CM Storm Cherry Greens with LED and a Bonus Keyboard Cameo

[SonicRevolution]

After building some muscle strength with the Unicomp - Buckling Spring, I recently picked up these Cherry Green CM Storm TK's. (the one with the Full Num keypad that doubles as arrow keys)  I hope I didn't get ripped off because the Cherry Green switch on Amazon was like $35 more than the Reds or the Blues.  I guess they are just harder to come by.  A bit frustrating...

I don't think I want to type on these for any length of time but it's a fun keyboard to switch into when I get bored with my other mechs!

You can turn off the NUM led and the bottom keys become arrow keys (which I use a lot) and turn it back on if you're working with a 3D program or software that needs the NUM keypad.  I think the design with the 3 grooves on the upper right hand corner is a bit weird.  I think it's unnecessary.  But the whole TK design I'm a big fan of.

I always felt the TKL design felt somehow visually "unbalanced" like the lonely arrow keys with empty real estate above.  The TK design I think it's very cool and visually balanced and still get a no-nonsense access to the arrow keys!

p.s. Can you guys guess the keyboard below? Of course you guys can!  This is GeekHack!

[Shikarikato]

Realforce 87U?

Also I think since Greens are in much less demand than the 4 most popular switches that's why you had to pay a premium. I guess a lot of people aren't accustomed to heavy switches either which is a turn off for one of the biggest marketing targets(gamers). Isn't the theory if you can press it faster it makes you better or something? I don't remember but for whatever reason(Other than it being light and easy to double tap) reds have to be the " Supreme Gaming Switch ".

[SonicRevolution]

Yeah, it's interesting to note that all these mech's are being marketed as "gaming" keyboards when in reality, they are just better made keyboards.  I think everyone can like whatever keyboard switch/type they prefer.  But it was not too long ago I balked at the thought of even having to "pay" for a keyboard.  Dell computer just "threw in" a keyboard for free.   Those free keyboards were pretty awful and I didn't even know it.  Spacebar on some of these "microsoft" branded ergo keyboards are atrocious.  But again, I just didn't know any better.

But now, it seems people (more wider general public) are warming up to seeing "value" in $70 - $100 keyboards.  I think it's a great trend.  But I think there's opportunity to market mech's to other demographics than just the gaming crowd perhaps? Which could mean better quality boards for even cheaper?

I would like to see mech's evolve to be not sooo serious and "gamey" or super cold like something you'd find a a court dictation clerk's office.  bah.. we'll see I guess.

[terran5992]

Yeah, it's interesting to note that all these mech's are being marketed as "gaming" keyboards when in reality, they are just better made keyboards.  I think everyone can like whatever keyboard switch/type they prefer.  But it was not too long ago I balked at the thought of even having to "pay" for a keyboard.  Dell computer just "threw in" a keyboard for free.   Those free keyboards were pretty awful and I didn't even know it.  Spacebar on some of these "microsoft" branded ergo keyboards are atrocious.  But again, I just didn't know any better.

But now, it seems people (more wider general public) are warming up to seeing "value" in $70 - $100 keyboards.  I think it's a great trend.  But I think there's opportunity to market mech's to other demographics than just the gaming crowd perhaps? Which could mean better quality boards for even cheaper?

I would like to see mech's evolve to be not sooo serious and "gamey" or super cold like something you'd find a a court dictation clerk's office.  bah.. we'll see I guess.

To them

Mechanical keyboard = "Gaming" Keyboard

[PointyFox]

The more I deal with mechanical keyboards the less value I see in them.  They last me a few months (always controller problems) on average while rubber dome boards last me 10+ years.
I've also discovered the value of cheap Cherry boards.

The price inflation on MX Green is like how it was on MX Red a year or two ago when people thought MX Red was trendy and exotic.

[Linkbane]

The more I deal with mechanical keyboards the less value I see in them.  They last me a few months (always controller problems) on average while rubber dome boards last me 10+ years.
I've also discovered the value of cheap Cherry boards.

The price inflation on MX Green is like how it was on MX Red a year or two ago when people thought MX Red was trendy and exotic.

PointyFox doesn't know about operator error.

[rowdy]

I recently acquired a keyboard with MX greens.  I would say it is about on par with buckling spring as far as spring strength goes.  The keys on the MX greens do seem a little easier to press, perhaps due to the lower profile keycaps on that board.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

PointyFox doesn't know about operator error.

Both my Filco Majestouch keyboards have been problematic. One just had a single switch go funny. The other had a manufacturing defect that had to be fixed by the Keyboard Company twice (switch soldered while not fully seated, I think, causing the solder joint to bear the keystroke impact) and now a couple more switches have started playing up. I do have to wonder. Still preferable to rubberdome, except possibly Topre.

