Choosing Between Filco Brown/Blue

[Syrianto]

Hey guys, been creeping these forums for a while since I've wanted to invest in a mechanical keyboard as I'm sick of my current mushy one!

Anyways, I was wondering if you guys could help me make a decision between buying the Filco Tactile Touch or Tactile Click.

I was able to borrow a DAS keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches and I really did enjoy using it. I didn't fall in love with it, but I definitely would not be disappointed in having a blue switch keyboard.

Anyways, some question:

1. Occasionally on the blue when I double tapped I noticed it wouldn't register. It was rare, but not having that issue would be great. Do the brown's alleviate this problem completely?

2. Do the brown switches have the same tactile feel as the blues? I noticed that the click sound was mainly what told me if the key actuated or not. I never really noticed the sound anyways when I was gaming meaning I may as well get the quieter keyboard with the same tactile feel.

3. Do browns make any sounds when they actuate or is all of the sound made when bottoming out?

[Brian8bit]

1: That'll be a problem with the Das.
2: No. The browns require less force to depress.
3: Bottoming out. If they made a sound they'd be "clicky". Since they make no sound and only bump, they're "tactile". If the switch makes no click and no bump, it is "linear".

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

Why i don't like blues.

I’d like to bring up the topic of switches for gaming again. MX blues have a reputation for being horrible for gaming, and I think this is unfair. Many people game on MX blue keyboards just fine. However, they do affect some gamers. The sharp tactile point can be a hindrance to fast reaction, and the fact that the switch resets above where it actuates means that the switch has to come almost all the way back up before you can press it again, which can make some double tapping techniques extremely difficult. I’ve found that it does affect my gameplay when playing against other people or against smart AI. Not a huge difference, but it is there.

However, after using it for a week I don’t think it will matter for most people. If you’re a casual gamer the reset point issue is unlikely to affect you. If you’re a competitive gamer you may wish to consider the Das Professional S Silent keyboard, which uses Cherry MX brown switches. These switches are non-clicky, have a much softer tactile point (more of a hump than a point), are slightly lighter (needing 45 g of force), and don’t have the reset point issue. The Silent version costs $6 more, placing it at $135.00; but in this price range $6 is chump change. Note that the Silent version still makes noise when you bottom out, it just doesn’t have the high-pitched clicking.

May affect gaming for double tapping :/

But what about that click? Hmmm? Am I going to be keeping my neighbors up? No, not at all. The click isn’t all that loud. We don’t have a sonometer or some such to test with, but it won’t deafen you in any way. Imagine tapping on a desk with your finger nails, but higher pitched. It’s probably too loud for library use but shouldn’t cause a problem in any but the quietest office. For home use it should perfectly fine, especially if you have the room to yourself. The noise doesn’t carry very well, so no one outside the room will be able to hear you unless you live in a tent.

However, it could cause problems when listening to music. If you have headphones with poor sound dampening or use speakers, I can see the Das being too loud. Stairway to Heaven just doesn’t have that same vibe when Robert Plant is being accompanied by the finger tapping orchestra.

For gaming it’s less troublesome. There are some people who complain about Cherry MX blue switches (just these switches, not mechanical switches in general) because the reset point is higher than the actuation point, so you have to let the key all the way up before hitting it again, which can cause problems with gaming.

I usually type when listening to music :/ so hm ....




Sources:

http://hardwareaware.com/review/xarmor-u9bl/

http://hardwareaware.com/review/das-professional-s/




It's interesting to note that some people find blues more fun to use. But because of the 2 issues i mentioned above, i decided to get browns instead.

Browns may be tactile, but some users say pushing all the way down makes it feel closests to linear. So i'm guessing you can alternate between typing lightly on the browns for typing, and pushing down all the way for gaming. But that is just speculation on my part from what i've read :/ Maybe someone whos actually tried both can confirm this.

