Author Topic: Elite Keyboard to carry Ducky keyboards? (Read 14428 times)

WhiteRice · « **on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 15:53:26 »

Those of you on the EK mailing list should have received this today.

Quote

A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

FILCO products have been in short supply recently, and this has been due
to our supplier not being able to meet market demand. We're very sorry
for this inconvenience; particularly at this time of the year!

Unfortunately, despite our recent efforts, our supply of FILCO products
will not be improving, so we have taken this turn of events as an
opportunity to search for alternative products which can meet our
customers' demands.

So without beating around the bush too much, in Jan/Feb 2011 EK will
offer a new keyboard line-up with Cherry MX switches!

These boards will replace all FILCO products (and then some:). We've
selected them with much discretion, and believe they will meet or exceed
the quality and functionality of FILCO products and provide a better
value in a very competitive market!

Further details to follow on our website soon. We appreciate your
continued support!

I am willing to make an interesting inference from it.

EK will be stocking Ducky keyboards.

Ducky keyboards are the closest comparable brand that offers the same variety of cherry switches.

I actually inquired with a Ducky sales rep about being an American distributor. During our conversations it was revealed that there was another party interested in distributing within the US.

Now of course this is all guesses and conjecture. It's an interesting turn of events.

Will EK carry Ducky?

Will they ever carry Filco again?

Who is the father of Scully's baby?

p.s. Another grape vine rumor is that EK is working closely with SP for a large order for early next year.

Inverted · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 15:54:48 »

Good news, Ek needs to meet the demand of the market somehow. I love my Ducky

RiceStrike · « **Reply #2 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 15:56:07 »

$@&$^* I just bought a Filco for my first mech

and there already coming out with something better or cheaper... If there is a pure white tenkeyless hell will be raised

Inverted · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 15:57:28 »

Quote from: RiceStrike;257702

$@&$^* I just bought a Filco for my first mech and there already coming out with something better or cheaper... If there is a pure white tenkeyless hell will be raised

I believe there might have been a sighting in the "What did you get in the mail today? thread"

photo from - panda-R

let the hell be raised ^^

Viett · « **Reply #4 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 15:58:02 »

There are many potential Asian, Costar OEM brands. No guarantee it'll be Ducky, but it certainly would be interesting if it were.

RiceStrike · « **Reply #5 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 15:58:52 »

This is what happens when your indecisive for a couple of months, the second you pull the trigger they slap you upside the head.
Ill probably be just as happy with my filco even if I had a ducky, I wont really feel it but my wallet will

jaynoon · « **Reply #6 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 15:59:12 »

It really seemed like EK got the short end of the stick from Filco once the demand picked up. Excited to see what they can do with a more willing partner.

RiceStrike · « **Reply #7 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:03:29 »

Maybe in the future filcos will become like duckies very rare inside america, and then maybe like model m's

ch_123 · « **Reply #8 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:04:28 »

Saw this coming from a mile away.

laden3 · « **Reply #9 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:14:48 »

If that's true, hopefully it is reasonably priced >.<''' and we still get free keycaps n key pullers ...

2084 · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:18:10 »

Well I'm glad I picked one up in time. I wonder if keyboardco has the same problem

theferenc · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:19:54 »

This actually makes me pretty happy. Ducky has some very interesting keyboards, in switch colors that Filco did not use.

Besides, "It's a ducky" is much more fun to say than "It's a filco".

kidchunks · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:21:46 »

This is indeed some great information. Good thing I canceled my order on that 1087 to wait for an all white board (I am trying to have patience).

laden3 · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:27:59 »

Still need to wait till Jan/Feb 2011

WhiteRice · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:30:10 »

Looks like PCHome will be cashing in.

kidchunks · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:31:17 »

Quote from: laden3;257728

Still need to wait till Jan/Feb 2011

Patience is a virtue! :smile:

Besides, think I've bought enough keyboards for the year. Looking forward to see what 2011 brings us.

Quote from: WhiteRice;257729

Looks like PCHome will be cashing in.

