Guinea pig time

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Think it was a mistake?

[itlnstln]

Hopefully, it works out for you, and they don't contact you to tell you it's not in-stock or something.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Hopefully, it works out for you, and they don't contact you to tell you it's not in-stock or something.

Heh, I doubt it. Then again, always a possibility.

I can't believe nobody else has bought one yet though. It's been up and down several times.

I'm curious if it's a Costar board or not.

[itlnstln]

You have a Filco to compare it to, correct?

[Co-Op]

Newegg has it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Keyboards-_-Rosewill-_-23201040

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Newegg has it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201040&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Keyboards-_-Rosewill-_-23201040

Chiefvalue is run by Newegg (same RMA address, emails come from Newegg mail servers). Free shipping (vs. $8, both UPS 3 Day Select) and a $3 off coupon. CV customer service also relented and agreed to give me a further courtesy discount since I brought the fact that the coupon wasn't working in August to their attention (and they didn't fix it until the item was delisted)

You have a Filco to compare it to, correct?

Yes.

I was just going to check that.  About time!

Far too lazy to check it manually myself

[Co-Op]

Nitpick time: Elitekeyboards says you should get 50 million clicks, while Rosewill says you will get 20 million, http://www.rosewill.com/products/1611/productDetail.htm. Rosewill also says their board is 3.5lbs, while Elitekeyboards says theirs is 2lbs 10oz.)

[Co-Op]

Got a Lego picture to back that claim?

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Nitpick time: Elitekeyboards says you should get 50 million clicks, while Rosewill says you will get 20 million, http://www.rosewill.com/products/1611/productDetail.htm. Rosewill also says their board is 3.5lbs, while Elitekeyboards says theirs is 2lbs 10oz.)

It's just listed as weight though. Is that packaged weight or just the keyboard?

As far as the number of actuation, didn't Cherry previously have 20M as the switch lifetime, then they altered it to 50M?

EDIT: Same discrepancy with the Xarmor U9BL (Cherry Blues).

EDIT 2: Stole this link from the wiki.

Nope... All Cherry MX's are good for 50M including tactile as well.

I know because I had an argument not long agao with a Deck rep claiming their new tactile board will use 50M Cherry switches. But when I looked at CherryCorp.com, MX taciles were rated 20M.

So I wrote to Cherry support and got a reply back from them confirming that all MX's are 50M.


From:  Keyboard Support
To:  me
Date:  Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:38:47 -0400

Hello,

I apologize but our website has not been updated yet. All MX series
switches are rated at 50 million actuations.

Best regards,

Ed Ferraton
Senior CID Technical Services
Cherry Electrical Products
"

They finally updated their site with the correct information:
Click here to see for yourself

Rosewill and iOne are probably working off old spec sheets.

[Co-Op]

Good questions... As for Ripster, that'll do.

[a_fluffy_kitten]

As far as the number of actuation, didn't Cherry previously have 20M as the switch lifetime, then they altered it to 50M?

Cherry was going to rate their switches even higher, but the guy pressing the test switch lost count at 51,142,934 when he overheard someone giving out their phone number.

[itlnstln]

The 20 million MTBF stat is not too surprising.  That was the old stat Cherry posted before updating it a year or so ago.  I bet the weight is package weight, but we will see soon.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

The 20 million MTBF stat is not too surprising.  That was the old stat Cherry posted before updating it a year or so ago.  I bet the weight is package weight, but we will see soon.

Yeah, it figures. Again, they're probably working on another spec sheet.

Also, 9600 posts. Jeez.

[itlnstln]

I've been around awhile.  At least I'm not a blabbermouth like ripster.  He's got over 10% of the forums total posts, and he came almost a year after me.  The only person that may have been that prolific would have been XsPhat had he stuck around.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Well, I checked my last FedEx shipment from EK.

A Filco Tactile Touch was weighed in by FedEx at 4.6 lbs/2.1 kg.

So Rosewill's weight spec is almost certainly a package weight.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Well that was fast.

