Author Topic: Filco FKB104M/EB  (Read 9839 times)

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Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« on: Wed, 19 August 2009, 22:59:52 »
Just placed my order from elitekeybards.com. After much debating between Filco and Topre, I decided to go with the Filco. At work, I can no longer use my ABS M1 which one hand is suprisingly loud, but also because one of my colleague who is back from maternity leave finds the squeaking of the space bar annoying. I am fine with that.  I would probably be annoyed with it too if someone had a similar keyboard nearby. Also, I am dying to have a similar feel as the blue cherries at work but cannot use blue cherries at work because the click will drive others nuts. I am finding myself loving the cherries more and more and the Alps less and less. Therefore the closest I can get is the brown cherries.

I will probably get a Topre in the future though... I don't quit :-)

Offline rdjack21

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 19 August 2009, 23:21:16 »
Yes it is hard to not buy more boards just so you can try them out. And even once you have tried all the switches that interest you, you still want to get more boards if for no other reason than to try out different layouts or because it is unique.
Keyboards
Topre Capacitive: Realforce 87U, Realforce 86U, HHKB Pro 2, Topre MD01B0, Topre HE0100, Sun Short Type, OEM NEO CS (x2), NISSHO Electronics KB106DE
Buckling Spring: IBM Model M Space Saver (1291472), Unicomp Customizer x 2
Cherry Brown: Filco FKBN87M/EB, Compaq MX11800
Black Alps: ABS M1
Not so great boards Rare Spring over dome OKI, Sun rack keyboard

Trackballs - Trackman Wheel (3), Trackman marble (2)
Keyboards I still want to get - Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2 the White version, Realforce 23U number pad in black and maybe white, μTRON ergo board with Topre switches.
Previously owned - [size=0]SiiG MiniTouch (White Alps), Scorpius M10 (Blue Cherry), IBM Model M13[/size]

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 19 August 2009, 23:30:14 »
Quote from: rdjack21;110723
Yes it is hard to not buy more boards just so you can try them out. And even once you have tried all the switches that interest you, you still want to get more boards if for no other reason than to try out different layouts or because it is unique.


You nailed it. After a while, we more or less know what is our favourite board, but other keyboards keep nagging us. They stay in the back of our mind until we buy them. I don't think I will be disappointed with the brown cherries. The only risk is me liking it more than the blue cherries. Then it will be a problem because I have two G80. One to use and one as a backup. But, I will have only one brown cherries keyboard. I guess if this happens, I will have to buy another one :-)

Offline rdjack21

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 19 August 2009, 23:52:13 »
Oh don't even start with the "I just have to have a backup board" stuff. I'm the biggest sucker for that one. Why do you think I have so many Topre boards? I just have to have a backup you know. It started with the 87U then a 86U to back it up or even better so I could have one at home and work. Now I have a HHKB Pro it is really bugging me that I don't have another one.

I sold one of the Blue cherry boards I had so I'm also looking at getting one of those Filco Blue cherry boards. Just have to have one quality Blue cherry board you know.

Oh and lets not mention some of those really cool old boards I want even though you can't use them on current computers.

It just never ends....
Keyboards
Topre Capacitive: Realforce 87U, Realforce 86U, HHKB Pro 2, Topre MD01B0, Topre HE0100, Sun Short Type, OEM NEO CS (x2), NISSHO Electronics KB106DE
Buckling Spring: IBM Model M Space Saver (1291472), Unicomp Customizer x 2
Cherry Brown: Filco FKBN87M/EB, Compaq MX11800
Black Alps: ABS M1
Not so great boards Rare Spring over dome OKI, Sun rack keyboard

Trackballs - Trackman Wheel (3), Trackman marble (2)
Keyboards I still want to get - Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2 the White version, Realforce 23U number pad in black and maybe white, μTRON ergo board with Topre switches.
Previously owned - [size=0]SiiG MiniTouch (White Alps), Scorpius M10 (Blue Cherry), IBM Model M13[/size]

Offline jeramey

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 02:29:47 »
I recently picked up both a blue and brown Cherry tenkeyless Filco board, mainly because I know the folk at work would object to the clicky sound that the blue switches.  Surprisingly, if I have headphones on, I can barely tell the difference in feel between the two boards; they're both great!  The only gotcha so far as been retraining myself to type so that I don't bottom out the keys as you mentioned, rdjack.