As if they haven't already with the help of GH hehe. I'm sure their stock will continue to empty out until the new year.

wanabe · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 16:34:46 »

this will be interesting to see what they carry. I thought the general consensus was that filcos were built a little bit nicer than the duckys? would you guys say it's a toss up?

Hofy · « **Reply #17 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 17:06:46 »

Do they have a Blue Cherry 10 keyless?

lzf929 · « **Reply #18 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 18:21:11 »

how about the market of noppoo, if some one can do business with them?

panda-R · « **Reply #19 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 20:34:24 »

booo urns. After much deliberation, I've come to my conclusion that Filco is the better of ducky. It will be interesting to see what prices they can offer.

WhiteRice · « **Reply #20 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 20:54:41 »

I got a guy on the inside

muchadoaboutnothing · « **Reply #21 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 20:58:35 »

Maybe Brian's going to try and go big by contacting an ODM to get custom branded keyboards.

Although the minimum quantities probably make that prohibitive for a smaller operation.

Rip is right though. It could be Ducky. Could be some company we've never heard of. Who knows?

muchadoaboutnothing · « **Reply #22 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 21:11:27 »

SEO spoils the fun, because Elitekeyboards has a new meta tag.

I had a funny feeling that EK would update the meta tags. EK has to go from the top ranking for Filco keyboards to a no-rank for Leopold. Have to build up the relevance for the keyword, so you have to tip off the search engine bots before you get the new company's keyboards, as search engine bots don't visit every day.

Phaedrus2129 · « **Reply #23 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 21:13:58 »

hmmmm

kidchunks · « **Reply #24 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 21:14:13 »

Quote from: muchadoaboutnothing;257836

SEO spoils the fun, because Elitekeyboards has a new meta tag.

Show Image

Maybe its a trick because EKB knew YOU would look there! :eek:

LOL..they slipped

WhiteRice · « **Reply #25 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 21:14:58 »

Oh snap!

SpatiallyAware · « **Reply #26 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 22:19:27 »

After reading the comparisons regarding build quality I'm glad they aren't going with Ducky. I was about to order a Filco from pcwhatever but I believe I'll wait and see what plays out with EK

WhiteRice · « **Reply #27 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 22:31:07 »

mmmm Dr. Reid

WhiteRice · « **Reply #28 on:** Sun, 05 December 2010, 22:39:06 »

I am not a fan of that rounded edge.

Looks like I bought a filco just in time; guess I'll be hanging on to it.

Laggy-gaga · « **Reply #29 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 00:16:12 »

as u can see in those images
leopold is still OEMed in TAIWAN

ManjyomeThunder · « **Reply #30 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 00:34:04 »

Any all-white, tenkeyless Leopolds? Preferably Otaku? I sure hope so.

Kairxa · « **Reply #31 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 01:14:10 »

Leopold's keycaps seems nice, I think.

Moogle Stiltzkin · « **Reply #32 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 03:31:01 »

Quote from: ripster;257833

I'm OK with Ducky. Easier to make fun of than "Leopold". And it would crack me up if US Geekhackers get one before Moogle does.

:X my supplier told me eta 21st Dec for my shipment.

I hope i get mine before EK does. Otherwise i am pretty sure they will bump the shipment order for the small buyers further back some more >_<:

eliOcs · « **Reply #33 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 06:09:37 »

are leopold spacebars compatible with cherry space bars? There is an image where it seems these keyboards use the same cherry stabilizers.

2084 · « **Reply #34 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 06:58:30 »

Nice how the leopold uses the same font and placement as the filco logo

But I like the legends and the detachable usb cable.

edit: you could even mod the logo plate to make it say filco, cut the 2 horizontal bars from the E, cut the bar from the trademark O for the I, you got the L already, and cut the O in halves to get the C and finally the extra O

002 · « **Reply #35 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 07:11:56 »

Leopold would be interesting.
One thing I don't like about the look of their boards is the way they've done the embedded LED's for the Caps-lock. Is it just me or does it look cheap and nasty?

db_Iodine · « **Reply #36 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 07:19:01 »

Quote from: 002;257953

Leopold would be interesting.
One thing I don't like about the look of their boards is the way they've done the embedded LED's for the Caps-lock. Is it just me or does it look cheap and nasty?

