Author Topic: Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?  (Read 4688 times)

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Offline anthongy817

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« on: Tue, 03 August 2010, 16:22:15 »
I read through a few threads and man there are so many different opinions.

I'm currently typing on a G15 V1, and was looking into downsizing to a compact keyboard when I came across mechanical/tenkeyless boards.

I've narrowed it down to either the Brown or the Blue, but reviews are all over the place with them. Some people say they are exactly the same, but the Blue is louder. Others say the Blue is louder and also a bit firmer.

I looked into the Browns some more and reviews say the keystroke is very light. How light is it in comparison to the G15 keyboard?

Anymore input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Anthony

Offline anthongy817

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 03 August 2010, 18:28:19 »
Hmm..if the keys are so much lighter, wouldn't there be more accidental button pushing while playing games that you typically lay your fingers on top of (i.e. CS:S, WoW, etc.)?

I know the Cherry Black are firmer and linear resistance..but I hear a lot of people saying that it is just too firm for normal use. I'm a student so I do end up writing a lot of essays, but I also play games frequently.

Offline muchadoaboutnothing

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 03 August 2010, 22:38:00 »
Quote from: anthongy817;208844
Hmm..if the keys are so much lighter, wouldn't there be more accidental button pushing while playing games that you typically lay your fingers on top of (i.e. CS:S, WoW, etc.)?


I have skinny fingers, but I have zero issues with keeping my hands on the keyboard and accidental key-presses. Your milage may vary.

Quote from: anthongy817;208844
I know the Cherry Black are firmer and linear resistance..but I hear a lot of people saying that it is just too firm for normal use. I'm a student so I do end up writing a lot of essays, but I also play games frequently.


Given that the release point is higher than the actuation point on the blues, and the fact that they click, they're considered non-ideal for gaming. I'd go with browns. It isn't a big deal though- I've seen many people remark that they game fine on the blues, mainly since people tend to bottom out  when gaming.

Of course, I sit on the verge of buying a Cherry Blue keyboard, so you may or may not choose to believe me here. (I need to know if the grass really is greener on the other side!)
« Last Edit: Wed, 04 August 2010, 07:21:24 by muchadoaboutnothing »

Offline anthongy817

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 04 August 2010, 01:56:40 »
Quote from: muchadoaboutnothing;208909
I have skinny fingers, but I have zero issues with keeping my hands on the keyboard and accidental key-presses. Your milage may vary.



Given that the release point is higher than the actuation point on the browns, and the fact that they click, they're considered non-ideal for gaming. I'd go with browns.

Of course, I sit on the verge of buying a Cherry Blue keyboard, so you may or may not choose to believe me here. (I need to know if the grass really is greener on the other side!)

Thanks! Well I bit and made my purchase, I figured there is only so much you can get out of other peoples experience than actually trying it out myself.

Ordered: Filco Tenkeyless Blue Otaku, WASD kit, and Filco palm rest.

I was interested in purchasing the roof cover as well, but since the keys can be removed pretty easily..I assume it is very easy to clean? I tend to get a lot of dead skin accumulated in there.

Hopefully I will enjoy the purchase, I am getting really tired of my huge G15 V1, and I only cared for the backlighting for when I played WoW in the dark; I've been sober for almost a year now..yay me!

Offline washuai

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 04 August 2010, 02:30:37 »
Welcome to Geekhack.  Congrats on making the choice.  I hope you enjoy your more tactile, clicky keys.  I know you already bought the Filco and truly back lighting is unnecessary (for touch typists or people willing to use lights), but there is just as Aug first, a backlit blue cherry board.

You don't need a roof, since it comes with a plastic cover that keeps stuff out better than a roof would.  Roofs might look nicer, but that's it.   I pop the plastic back on my Filco, whenever I stop typing.