After all these years of having to bottom out on all those crappy rubber dome boards just to get the keystroke to register, my hands are squealing with relief.

Of course, now I'm looking at a Topre board for my "backup". Yeah, right. ;-)

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 07:32:59 »
Isn't it sad that we get so excited about keyboards? LOL. Some people have been telling me it's just a keyboard. My second Cherry G80 is sitting in its box. I've taken it out only once when I got it to test it. My Customizer is sitting on desk with my secondary computer. The Dell is being used everyday...for now. My ABS M1 is going on a long long vacation. I like it, but people gets annoyed with its noise. Interestingly, even though the Customizer is louder when you are close to it, once the doors are closed, you hear it much less than the ABS. I guess its sound travels less that the ABS'.

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 08:16:30 »
It's funny. Once I bought my Cherry G80 and my Filco, I have stopped buying 'boards. I am going to get a set of blank keys for my Filco, but I am pretty much done. If I get to try a Topre-based 'board, and I like it, I might get one but not without trying it first. If I get anymore 'boards, they will just be other 'boards with brown Cherrys.
 
I am holding out for a G80-1800 with browns. If I can get those, I might buy two and retire from GeekHack. That's the only reason I hang around here - to get a G80-1800.


Offline o2dazone

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 10:14:15 »
Quote from: patrickgeekhack;110763
Some people have been telling me it's just a keyboard.


To quote a movie I watched over the weekend

"And Hell is just a sauna"

Offline quadibloc

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 13:45:52 »
Quote from: patrickgeekhack;110763
Isn't it sad that we get so excited about keyboards? LOL. Some people have been telling me it's just a keyboard.


I know that I was excited about keyboards long ago, when, first, I insisted on a KeyTronics keyboard to get the standard 101-key layout that I liked, and, later, when I upgraded to a Model M.

Since then, I had bought extra model M keyboards in thrift shops here, because they were appearing there for a while. That is no longer true, but I have enough for all my computers (except some old Macs, and their keyboards have ALPS switches, so I'm told, so that's good enough)... and, I have to confess that I find them close enough to perfection that I am little inclined to search out keyboards that are expensive and exotic, just to find one a little bit better.

Does this make me a bad person, or at least a Philistine?

At least I still hope to hear of one that is more than a little bit better to get me excited enough to make the effort to purchase it... and finding this forum has me thinking about modding something other than what is irreplaceable or that I would not have the heart to use for parts. (I have some extra model Ms missing keycaps but unlike an ALPS switch, there's nothing to desolder and move around...)

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 14:17:11 »
I think, at some point, people tend to find their favorite switch/layout and stick with it.  Since I got my brown Cherry 'boards, I haven't so much as looked at another keyboard.


Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 14:38:22 »
Quote from: itlnstln;110851
I think, at some point, people tend to find their favorite switch/layout and stick with it.  Since I got my brown Cherry 'boards, I haven't so much as looked at another keyboard.


I have this feeling too. I think if I could have used a blue Cherries keyboard at work, I would have taken longer to buy a brown Cherries keyboard.

On a side note, I had the chance to experience what the sound of the AT101W is from the other side of my cubicle today. It was pretty soothing actually. It was listening to music :-)

Offline rdjack21

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 15:02:32 »
Well I've found the switch I like the best (Topre) but have now moved to trying different layouts. The problem is that some of those different layout boards are expensive and one of them in particular is very expensive even by Topre standards. I will eventually get it but it will take a while to save up for it. In the mean time I'm starting to collect some of the older Topre boards just to collect a full set.
Keyboards
Topre Capacitive: Realforce 87U, Realforce 86U, HHKB Pro 2, Topre MD01B0, Topre HE0100, Sun Short Type, OEM NEO CS (x2), NISSHO Electronics KB106DE
Buckling Spring: IBM Model M Space Saver (1291472), Unicomp Customizer x 2
Cherry Brown: Filco FKBN87M/EB, Compaq MX11800
Black Alps: ABS M1
Not so great boards Rare Spring over dome OKI, Sun rack keyboard

Trackballs - Trackman Wheel (3), Trackman marble (2)
Keyboards I still want to get - Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2 the White version, Realforce 23U number pad in black and maybe white, μTRON ergo board with Topre switches.
Previously owned - [size=0]SiiG MiniTouch (White Alps), Scorpius M10 (Blue Cherry), IBM Model M13[/size]

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 15:05:20 »
Quote from: rdjack21;110857
Well I've found the switch I like the best (Topre) but have now moved to trying different layouts. The problem is that some of those different layout boards are expensive and one of them in particular is very expensive even by Topre standards. I will eventually get it but it will take a while to save up for it. In the mean time I'm starting to collect some of the older Topre boards just to collect a full set.

