Which Costar keyboard should I buy (Filco, WASD, Das, Rosewill, CM storm)?

[Novus]

Hi,
It's that time of year when the season changes. People discover and migrate into new forums.
Plants sprout, flowers bloom, love blossoms and beer spills across my old mechanical keyboard.
Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise and the perfect chance to grab a new keyboard.
I'm coming from a razer blackwidow keyboard and it's a piece of crap (and I'm not saying that because everybody else in here says so).

So after doing some research and sightseeing I'm interested in
1) Filco
2) WASD
3) DAS
and I'm also considering
4) Rosewill
5) CM storm
It seems like Costar is the ODM for most of these keyboards. I've heard mixed things about Rosewill and CM storm but they're slightly cheaper than the rest and they've got backlighting.
All of these can be easily bought (with free shipping too) in the USA. Ducky keyboards also interest me but they're harder to buy in the USA.

I'm interested in a full sized ANSI keyboard.
I'm looking at cherry MX brown keys but I'm open to any type of MX switch.
I would like to have media keys.
Back light and other bells are whistles are nice if they are included but I would prioritize a better board over these features.

So what keyboard would you recommend I buy?

[nullstring]

Rosewill is the cheapest full size and none of the others are significantly better than it.
I have three of them and no issues yet.

[TheQsanity]

Das is not costar. Unless you get a used one.
Not all cm kb are costar. Not sure about their new boards but they should be coming out soon.

[davkol]

I'd wait for the WASDv2, if I were in the US. Mostly because of native Colemak support, and microUSB cable... and to support the company.

[davkol]

Das is not costar. Unless you get a used one.

Ultimate is, Professional isn't.

[Novus]

Das is not costar. Unless you get a used one.

Ultimate is, Professional isn't.

OHHH that explains it.
I've always wondered why the ultimate costs more despite having no letters.

Am I correct to assume that since these use very similar Costar boards.
The only differences would be the quality of keycaps, minor aesthetics and stuff like rosewill's USB-PCB issues?

[Novus]

Das is not costar. Unless you get a used one.

Ultimate is, Professional isn't.

OHHH that explains it.
I've always wondered why the ultimate costs more despite having no letters.

Am I correct to assume that since these use very similar Costar boards there won't be significant quality differences across each keyboard.
The only noticeable differences would be the quality of keycaps, minor aesthetics and stuff like rosewill's USB-PCB issues?

[Hyde]

Yeah I'd say you're pretty much correct.  Looks like you did your research good job 

1)  Filco:  Most expensive but also do feel most solid.  However some find the price doesn't justify quality increase.  For example, almost 2 times more expensive but not 2 times better.

2)  WASD:  Seems a solid choice never heard any complaints.  Though V2 is on the horizon so if you plan to go with this then you should wait.

3)  Das:  Like people said Ultimate and Mac Edition are still Costar.  In my opinion quality feels similar to Filco but Filco still feel sllightly more solid.  Gloss finish is love or hate.

4)  Rosewill:  Seems like the cheapest full size choice but I don't know if the mini b connector issue is fixed or not.  Goes on sale a lot however buy at your own discretion.

5)  CM Storm:  Only QuickFire Rapid and Trigger are currently Costar.  But they're coming out with QuickFire XT which is a Costar full size.  CM Storm has the best money to quality ratio but if you want full size you might have to wait.

Now keep in mind some brands carry in a lot of major stores and some you can only order online.  To me that since I can pick up Filco, Das, and CM Storm locally so price wise they actually have an edge over other brands which you might have to pay for shipping (Which isn't cheap for mechanical keyboards).

[TheQsanity]

What stores carry das or filco? Thought it was online only.

[Hyde]

Well at least in Canada you can get Das and Filco at NCIX.  Canada Computers also carry Das at cheaper price but no Filco there.

And CM Storm is literally sold everywhere lol.

[TheQsanity]

Nope dont think we have an NCIX B&M here. They seem to have quite a diverse inventory.

[Novus]

Thanks for the responses guys!
Really great community here.

After looking up NCIX I just noticed that I missed a nice filco(Filco Majestouch 2 104 Blue & Brown switches) for $100 on the US NCIX website.
I also missed a das keyboard sale (20-25% off everything due to some special event).
That makes me really sad.  but missing something on a sale always tends to drive me towards buying something high quality that stays at a fixed price - man that's some twisted logic I have.
Therefore, I'm thinking of getting a Filco with cherry MX black switches on amazon (I have amazon prime). I shall sleep on this and bite the bullet (or chicken out ) in the morning

I was thinking about waiting for the WASD v2 keyboard but it supposedly comes out in May (assuming no more delays and such) and I might have to do alot of keyboard crunching in April (and this membrane keyboard i'm temporarily on is already driving me nuts)

[nullstring]

Since you're new, make sure that mx blacks are what you really want..

They are heavy and linear.. not what id consider to be comfortable.

Not that some people don't like them, but since you're new I just thought i'd remind you to double check.