For the most part, you'll probably be able to get by a long time without stripping your keyboard of its housing and keys for a spring cleaning.  Popping some keys off is nothing.  Making it naked with all keys off, is more than I want to do, unless necessary.  Basically, if I pop a key off and see anything scary, then I'll probably give it a good cleaning, but that hopefully is still a long way off.  Probably major cleaning once a year will be sufficient if you wash before typing, don't drop food and drink in it, etc.  Once a month if you're a worry-wart.  I don't particularly recommend it, especially with the keys on, but some people shake theirs out once a week.

At work, I'm already concerned about what's in that cherry keyboard and its considerably younger than my Filco.  Maybe I should put it in its cardboard each night.  I used to turn over my silicon board over a trash can once a week and wash it once a month, but it was a washable keyboard.
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Offline British

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 04 August 2010, 03:05:36 »
Quote from: muchadoaboutnothing;208909
Given that the release point is higher than the actuation point on the blues, and the fact that they click, they're considered non-ideal for gaming. I'd go with browns.

Corrected !

Offline anthongy817

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 04 August 2010, 03:44:07 »
Quote from: washuai;208989
Welcome to Geekhack.  Congrats on making the choice.  I hope you enjoy your more tactile, clicky keys.  I know you already bought the Filco and truly back lighting is unnecessary (for touch typists or people willing to use lights), but there is just as Aug first, a backlit blue cherry board.

You don't need a roof, since it comes with a plastic cover that keeps stuff out better than a roof would.  Roofs might look nicer, but that's it.   I pop the plastic back on my Filco, whenever I stop typing.

For the most part, you'll probably be able to get by a long time without stripping your keyboard of its housing and keys for a spring cleaning.  Popping some keys off is nothing.  Making it naked with all keys off, is more than I want to do, unless necessary.  Basically, if I pop a key off and see anything scary, then I'll probably give it a good cleaning, but that hopefully is still a long way off.  Probably major cleaning once a year will be sufficient if you wash before typing, don't drop food and drink in it, etc.  Once a month if you're a worry-wart.  I don't particularly recommend it, especially with the keys on, but some people shake theirs out once a week.

At work, I'm already concerned about what's in that cherry keyboard and its considerably younger than my Filco.  Maybe I should put it in its cardboard each night.  I used to turn over my silicon board over a trash can once a week and wash it once a month, but it was a washable keyboard.


Thanks! I was just worried about the crud build-up overtime. I normally airdust once or twice monthly..but usually after a year or so the internals needs a bit of solvent cleaning, especially in-between keys.

Offline anthongy817

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 20 August 2010, 12:30:05 »
Finally received my Filco Blues with the awesome palm rest (this thing is built with quality). Not sure if it is common, but it seems like the keyboard is not completely flush; if you press on the top right and bottom left corners it will wobble quite a bit..this does not happen if pressing on the top left and bottom right. Probably a slight difference in the rubber pad thickness.

Contacted Elitekeyboards about this and awaiting a reply.

Other than that, awesome keyboard and love the feel of mechanical keys.

Offline itlnstln

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 20 August 2010, 13:02:38 »
Put some shelf liner under it.  You won't feel the wobble and the 'board ain't goin' nowhere.


Offline anthongy817

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 20 August 2010, 13:35:15 »
Quote from: ripster;215010
Last time this happened the guy had some cheap warped Ikea desk.

Got a straightedge and camera?


I do have a cheap Ikea desk as well, but it has the wobble on every surface I place it on top of. I will try to find a flat piece of glass and take a picture

Quote from: itlnstln;215031
Put some shelf liner under it.  You won't feel the wobble and the 'board ain't goin' nowhere.


For the amount of this keyboard, I would rather not ghetto rig my setup. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Offline itlnstln

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 20 August 2010, 13:47:26 »
I use shelf liner on my HHKB.  *snif*

It actually does make a big difference.


Offline panda-R

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 20 August 2010, 17:11:20 »
Quote from: ripster;208786
Both are much lighter than the G15 and sound samples galore are in the media section of the forum.

