Author Topic: my new keyboard, Zowie Celeritas! (Read 66058 times)

itlnstln · « **Reply #50 on:** Thu, 27 January 2011, 09:11:11 »

I think Laser-etched caps got their quality reputation when beige keyboards were more common. The process used on black caps (laser + infill) seems to be inferior to that on beige keyboards and even modern pad-printing in some cases. Double-shot is the only process that we've seen that doesn't suck in pretty much every case.

dxong · « **Reply #51 on:** Thu, 27 January 2011, 09:26:34 »

Quote from: sixty;285676

Now you know why the Ducky and Cherry boards already ship with dirty looking keys. Nice trick.

haha Ill keep that in mind!

dxong · « **Reply #52 on:** Thu, 27 January 2011, 09:37:27 »

Quote from: bifi85;283247

The Zowie Celeritas is not allowed in korean e-sport events. So the advertisement from korean e-sport-stars for this product is... you know.

Just wanna add that he does use the keyboard for torunaments though this picture is taking from a tour in China. I am pretty sure there was a video of him competing in a korean event. I think he takes off the keys when he plays, on the numpads, u just cant see it.

dont know much about keys, but double shots sounds alot more expensive to produce?

ajx · « **Reply #53 on:** Thu, 27 January 2011, 14:23:15 »

Quote from: dxong;285673

Here is an answer to your question:

Overall look on it
Show Image

Difference in high...
Show Image

the shape and the size of the keys of the filco red wasd keys do look the same like the ones on the Celeritas. I think the fitting hole inside the key is a bit too long but I would say if I file it down they will probably fit.

thx anyway
except i dislike having coloured keys with such full black keyboard :eyebrows:
where did you order it btw?
keyboardco (uk) or EK (us)?

Arc'xer · « **Reply #54 on:** Thu, 27 January 2011, 15:54:17 »

Quote from: dxong;283251

I take that any advertisement like this does not attract customers while the product itself does, if you have a slight interest in keyboard. Only downside is the non coating on the keys.

I am not a huge gamer myself, so im not well informed with the esport, but how is it a keyboard is banned from any korean e-sports scenes? 0.o

Yes it's very strange they would ban it. It's not macro keyboard it doesn't have any input function key for saving macros or creating macros on-the-fly.

The only thing it has is repeater or turbo buttons like on the arcade sticks. Technically it could be considered a macro in the sense that you are automating repeated key presses but it's not really so. Because you can just go into the keyboard settings and reduce the delay and increase the repeat rate.

My guess is they ban it from the start so no issues are raised. And after reviewing the issue they lift it or keep the ban. Either way it's very disturbing trend how sponsoring occurs and yet that item is not legal, doesn't make sense.

Jago · « **Reply #55 on:** Thu, 27 January 2011, 16:55:46 »

Quote from: bifi85;283247

The Zowie Celeritas is not allowed in korean e-sport events. So the advertisement from korean e-sport-stars for this product is... you know.

This is plain not true, unless for some reason you think KESPA (and only KESPA) is the definition of "korean e-sport events". KESPA is by far, not the only thing in town.

dxong · « **Reply #56 on:** Sat, 29 January 2011, 08:30:34 »

The only issue I can imagine then would be the reconfiguration of windows key to ctrl key, that might be considered as a macro key? I assume that if there was any ban at all, it would be within the game of Starcraft 2.

But then again, the latest patch of sc2 allows reconfiguration of your keys as well.

Is there even any source to this statement of bifi85? He does not seem very active in this forum anyway...

dxong · « **Reply #57 on:** Sat, 29 January 2011, 08:37:35 »

couldnt take better picture than this, had problem with the lightings, hope this helps

Using a Panasonic DMC-TZ3, very decent for its price a couple years ago...