That's an expensive hobby :-)

Offline rdjack21

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 22:40:13 »
Yea my wallet is really felling it. But I'm having a blast in the process. The biggest problem with trying to collect the Topre boards is that most of them are in Japan. So you find one, find a service or someone to get it for you, then sit at home really wanting to play with it but have to wait weeks before you actually get it. The anticipation of getting that rare or old board is a killer. At least there are not that many variates of them.
Keyboards
Topre Capacitive: Realforce 87U, Realforce 86U, HHKB Pro 2, Topre MD01B0, Topre HE0100, Sun Short Type, OEM NEO CS (x2), NISSHO Electronics KB106DE
Buckling Spring: IBM Model M Space Saver (1291472), Unicomp Customizer x 2
Cherry Brown: Filco FKBN87M/EB, Compaq MX11800
Black Alps: ABS M1
Not so great boards Rare Spring over dome OKI, Sun rack keyboard

Trackballs - Trackman Wheel (3), Trackman marble (2)
Keyboards I still want to get - Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2 the White version, Realforce 23U number pad in black and maybe white, μTRON ergo board with Topre switches.
Previously owned - [size=0]SiiG MiniTouch (White Alps), Scorpius M10 (Blue Cherry), IBM Model M13[/size]

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 22:42:03 »
Quote from: rdjack21;110945
Yea my wallet is really felling it. But I'm having a blast in the process. The biggest problem with trying to collect the Topre boards is that most of them are in Japan. So you find one, find a service or someone to get it for you, then sit at home really wanting to play with it but have to wait weeks before you actually get it. The anticipation of getting that rare or old board is a killer. At least there are not that many variates of them.


It would be nice if you could plan your next vacation to Japan :-)

Offline rdjack21

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 22:46:26 »
I'm waiting for my kids to get a little older before I start doing international travel again. Also my wife has already informed me that the first place we are going is Scotland then next Cambodia. But I do have a brother in law that goes to Japan a couple times a year for business I may have to see if I can get him to get me some keyboards.
Keyboards
Topre Capacitive: Realforce 87U, Realforce 86U, HHKB Pro 2, Topre MD01B0, Topre HE0100, Sun Short Type, OEM NEO CS (x2), NISSHO Electronics KB106DE
Buckling Spring: IBM Model M Space Saver (1291472), Unicomp Customizer x 2
Cherry Brown: Filco FKBN87M/EB, Compaq MX11800
Black Alps: ABS M1
Not so great boards Rare Spring over dome OKI, Sun rack keyboard

Trackballs - Trackman Wheel (3), Trackman marble (2)
Keyboards I still want to get - Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro 2 the White version, Realforce 23U number pad in black and maybe white, μTRON ergo board with Topre switches.
Previously owned - [size=0]SiiG MiniTouch (White Alps), Scorpius M10 (Blue Cherry), IBM Model M13[/size]

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #16 on: Thu, 20 August 2009, 22:50:06 »
Quote from: rdjack21;110947
I'm waiting for my kids to get a little older before I start doing international travel again. Also my wife has already informed me that the first place we are going is Scotland then next Cambodia. But I do have a brother in law that goes to Japan a couple times a year for business I may have to see if I can get him to get me some keyboards.


Ah! Travelling with kids. This is why we decided to travel to Indian Ocean while our daughter was 4 months old instead of next year as plan. Once they start walking, international travel can become a nightmare. On our last trip to Mauritius, she was a perfect angel. No complaint. She timed her feeding time perfectly to coincide with the landings. I came back alone. She and my wife made the trip together a month later. On the initial 12-hour flight, she slept for 10 hours :-)

Offline skartt

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 21 August 2009, 02:32:36 »
Hm maybe one of you guys know: The spare blank keycaps on elitekeyboards mention that they are not fully coated like the printed keycaps.