[TheQsanity]

They will probably be heavier than membrane. You may need time to get used to them. You will need like 2 weeks to get used to any switch. Blacks just require that you press harder. Not a problem if you already do that. Blacks are more for gaming. I have used them for gaming and typing and would not feel a differance when gaming but I would feel a differance when typing. I think everyone jumps the gun on their first mechanical keyboard. Most people get the blackwidow first. My first was the das.
If you dont mind 60% keyboards, I would recommend you check out the gh60. After using a lot of big brand keyboards, I find custom keyboards more satisfying. They are programmable and come in a layout of your choosing. They also help the development of mechanical keyboards and rival bigger brands to step it up a notch. Gh60 will have a a keypad extention. DT is also developing the hypermicro. We recently finished a gb for the phantom,  which is a tenkeyless. I dont think we made a full sized kb yet. The ergodox recently finished a gb at massdrop. You should check it out. They may be starting another ergodox gb soon.  I think they are soon to be starting a gb with filco brown (tenkeyless).

{Whooh, That was a lot to type on my phone lol. I hope it wasnt to vauge or more than you asked for ><}

[Novus]

Thanks for the warning guys. I'm actually coming from blackwidow myself (MX blue switches) and I don't think black is what I'm looking for.
I think I'm going to grab a cherry MX red keyboard ... or browns (if they pop back on sale )

[ktownhero]

I can't speak for the others, but I can tell you that the CM Storm Trigger is one solid board.  It's like a tank, is nicely backlit, and is available in any of the popular switches.  I have one with browns switches and love it. 

I don't get red switches at all, I hate the way they feel.  The browns have the same actuation force but make you actually feel like you are doing something.  Linear switches are too mushy for me, especially ones as light as the reds. 

[Novus]

Wow these filco reds are not easy to find.   

I wish it was on amazon.
Seems like NCIX.ca with some international shipping to the states is my best bet (comes out around 162 USD with shipping included)
Keyboardco.uk also carries reds but NCIX.ca is cheaper.
I can't find any filco reds on pchome - although that site is so hard to navigate.

Please let me know if you guys know of any other websites/places to buy filco reds.
Thanks!

[TotalChaos]

So what keyboard would you recommend I buy?

I bought Rosewill.  It was a mistake.
I bought a CM QFR.  It was a mistake.

I should have bought WASD.

Will u learn from my mistakes?  Or will u make the same mistake as me?

[tp4tissue]

Get the Filco...

the WASD Bezel is not cool...

[Hyde]

So what keyboard would you recommend I buy?

I bought Rosewill.  It was a mistake.
I bought a CM QFR.  It was a mistake.

I should have bought WASD.

Will u learn from my mistakes?  Or will u make the same mistake as me?

lol what's wrong with QFR?

[Novus]

So what keyboard would you recommend I buy?

I bought Rosewill.  It was a mistake.
I bought a CM QFR.  It was a mistake.

I should have bought WASD.

Will u learn from my mistakes?  Or will u make the same mistake as me?

Haha thanks for that.

I was about to make that mistake but the good folks here steered me away.
I was going to get a WASD but the v2 comes out soon and I don't feel like waiting.
So I'm getting a Filco cherry MX Red. Filco's seem to be the titlists of mechanical keyboards so I think it's a good choice.
Now I'm just trying to hunt down the best way to buy the reds.
I sent a few email inquiries, hope I'll hear back tomorrow.

Seems like NCIX.ca is my best bet right now.
If you know any good/reliable ways to get a filco red in the US please let me know.

[TotalChaos]

So what keyboard would you recommend I buy?

I bought Rosewill.  It was a mistake.
I bought a CM QFR.  It was a mistake.

I should have bought WASD.

Will u learn from my mistakes?  Or will u make the same mistake as me?

lol what's wrong with QFR?

Not having a numeric keypad just totally sux.  I thought I could live without it but... it turns out that tons of software these days uses the numeric keypad.  Why should I live without a useful feature?

Anyway if you look around you will find out that there has been some sort of horrible quality control problem on the modern QFRs which did not affect us because we got ours before the problems started.  But the problems are affecting a lot of other ppl who buy them these days.

[Abacus1234]

I dunno, that isn't really a reason to recommend against a board, especially given that it is a big plus for some people. I have about 8 mechanicals, 5 of which are TKL. It obviously is not a drawback to a lot of people.

[TheQsanity]

Smaller brand kb have reds. Trigger is a great kb.

[Macsmasher]

Not having a numeric keypad just totally sux.  I thought I could live without it but... it turns out that tons of software these days uses the numeric keypad.  Why should I live without a useful feature?

Name the 'tons' of software that requires a tenkey. I can't wait to see the vast list. And a better setup for those who need a tenkey is a separate tenkeypad anyway...

http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-TenKeyPad-Tactile-Numberpad/dp/B000MGBPNI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364454500&sr=8-1&keywords=filco+tenkeypad

You can buy less expensive tenkeypads. But for $65, you get Filco with MX browns.

I have a Realforce 23U and love it...

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rf_numberpad&pid=rf_wc0100

Arguably nicer than what I need since I only use it maybe once a week. It sits right behind my TKL for those rear occasions I need it. I have friend who is an accountant. He wouldn't think of getting a full-sized keyboard over his separate tenkeypad and TKL main board, and he makes a living on his tenkey.

Lastly, a separate tenkeypad usually gives you a backspace key in the top cluster. Very handy. The Realforce gives you Copy and Paste functions as well.

[Skull_Angel]

Last I checked, Qtan had the Keycool 10-key pads on his site for sale starting at $39.99 USD before shipping.

[Novus]

Just got my filco reds this morning (it spent an entire all alone sitting in a ups warehouse @ weekend)

I have to say I'm really enjoying these reds although it's probably going to take me the better part of a week to fully adjust. I do wish this keyboard USB cord was a bit longer - I can barely route the cable behind the desk to my desktop.