HaiiYaa · « **Reply #58 on:** Sat, 05 February 2011, 03:21:58 »

Had my zowie for 5days now and the keys still look perfectly new. Remember guys dont eat at your computer and wash your fingers before using it

sixty · « **Reply #59 on:** Sat, 05 February 2011, 03:24:42 »

Definitely has nothing to do with eating at your computer or how often you wash your hands. Has something to do with PH values, sweat and who knows what else. One day we gotta research this and make a keycap durability thread sorted by PH resistance.

HaiiYaa · « **Reply #60 on:** Sat, 05 February 2011, 06:24:23 »

Quote from: sixty;290181

Definitely has nothing to do with eating at your computer or how often you wash your hands. Has something to do with PH values, sweat and who knows what else. One day we gotta research this and make a keycap durability thread sorted by PH resistance.

Where do you get this from? I do think that oily fingers will have an impact on how quick your letters start looking yellow

Korg · « **Reply #61 on:** Sun, 06 February 2011, 15:52:58 »

Maybe I was just unlucky but I've had faults with two of these keyboards.

The first one I received had a very noticeable crack at the rear, where the cable exits/enters the board. The boxing it was supplied in was in pristine condition, both the outer brown packaging as well as Zowie's own branded packaging, which would suggest it had received it's ill treatment before leaving it's place of birth.

Piccy to illustrate....

The replacement was externally perfect, the problem this time was that the space bar didn't respond very well in terms of springing back. I carefully removed the space bar (after looking into various ways to do this on this very forum, thankyou), and found it to be a standard cherry board setup, i.e. one brown switch in the middle with two black stabilizers either end.

The two stabilizers were at their lowest position, and couldn't be de-pressed any further, they could, however, be brought upwards with some tweesers, but promptly subdued to gravity when released. In effects the space bar was operating under the steam of a single switch.

The tips of a metal bar were visible through some small openings underneath the stabilzers, but I couldn't trust myself to open the board up and void any warranty, especially after memories of the crack in the first model, to correct the metal bars position.

In the end I paid a little bit extra for a filco, and after just a little teething problem with a rigid key (which is now fine) am very happy

ajx · « **Reply #62 on:** Mon, 07 February 2011, 16:47:37 »

i had answer from Zowie for better explanations

Quote

The reason why the letters are "fading out", is because of our "nylon key caps", which is used to give the keyboard the best and most comfortable keys you can get. It is, unfortunately, annoying side effect that the letters are fading out, but there's nothing wrong with the keyboard.

HaiiYaa · « **Reply #63 on:** Mon, 14 February 2011, 01:47:26 »

I had it for 2weeks now and the keys still look perfectly new. I dont know how yours got dirty so quickly

and about the nylon keys... they do feel kinda soft. Not like nylon, but different than other keyboards i tried and i do like that

HaiiYaa · « **Reply #64 on:** Tue, 15 February 2011, 08:21:32 »

heres some pics after 2weeks

phillip · « **Reply #65 on:** Tue, 15 February 2011, 08:35:26 »

Quote from: ripster;290902

I added Celeritas to the Key Ref wiki. Thanks for the pic! I'm curious how these Nylon keys will wear long term so keep us updated.

I used to be skeptical of the "acid body chemistry" theory but then a Geekhacker named typo came along.... And DEFINITELY fingernail length has something to do with it.

I don't have long fingernails but I must have acid leaking through my skin...I wear down keys extremely quickly :(

ajx · « **Reply #66 on:** Tue, 15 February 2011, 16:22:28 »

Quote from: HaiiYaa;294723

I had it for 2weeks now and the keys still look perfectly new. I dont know how yours got dirty so quickly

and about the nylon keys... they do feel kinda soft. Not like nylon, but different than other keyboards i tried and i do like that

do you play often games such as fps?
its kinda strange that you eventually have nothing

shora · « **Reply #67 on:** Tue, 15 February 2011, 17:46:56 »

i had this keyboard for 3-4 weeks now and the more used keys are also fading out a bit, i can provide some pics tommorow if you like

the only bad thing i can say about that keyboard is, that i'm experiencing the same problems as another poster in this thread with the space bar, no idea whats the problem there :/
the brown switches are maybe a little too soft for me, so i think i'm trying out a cherry board with clears next.

dxong · « **Reply #68 on:** Wed, 16 February 2011, 08:10:54 »

Quote from: shora;295731

i had this keyboard for 3-4 weeks now and the more used keys are also fading out a bit, i can provide some pics tommorow if you like the only bad thing i can say about that keyboard is, that i'm experiencing the same problems as another poster in this thread with the space bar, no idea whats the problem there :/
the brown switches are maybe a little too soft for me, so i think i'm trying out a cherry board with clears next.

