nnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[vicariouscheese]

so here i am, finally deciding that i want to go ahead and buy my first mechanical keyboard, and i decide on the filco majestouch tenkeyless mx browns... with blank keycaps.  and elitekeyboards is sold out.  they dont even have blank keycaps in stock, so i wasn't even tempted to buy the printed ones and extra set of caps!

anyways just wanted to know if anyone knew if/when they would be restocking.  or if perhaps someone wanted to try and convince me that blues would be the way to go

im a gamer at heart, know way too much about mice, and wanting to do the same with keyboards now that i've got my right hand set

[WhiteRice]

Hate to break it to you, but I heard that they wouldn't be restocking the 'otaku' keyboards.

[didjamatic]

[vicariouscheese]

actually, i asked their sales email and i got

"We hope to later this year or at the beginning of next year."

that is non-commital enough that maybe they wont be though :/

[iMav]

I, personally, like both the brown and blues.  Have you tried either?

[TexasFlood]

[RSA27]

Just get the tenkeyless browns and enjoy...and hope...and wait..

I just got mine, and I love it.
It's so damn small though...
Kinda wierd sitting under a 21" CRT..thing is tiny.

Love the feel though.

Interestingly enough, on a completely unrelated tangent, I found a dome Model M at work..and I ...*gasp*... really like it.  Best dome I've ever typed on.
71G4644

Any other fans of the 4644?

[SmallWalrus]

Just get the tenkeyless browns and enjoy...and hope...and wait..

I just got mine, and I love it.
It's so damn small though...
Kinda wierd sitting under a 21" CRT..thing is tiny.

Love the feel though.

Interestingly enough, on a completely unrelated tangent, I found a dome Model M at work..and I ...*gasp*... really like it.  Best dome I've ever typed on.
71G4644

Any other fans of the 4644?

Domed Model M?

Geez, a dirty parallel/analogy escapes me at the moment!

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

Why do people buy blank key caps may i ask

[zmurf]

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Seems like someone run out of O's there... Had to use an Ö in the beginning. It was a little confusing until I realised it was supposed to be "Oh nooo" and not "Öh nooo".

Why do people buy blank key caps may i ask ???

Because they believe them self to much more 133t if they show that they know where all the button are without being able to see the... And that n00bs can't use their computer since they can't see which button that do what.
And it also looks cooler on the desktop....

Or maybe people just buy them to be forced to learn how to touch type. I learned how to touch type that way... I painted all my caps on my Amiga green so I wouldn't be able to see the letters... so I had to learn to touch type.

But now when I can touch type I wouldn't care to explicitly chose a keyboard with blank caps. But I probably wouldn't notice if I would have to use one.... I almost never look at the key caps. I used my web cam to video myself using the computer at work... and I counted myself nodding down to look at the keys four times in five days.... And I work as a coder...

[zmurf]

Why do people buy blank key caps may i ask

Because they believe them self to much more 133t if they show that they know where all the button are without being able to see the... And that n00bs can't use their computer since they can't see which button that do what.
And it also looks cooler on the desktop....

Or maybe people just by them to be forced to learn how to touch type. I learned how to touch type that way... I painted all my caps on my Amiga green so I wouldn't be able to see the letters... so I had to learn to touch type.

But now when I can touch type I wouldn't care to explicitly chose a keyboard with blank caps. But I probably wouldn't notice if I would have to use one.... I almost never look at the key caps. I used my web cam to video myself using the computer at work... and I counted myself nodding down to look at the keys four times in five days.... And I work as a coder...

[Brodie337]

Maybe just go for the normal tenkeyless brown board, then add the blank keycaps later.

That's what I did.

[Kairxa]

Why do people buy blank key caps may i ask

because it makes your keyboard have less color. at least for me. I'd buy blank keycaps because I love black. That's all.

[Sakom]

So my kid can't use my computer.

[Rajagra]

[itlnstln]

I forced myself to stop looking at the keyboard with blank caps.  I could already touch type, but I kept the bad habit of looking at the keyboard.  Now that I have done that, I don't really make it a point to have blanks anymore.  I still prefer the black on grey of the Topres, though.