Do you guys know if this is also the case when i buy an blank Filco?

Meaning: Are they not coated because they are not original keycaps or are they not coated because they apply the coating for protection of the character so no character equals no coating?

(i have an filco tenkeyless with ansi layout, but kind of bugs me to have the wrong characters printed on - dunno why tho barely look at them, i thought :))

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 21 August 2009, 08:24:31 »
Quote from: skartt;110970
Hm maybe one of you guys know: The spare blank keycaps on elitekeyboards mention that they are not fully coated like the printed keycaps.
 
Do you guys know if this is also the case when i buy an blank Filco?
 
Meaning: Are they not coated because they are not original keycaps or are they not coated because they apply the coating for protection of the character so no character equals no coating?
 
(i have an filco tenkeyless with ansi layout, but kind of bugs me to have the wrong characters printed on - dunno why tho barely look at them, i thought :))

If you buy an "Otaku" 'board, the keys will be coated (at least the one I have seen was).  According to majestouch, Diatec coats the keys after they are mounted to the switches; therefore, the blank 'boards have the coating and the blank key sets do not.


Offline skartt

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 21 August 2009, 09:57:34 »
Well, doesnt the coated keycap surface look more smooth on those pictures ? :)

My fingers could feel what my eyes cannot see :x

Offline AndrewZorn

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 21 August 2009, 17:18:02 »
Quote from: itlnstln;111018
If you buy an "Otaku" 'board, the keys will be coated (at least the one I have seen was).  According to majestouch, Diatec coats the keys after they are mounted to the switches; therefore, the blank 'boards have the coating and the blank key sets do not.

noticeable difference or not, this is the reason i cannot accept buying a brown and putting blanks on them later... otaku in blue only, at least now...

Offline skartt

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #21 on: Sat, 22 August 2009, 09:39:55 »
just buy both and swap keycaps?

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #22 on: Mon, 24 August 2009, 08:04:13 »
Quote from: AndrewZorn;111179
noticeable difference or not, this is the reason i cannot accept buying a brown and putting blanks on them later... otaku in blue only, at least now...

The coating is way overrated.  You won't even have any coating left in a few weeks.  Might as well get them uncoated and save the hassle of wearing it off.


Offline nanu

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« Reply #23 on: Mon, 24 August 2009, 08:17:06 »
Quote from: itlnstln;111551
The coating is way overrated.  You won't even have any coating left in a few weeks.  Might as well get them uncoated and save the hassle of wearing it off.


That would explain the halo of coating still surrounding my F and J nubs, after a month.

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #24 on: Mon, 24 August 2009, 08:37:44 »
Quote from: nanu;111552
That would explain the halo of coating still surrounding my F and J nubs, after a month.

Yeah, on both my Filco and ABS 'boards, the coating started to wear of  in a matter of a couple of weeks.  Now, my A, S, D, F, and E caps (as well as a few others) are completely shiney.  I am going to replace them with blank caps soon, anyway, but it's a little disappointing to say the least.
 
The Cherry keycaps are still holding strong.  That 'board looks as new as the day I bought it.


Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #25 on: Mon, 24 August 2009, 09:35:14 »
Quote from: ripster;111560
Any idea what those G80-3000LXCEU-2 keycaps are made of?? I don't have my Cherry Corp secret product code decoder ring on.

I''m 99% sure they are POM.  I do remember that Chloe didn't really like them that much, but that was due the quality of the laser-etching on the caps.  When I go home tonight, I'll pull a cap to see if there is any marking as to what they are made of.
 
patrickgeekhack, if you are at work, could you pull a cap on your G80-3000 and see if there are any markings as to what the keycaps are made of?


Offline skartt

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #26 on: Mon, 24 August 2009, 10:48:32 »
G80-3000-LQCDE-2 i have here.

Inside Keycap: I 19, 20, 22 etc (number depends on keycap ESC 22)

Laser-etched, afaik the "L" stands for laser-etched

Offline cmr

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #27 on: Mon, 24 August 2009, 16:04:44 »
that is the best guitar pick currently in production

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #28 on: Mon, 24 August 2009, 22:00:04 »
Quote from: itlnstln;111563
I''m 99% sure they are POM.  I do remember that Chloe didn't really like them that much, but that was due the quality of the laser-etching on the caps.  When I go home tonight, I'll pull a cap to see if there is any marking as to what they are made of.
 
patrickgeekhack, if you are at work, could you pull a cap on your G80-3000 and see if there are any markings as to what the keycaps are made of?