[MyNameIsDan]

Key thing to note about the tactile feel of the browns is that unless you're used to typing lightly, you will most likely bottom out as browns are very light and the bump is quite subtle. If you type slower (and or with less force) then you'll notice the subtle bump.

ie: as I was typing this, pretty sure only a max of 50% of my keystrokes weren't bottomed.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

Lol.  Sayeth the person who doesn't own a mechanical keyboard yet.

Where's that Ducky?

Here's a poll at OCN that addresses this issue and was specifically answered by people that actually own Cherry Blues.

Did anything i say was wrong or inaccurate ?

If not i rest my case :lever:


@MyNameIsDan

Nice info *taken note


Yeah i did read that brown tactile is softer than the blues tactile bump :X by how much i donno since i haven't tested in person.

[ricercar]

Here's a poll at OCN that addresses this issue and was specifically answered by people that actually own Cherry Blues.

ripster just wanted to rag on me for spelling.

--

Blues are more fun than browns, but they suck for gaming. 'nuff said. Move along.

[MyNameIsDan]

Actually when it gets tough I roll out the good old personality matrix.  I still think it's best to meditate on these choices and listen to your heart, not other people's opinions.

Show Image

I still don't see why Mr T is representing the blues.

[laden3]

I think Mr. interface's simulator helps, probably can try his STB

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

Oh new 2x2 matrix. Copy :X

[Syrianto]

Okay, sweet guys! Thanks for the info

Guess I'll give the brown a shot since I don't really see any benefit to taking blue over it. Hopefully learning to type lightly will put less strain on my fingers =D

 Thanks again for the help!

[bigpook]

I remember bottoming out like crazy when I was using  the brown cherries. But after a month or so I adjusted. You do learn to lighten your touch over time. The brown cherries are very nice. The blue cherries are nice too, except for the high pitch noise they make. For whatever reason that really annoyed me.

[patrickgeekhack]

a blue switch keyboard.

Anyways, some question:

1. Occasionally on the blue when I double tapped I noticed it wouldn't register. It was rare, but not having that issue would be great. Do the brown's alleviate this problem completely?

2. Do the brown switches have the same tactile feel as the blues? I noticed that the click sound was mainly what told me if the key actuated or not. I never really noticed the sound anyways when I was gaming meaning I may as well get the quieter keyboard with the same tactile feel.

3. Do browns make any sounds when they actuate or is all of the sound made when bottoming out?

1. Cannot tell. I don't play games.
2. No. Brown cherries are very light compared to the blue.
3. No, no sound. Bottoming out will.

As usual, I will say this: the brown cherry and the blue cherry are completely different. It's not like one has a click whereas the other one does not.  Can you borrow a brown Cherry from someone to try?

[Syrianto]

As usual, I will say this: the brown cherry and the blue cherry are completely different. It's not like one has a click whereas the other one does not.  Can you borrow a brown Cherry from someone to try?

Hah, I wish =/ I only had access to a blue cherry keyboard, so I either play it safe with a blue that I know or take a gamble and hope that I like the browns better.

What else is different between the blues/browns besides actuation sound, no double tap issue, and like a 5g force difference? Considering I become oblivious to the sound, being able to quickly double tap would be awesome, and a lighter key is also great, a brown seems like the perfect match.

[MyNameIsDan]

Hah, I wish =/ I only had access to a blue cherry keyboard, so I either play it safe with a blue that I know or take a gamble and hope that I like the browns better.

What else is different between the blues/browns besides actuation sound, no double tap issue, and like a 5g force difference? Considering I become oblivious to the sound, being able to quickly double tap would be awesome, and a lighter key is also great, a brown seems like the perfect match.

Coming from a rubber dome, keys on cherry browns will feel veerrrry light. However you'll get used to it no problem as I have in matter of a day or two, and you'll notice an increase in WPM assuming you're a good touch typer. And I think you mentioned most of the key differences, the double tap issue related to deactivate point differing from actuation point.

there is a very very subtle tactile bump in the browns you will barely notice unless you type lightly. Only significant sound source in browns will be from bottoming out (just like any keys).