They look just like the ones Ducky has. I kind of like it, but I understand someone who wanted to change the keycaps might not like it that the LED's are not as visible as it is with those original keycaps. In fact I just swapped my Ducky's num lock cap just to see if the LED is still visible with a normal keycap, and it is.

CodeChef · « **Reply #37 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 08:22:53 »

Quote from: 002;257953

Leopold would be interesting.
One thing I don't like about the look of their boards is the way they've done the embedded LED's for the Caps-lock. Is it just me or does it look cheap and nasty?

It's just you.

itlnstln · « **Reply #38 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 08:27:59 »

I like the embedded LEDs on the Leopolds. I think it would be awesome if Elite started carrying them. Filcos are pretty nice, but I like some of the additional features of the Leopolds (removable USB, embedded LEDs). I wonder if they use pad-printed or laser-etched caps.

woody · « **Reply #39 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 08:43:16 »

What's so cool about removable cables? I see one more potential problem.

theferenc · « **Reply #40 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 08:46:28 »

And an easy replacement on the part of the keyboard most likely to break.

Think pets, children, people tripping over the cord for whatever reason. I've tossed keyboards in the past when the cords frayed or ripped, because at the time, it wasn't worth the effort of replacing it.

With a removable cable, that problem goes away. And USB ports, especially like on the leopold, are pretty robust.

itlnstln · « **Reply #41 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 08:49:15 »

On some keyboards, like the HHKB, it really helps with portability. If you like to swap out keyboards a lot, having a bunch of keyboards with removable cables would make it much easier. I can see where you are coming from, though, if you tend to stick with one keyboard for long stretches of time. I have had my HHKB for about a year, I guess, and I plug and unplug mine a ton and have never had a problem with it. Like someone else mentioned, it also helps with pets that like to chew cables. Also, you can change out the cable with a longer/shorter one to fit your needs (something else I did with my HHKB).

panda-R · « **Reply #42 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 09:47:35 »

Quote from: itlnstln;257995

On some keyboards, like the HHKB, it really helps with portability. If you like to swap out keyboards a lot, having a bunch of keyboards with removable cables would make it much easier.

The funny thing is, I bought my Ducky's for the same reason but after as soon as I pull the cable out of my 9008, it will not recognize the 9008 again unless i unplug the cable from the USB port. My 1087 can unplug and replug all it wants though

woody · « **Reply #43 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 10:06:40 »

Is it a micro USB or mini USB? Both are not very sturdy mechanically.

itlnstln · « **Reply #44 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 10:08:42 »

Mini. True a USB B might be a little more robust, but I never have any problems with the Mini USB plug. Micro wouldn't work so well, though.

ironman31 · « **Reply #45 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 10:19:39 »

It also makes me feel better about putting the keyboard in a sleeve or bag, since there's not cable to stick out the back and get bent against the case.

woody · « **Reply #46 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 10:44:39 »

With a good (rated) mechanical connector and common cables, I approve. But not mini/micro USB, I've had too much troubles with them.
Anyway, my point was that hardly a detachable can change my choice, and I'll lean to the attached cable just to be on the safe side. Plus I don't lug keyboards around. There's cheap notebooks for on-the-road computing.

kidchunks · « **Reply #47 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 11:20:58 »

detachable cable makes it easier for people to steal..lol

a plus? :biggrin:

itlnstln · « **Reply #48 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 11:26:17 »

Nah, just stock up on these.

You can lower your latency, won't have to worry about corrosion and don't need to fear RF interference from other electronics.

That's what Razer says, anyway.

xsphat · « **Reply #49 on:** Mon, 06 December 2010, 11:30:18 »

I wanted a new keyboard to make an iPad keyboard dock with a real keyboard since the Apple one I have = fail. That's how I found out about EK not selling Filco anymore and ultimately why I decided to check in here again.

And for the record, the mini USB in the HHKB Pro2 never gave me any form of a problem on either or them I owned, and on none of the 4 or 5 computers I used them on.

News:

Author Topic: Elite Keyboard to carry Ducky keyboards? (Read 14428 times)

woody

woody

woody