There is a number and a Roman number on each key, that's all.

Number row: I
Qwerty row: II
ASDF row: III
etc.

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #29 on: Tue, 25 August 2009, 08:13:04 »
Quote from: patrickgeekhack;111686
There is a number and a Roman number on each key, that's all.
 
Number row: I
Qwerty row: II
ASDF row: III
etc.

Yeah, it looks like they mark the row numbers but nothing on the type of plastic used.  I am sure they are POM, though.


Offline quadibloc

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #30 on: Tue, 25 August 2009, 08:37:46 »
One learns something new every day. I had heard the name Delrin, but wasn't familiar with that plastic, and had not known this was generically known as POM, for polyoxymethylene.

I had assumed the hard plastic old-style cupped keys used to be made of on quality keyboards with double-shot molding was ABS plastic, and I knew of the old, standard plastics... Nylon, acrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, but that was about it... and blue-dyed dialyll pthalate in electrical connectors.

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #31 on: Tue, 25 August 2009, 10:17:38 »
Quote from: ripster;111741
I'm still a little skeptical that the black Cherry Corp keys are POM. My understanding of laser etching is that it is used on WHITE keys. Pad printing POM doesn't work because the surface of Delrin is so slick (see the wear on guitar pick in picture above).
 
Any source for this info?

Cherry laser etches the black keys and fills the crevice with white plastic. If you search for some old Chloe posts, you can find this. She complained one time that her matching numpad that went with her G84-4100 had the laser-etched keys when her G84 had printed keys. That, and you can feel the laser-etching on the keys themselves; there's a noticable chunk taken out of the surface of the caps.
 
Lowpoly can corroborate this, too. It's in the cryptic product number, but I'm not going to decipher it.
 
Also, if you ever get to type on a G80, the keys feel like Teflon.
 
See this:
 
Quote from: skartt;111577
G80-3000-LQCDE-2 i have here.
 
Inside Keycap: I 19, 20, 22 etc (number depends on keycap ESC 22)
 
Laser-etched, afaik the "L" stands for laser-etched

My G80 model number is LXCEU-2
« Last Edit: Tue, 25 August 2009, 10:20:26 by itlnstln »


Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #32 on: Tue, 25 August 2009, 10:42:44 »
The only downside to the laser filling process is that the lettering has (visually, not physically) soft edges making it look "blurry" (Lowpoly put it better than I did).  It doesn't look sharp like the printing on the Dell AT-101W.  It is very durable, however.  I really like the keys on the Cherry.  The "blurry" printing on the keys makes it look cheap, though.
 
D*mn, now I want to bring the Cherry to work to use it more.  I really need to get a blank keycap set for my Filco.


Offline keyb_gr

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #33 on: Tue, 25 August 2009, 13:48:26 »
Quote from: ripster;111766
So what's the secret decoder ring for how to tell what plastic is used on what Cherry Corp keys? - POM-ABS -PBT?
I don't think they use ABS on G80s - maybe on the old two-shot ones (as I've seen several samples with pretty shiny keys now, but then again they can also take a lot of use), but generally PBT seems to be the normal choice for light-colored keycaps. If you have some at hand, take a look underneath - chances are it states the material there if the board is about 1998 production or newer (not yet the case on my 1996 samples but present on the 1998 Cherry-built Tandberg TDV 5010, making it the 3rd Czech-made board on which I spotted this). I guess this is how folks found out about POM keys, too...

I still don't buy the "regular Model M keys are ABS" theory. They're too wear-proof for that. AT101W keys should be though.
« Last Edit: Tue, 25 August 2009, 13:50:28 by keyb_gr »
Hardware in signatures clutters Google search results. There should be a field in the profile for that (again).