[lmnop]

I learned to touch type before I bought a Das Ultimate. after a week I was ready to return it because I couldn't stand typing on blanks, but like my mother used to say you either jump in and swim or drown

[SirClickAlot]

The DAS 1 keyboard was my first truly expensive keyboard. It had completely blank keycaps and I figured it would help me type much more proficiently when not looking at my keyboard. One huge problem popped up though -> The special chars would be a big nuisance to find . I had to peek at another non-blanked keyboard in order to find them on the DAS I. Furthermore : for gaming it proved a nuisance since I could only type a character after I put my two hands on the board with my index fingers centered on the f and j keys.

These experiences made me stay away from blanked keyboards.

The cherry browns are an excellent choice by the way... In my book they are the closest to my current favorite : Topre Realforce.....

Regards.

[MsKeyboard]

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 Didja,
I recognize that bird from a series over on DPReview, did you take those?

[Rajagra]

Didja,
I recognize that bird from a series over on DPReview, did you take those?

I would kill to take a picture like that. Not literally.
OK, well, maybe I really would.

[lmnop]

it's really nice

[washuai]

Yea, blank keys can be for:
* aesthetics (worn legends are ick, but so are scuffed blanks lesser evil)
* Touch typing improvement
* keeping away those who can't touch type.
* amusement at the expense of those who can't touch type
* visual cues (blanks of differing colors)

That picture makes me weep that I don't have the gear and ability to hunt for shots all day, but happy I've seen it.

[vicariouscheese]

i just like the aesthetics of a blank keyboard better, at least if it's not illuminated.  special chars will be annoying a bit, but whatever.  and if youre looking at your keyboard during gaming... thats never any good

also another email, since i asked if they would restock the blank keycaps:

"We hope to restock these later this year, but the manufacturer has put
this item on hold while they retool for some newer products."

soooo new filco keyboards coming out?

[Oqsy]

I still don't understand why Vader didn't just off himself after Padme snuffed it.  I mean the guy was obviously making one ****ing huge mistake after another, and had gotten to the point where his best friend had chopped off his limbs and left him burning alive on the edge of a lake of lava, his woman had given up on him after he f'ed up and killed a crap-ton of baby Jedi, and he wakes up all metaled up in an iron lung suit playing ass boy to that creepy **** muppet the Emperor...  Seriously dude, there IS a time to just jump into space without a suit.

[a_fluffy_kitten]

I still don't understand why Vader didn't just off himself after Padme snuffed it.  I mean the guy was obviously making one ****ing huge mistake after another, and had gotten to the point where his best friend had chopped off his limbs and left him burning alive on the edge of a lake of lava, his woman had given up on him after he f'ed up and killed a crap-ton of baby Jedi, and he wakes up all metaled up in an iron lung suit playing ass boy to that creepy **** muppet the Emperor...  Seriously dude, there IS a time to just jump into space without a suit.

For real.

[keyboardlover]

I can touch-type, but I've noticed some trouble when I go to use keys that I don't often use on my topre if it's dark (it has the dark keys). Does this issue go away over time with using an otaku board? If so, how long does it typically take?

[ricercar]

You guys are clearly not Dark Side material.

[squarebox]

I'm currently using a Filco D.I.Y otaku.
I cant touch type due to the fact my finger are always on (starting from pinky) Shift, A, S, D (I started using computers through games)
I have my own weird typing method. (miserable 40+ wpm)

I have no problems using blank keys, I still look that my keyboard once in while when i type horribly wrongly due to the fact i place my hand on the wrong area.(one key to the left/right)

[majestouch]

BTW =KE-10487&input[category_id]=1838]Aus PC-Market Online does have the blank Filco set for $66 Australian.

Will only sell to Kiwis and Australians though.  Wankers.

Other distributors picked those keys up when they were available, but EK has already sold out (and for half that price!). That product only exists because geek hackers asked that I carry it;)

[erricrice]

Yes....and......so that means they're coming BACK!

YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Actually I'd prefer double shots.

Ohhhhhh man...double shots straight from Filco that don't need modding to fit properly... :drool:

[aegrotatio]

I think Metadot still has Das Keyboards with Cherry Browns in stock (Blues are back-ordered last I checked).  They call it the "Das Keyboard Professional Model S Silent" or something like that.  The box it comes in says it's the "keyboard that clicks" but it's nice and quiet enough, just tap-tap-tap.

