DAS, Filco, or Leopold?

[hfcobra]

which one would you go for and why?   I have been thinking about waiting for EK but i dont think i can and i might just spring for a DAS since there is a chance that EK wont have a cherry brown full size keyboard.  ( the filco is just up there because i want to see what people think)

[evoli]

I mean, it really comes down to you weighing preference versus patience.

Filcos are a tad harder to come by now.  The only two places I know where you can order them online are armygroup and keyboardco.  You'll be paying quite a bit in shipping if you order from either.

Das has a glossy finish on it which makes it prone to smudging and fingerprints.  The design is also a little different than the Filcos and Leopolds.  If this doesn't bother you too much and you want one 'right now' you might as well just order it.

Leopolds are, essentially, a Filco clone aren't they?  If you were waiting for them to come because you like the design (which I think you might be, because you could have ordered a Das whenever if you were interested) you might as well try and tough it out to get what you wanted.  Or you could order a Filco if you don't mind spending a little more for shipping.

[hfcobra]

I mean, it really comes down to you weighing preference versus patience.

Filcos are a tad harder to come by now.  The only two places I know where you can order them online are armygroup and keyboardco.  You'll be paying quite a bit in shipping if you order from either.

Das has a glossy finish on it which makes it prone to smudging and fingerprints.  The design is also a little different than the Filcos and Leopolds.  If this doesn't bother you too much and you want one 'right now' you might as well just order it.

Leopolds are, essentially, a Filco clone aren't they?  If you were waiting for them to come because you like the design (which I think you might be, because you could have ordered a Das whenever if you were interested) you might as well try and tough it out to get what you wanted.  Or you could order a Filco if you don't mind spending a little more for shipping.

yep, i dont think i will be going for the Das, too many fingerprints.  Does Leopold make a full size keyboard at all?  I have never seen one and I looked around for quite a while earlier.

[evoli]

I've never seen a full size Leopold either.  To be honest though, my Leopold knowledge is limited to what was shown in the preview thread on Geekhack.  I didn't do any more research after that.

[typo]

the das and leopold have laserd keys, big plus. my das does not have fingerprints on it because i touch the keys not the frame! the das seems to be more sturdy than the filco which i also own. the usb ports on the das are useless due to their location. the das pro s is $125.99 at sidewinder computers.com(an authorized dealer). their shipping is cheap and they will get it to you quickly. they had a sale for $99 which i took advantage of.

of course get whichever you like best!

[db_Iodine]

If you want a full size keyboard, I'd probably recommend Das right now. You can get it for cheaper than a Filco, and I'm not sure about full size Leopolds either.

Don't worry about the glossy bezels. I clean mine about once every other day, and it stays clean and looking sharp.

[bugfix]

I can also recommend the DAS. It's a wonderful keyboard and if you swipe it once in a while with the included polishing cloth it will always look as if brand new.

[godly_music]

Leopolds will be cheaper than the other two and they look to be just as well made. I would get that one.

[iMav]

Leopolds will be cheaper than the other two and they look to be just as well made. I would get that one.

There are no full-sized keyboards on the Archiss site, if that is any indication.

[gregh]

I've had a DAS Keyboard and a Filco (and others). The DAS Keyboards don't feel as solid and heavy as the Filco, imo. That's something else to consider, other than design and price.

[db_Iodine]

I thought the Das is actually heavier than Filco 104's. Also I'm not complaining about the build quality of mine. Feels like a solid keyboard overall.

[itlnstln]

Hmm... I went to Costar's site for actual weight specs, but they only list the DAS version of the CST-104 now.  I wonder if that's why EK was having trouble stocking Filcos (Costar stopped production of the CST-104).  It wouldn't explain why there are still Filcos in the wild nor the Rosewill, but maybe those will be short-lived, too.

http://costar.com.tw/products01/?page=1&p_sid=32

[itlnstln]

Leopold used to have full-size 'boards, but I just went to their site, and I no longer see them.  The looked a little different than the Tenkeyless (other than being full-size), so they may have used a different OEM at one time and discontinued them as they sold out.

[itlnstln]

Why would Diatec do a big refresh of their English Website if they were about to obsolete the product line?   I don't think so.  I think it's just a change in distribution channels.

And who knows why Costar changed their website.  It's not exactly been the most informative.   The Rosewill PCB for example is not listed either and it's clearly different from the CST-104.

This is exactly what I am suggesting.  Filcos are not going away, but maybe they had to change OEMs causing an interruption in distribution.

[hfcobra]

well i think that i will sell my U9BL and get a Blue switch Leopold and a Brown switch Leopold if they come in full size 'boards.  If not then I am not sure what to do at the moment and may get a Das later.