This message was probably typed on a vintage G80-3000 with blues. Double-shots, baby. :D

Offline patrickgeekhack

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« Reply #34 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 12:59:42 »
It was delivered at my place today. I was charged $ 19.58 for custom fee GRRR... I cannot wait to try it tonight. Thank goodness I found another obsession soon after I placed my order. Since we bought out house a year and half ago, we've been postponing installing some hooks in the garage to get things off the floor. A few weeks ago, my wife said that whatever I had planned could wait because I needed to finish the garage first. Not wanting to mess around with drywalls, I followed my friend's advice to screw a couple of 2"x6"x8 feet first and then I can hang whatever I want without having to worry about wall anchors.  My $30 no-name drill could not even drive the first screw. So my friend brought his RIDGID cordless drill and impact driver. The job was finished in 15 minutes. Needless to say that I was amazed. I hate doing these kinds of jobs, but all of a sudden they seem to be so much fun. The next day, went to Home Depot to get myself a DeWalt combo kit which was $199 - 20% :-) Now, I need to find some projects to work on.

Offline patrickgeekhack

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« Reply #35 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 19:32:35 »
Quote from: ripster;112387
Congrats on the new Filco!  I think you and your coworkers will like it.


Don't worry, your wife will take care of that for you.


Thanks. I'm sure they'll like it. They may not like the sound of the space bar though which is quite noisy relative to the other keys. The spacebar sound was what my coworkers found annoying. They could cope with the relative loud noise of the ABS keys but not the space bar squeak. The AT101W is not as loud as I  though when one is on the other side of my cubicle walls. On the contrary, it's quite pleasant. So, it seems that the AT101W and the Filco will spend most of their time at work. That said, I would like to enjoy it a home for a little while first.

My first impression about this keyboard is it is very well built. Well, this is not a surprise since it's essentially an ABS M1 apart from the key switches and the nicer logo. Also, the coating on the keys is different from the coating on the ABS M1. It's the most quiet keyboard in my collection so far. This is nice sometimes when typing at night when the baby is sleeping or when used at work. I like it a lot. I know I've been saying that for everyone of keyboards, but each of my keyboard is unique in its own way and therefore deserves some credit. The keys have a nice friction noise as well as a toc toc sound. That being said, although I like it a lot, I still like my blue cherries better. Why? The tactile point on the blue cherries is more pronounced. Of course, the click on the blue cherries also help a lot. For now, I don't feel the tactile point as distinct as the AT101W or the G80. I will have to use it for a longer period before saying more. Also, I find the blue cherries to be quicker to snap back in their initial position.

Verdict:

A very nice board. I like it a lot, but not more than my blue cherries. But to be fair, I should use it more before forming a definite opinion. The only danger is if I like it a lot to overtake my blue cherries, I may have to get another one so as to have one at work and one at home.

As for the projects, you're right, my wife will take care of that. I just have to never use the drill or the impact driver on any of my keyboards.

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Would I recommend this keyboard?
« Reply #36 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 19:44:48 »
If I'm asked this question, I would have to say, "It depends." Why? Someone has never use any mechanical keyboard before will have a hard time noticing the subtle tactile point. Therefore, that person is more likely to not undertand why he or she should spend that much money on such a keyboard and would be better off with a keyboard that has a very pronounced tactile point. But for those know keyboards, I would highly recommend it. Of course, I thinking this is a nice addition to a collection. Those who know keyboards are usually not satisfied with just one type of key switch.

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #37 on: Thu, 27 August 2009, 19:46:15 »
Quote from: ripster;112400
I bet a little bit of padding could quiet the spacebar.

Under the Dell AT101W spacebar are two small rubber tabs.
Show Image


Probably could use velcro in a pinch.

I should give this a try, but I so scared of pulling a spacebar.

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #38 on: Fri, 28 August 2009, 07:45:50 »
Thanks Ripster. I'll give that a try. You know where I'm going to get lithium grease? At Canadian Tire of course :-)

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Elitekeyboards.com
« Reply #39 on: Fri, 28 August 2009, 07:48:44 »
By the way, I would highly recommend Elitekeyboards.com especially if you are in North America. Brian has always replied to my e-mails promptly.

I thought I did not receive a red escape key but I was looking at the wrong spot. I thought it would be sent separately and was worried I would have to pay custom fee again. A quick e-mail to Brian and I got a reply asking me to look in the box. Sure enough, it was in the actual Filco box.

I'm currently using the Filco at work. Some of you may know already that I'm a big fan of friction noise. I'm spoiled with this keyboard.