Dear muchadoaboutnothing:

For your convenience we have provided you with a tracking number and a shipping date 9/24/2010 12:12:22 PM for your order. If additional merchandise was ordered and not mentioned in this e-mail, please be assured you will be sent a similar e-mail notifying you of the updated information.

Thank you for choosing ChiefValue.com. We appreciate your patronage.

1 PACKAGE(S) SHIPPED THUS FAR.

Sales Order Number: 12345678
Customer Number: 1234567
Tracking Number:
1ZX123456789012345 (Shipped from La Puente, CA)

[itlnstln]

Awesome.  Glad to see it's finally shipping.

[LarsMarkelson]

Chiefvalue is run by Newegg (same RMA address, emails come from Newegg mail servers). Free shipping (vs. $8, both UPS 3 Day Select) and a $3 off coupon. CV customer service also relented and agreed to give me a further courtesy discount since I brought the fact that the coupon wasn't working in August to their attention (and they didn't fix it until the item was delisted)

NICE! So what was the final price? I might want to hop in on this too.

[ch_123]

Nitpick time: Elitekeyboards says you should get 50 million clicks, while Rosewill says you will get 20 million, http://www.rosewill.com/products/1611/productDetail.htm. Rosewill also says their board is 3.5lbs, while Elitekeyboards says theirs is 2lbs 10oz.)

Blue Cherries only last 20 million presses. For some reason, Cherry changed their marketing material to suggest that they all last as long as Black Cherries. But there seems to be no difference between the older and newer ones. That, and 20 million and thereabouts is the average for most clicky switches.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

NICE! So what was the final price? I might want to hop in on this too.

$73, but I was told that they were making a one time exception for me... as a courtesy. I helped them get the coupon working again, then when it didn't work after and I was told "oh, when a sale is over, it's over", I was adamant in pointing out that the sale never really happened (coupon didn't work until after the item was deactivated, coupon expired, item reactivated). Eventually, they relented, but they made it quite clear that it was a favor for me (and it won't be a coupon; it'll be an invoice credit).

:sorry:

[muchadoaboutnothing]

It's $108 shipped on Newegg until 10/5 with a free $40 ABS gaming headset. I doubt that'll entice anyone here, but I thought it'd be worth mentioning.

[washuai]

Will you be the next delicacy or a wise cousin it Guinea?

Links to lose your lunch or get really hungry delicacy Guineas.  The original picture doesn't disturb me, but most of them do.  I actually like Guinea pigs as pets.

Only the keyboard will tell.  Interesting to find out if they're not just an urban legend.  Sometimes a deal that should have been easy is too much work, though.

Thanks for being a cool Guinea pig:

[itlnstln]

Yo.  I was trying to eat a granola bar, and that pic nearly made me throw up.  I was not prepared.

[MissileMike]

This appears to be identical to the 135$ filco.  If it is, that's going to be a very good price, especially when they have offers like this headset or better yet, a coupon.

[Co-Op]

I eagerly await muchadoaboutnothing's review... hopefully!

[muchadoaboutnothing]

This appears to be identical to the 135$ filco.  If it is, that's going to be a very good price, especially when they have offers like this headset or better yet, a coupon.

Yeah, I'm hoping a coupon comes out. I was able to get a good deal on it (not the headset) but I'm hoping Rosewill drops the price.

I eagerly await muchadoaboutnothing's review... hopefully!

I'm going to review the board of course :roll: If there's any questions you have, let me know.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Does the  Gold USB connector make you type faster?

Well, I don't have it yet, but if my theory is correct, the gold plated USB connector will allow my keyboard to send keypresses to the computer a fraction of a second before I touch the keys.

Again, this is all theoretical.

[MissileMike]

Did it arrive yet?

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Did it arrive yet?

Nope.



Believe me, I'll let you guys know.

Also, the mailroom here is really, really slow. It'll probably be a couple hours after UPS drops it that I will actually get it.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Now to wait for the mailroom to let me know I can pick it up... I think they like making me wait.

[itlnstln]

Hey, who you callin' a Guinea Pig?!?!


I know, too late, but I thought it was funny.  Carry on...

[itlnstln]

Where'd you get that pic of me and my GF?

Snookie is one of the few people I have seen that looks much in pictures than real life.

