Razer Blackwidow vs Das Professional Model S vs Filco Majestouch 2

[augusto2112]

Hello all!
I've been interested in mechanical keyboards for quite a while now and finally decided to make the switch.
So, here are the ones i narrowed down to:
-Razer Blackwidow: from what I read the Blackwidow is a lot worse than the two others. But here's the thing. I live in Brazil, and the only mechanical keyboard I could find here was this one. So is the headache bringing the other two keyboard will be worth it? Or should i just go to the store today and buy this one?
-Das Professional S: from what I've seen everyone agrees that this one is a great keyboard. I liked the hub this one has. The problem most people have with it is with the glossy finish. But is the build quality from this one equal to the Filco Majestouch 2? Or is it any worse?
-Filco Majestouch 2: from what I've seen this one seems to be slightly better than the Das one, but it doesn't has the hub thingy.

Keep in mind they all cost the same price for me. I'm also thinking of getting the Cherry Blue as this is my first mechanical keyboard...

Share your opinions please!

[Fluxiantor]

I've got the BWU and it's great. It feels amazing to type on, but like everyone will tell you, it's very loud. I like it for typing and gaming in sc2. However, I'm now buying a cheap mech keyboard with red keyswitches because I want to try out the reds, as for FPS gaming I heard it's better, and it's a lot more silent. Mainly I want to see if I prefer a mech without the tactile click halfway down. If you can get the BWU that cheap I'd say it's worth it, but I don't know how good the other 2 compare (other than I know that they're great brands). Also, the BWU, I found, does get smudges as people say, however if you clean it once a day with a wet paper towel or baby wipe then it's fine.

[augusto2112]

I felt really tempted in buying the BW but the thing is, they sell the BW (not the ultimate!) here for the same price it would cost me to ship a Filco or a Das from the US... So I know that if I bought it, a small part of me would be wondering if I should've waited a little longer and bought one of these two other.
I'm thinking about either the blues or browns... I will use the keyboard for both gaming (incidentally also SC2) and work (I study computer science) but I'm leaning more towards the blues.

[aerial]

You can check ebay (or similar site operating in your country to reduce shipping cost). Razer being relatively mainstream, sells a lot of keyboards, making it very easy to buy second-hand new one (unwanted gift ect). Often for example 2/3 price of new BW, and then it is really good deal.
Keyboard is not that bad, lot of bad feedback comes from biased people who hate razer for their mice (which is justified). Another thing is, if company sells a lot of keyboards, there is higher chance you will find some negative feedback, about faulty units, because statistically it just happens (unlike that small group of people who orders high-end from japan).
BW is really solid board for the price, extremely solid and heavy case, even compared to some other high-end boards. Personally I had no issues with mine (keys, stabilizers, overall build quality). Got it for about 45€ shipped in europe (new, ebay), for any other mech keyboard I would have to pay about twice as much.
Can't compare it to DAS, but for example to ducky, razer feels more solid.

[phormality]

I bought a Das for work.  I love typing on it, but the glossy finish does bother me a little.  I didn't think it would be a big deal since I touch the keys and not the gloss, but somehow it got all smudged up.  Also, the hub is on the same side as the mouse (assuming you're right handed) which would make a lot of stuff get in the way of your mouse depending on your desk setup.  I haven't bother plugging in the hub in yet.

I did just buy a second Das for home.  I wanted to try out WASD or Filco, but I use a Mac at home and Das was one of the few who have a Mac keyboard that doesn't require me to buy custom key caps and run a key re-mapping utility.  I plugged the Windows Das into the Mac and re-mapped some keys, it wasn't ideal.  My new one should show up tomorrow.  It is going to be way too big for my desk, I really need a tenkeyless or something that is HHKB sized like my current Apple keyboard it will be replacing.

[GODJOEY]

I was going to go for the stealth edition which has the browns but I went for filco just recently most solid built keyboard I ever owned but pricy. I went with a leopold red. I never tried Das. What I seen with the leopold the white on the keycap started showing wear a week in. Still a great keyboard may pick up another one. According to the people at elitekeyboards.com the full size keyboard has a metal backplate.