Plus there is also psychological profiling to aid your decision.
Show Image


this is pretty much the reason why i bought my blue cherry filco tenkeyless otaku. I figured being the hot girl I would get more action than the old dood playing on his mac.
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Offline muchadoaboutnothing

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 20 August 2010, 17:21:33 »
Quote from: panda-R;215135
this is pretty much the reason why i bought my blue cherry filco tenkeyless otaku. I figured being the hot girl I would get more action than the old dood playing on his mac.


Making a $100+ purchase decision on the basis of a novelty image is always the way to go. You'll never regret it ;)

Offline anthongy817

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 21 August 2010, 09:53:44 »
Well I got it all fixed! Per Brian, he told me to give the keyboard a good twist to try to bend it back and that did the trick! Nice and flat now.

The girlfriend doesn't complain about the noise either. =]

Offline PerZerk

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 22 January 2012, 13:40:30 »
I'm currently waiting for a Leopold Tenkeyless White with brown switches  from Elitekeyboards. I thought that I could try out a mechanical  keyboard, I've also heard that they would give you an excellent and more  precise response when you type on it. I'm currently learning the C  programming language and like you probably know it takes so much lesser  time to use a keyboard with US layout than a keyboard with Swedish  layout. I also ordered a bag with it, so that I could bring it with me to my college and use it on the programming lessons instead of the crappy ones they have there. I also plan to use it when I'm gaming so that's why I decided to go with the brown switches over the blue switches.

Offline Glukos

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 22 January 2012, 13:45:35 »
Location:    Trollhättan

Offline PerZerk

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 22 January 2012, 13:52:30 »
Quote from: Glukos;496315
Location:    Trollhättan
Yes, lot's of trolls there :D

Offline Deverica Wolf

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 23 January 2012, 11:17:29 »
Quote from: anthongy817;208782
I've narrowed it down to either the Brown or the Blue, but reviews are all over the place with them. Some people say they are exactly the same, but the Blue is louder. Others say the Blue is louder and also a bit firmer.

I'd say Browns are louder than Blacks, and Blues louder than both. I find the Browns more firm, but the Blues more crisp. For a heavy typer, I am surprised how much I enjoy both. I would have put Blues above Browns when I first got them, but not anymore. I think they are equal. Hell I even enjoy typing on Blacks though it's not ideal.
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Offline pitashen

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #18 on: Mon, 23 January 2012, 11:54:19 »
it actually bothers me more seeing a zombie thread than a newb opening a new thread asking the same question that has been asked a billion times. but that is just me...
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Offline Fishraper

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #19 on: Mon, 23 January 2012, 14:10:12 »
..mmmmm... blues.... :D

I just got my maj2 nin blue and I had the maj1 browns for a few years before that, Love me some filco blues for sure for sure. It's like having sex while typing. Feels so smooth and crisp, just right :D.

Offline Forin

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Filco Tenkeyless: Brown or Blue?
« Reply #20 on: Mon, 23 January 2012, 17:03:35 »
I have Ducky MX Brown and Filco MX Blue.

I mostly type and don't play computer games, so i prefer MX Blue much more than Brown.

Sound and feel is great, but if I had to repeatedly hit the same key I would definitely choose Browns or even Blacks.

Quote from: anthongy817;208782
I read through a few threads and man there are so many different opinions.

I'm currently typing on a G15 V1, and was looking into downsizing to a compact keyboard when I came across mechanical/tenkeyless boards.

I've narrowed it down to either the Brown or the Blue, but reviews are all over the place with them. Some people say they are exactly the same, but the Blue is louder. Others say the Blue is louder and also a bit firmer.

I looked into the Browns some more and reviews say the keystroke is very light. How light is it in comparison to the G15 keyboard?

Anymore input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Anthony
Ducky DK1087 MX Brown, Filco MJ1 Tenkeyless MX Blue, CM Storm MX Blue