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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: instantwin on Tue, 20 August 2013, 05:48:21

Title: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: instantwin on Tue, 20 August 2013, 05:48:21
I was thinking about getting a new keyboard and I narrowed it down to these two. Which should I go with?

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX46998

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX47114

I'm currently leaning towards the Quickfire Ultimate but I don't know. I was also wondering why the prices of the two keyboards were the same ($100 before the deal) even though the Ultimate looks like it has more features like backlighting?
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 20 August 2013, 06:20:54
It all depends on what you plan to use the board for and also what features you need. Do you like the switch selection? Do you like the back lighting color?

These two boards are aimed at different markets.

Also what is your budget and/or how much do you want to spend?
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: wetto on Tue, 20 August 2013, 06:55:28
Backlight DOES NOT means "Better keyboard". It means:

- Harder to modify and repair switches
- Ultra-low quality keycaps
- Non-standard modifiers, making it hard as hell to find keycap replacements (on most cases)
- ****ty stabilizers (on most cases)

While the Quickfire Ultimate "looks" nicer, the XT is far better on the "quality" department, due to its better components and better OEM (Costar).

If it were me, I'd get the XT without even looking back. Hell, none of my backlit keyboards even come close to how good typing on a non-backlit high quality keyboard such as the Das Keyboard Professional Silent (COSTAR Model) and surely the XT must be just as good or better.
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: instantwin on Tue, 20 August 2013, 07:02:43
It all depends on what you plan to use the board for and also what features you need. Do you like the switch selection? Do you like the back lighting color?

These two boards are aimed at different markets.

Also what is your budget and/or how much do you want to spend?

I'm looking for a full size keyboard with cherry mx blue switches. No extra features needed as long as it's cheap and I prefer to shop at Memory Express since there is one close to where I live.

Backlight DOES NOT means "Better keyboard". It means:

- Harder to modify and repair switches
- Ultra-low quality keycaps
- Non-standard modifiers, making it hard as hell to find keycap replacements (on most cases)
- ****ty stabilizers (on most cases)

While the Quickfire Ultimate "looks" nicer, the XT is far better on the "quality" department, due to its better components and better OEM (Costar).

If it were me, I'd get the XT without even looking back. Hell, none of my backlit keyboards even come close to how good typing on a non-backlit high quality keyboard such as the Das Keyboard Professional Silent (COSTAR Model) and surely the XT must be just as good or better.

Thanks. So which should I go with? The Ultimate for $80 or XT for $100?
edit:nvm didnt see your edit
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: berserkfan on Tue, 20 August 2013, 07:15:40
My opinion:

Why is the Ultimate only $80 and the XT $100?

Don't you think something with backlighting should cost more? After all, they had to put in diodes and put in extra traces.

The reality is that backlit keyboards that are of good quality are very expensive. EG Deck. As a Deck owner, I can tell you that you get what you pay for.

When you are paying less than half the price of a Deck, the keyboard will be of significantly poorer quality.

I've used backlit keyboards before myself and all their keycaps (except Deck's) suck. The XT comes much closer to the Filco in terms of quality.

It all depends on what you plan to use the board for and also what features you need. Do you like the switch selection? Do you like the back lighting color?

These two boards are aimed at different markets.

Also what is your budget and/or how much do you want to spend?

I'm looking for a full size keyboard with cherry mx blue switches. No extra features needed as long as it's cheap and I prefer to shop at Memory Express since there is one close to where I live.

Backlight DOES NOT means "Better keyboard". It means:

- Harder to modify and repair switches
- Ultra-low quality keycaps
- Non-standard modifiers, making it hard as hell to find keycap replacements (on most cases)
- ****ty stabilizers (on most cases)

While the Quickfire Ultimate "looks" nicer, the XT is far better on the "quality" department, due to its better components and better OEM (Costar).

If it were me, I'd get the XT without even looking back. Hell, none of my backlit keyboards even come close to how good typing on a non-backlit high quality keyboard such as the Das Keyboard Professional Silent (COSTAR Model) and surely the XT must be just as good or better.

Thanks. So which should I go with? The Ultimate for $80 or XT for $100?
edit:nvm didnt see your edit
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: Hyde on Tue, 20 August 2013, 20:31:14
Yeah the QuickFire XT is made by Costar, and QuickFire Ultimate is made by iOne.

Generally at geekhack it is widely believed that QuickFire XT will have better quality, and QuickFire Ultimate has backlight but also have non-standard sizing on keycaps.

So if you just want a solid good quality keyboard, go for QuickFire XT.  If you must have backlit and doesn't care about switching keycap in the future then go for QuickFire Ultimate.

If I were you I'd buy the QuickFire XT.

Hope this helps.  :)
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: gunbuster363 on Wed, 21 August 2013, 22:46:54
Wow, I didn't know that XT is better than Ultimate!
Last time I saw it Ultimate is cheaper than XT and I thought it is a promotion.

Luckily they don't have Ultimate with red switches in stock so I bought XT.
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: mv_LaiN on Wed, 21 August 2013, 23:00:25
i see..
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: tjcaustin on Wed, 21 August 2013, 23:06:43
i see..

Just an fyi, most of your hollow, pointless, new posts won't help you get to 60 to post in the wtb forum
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: Emospence on Thu, 22 August 2013, 01:26:37
I'd definitely go for the XT!
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 22 August 2013, 09:53:26
i see..

Just an fyi, most of your hollow, pointless, new posts won't help you get to 60 to post in the wtb forum

tj don't ruin all their fun.....it's like when your a kid and learn the hard way that peeing on an electric fence isn't recommended
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 22 August 2013, 09:57:59
i see..

Just an fyi, most of your hollow, pointless, new posts won't help you get to 60 to post in the wtb forum

tj don't ruin all their fun.....it's like when your a kid and learn the hard way that peeing on an electric fence isn't recommended

where are you people finding these electric fences to pee on..  I've never come across one..
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 22 August 2013, 10:06:35
i see..

Just an fyi, most of your hollow, pointless, new posts won't help you get to 60 to post in the wtb forum

tj don't ruin all their fun.....it's like when your a kid and learn the hard way that peeing on an electric fence isn't recommended

where are you people finding these electric fences to pee on..  I've never come across one..

rural american, we have cows yo!
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: oryan_dunn on Thu, 22 August 2013, 12:57:44
Or wait for the backlit XT, the XTS....
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: FuriousGeorge on Thu, 22 August 2013, 15:37:36
Have they confirmed they are still doing a backlit xt? It seems like the qfu is the replacement for it. I don't see a backlit xt selling very well vs the qfu and the xt. It will be more expensive than both of them and appeal to a smaller market.
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: oryan_dunn on Thu, 22 August 2013, 15:47:34
Have they confirmed they are still doing a backlit xt? It seems like the qfu is the replacement for it. I don't see a backlit xt selling very well vs the qfu and the xt. It will be more expensive than both of them and appeal to a smaller market.

Well, they said they were, and I haven't seen them confirm that they are not.

I hope they move forward, as I really would like an MX Green backlit XT.  I really like my QF Pro, so if they did make an Ultimate with MX Green and green backlit, that'd work for me as well.
Title: Re: Quickfire XT vs Quickfire Ultimate?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 22 August 2013, 15:48:40
i see..

Just an fyi, most of your hollow, pointless, new posts won't help you get to 60 to post in the wtb forum

tj don't ruin all their fun.....it's like when your a kid and learn the hard way that peeing on an electric fence isn't recommended

where are you people finding these electric fences to pee on..  I've never come across one..

rural american, we have cows yo!

where u at (http://s1.postimage.org/15vplpkuc/158.gif)