[mkeeley]

I'm in the market for my first new mechanical for a long time. After reading lots I crossed the Black Widow off the list, too many stories of them breaking and tacky looks. As I'm in the UK it's basically the Filco or the Das, otherwise might have gone with WASD, and pretty much decided on the Filco. The price is give or take the same but I'm not too keen on the font the Das uses and a pretty sure that the glossy case would be a fingerprint magnet.

[Nunez]

I got my first mech (BWU) which had to RMA as soon as it came out of the box.

2 weeks later, I got the replacement, used it for 2 weeks and got a Leopold.

Razer is just a terrible company who strives on the "gamer" tag. They cut corners with the BW. Obviously its better than a rubberdome, it is afterall mechanical.. but in comparison to other Mechanical keyboards, its cheap quality.

Currently using a Razer Kabuto mousepad

[augusto2112]

Hmm thanks guys! I'm leaning towards the Filco right now since no one has any complaints about it. And I guess I still want to try the blue cherry out. What do you think of your MJ2 Nunez?

[mickd]

Get the Filco and you won't look back! You'll never be 100% satisfied if you end up getting the BW (though I'm sure you'll enjoy it much more than your current keyboard).

I've been using one for over a year now, and it's been a pleasure to type on (though personally I use the brown switches). As long as not having the extra features the BW has (macro keys, media keys, etc) doesn't concern you, just get the Filco!

[Awful]

I've owned all 3 cba to explain, but Filco.

[Tony]

Filco is the best option, when you pay the same price for all three above keyboards.

[augusto2112]

You guys convinced me in ordering the Filco. Unfortunately the dude who was selling it is out of stock and will only get more in 20 days or so
Guess I'll have to wait 20 days to buy it... plus 20-30 more days to arrive here. So in about a month and a half I'll finally have my keyboard ><

[augusto2112]

Found it at the Keyboard Company! Just ordered one! Estimate is 1-3 week until it arrives... It will be a month

[funxion]

Found it at the Keyboard Company! Just ordered one! Estimate is 1-3 week until it arrives... It will be a month

Over-priced...

I'd cancel your order from them and just post in classifieds, check eBay, or other tech sites. Someone is bound to have the keyboard you want.

Just bought my Filco Ninja MJ2 with browns on eBay and it's in the States for $130 shipped.

Definitely reconsider.

[Omerta]

I find it funny how most people that venture into mech keyboards look at the blackwidow first. I'd be lying if i said that wasn't exactly me but after owning 3 of them and returning all of them. Both the mx blue and mx brown, razer has gone to absolute crap with their quality since 07'+.

You can literally throw a dart at a board with mechboards and land on anyone that is better then a BW. Dont wanna abandon backlights but can handle no media keys /w great build quality? Go with a deck, i'm typing on a deck legend ice tac that i got to pick up from their offices in person(got to look at tons of their keyboards and type on them). You wont regret it.

[Tony]

I find it funny how most people that venture into mech keyboards look at the blackwidow first.

Razer girls make horny buyers' money parting out quite quickly from their pocket.

[anselben]

Yeah in my experience it was always worth the little extra money invested and a little more time to get what you are really going to be happy with. Good choice!

[aerial]

Grirls are used by other brands too, seems to be working



Anyway, the popularity of razer comes from availability, in some countries (especially europe), there is really limited selection of mech keyboards. Price comes into play as well. For example in my case, I'd have to pay about 2,5x more to get cheapest filco. I don't argue that filco is much better board, but it is individual question if it is really worth that much more.. The price differences are much lower in usa, where choice is easier.

[bader0]

i actually have the bwu and the das and i can tell you that the das is much better. also from what i have heard, the das and the filco are almost the exact same board as they use the same factories to make the parts or something and the only difference is the keycaps, the controller(doesn't make much difference unless it messes up), and the case. Most people prefer the filco because the case does not have the glossy finish which attracts fingerprints like the das and the font is not ugly like the one on the das. Personally i don't really care what my keyboard looks like and i could get a das for cheaper than filco so i went with das. I hope this has helped you in some way. sorry for terrible grammar and stuff i haven't slept for 37 hours

[jandd]

After using a Bwu for about a year I just got a Filco Mj2 tkl with browns. Now just to be clear I don't think that the bw is a bad kb at all, it's miles ahead of any robber dome ofc but the build quality and keycaps are actually pretty solid in my experience. For some reason thought my new Filco feels so much better to type on, i'm not really sure why. It could just be down to the different switches and my preferencebut if you can get your hands on a Filco I definitely think that it's the better choice.