What kind of problem do you have with the space bar?

HaiiYaa share us the recipe

HaiiYaa · « **Reply #69 on:** Wed, 16 February 2011, 08:54:05 »

Quote from: dxong;296027

What kind of problem do you have with the space bar?

HaiiYaa share us the recipe

I just wash fingers before using the keyboard and every everytime I eat

and clean it with isopropyl 1-2times a week. Just a little bit on a cloth

neverlast74 · « **Reply #70 on:** Sat, 26 February 2011, 07:11:56 »

my experience with my celeritas is...that after 3 days compared to my model m, g80 clear - it suits me way better.
more to come if I have more experience.
all problem that have been reported here I do not have - no spacebar problem nor yellow keycaps.
product is perfect. got the german layout.

edit one year later - still ok but I have problems with chattering of the keyboard so some keys are double printing when pressed once.

keyboardlover · « **Reply #71 on:** Sat, 26 February 2011, 07:14:12 »

Thanks for the info. Welcome to GeekHack!

neverlast74 · « **Reply #72 on:** Sat, 26 February 2011, 11:52:16 »

@keyboardlover
wow thank you!
When was the last time that someone said thank you when I shared my view? can't remember....

HaiiYaa · « **Reply #73 on:** Sun, 20 March 2011, 07:20:53 »

An update

After 2months of usually the keys are still perfectly white and the keys are not grey from using a little isopropryl

jaysson · « **Reply #74 on:** Wed, 23 March 2011, 11:25:58 »

Hi geekhack,

first of all thanks for this amazing forum. Read alot the past month and after some consideration went for this Zowie Keyboard. It arrived some hours ago and i already wouldn't want to miss it. Whats the ususal time you need to adjust your typing style to not bottom out so much/often?
Since this thread has lots of sufficient pics, i don't feel urged to do some more.
Will keep you updated about the keycap dirt status.

Orphagn · « **Reply #75 on:** Wed, 23 March 2011, 11:35:46 »

Welcome to GeekHack!
I don't know if there's a usual time to get used to not bottoming out, it kind of just happened for me after using a board for some time.
I change boards so often that I have to adjust my pressure to the keys a lot.
Just keep typing how you normally do and your fingers will slowly get used to not bottoming out.

dxong · « **Reply #76 on:** Sun, 27 March 2011, 15:35:57 »

Welcome to Geekhack

Just feel free to post your keyboard if you have the urge to..

spread the love!

I still usually buttoming out when playing, less when writing, but then again I love the audio when you peck down your button.

neverlast74 · « **Reply #77 on:** Tue, 29 March 2011, 04:19:08 »

after 1 month of daily using the celeritas - I wanted to come back for a summary.

overall great keyboard! used it for writing, sc2 and so on ...without any problems.

just one thing.... as I am a lefty I am using for shooters not WASD but the numblock on the right - and guess what? I played one day FPS - and the keys fade - as I am using 8,4,5,6 on the numblock they are grey and none of the others are. Either I had dirty fingers on that day - or my sweat made it.

I will try cleaning it with alcohol, 80% rum or ethly? if that does not do it I have to buy this aeh.... isopropanol (?).

