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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Al3xG on Thu, 03 October 2013, 11:37:53

Title: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Al3xG on Thu, 03 October 2013, 11:37:53
Hi to all! I need to buy my first mechanical keyboard, and I've to choose from the Das Ultimate (new for 150€ shipped) and the Majestouch 1 (used for 110€ shipped).
For me the Das id more good looking, but the Filco seems more robust.
for those who have tried them both, which do you recommend?
Thanks  ;)
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: boost on Thu, 03 October 2013, 11:39:14
Both are nice keyboards but from those choices I would go filco. Other good keyboards are CM Storm, Ducky, WASD.

Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 03 October 2013, 11:42:39
They both great, but the Filco I'm using right now wants you to buy a Filco.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: yasuo on Thu, 03 October 2013, 11:58:44
design das more modern and looks glossy body
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: BliTzKiN on Thu, 03 October 2013, 12:18:35
Filco gets my vote, I'm not really a fan of the glossy finish and the weird shape above the numpad
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: acer589 on Thu, 03 October 2013, 12:26:25
Yeah, I would definitely go for the Filco. Quality of Das has gone down recently.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Al3xG on Thu, 03 October 2013, 15:27:16
Yeah, I would definitely go for the Filco. Quality of Das has gone down recently.

The Das Ultimate isn't made by Costar, like Filco?
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 03 October 2013, 16:43:06
A friend of mine recently sold his Das to buy a Filco due to (amongst other things) the Das' glossy finish attracting too much dust.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: dante on Thu, 03 October 2013, 16:47:40
Neither.

DAS for the reasons already stated.

Per EK the Filco Maj-1 may have controller issues down the road.

Filco Maj-2? No contest.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Al3xG on Thu, 03 October 2013, 17:22:22
Neither.

DAS for the reasons already stated.

Per EK the Filco Maj-1 may have controller issues down the road.

Filco Maj-2? No contest.

So do you recommend a Majestouch 2? I don't understand...
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: xCatbodi on Thu, 03 October 2013, 17:23:35
I just canceled my Das Ultimate because of them changing their OEM's from what I had heard.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: ComradeSniper on Thu, 03 October 2013, 17:25:01
Yeah, I would definitely go for the Filco. Quality of Das has gone down recently.

The Das Ultimate isn't made by Costar, like Filco?

I don't believe that the latest generation is.

I'd recommend Filco as well, I don't think there's a better quality non-custom board available right now than a Majestouch 2.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 03 October 2013, 17:31:08
Das has seemed a bit gimmicky to me.  Plus that gloss!
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Al3xG on Thu, 03 October 2013, 17:43:06
I just canceled my Das Ultimate because of them changing their OEM's from what I had heard.

Is only for the Professional if I'm not wrong...
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: C5Allroad on Thu, 03 October 2013, 19:55:45
I just canceled my Das Ultimate because of them changing their OEM's from what I had heard.

Is only for the Professional if I'm not wrong...
...I don't even know what to say to that....
The Filco looks nicer you won't to clean that everyday if you like your things looking nice.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Emospence on Thu, 03 October 2013, 20:17:43
Filco or CMStorm Rapid/XT  ;D
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: dante on Thu, 03 October 2013, 21:17:15
Filco or CMStorm Rapid/XT  ;D

Filco.

Although I've had zero issues with either of my QFR's the number of defects per Newegg/Amazon reviews is alarming.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: PadawanGeek on Thu, 03 October 2013, 21:40:32
Das has seemed a bit gimmicky to me.  Plus that gloss!
I've heard that the glossy surface not only attracts dust, it's a fingerprint magnet as well.....prolly spend half the day spit and polishing it just to keep it looking good. MJ2 no contest, love my MJ2's! ;D
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Lu_e on Thu, 03 October 2013, 22:05:18
Gloss plastic scratches, that's the worst thing about it IMO
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Belfong on Thu, 03 October 2013, 22:32:06
Yeah, I think the glossy surface ie fingerprint magnet in the DAS is a put off.

