das and Leopold are quality boards.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 01 November 2012, 19:57:54
Leopold are also very good, can't say the same about Das anymore and beside they never made tenkeyless either.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: Lu_e on Thu, 01 November 2012, 20:02:32
& leopold is cherry stabilizer with =\= space bar, so not quite like a filco?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 01 November 2012, 20:07:50
Cherry stabs are superior, but the space stems do have a different. It was designed by same dude that did Filco so there are some similarity but also some difference detachable cable, in key lock indicator, etc.. The newer 700 also has way better stock keycap of pbt which is much better than cheap abs pad print of Filco. But the CM Rapid is still a better value.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: learjetz on Thu, 01 November 2012, 20:12:12
Das and Leopold are quality boards.
I heard DAS has changed manufacturers and since then their quality has gone down dramatically?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 01 November 2012, 20:13:35
Welcome to Geekhack!

CM QFR (QuickFire Rapid) - a good solid board :)

If you are lucky, you will even manage to get an unbranded one.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: learjetz on Thu, 01 November 2012, 21:21:22
Cherry stabs are superior, but the space stems do have a different. It was designed by same dude that did Filco so there are some similarity but also some difference detachable cable, in key lock indicator, etc.. The newer 700 also has way better stock keycap of pbt which is much better than cheap abs pad print of Filco. But the CM Rapid is still a better value.

Best online retailer for CM Rapid?  Amazon or Newegg I would assume?


How is this?
http://www.amazon.com/Storm-QuickFire-Rapid-Mechanical-SGK-4000-GKCL1-US/dp/B0068INSUM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351822936&sr=8-1&keywords=coolmaster+quickfire+rapid
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: KillVolume on Fri, 02 November 2012, 04:39:29
How is this?
http://www.amazon.com/Storm-QuickFire-Rapid-Mechanical-SGK-4000-GKCL1-US/dp/B0068INSUM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351822936&sr=8-1&keywords=coolmaster+quickfire+rapid

You're most likely to get an unbranded one if you the red switches/black body I believe. I got one a few weeks ago unbranded.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: Bry on Fri, 02 November 2012, 11:12:11
Filco


For TKL, get the quickfire. It's the same board at half the price. The only difference is the coating they put on the case and caps afaik.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: vun on Fri, 02 November 2012, 11:19:07
Filco


For TKL, get the quickfire. It's the same board at half the price. The only difference is the coating they put on the case and caps afaik.
I'd say the QFR keys feel better than the ones you get on the Filco, although you can clearly feel the lettering on them, which might be annoying for some.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 02 November 2012, 12:30:33
Does the QFR have the metal backplate like the Leos do? I was looking into that exact 'board for my welcome back gift.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 02 November 2012, 12:31:46
Yes they are plate mounted
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 02 November 2012, 12:49:31
So what does the Leo have over CM Storm? Better case and no branding?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 02 November 2012, 12:53:50
Leo has Cherry stabilizers, CM has Costar... CM is phasing out extra branding and if you get red's it's almost guaranteed, personally I like the shape of the CM case more but would prefer a black case on all the diff. switches.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 02 November 2012, 13:22:07
I guess I don't mind the branding - you'd think Americans would just be numb to that by now. I'm in the habit of ignoring logos unless they are on the butts of hot girls.

I write for my trade, so I need a metal backplate. Last year I wrote maybe 75,000 words so I can work a keyboard to death if it doesn't have that feature. I like the font on the keys but I think in time the original keys would end up in the garbage.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: metalliqaz on Fri, 02 November 2012, 13:38:22
I'm in the habit of ignoring logos unless they are on the butts of hot girls.

I like this guy!  :cool:
(no homo)
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 02 November 2012, 13:53:22
Nope, no homo at all, lol.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Fri, 02 November 2012, 16:28:41
I write for my trade, so I need a metal backplate. Last year I wrote maybe 75,000 words …

Waitaminute … Assuming 48 working weeks a year, that's 240 workdays a year. That averages out to around 300 words per day. I would be impressed if you could wear out a PCB-mounted keyboard at that rate. Where are you getting your keyboards from, exactly?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: metalliqaz on Fri, 02 November 2012, 17:22:28
maths for the win!
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 02 November 2012, 18:00:29
Math nerd, huh? How's that working out for ya?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 02 November 2012, 18:18:10
300 words per day is nothing. I bet I easily do that and I DON'T write for a living.

As far as being a math nerd, nope, sometimes you just have to know, in order to get your mind around something.