[PointyFox]

One of my boards (Filco) started randomly acting like a modifier was stuck down.
Another of my boards (Filco) started treating the right WIN key as an alt key.
Another of my boards (QFR) would light up but wouldn't be detected by the computer.

[Linkbane]

PointyFox doesn't know about operator error.

Both my Filco Majestouch keyboards have been problematic. One just had a single switch go funny. The other had a manufacturing defect that had to be fixed by the Keyboard Company twice (switch soldered while not fully seated, I think, causing the solder joint to bear the keystroke impact) and now a couple more switches have started playing up. I do have to wonder. Still preferable to rubberdome, except possibly Topre.

Is Filco as good as it's made out to be, then? If the quality control is as lacking as you say, I'd hesitate before buying a board from them.

[rowdy]

PointyFox doesn't know about operator error.

Both my Filco Majestouch keyboards have been problematic. One just had a single switch go funny. The other had a manufacturing defect that had to be fixed by the Keyboard Company twice (switch soldered while not fully seated, I think, causing the solder joint to bear the keystroke impact) and now a couple more switches have started playing up. I do have to wonder. Still preferable to rubberdome, except possibly Topre.

Is Filco as good as it's made out to be, then? If the quality control is as lacking as you say, I'd hesitate before buying a board from them.

It is rare that there are problems with Filco.

One contributing factor could be that due to the expense, many people opt for a cheaper keyboard.

For example I have heard of more problems with QFR than with Filco, but then I have probably encountered more people with QFR than Filco.

[SonicRevolution]

I have to agree there's a lot riding on quality control.  Here's a breakdown.

Razer Black Widow Ultimate - LED stopped working, returned, then LED was blinking, then returned again!  but I just kept it /sigh.  I've had the worst experience with Razer and yet I own 4 of them. 

Unicomp - The finish of the board just doesn't right.  I expect a higher quality for a $100+ keyboard.

DAS - Just seems like the keycaps were much inferior in quality.  Nothing wrong with any of the switches.

NOPPOO CHOCO MINI - one of the cherry switch kept getting stuck.  I desoldered it and replaced it.  Voiding warranty but I didn't want to deal with the return due to it being over seas.  At least honed my soldering skills a bit.

FILCO Cameo - The shift key kept getting stuck.  I believe the cheaper plastic caps are prone to deforming causing some batches to be warped and they "pinch" the keycaps around them.

DUCKY, and RealForce however seemed stellar.  Again there is bound to be one "bad" apple in a bunch.  There's no way every product produced in mass quantity can be perfect. 

[CM-Rajiv]

Yeah, it's interesting to note that all these mech's are being marketed as "gaming" keyboards when in reality, they are just better made keyboards.  I think everyone can like whatever keyboard switch/type they prefer.  But it was not too long ago I balked at the thought of even having to "pay" for a keyboard.  Dell computer just "threw in" a keyboard for free.   Those free keyboards were pretty awful and I didn't even know it.  Spacebar on some of these "microsoft" branded ergo keyboards are atrocious.  But again, I just didn't know any better.

But now, it seems people (more wider general public) are warming up to seeing "value" in $70 - $100 keyboards.  I think it's a great trend.  But I think there's opportunity to market mech's to other demographics than just the gaming crowd perhaps? Which could mean better quality boards for even cheaper?

I would like to see mech's evolve to be not sooo serious and "gamey" or super cold like something you'd find a a court dictation clerk's office.  bah.. we'll see I guess.

To them

Mechanical keyboard = "Gaming" Keyboard

We also have our simple, no-frills QuickFire XT.  Marketed as for more of the enthusiast and bigger brother of the QFR

[SonicRevolution]

We also have our simple, no-frills QuickFire XT.  Marketed as for more of the enthusiast and bigger brother of the QFR
[/quote]

QuickFire XT looks to be a great competitor for the Das/Filco crowd.  Curious if CM is seeing an increase demand for the QuickFire XT alongside their boards that are marketed towards for "gamey" crowd?

[Grendel]

 

QuickFire XT looks to be a great competitor for the Das/Filco crowd.  Curious if CM is seeing an increase demand for the QuickFire XT alongside their boards that are marketed towards for "gamey" crowd?

I thought I smelled something funny here...

I got two XT w/ greens, great boards for a reasonable price. Well, before swapping custom caps in, that is. The original CM caps are pitiful.

[CM-Rajiv]

QuickFire XT looks to be a great competitor for the Das/Filco crowd.  Curious if CM is seeing an increase demand for the QuickFire XT alongside their boards that are marketed towards for "gamey" crowd?

I thought I smelled something funny here...

I got two XT w/ greens, great boards for a reasonable price. Well, before swapping custom caps in, that is. The original CM caps are pitiful.

We've been promoting a lot of switch education through our sites, documents, and www.cmuniversity.net so XT is picking up, but it had a really slow start vs all the backlighting stuff. Anytime we were at an event, people would ignore the XT in favor of the shiny lights.