But then, Filco is used.

So why not go with WASDkeyboards? Their V2 is really solid. And you can choose the colour of your key caps and customize them. And they cost slightly more than DAS.

I am using the Code from WASD and loving it.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: IMHB on Fri, 04 October 2013, 00:54:39
if they're all mx blue, take filco. It's a classic.

But consider other brands too like QFR.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: mapple on Fri, 04 October 2013, 02:53:00
go with filco for quality
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 04 October 2013, 03:01:27
My take on this would be to get the Filco over the Das.  Unless the Das is an older Costar version then it could go either way.  There was some quality questions that were called upon when Das added the media keys which to my knowledge were not Costar board and again when the news of changing OEMS surfaced.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Al3xG on Fri, 04 October 2013, 03:51:04
Ok, I'm going with Filco  ;)
Today I've found a very little used Majestouch 2 Camo for a very good price (less than the used Majestouch 1), but I don't like the Fn button.
What do you recommend?
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 04 October 2013, 04:16:34
Ok, I'm going with Filco  ;)
Today I've found a very little used Majestouch 2 Camo for a very good price (less than the used Majestouch 1), but I don't like the Fn button.
What do you recommend?

You're kinda stuck - the Fn key is the Fn key and that is that.

If you don't like that, you'll have to find a different keyboard.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 04 October 2013, 04:23:08
at least not without replacing the controller.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Al3xG on Fri, 04 October 2013, 04:53:06
at least not without replacing the controller.

Where I can find the alternative controller?
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 04 October 2013, 04:54:49
That I am not sure but will require desoldering and soldering some fairly tiny stuff.  By tiny I mean about 1/4 the size of a pad for a standard keyswitch.  I know it is possible but not sure where or which controller to source for the filco.  Also keep in mind that you will also have to create a custom firmware and flash it to the new controller before said keyboard will work.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 04 October 2013, 05:12:04
This is a lot of work to modify the keyboard - are you sure you can't find an alternative keyboard that has the layout that you would prefer?
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Grim Fandango on Fri, 04 October 2013, 05:14:56
I would go for the Filco. I just do not like glossy on a keyboard. Sets of my OCD with the smudges and fingerprints non-stop. That said, is it not possible to get a Majestouch 2 for that price if you look in the classified?
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 04 October 2013, 06:35:20
at least not without replacing the controller.

Where I can find the alternative controller?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46700.0
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: atlas3686 on Fri, 04 October 2013, 07:06:05
I have 2 Filco's now (brown fullsize and black TKL) and they are brilliant. I have heard that the Das quality has gone down a bit recently and they are serious fingerprint magnets apparently. Got mine from thekeyboardco.com
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: therecorder on Fri, 04 October 2013, 07:44:16
I have 5 filcos and a Das Ultimate.  They're all very nice keyboards.  But, the Das has Blanks, 2 USB slots, and (imho) feels and sounds nicer (probably because of the different keycaps and a tiny bit of play in the keystroke).  If you can deal with the shape and the finish, and are looking to save a little money, I'd say go with the Das.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Al3xG on Fri, 04 October 2013, 08:36:49
at least not without replacing the controller.

Where I can find the alternative controller?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46700.0

WOW!!! I've just buyed the Majestouch 2 camo  ;)
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: Danule on Fri, 04 October 2013, 08:53:55
i have a costar das and 2 filco's i prefer the filco, feels about the same maybe a bit more solid, the filco MJ2 has a better PCB which i like.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: TimIsABat on Fri, 04 October 2013, 09:51:52
Filco. Or better yet, go with the Topre Realforce, but if that is your two choices go with Filco. Not only is it a well built board, but Das boards are almost equivalent to "gaming" boards like the Razer BWU. Most people who buy it don't know that much about keyboards.
Title: Re: Das Ultimate or Filco
Post by: foxtrott on Fri, 04 October 2013, 12:08:30
that is not easy to answer ..  filco is very good.. but DAS is beautiful..  best buy both ..  :D ;D