I calculated that my black belt in Tae Kwon Do cost 75 gallons in sweat. But I didn't work it out in my head.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Fri, 02 November 2012, 19:21:12
All right dude, talk to you later.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 03 November 2012, 05:08:46
The Leopold apparently has a non-standard space bar, so finding a replacement could be tricky if you want to install custom keycaps.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: pitashen on Sat, 03 November 2012, 08:26:28
As long as there are people still willing to get Filco through those reputable Taiwan/China vendors, it wouldn't really be considered as being out of the US.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: MissileMike on Sat, 03 November 2012, 15:13:52
As long as there are people still willing to get Filco through those reputable Taiwan/China vendors, it wouldn't really be considered as being out of the US.

PCHome has the black majestouch 2 tenkeyless with browns for 142$ shipped (and it will be shipped fast)
The QF Rapid is a much better value, of course.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Sat, 03 November 2012, 15:18:55
Ever since I heard the QF Rapid has a metal backplate I'm all about that one.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: shawn o on Sat, 03 November 2012, 18:17:27
No longer sold in the USA? Or just sold out on Amazon and waiting for a restock?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: Bry on Mon, 05 November 2012, 12:04:41
300 words per day is nothing. I bet I easily do that and I DON'T write for a living.

As far as being a math nerd, nope, sometimes you just have to know, in order to get your mind around something.

I calculated that my black belt in Tae Kwon Do cost 75 gallons in sweat. But I didn't work it out in my head.


I easily write double that every day just responding to emails.

Or surfing reddit.

And I am not a writer, far from it XD
I am a business ops analyst, so most of my day is spent playing with spreadsheets.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 05 November 2012, 12:21:32
I didn't think to include internet stuff or work stuff, just what I call real writing. When was the last time you guys sat down and wrote 12 pages of a novel in a day? I threw out an estimate not realizing math junkies would lay me open over it. And 300 words a day is not what I write. I'll inflate all my numbers in the future jsut for you guys, k?  ;D
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: metalliqaz on Mon, 05 November 2012, 16:50:51
Everyone can relax.  xsphat was just throwing guesstimates out there.  However, this IS a keyboard forum, after all.  People here care about WPM and it's natural that they would be interested in a professional writer's WPM.  I type at 80 WPM and I'm not very fast among this crowd.  Therefore 300 words a day is obviously not that much typing.

Another thing to consider is that if I was to type a million characters into work (be it code, a novel, whatever) then I'll bet that less than half of that makes it into the final product after editing/reviewing/etc.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 05 November 2012, 20:27:53
Everyone can relax.  xsphat was just throwing guesstimates out there.  However, this IS a keyboard forum, after all.  People here care about WPM and it's natural that they would be interested in a professional writer's WPM.  I type at 80 WPM and I'm not very fast among this crowd.  Therefore 300 words a day is obviously not that much typing.

Another thing to consider is that if I was to type a million characters into work (be it code, a novel, whatever) then I'll bet that less than half of that makes it into the final product after editing/reviewing/etc.

Thank you. I was getting killed for not blindly exaggerating. I was starting to think GH had big **** (GH won't let me say d i c k? How'bout penis, is that ok here?) syndrome about typing of all things.

And on the WPM thing, I don't even know mine for real because writing (and I'm guessing coding) doesn't happen at a steady speed. I type very fast but have no clue how fast I actually am. So, just so I don't get laid open again over math, let's just say I type.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: schizrade on Mon, 05 November 2012, 22:31:26
I like turtles.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: trentva on Tue, 06 November 2012, 08:30:48
filcos are the best mech keyboards i have tried
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: Bry on Tue, 06 November 2012, 08:41:22
I didn't think to include internet stuff or work stuff, just what I call real writing. When was the last time you guys sat down and wrote 12 pages of a novel in a day? I threw out an estimate not realizing math junkies would lay me open over it. And 300 words a day is not what I write. I'll inflate all my numbers in the future jsut for you guys, k?  ;D
I learned a long time ago that it is always a good idea to inflate numbers. I've inflated over 980,000 numbers just this year!


Oh and you math people, I am immune to your evil ways. Everyone knows over 472% of math people can't count above 975,000. Get over it noobs.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: HybridCore on Mon, 12 November 2012, 21:01:37
Leopold are also very good, can't say the same about Das anymore and beside they never made tenkeyless either.