My copy had some quality control problem that I did not expect but they remedied it and refunded me the shipping cost.  You should try Metadot out.

[vicariouscheese]

I think Metadot still has Das Keyboards with Cherry Browns in stock (Blues are back-ordered last I checked).  They call it the "Das Keyboard Professional Model S Silent" or something like that.  The box it comes in says it's the "keyboard that clicks" but it's nice and quiet enough, just tap-tap-tap.

My copy had some quality control problem that I did not expect but they remedied it and refunded me the shipping cost.  You should try Metadot out.

daskeyboard was actually the reason i started looking into mechanical keyboards in the first place.  im considering it since it is cheaper and has otaku style in stock, but i really want the tenkeyless design right now...

[EvilSaint]

Other distributors picked those keys up when they were available, but EK has already sold out (and for half that price!). That product only exists because geek hackers asked that I carry it;)

Got my set here, but they appear to be sold out already. No VAT and shipping wasn't bad, but they were only $10 or so cheaper than the Australian site. Insanely fast regular shipping though =)

http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=639

[laden3]

Ohhhhhh man...double shots straight from Filco that don't need modding to fit properly... :drool:

Did u misunderstood those r blank keys...

[squarebox]

Any pics?  DIY Otaku Filco sounds interesting.

Local Distributor of filco in singapore only sells normal versions but they do bring in Blank kepcaps.
Bought a set and converted it myself.
Blanks keycaps in Singapore cost SGD$55 = USD$40ish

[squarebox]

If I knew it was gonna be such a big deal I would have loaded up on the $10 ones in the Cleverly store in Akihabara.

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Aren't those for steelseries rite? Enter keys are a dead giveaway.

[squarebox]

No, it's for the Brown Cherry $70 keyboard that they sell there.  I ended up getting a JP layout Filco Zero because the quality was better and it was a tenkeyless.

EZ-KB108 $70

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But most of the keys would have swapped in fine.  The other thing that I'm finding odd is why people seem interested in the Ducky Keyboard ?  It's pretty cheap looking for $120 and really should be priced lower.  Might as well get an Adesso MKB-135B.

Ducky DK9008 $120

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Because ducky have PBT keys?
A forum in Singapore is holding a MO for Ducky 9008(black on black) + free extra set of black on black for SGD$165 = USD$125.

Ducky with normal keys are on extremely backordered in China.

Filco here go for a crazy SGD$199 = USD $150

[laden3]

PBT is nice.....

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But I like the laser etching on the PBT KBC keys a lot better.  That sucker will never wear out.

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 I dunno, I'll wait to see a full review of the Ducky.   I'm frankly more interested in that KBTalking HHKB clone than yet another full sized Chinese keyboard.  I was hoping more for cheaper prices - like the $50 Scorpius M10.  For US customers it's not adding up for me.

The first pic looks like ABS, I heard from a KBC forum member that black on black on ABS r laser infilled while the PBTs r lazer etched.

[squarebox]

The first pic looks like ABS, I heard from a KBC forum member that black on black on ABS r laser infilled while the PBTs r lazer etched.

Any cons of ABS ? compared to PBT?

I believe Delrin of G80-3494 are better/best. (delrin are used as motorcycle slider)

[laden3]

well...... PBTs r more expensive and ppl like expensive stuffs when they can afford it =)

[erricrice]

Did u misunderstood those r blank keys...

No, I was referring to a teaser earlier this year that elitekeyboards might carry doubleshot keys for their filcos.

Meaning we don't have to cannabalize ten different old cherry 'boards just to get this.

[keyb_gr]

ABS is softer but not brittle at all like most plastics.  That's why it's the superior material for keyboard casings.

Yep, the oft-mentioned "impact resistance". Oh, and it's not only keyboard casings...

AFAIK all doubleshots are ABS.  As a result your keys will get shiny fairly quickly.   I'm typing on a Blue Cherry Filco with some pretty shiny doubleshots - especially the home row and n,m - a pretty common wear pattern.

It is not at all unusual to see older H-type G80s with very shiny keys indeed. That, and they tend to yellow in sunlight just about as much as the case.

I think the only exception I've seen are the keys on the old G80-1501HAD medical keyboard, touted as being two-shot PBT.