Tenkeyless MX blue keyboard (ISO) in Europe

[guywithtwohands]

Hi.

I'm currently looking for a TKL board with cherry MX blues. Now the obvious answer would probably be to get a QFR, but they seem to not be available with this switch in Europe.

I'm currently looking at the Filco Majestouch-2 TKL, which is probably what I'm gonna end up getting, but I'd like to hear if anyone else has any ideas.

The Ducky Shine 3 TKL (supposedly coming out in 2 weeks) is also a contender, but frankly, I'm not a big fan of the cherry stabilizers, at least not for this particular type of switch (I currently use a Shine 2 with blues), but I've read that Ducky has improved the stabilizers on their newer keyboards, supposedly doing the clip-mod, but I can't find any confirmation of this anywhere.

So should I just get a Filco and be done with it?

Thanks.

[ynrozturk]

Just get a Filco and be done with it. You're always going to want one if you don't.

[Linkbane]

Hi.

I'm currently looking for a TKL board with cherry MX blues. Now the obvious answer would probably be to get a QFR, but they seem to not be available with this switch in Europe.

I'm currently looking at the Filco Majestouch-2 TKL, which is probably what I'm gonna end up getting, but I'd like to hear if anyone else has any ideas.

The Ducky Shine 3 TKL (supposedly coming out in 2 weeks) is also a contender, but frankly, I'm not a big fan of the cherry stabilizers, at least not for this particular type of switch (I currently use a Shine 2 with blues), but I've read that Ducky has improved the stabilizers on their newer keyboards, supposedly doing the clip-mod, but I can't find any confirmation of this anywhere.

So should I just get a Filco and be done with it?

Thanks.

Filco's construction quality is slightly higher, but honestly a steel plate is as good as another. I would recommend the Shine because you'd probably find the features more valuable than slightly better construction, and it saves you money as well.
Either way, they're both great boards.

[LouisHjelmslev]

To throw in my two pence... I'd recommend going for a Filco, only because personally, I find that it's a good 'common' starting point for mech's. A very high quality, no bells and whistles affair. Like an extremely refined vanilla ice cream! You'll inevitably want to expand your range later on, and that's where the likes of CM's/Leo's/Ducky's/etc can come in. I feel that those other brands are much more divisive in their followers, whilst the Filco has broad, general appreciation.

[guywithtwohands]

Just get a Filco and be done with it. You're always going to want one if you don't.

Yeah, I guess so.

Filco's construction quality is slightly higher, but honestly a steel plate is as good as another. I would recommend the Shine because you'd probably find the features more valuable than slightly better construction, and it saves you money as well.
Either way, they're both great boards.

As far as I can tell, for me, in Europe, the price is actually somewhat similar with the Filco being slightly cheaper. As stated, I don't like the cherry stabilizers with MX blues very much (I don't mind them on MX clears), so I'm sort of just trying to figure out if the Shine 3 uses somewhat improved stabilizers, whatever that means. I have a Ducky mini, which is essentially just an ISO version of the Poker II, and the stabilizers on that one are quite nice (using MX blacks), even though they're cherry stabilizers. They kind of feel like a mix between Costar and Cherry.

To throw in my two pence... I'd recommend going for a Filco, only because personally, I find that it's a good 'common' starting point for mech's. A very high quality, no bells and whistles affair. Like an extremely refined vanilla ice cream! You'll inevitably want to expand your range later on, and that's where the likes of CM's/Leo's/Ducky's/etc can come in. I feel that those other brands are much more divisive in their followers, whilst the Filco has broad, general appreciation.

This is not going to be my first mechanical keyboard, nor second or third. But thanks for the input.

[Linkbane]

If Filco is cheaper and you're not into the Shine lightshow, it's a great choice.

[spiceBar]

I own a ISO Filco MT2 TKL with Cherry MX blue (and even a red wood cover ) and it's great. I would recommend it.

I bought the ISO version from The Keyboard Company. Perfect service. I have ordered several times from them and it was perfect service every single time. You probably already know the company, but just in case:
  http://www.keyboardco.com/index.asp

[itzmeluigi]

The space bar on the Shine3 seems different then on the Shine2, when i hit the space bar on the Shine3 it makes a decently loud "clunk" noise and it almost seems to have slightly more downward travel distance compared to the Shine2 space bar. 

I found a few videos of the space bar in use on the Shine3 and they sound exactly the same as my Shine3.  Notice the "clunk" noise on the Shine3 videos, then on the Shine2 video the space bar is much quieter.  Maybe this is because of the clipped stabilizers?

Shine3 space bar at 1:46

Shine3 space bar at 6:29

Shine2 space bar

[guywithtwohands]

Thanks for the input everyone. I ended up ordering a Filco from keyboardco.com, should be getting it sometime next week . I started using my QFR again yesterday and was reminded by how much I like the Costar stabilizers. Are the stabilizers in the Filco lubed from the manufacturer?

[mauri]

Thanks for the input everyone. I ended up ordering a Filco from keyboardco.com, should be getting it sometime next week . I started using my QFR again yesterday and was reminded by how much I like the Costar stabilizers. Are the stabilizers in the Filco lubed from the manufacturer?

I've never heard of costar stabs needing lubing any more than a regular switch, is that a thing?

[Linkbane]

Thanks for the input everyone. I ended up ordering a Filco from keyboardco.com, should be getting it sometime next week . I started using my QFR again yesterday and was reminded by how much I like the Costar stabilizers. Are the stabilizers in the Filco lubed from the manufacturer?

Congrats! We expect a review and pictures posthaste. (kidding, but I want to see your Filco!)