I got my Filco Keyboard!

[dfrey]

I finally got the keyboard I wanted.  I got the tenkeyless with Cherry browns and blank keys.

Before today, I had never typed on Cherry browns.  I was surprised at how little pressure it takes to depress the keys.  The keyboard that I was using previously is an IBM Model M (part number 71G4644).  According to the Model M page on wikipedia, this keyboard has "dome switches".  I'm not sure exactly what that means.

Given that my Model M is supposedly not a buckling spring board, I was expecting a more pronounced tactile feel on the Filco, but it turns out, it's much more noticeable in the IBM.  On the IBM, I have to apply a fair bit of force and then the key completely gives way.  The Filco feels much more linear to me.

Has anyone here typed on a "dome switch" Model M?  I'm starting to wonder whether the Wikipedia article is accurate.

[wellington1869]

I finally got the keyboard I wanted.  I got the tenkeyless with Cherry browns and blank keys.

Before today, I had never typed on Cherry browns.  I was surprised at how little pressure it takes to depress the keys.  The keyboard that I was using previously is an IBM Model M (part number 71G4644).  According to the Model M page on wikipedia, this keyboard has "dome switches".  I'm not sure exactly what that means.

Given that my Model M is supposedly not a buckling spring board, I was expecting a more pronounced tactile feel on the Filco, but it turns out, it's much more noticeable in the IBM.  On the IBM, I have to apply a fair bit of force and then the key completely gives way.  The Filco feels much more linear to me.

Has anyone here typed on a "dome switch" Model M?  I'm starting to wonder whether the Wikipedia article is accurate.

just pull a key on your ibm keyboard and see whats underneath. if you dont have a key puller just use two screwdrivers to 'lever' a key off.

[dfrey]

According to the wikipedia page, my Model M also does not have removable key caps.  I slipped a string under one of the keys and pulled fairly hard and it didn't come off.

[o2dazone]

Browns don't really have all that much tactility. They definitely aren't linear, as the force doesn't gradually increase as it's pressed. You can feel a slight bump if you're looking for it, but you definitely don't feel it typing like normal.

[ch_123]

According to the wikipedia page, my Model M also does not have removable key caps.  I slipped a string under one of the keys and pulled fairly hard and it didn't come off.

On older Model Ms, they used these two-piece keycaps, I'd read this site for an explanation and pictures. When reffering to Model Ms, removable keycaps means whether it has two piece or one piece keycaps (there was actually a thread about this a while ago, the term 'keycap' is quite ambigious). You should be able to pull it out with a flathead screwdriver without risk of damaging anything.

Incidentally, dome switches are the same type of switches used in regular keyboards, as opposed to the more usual buckling springs found in Model Ms.

[pfink]

Has anyone here typed on a "dome switch" Model M?  I'm starting to wonder whether the Wikipedia article is accurate.

I've got several Lexmark rubber dome Model M's (part #71G4644) that I picked up cheap at a government surplus warehouse. The cases are pretty much identical to the BS Model M's and they weigh about the same. For a rubber dome keyboard it's not too bad to type on, it isn't mushy like most of them.

If you need to use a quiet keyboard occasionally it's not a bad option, although I prefer my NMB RT2358TW.

[watduzhkstand4]

I finally got the keyboard I wanted.  I got the tenkeyless with Cherry browns and blank keys.

Before today, I had never typed on Cherry browns.  I was surprised at how little pressure it takes to depress the keys.  The keyboard that I was using previously is an IBM Model M (part number 71G4644).  According to the Model M page on wikipedia, this keyboard has "dome switches".  I'm not sure exactly what that means.

Given that my Model M is supposedly not a buckling spring board, I was expecting a more pronounced tactile feel on the Filco, but it turns out, it's much more noticeable in the IBM.  On the IBM, I have to apply a fair bit of force and then the key completely gives way.  The Filco feels much more linear to me.

Has anyone here typed on a "dome switch" Model M?  I'm starting to wonder whether the Wikipedia article is accurate.

I think I'm liking my Filco a bit better over my Model M. The Filco are just really well built imo.

[patrickgeekhack]

Browns don't really have all that much tactility. They definitely aren't linear, as the force doesn't gradually increase as it's pressed. You can feel a slight bump if you're looking for it, but you definitely don't feel it typing like normal.

Is your Filco equipped with brown Cherries? I have never used one such keyboard. The tactile bump can be felt regardless of how much force is used and of how fast one is typing. Are you saying that if you are typing at a high speed, you won't feel the bump unless you concentrate on the feel?

I would like to try a Filco with brown Cherries one day, but for financial reasons, I'm holding off. Moreover, I just don't want to go through choice paralysis again. For a long time, I was undecided on which keyboard to use as my daily driver. I'm settled now...until another keyboard is added to the collection.

[o2dazone]

It's a Filco yeah. I can't remember who it was, but they said they preferred the brown cherries on their Cherry board, more than the Filco. Perhaps for the tactility? I think the plate mounted PCB absorbs some of that tactility, because I really just don't feel it like I feel with, say, blue cherries on a Cherry board. My knowledge with cherry switches are very limited though. But yeah...they feel like almost no tactility to me (they slide just like normal, have a very slight "bump" indicating the tactile feedback, and then they slide a little more and bottom out. The slight bump is what I can't feel until I'm pressing a single key slowly)

[patrickgeekhack]

It's a Filco yeah. I can't remember who it was, but they said they preferred the brown cherries on their Cherry board, more than the Filco. Perhaps for the tactility? I think the plate mounted PCB absorbs some of that tactility, because I really just don't feel it like I feel with, say, blue cherries on a Cherry board. My knowledge with cherry switches are very limited though. But yeah...they feel like almost no tactility to me (they slide just like normal, have a very slight "bump" indicating the tactile feedback, and then they slide a little more and bottom out. The slight bump is what I can't feel until I'm pressing a single key slowly)

I think it was itlnstln who said that. I just wish there were some specialty keyboard stores where we can go try various keyboards before making a decision. This will never happen though as many people don't care about the quality of their keyboards. They are perfectly happy to use the ones which come with the PC and don't see the need to spend money on another keyboard.  This is probably why Linux will never become mainstream. It's because people don't see the need to use something different from what came with their computers.

[itlnstln]

I think it was itlnstln who said that. I just wish there were some specialty keyboard stores where we can go try various keyboards before making a decision. This will never happen though as many people don't care about the quality of their keyboards. They are perfectly happy to use the ones which come with the PC and don't see the need to spend money on another keyboard. This is probably why Linux will never become mainstream. It's because people don't see the need to use something different from what came with their computers.

That was me.  I do find that the PCB-mounted browns to have more tactilty than the plate-mounted ones.  I need to try the Filco keycaps on my G80 and vice versa to see if that makes a difference, too.  I am kinda thinking that the keycaps might make the bigger difference as plate-mounting the switches should reduce motion in the switches themselves, thus trandsferring more feeling to the user.  After using the browns exclusively for several months now, I feel the tactility pretty well in both 'boards.
 
There is also the idea, too, Cherry uses slightly different switches in their own 'boards than they sell to the third party vendors, but I don't know to what extent that would make a difference.  That and the archetecture of the PCB and plate-mounted switches is a little different, so I don't know fi that plays any role in key feel, either.