What happened to Das? I'm curious. I haven't been on Geekhack in awhile. :(

The glossy fingerprint magnet plastic is also killing me. I used to think about getting a Das and then removing the top so I could use some sandpaper and maybe paint it, or just use sandpaper and give it a brushed aluminum look/faux brushed aluminum finish. Thinking about doing that to an Acer laptop I might buy myself (one of the Aspire V3 laptops with the piano lacquer finish).

Cherry stabs are superior, but the space stems do have a different. It was designed by same dude that did Filco so there are some similarity but also some difference detachable cable, in key lock indicator, etc.. The newer 700 also has way better stock keycap of pbt which is much better than cheap abs pad print of Filco. But the CM Rapid is still a better value.

Really? I just hear complaints about them feeling mushier so I just assumed they were inferior. As far as stabilizing the key, they probably would be.

I'm in the habit of ignoring logos unless they are on the butts of hot girls.

Haha! You sir have made my day.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: alaricljs on Mon, 12 November 2012, 21:53:44
There's a thread on here somewhere, but Das' new KB line is not Costar made any more.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: HybridCore on Mon, 12 November 2012, 22:01:05
There's a thread on here somewhere, but Das' new KB line is not Costar made any more.

I see. That's really disappointing to hear. :(
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: rainb1ood on Mon, 12 November 2012, 22:05:15
Wait, so The Keyboard Co is no longer shipping Filco to Amazon?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: HybridCore on Tue, 13 November 2012, 13:54:20
Wait, so The Keyboard Co is no longer shipping Filco to Amazon?

Only a few models I believe, like the Majestouch 2 Camo version.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: rknize on Tue, 13 November 2012, 14:05:28
The PCB of the QFR is higher quality than the Leo and the Leo uses the PCB to support the plate while the QFR supports the plate with the case (like Filco).  So from a design perspective, the QFR is closer to a Filco than a Leo is.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: elitekeyboards on Thu, 15 November 2012, 04:19:25
The PCB of the QFR is higher quality than the Leo and the Leo uses the PCB to support the plate while the QFR supports the plate with the case (like Filco).  So from a design perspective, the QFR is closer to a Filco than a Leo is.

That's not true. Both Leos and the QFR have single sided FR2 PCBs and both support the plate. The only thing "higher quality" about a FILCO MJ2 over other boards is the use of two sided FR4. Structurally, all these boards are the same.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: rknize on Thu, 15 November 2012, 10:02:12
Well, I'm quite positive this is not the case, but I'll have to provide pictures to illustrate.  :)
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: Binge on Thu, 15 November 2012, 10:09:47
I was wondering... with the QFR, is it compatible with a number of the acrylic, TKL filco, after market cases I see floating around?
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: esoomenona on Thu, 15 November 2012, 10:17:10
I was wondering... with the QFR, is it compatible with a number of the acrylic, TKL filco, after market cases I see floating around?
I would like to know this as well.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: rknize on Thu, 15 November 2012, 10:29:09
My Filco and QFR have the same design where the plate rests on the bottom half of the case at the top and bottom edges and the PCB sort of floats.  The only difference I noted was that the Filco has two screws that affix the plate/PCB to the bottom case whereas the QFR just relies on the upper half to hold it in place.  I dropped one into the other (Filco into the QFR case, IIRC) and it fit.  So I would expect the QFR assembly to fit in anything that would fit a Filco.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: laffindude on Thu, 15 November 2012, 10:38:06
I think the FC200's plate is supported by the stems on the bottom casing. I could be wrong though. Whatever the case (;)), I know at least FC200 is a Datacomp. That is enough for me not to ever buy one.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: rknize on Thu, 15 November 2012, 11:01:42
Yeah, I should be more specific.  I'm comparing an MJ2 to a QFR with reds that I picked up right when they came out.
Title: Re: What is the new standard in keyboards since Filco are basically out of the US?
Post by: rknize on Thu, 15 November 2012, 23:32:23
Both Leos and the QFR have single sided FR2 PCBs and both support the plate. The only thing "higher quality" about a FILCO MJ2 over other boards is the use of two sided FR4. Structurally, all these boards are the same.

Looks like you were right.  Somehow I remember the QFR having a double-sided, red, FR4 PCB.  I must be thinking of something else.

The Leo and the QFR have the same type of PCB.  The QFR and the Filco have the same plate support system.  The differences are very minor.  The only thing different between the three that could affect the "feel" and sound is the PCB material.  The denser and thicker FR4 PCB is the quality only difference of note that I can find.

I took some pictures and posted them here:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37432.msg714145#msg714145