[augusto2112]

Over-priced...

I'd cancel your order from them and just post in classifieds, check eBay, or other tech sites. Someone is bound to have the keyboard you want.

Just bought my Filco Ninja MJ2 with browns on eBay and it's in the States for $130 shipped.

Definitely reconsider.

I looked around before buying it and couldn't find any one that's cheaper that would ship to Brazil... Only one I found was 200 dollars which is actually a little bit more expensive than the one I'm buying

[augusto2112]

I find it funny how most people that venture into mech keyboards look at the blackwidow first. I'd be lying if i said that wasn't exactly me but after owning 3 of them and returning all of them. Both the mx blue and mx brown, razer has gone to absolute crap with their quality since 07'+.

You can literally throw a dart at a board with mechboards and land on anyone that is better then a BW. Dont wanna abandon backlights but can handle no media keys /w great build quality? Go with a deck, i'm typing on a deck legend ice tac that i got to pick up from their offices in person(got to look at tons of their keyboards and type on them). You wont regret it.

Good sugestion, I might buy it if I like the feel of mechanical keyboards  

Yeah in my experience it was always worth the little extra money invested and a little more time to get what you are really going to be happy with. Good choice!

Thanks!!

Anyway, the popularity of razer comes from availability, in some countries (especially europe), there is really limited selection of mech keyboards. Price comes into play as well. For example in my case, I'd have to pay about 2,5x more to get cheapest filco. I don't argue that filco is much better board, but it is individual question if it is really worth that much more.. The price differences are much lower in usa, where choice is easier.

Yeah. Razer keyboards may be bad but you gotta recognize they do a good job in making their products available everywhere.

i actually have the bwu and the das and i can tell you that the das is much better. also from what i have heard, the das and the filco are almost the exact same board as they use the same factories to make the parts or something and the only difference is the keycaps, the controller(doesn't make much difference unless it messes up), and the case. Most people prefer the filco because the case does not have the glossy finish which attracts fingerprints like the das and the font is not ugly like the one on the das. Personally i don't really care what my keyboard looks like and i could get a das for cheaper than filco so i went with das. I hope this has helped you in some way. sorry for terrible grammar and stuff i haven't slept for 37 hours

If the Das were cheaper I'd probably go with it (I actually like the font...), but since the DAS and Filco were at the same price I think I made a good choice =)

After using a Bwu for about a year I just got a Filco Mj2 tkl with browns. Now just to be clear I don't think that the bw is a bad kb at all, it's miles ahead of any robber dome ofc but the build quality and keycaps are actually pretty solid in my experience. For some reason thought my new Filco feels so much better to type on, i'm not really sure why. It could just be down to the different switches and my preferencebut if you can get your hands on a Filco I definitely think that it's the better choice.

Thanks =)

[jellowiggler]

If the Razer, Filco and DAS are the same price where you are, it isn't a question.  Get the Filco.

For most of us the Filco is 1.5x - 2x the price of the BW.  So it becomes a quality vs price question.

[funxion]

If the Razer, Filco and DAS are the same price where you are, it isn't a question.  Get the Filco.

For most of us the Filco is 1.5x - 2x the price of the BW.  So it becomes a quality vs price question.

This is true.

I probably would have gotten a Leopold if I hadn't found a cheap Filco.

[Squelos]

Yep, Razer boards are pretty cheap in Europe. They go for around 80€ new in France, so you can get one for 50/60€ without any problems.
I would just say that the stabs arent the best, and the keycaps arent the best also. But you can do some solid typing on it for a good while.
Just dont pull out the keys with your fingers or a pen, and you will be fine.

Filco is about 2x the price of the BW, and they really arent all that better. Switches are the same, you just get better keycaps, and betters stabs.
The caps probably wont matter much, and you probably wont notice they arent all that good if you dont have another keyboard with better caps on them.

Stabilizers on the other hand, MIGHT be noticeable (my spacebar is lower on 1 side because i use it more on one side)