[itlnstln]

Not to say that she doesn't use spray tan (because she does), but she is half Chilean... which makes her use of spray tan that much worse.

[itlnstln]

Silicone, probably.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Well, that was unusually fast.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

I'd be willing to bet actual money this is a Costar board. Warranty seal, body weight, rubber foot locations, etc. are all identical.

Also, for your viewing pleasure:



More to come. I hate to give it the thumbs up until I've ruled out any controller issues.

Gonna be out for a couple hours though- don't expect any more posts from me until at least 3PM.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

How many OEMs have the same body as the CST-104 though? They look identical side by side...

I'd take it apart, but it would never be back together (properly, at least).

[Shawn Stanford]

wow.  What do they put in that chilean food?   Australia lays claim to having the biggest breasted women in the world due to vegemite.

silicone, probably.

bwahahahahaha!

[Co-Op]

Muchadoaboutnothing: Nut up or shut up... Yeah, I grabbed that from Shawn's healthcare post/book, whichever.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Not going to be back with the keyboard for another hour or so, but in the meantime, if you like unboxing pics, here's something to hold you over.

Presented in glorious cell phone camera Blur-O-Vision!

[Co-Op]

Nice, that camera is worthy of taking UFO pictures, or even better, video if possible. :alien: :alien:

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Nice, that camera is worthy of taking UFO pictures, or even better, video if possible. :alien: :alien:

Well, Roswell is just one letter away from Rosewill.

My choice of camera was only fitting. An artistic decision that will be looked on upon as visionary a thousand years from now.

I am sad to report that my theory on the gold plated USB connector allowing the keyboard to be amazingly quicker was disproven. It's not noticeably faster than the Filco.

Obviously this is sarcasm...

I have a better camera laying around. I will attempt to locate it.

[Co-Op]

Oh, I am not much of an artsy guy, but I see it now.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Muchadoaboutnothing: Nut up or shut up... Yeah, I grabbed that from Shawn's healthcare post/book, whichever.

I would if there was some way of doing it without breaking the warranty seal.

Considering the controller issues that plagued the M1 (which I need to try to dig up, to see if they exist on this board) , I'm not certain that I will be keeping the board. At least not yet. Everything seems right thus far but I just got it.

The weight is the same, the rubber pads/feet are the same, the caps lock lights are the same. The blue LEDs are just as blinding...

I am confident enough where I don't want to take the risk.

Does Costar provide the controller or does the branding company (Diatec, Rosewill,etc.)? If so, couldn't I just compare the USB ID to see if it matches on the Filco & on the RK-9000? Costar has ID 0610.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

uh-oh.  Call in Welly and the key transposition team!

If so, blame Dell. I'm typing on the horrible backlit keyboard in an E6400, not the RK-9000.

I'll be back at the RK-9000 shortly (another 20-30 minutes).

[didjamatic]

Same cord as Filco.

I liked how they mention they are Cherry Blue switches in the description of it.  Being a high volume budget electronics brand I would have hoped for pricing more like the Addesso blue cherry boards but they're closer to Das pricing.

Are the key caps Lasered or Printed?   Do you know if they're doing multiple switches or just blue cherries?

[MissileMike]

So far just the blues.  Keep in mind there is a 20% off coupon coming on Oct 11th, according to OCN.  If that's the case, you're getting a filco-quality board for a price that's barely more than an adesso.  And the quality difference between those boards is huge.

[didjamatic]

Based on pics they are pad printed, definitely not Lasered caps.

EDIT - Website says "Laser printing design for the keycap" but pics look pad printed to me because they are so vivid white.  Maybe the stock photos are not the final product.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Based on pics they are pad printed, definitely not Lasered caps.

EDIT - Website says "Laser printing design for the keycap" but pics look pad printed to me because they are so vivid white.  Maybe the stock photos are not the final product.

I'll take some comparison pics between the Filco and the RK-9000 in a few minutes. I just need to find the camera that doesn't suck...

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Found the camera, but my SD card is throwing a fit. It'll only work on the phone, the phone doesn't have a formatter, and my camera/PCs won't talk to it at all. Ugh.