[Azuremen]

The browns are generally preferred for gaming, at least all that I've read (I've yet to own a brown switch board)

As for the blues, I fell in love immediately. The sound is just amazing music to my ears, but not everyone else's...

As for the double-tap issue, the browns should resolve that, though you can adjust how you double tap to have it work on the blues (I've had no issues thus far).

You can do what I did, and find places with fairly simple return policies (Amazon) to get a keyboard from to try out for a bit and then return it if you don't like it.

[MyNameIsDan]

I think if you're used to fully releasing the key before repressing it will allow you to avoid any hysteresis/double tapping issue with the browns. Especially for someone that has been using rubberdomes for most of the time, it shouldn't be a big issue I tihnk.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

One thing I have to note is that the blues DEFINITELY loosened up within the first few weeks. They still have a satisfying tactile bump but they're slightly lighter than when I got them. I had a couple other people who tried it once when I got this confirm it and they confirmed that I'm not crazy (or they may be attempting to placate me. Not sure.)

Anyhow, as far as switch trials, DAS offers a 30 day money back guarantee (Blues or browns for silent) and Deck does too (Blacks or clears). So you can try a fair number of switches risk free.

[washuai]

You know why you can try risk free, because they know you won't return it.  You'll buy both, thinking that you're going to return one, but in the end you end up collecting them all . . . muah ha ha .  Although, personally, I've gotten to try quite a few switches without any personal investment and I happily stick with browns/Topre.  That makes me not very representative of the usually try them all, sell off the losers.  
I bought my browns/Topre without any testing of those particular switch types, before purchase.  Based on my experience, my preference for quieter it wasn't much of a gamble.

Lighter, non-clicky blues without hysteresis - if that sounds like you, then go for it.  If there's a blue cherry only board that has more features that you want, than brown boards, then go for that, since you think you'd be happy.  Pros/Cons numbers versus gut instinct - it doesn't cost so much, nor is so irreversible a decision that you need to play it safe.

[Syrianto]

Anyhow, as far as switch trials, DAS offers a 30 day money back guarantee (Blues or browns for silent) and Deck does too (Blacks or clears). So you can try a fair number of switches risk free.

Great idea, but I'm not sure I'll be able to use DAS to get a trial for browns. I live in Canada and I don't think DAS ships to Canada. They have resellers such as NCIX.com or Tekgear.ca but they don't have a complete money-back guarantee.

I'll probably take a gamble on the Filco Browns when they come back into stock! Thanks for the help =D

[bigpook]

wow, you remember that : ) , But yes, it kind of worked out that way. The high pitched sound was too much for me. She is still using the Das and creates quite the racket with it, but her desk is on the  other side of the room so its not as bad. Sometimes we get the dueling  banjos thing going with me on the IBM mini. I smile when  that happens : )

I should post pics of the Das. The shiny isn't so shiny  any  more and the legends are wearing off of the keys but all of the  keys still work. Prior to the Das she was using some generic logitech rubber dome keyboard and  I would replace them after 3 to 6 months as the keys would start sticking and failing.
I need to check but the Das is going on 2 years now, I think...

[SirClickAlot]

Anyways, I was wondering if you guys could help me make a decision between buying the Filco Tactile Touch or Tactile Click.

Ah, the brown vs blue discussion.....

Why don't you apply for a position in one of the sinklists? Pick one and wait for the so called sinklist item to arrive at your door, you only have to pass it on to the next one on the sinklist. It gives you an excellent opportunity to try the different switches yourself before you buy a board that doesn't satisfy you on the long run.

Regards.

[verbel]

I just got my board yesterday so I have very limited experiance. My new kb is a filco with blue switches and I am in love with it. I can't imagine ever going back to a different one. I have played probably 15 or 20 SC2 matches and it works perfect. I did a quick few rounds of Team Fortress 2 and it was great there as well. I have not tried brown switches but the blues are winners in my book.