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #40 on: Fri, 28 August 2009, 08:19:44 »
There must have been a couple of versions of the ABS M1.  In the GeekHack Keyboard thread in Off Topic, Kyamei said that his M1 looked a little different than the Filco (a different font on the keys and a slightly different case).  My M1 looks identical to the Filcos other than the logo and braided cable.


Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #41 on: Fri, 28 August 2009, 10:08:03 »
Quote from: itlnstln;112534
There must have been a couple of versions of the ABS M1.  In the GeekHack Keyboard thread in Off Topic, Kyamei said that his M1 looked a little different than the Filco (a different font on the keys and a slightly different case).  My M1 looks identical to the Filcos other than the logo and braided cable.


Yes, the font is different. Other than this and the braided cable, the cases seem to be identical to me.

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Keyboard sound
« Reply #42 on: Fri, 28 August 2009, 10:56:07 »
I know a lot of us who have never used a brown cherry keyboard wonder what they sound like. I did. This is hard to put in words, even in recordings, but I think this video is pretty close to the real thing. Keep in mind that usually recordings tend to make the sound louder than it actually is.

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #43 on: Fri, 28 August 2009, 22:24:31 »
Lithium grease got rid of the squeak on the ABS M1. I remove the keyboard lid, then pull the wire free from its locks on both side. This allow me to get everything off the keyboard: spacebar with the two white things and the wire still in place. It was easier to free the wire then, apply some lithium grease, and put everything back together.

I should bring the ABS back to work and do a test.

Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #44 on: Tue, 01 September 2009, 20:54:43 »
I've used my brown cherries Filco for a while now, and like it a lot. However, when coming back to my blue cherries, I noticed something weird. I can feel the difference so much that I'm bottoming the keys pretty hard. My typing has also been messed up and I find myself making more typo on the blue cherries which use to the keys with which I would make the less mistakes.

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #45 on: Wed, 02 September 2009, 07:59:38 »
Quote from: patrickgeekhack;113827
I've used my brown cherries Filco for a while now, and like it a lot. However, when coming back to my blue cherries, I noticed something weird. I can feel the difference so much that I'm bottoming the keys pretty hard. My typing has also been messed up and I find myself making more typo on the blue cherries which use to the keys with which I would make the less mistakes.

Welcome to the twisted world of brown Cherrys.
 
*Evil Laughter*
 
My guess is that the brown Cherrys are more "direct" in that you don't have moving parts on the switch stem that could potentially throw off the key feel.  The browns' stems are all one piece, so when you feel the tactile point, you instinctively know the key activated where there might be some play in the blues that is causing some miskeys now that you have been using a different switch for awhile.


Offline patrickgeekhack

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #46 on: Wed, 02 September 2009, 08:22:41 »
Quote from: itlnstln;113906
Welcome to the twisted world of brown Cherrys.
 
*Evil Laughter*
 
My guess is that the brown Cherrys are more "direct" in that you don't have moving parts on the switch stem that could potentially throw off the key feel.  The browns' stems are all one piece, so when you feel the tactile point, you instinctively know the key activated where there might be some play in the blues that is causing some miskeys now that you have been using a different switch for awhile.


Not exactly. It's more because the brown Cherries are so light compared to the blue Cherries. When going back to blue Cherries, my mind needs to adjust and send more force to my fingers. There may be only 5g difference, but I sure feel the difference.

Offline patrickgeekhack

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I've changed my mind
« Reply #47 on: Thu, 03 September 2009, 22:35:22 »
I'm not going to take my Filco to work, but keep it as my night keyboard. Prior the arrival of the Filco, my Cherry (blue) was the quietest keyboard in my collection. I did not find it loud because I was only comparing it to my other louder ones. I'm going to keep both keyboards connected to my MacBook. The benefits of USB.

I'm happy and sad at the same time. The brown cherries are nice to type on. But, I also like my blue cherries a lot.

I guess this does not surprise Geekhackers since many of you have a keyboard roster.
« Last Edit: Thu, 03 September 2009, 22:37:46 by patrickgeekhack »

Offline itlnstln

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Filco FKB104M/EB
« Reply #48 on: Fri, 04 September 2009, 08:43:42 »
Quote from: patrickgeekhack;114627

I guess this does not surprise Geekhackers since many of you have a keyboard roster.

Alps? (Here)
 
Brown Cherrys? (Here)
 
BS? (Here)
 
Bueller?
.
.
.
Bueller?
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Bueller?