MrSneis · « **Reply #78 on:** Tue, 29 March 2011, 12:14:20 »

Quote from: neverlast74;320517

after 1 month of daily using the celeritas - I wanted to come back for a summary.

overall great keyboard! used it for writing, sc2 and so on ...without any problems.

just one thing.... as I am a lefty I am using for shooters not WASD but the numblock on the right - and guess what? I played one day FPS - and the keys fade - as I am using 8,4,5,6 on the numblock they are grey and none of the others are. Either I had dirty fingers on that day - or my sweat made it.

I will try cleaning it with alcohol, 80% rum or ethly? if that does not do it I have to buy this aeh.... isopropanol (?).

I would think any dilution of isopropyl alcohol should be fine.

neverlast74 · « **Reply #79 on:** Tue, 29 March 2011, 14:49:25 »

alright didnot have any 80%rum at home. wodka and cachaca did not work ;-)

neverlast74 · « **Reply #80 on:** Wed, 30 March 2011, 04:13:15 »

great link - thank you ripster!

AllNight · « **Reply #81 on:** Wed, 30 March 2011, 07:00:52 »

Quote from: ripster;320775

i like this rum.
Show Image

but i need to pick up a bottle of cachaça because i'm getting into caipirinhas.

release the gracken!1!1!11!!!!!

neverlast74 · « **Reply #82 on:** Fri, 08 April 2011, 11:22:52 »

Finally I bought a little flask of Isopranol (German for Isopropyl) at a pharmacy (20 ml for 1,2Euro) and it really works wonders! Applied with a cotton bud - and then after 10 minutes the white is back and the grey is gone!!! I am not sure if this really coming from my sweat becaause it was only on 4 buttons - or other fat I had on my fingers or something else...

RiGS · « **Reply #83 on:** Fri, 08 April 2011, 11:56:06 »

Yeah, I have the same experience cleaning my Steelseries.

Chobopants · « **Reply #84 on:** Fri, 08 April 2011, 12:36:50 »

Quote from: neverlast74;320517

after 1 month of daily using the celeritas - I wanted to come back for a summary.

overall great keyboard! used it for writing, sc2 and so on ...without any problems.

just one thing.... as I am a lefty I am using for shooters not WASD but the numblock on the right - and guess what? I played one day FPS - and the keys fade - as I am using 8,4,5,6 on the numblock they are grey and none of the others are. Either I had dirty fingers on that day - or my sweat made it.

I will try cleaning it with alcohol, 80% rum or ethly? if that does not do it I have to buy this aeh.... isopropanol (?).

Wow I thought I was the only person in the world who played this way! Glad to hear that there are more of us. I'd love a red 8426 numpad set.

popol · « **Reply #85 on:** Fri, 15 April 2011, 01:44:51 »

are you using isopropanol pure (99%)?
it's written on the box that it's very toxic by inhalation and by contact as well and to use gloves and a mask.
Just wanted your inputs about it as I don't want to put my family at risk...

MrSneis · « **Reply #86 on:** Fri, 15 April 2011, 01:51:57 »

Are you serious? Not likely that you will harm anyone or yourself in this.

popol · « **Reply #87 on:** Fri, 15 April 2011, 02:10:21 »

Quote from: MrSneis;331193

Are you serious? Not likely that you will harm anyone or yourself in this.

I just read what's written on the bottle of the 99.9%, unlike many people apparently

DeltaGunner · « **Reply #88 on:** Fri, 15 April 2011, 06:42:17 »

If you die you will atleast die by doing a good thing to a keyboard.

FrittenFett · « **Reply #89 on:** Fri, 15 April 2011, 17:49:12 »

Pff, warm showers...

The real and only way to get dirt away from plastics is to use chloroform.

Lets say it this way for all people who don't know the effects:

I don't recommend filling chloroform into a typical medical thin plastic can.
(Attention please, don't forget to open every window in the room you're screwing around.)

But I think Ripster is the guy with superior knowledge, didn't he studied chemistry?!

zirb · « **Reply #90 on:** Sun, 02 October 2011, 15:06:29 »

Hello dxong, Hello GEEKHACK!

this is my first post on this forum. I bought the Zowie Celeritas about two weeks ago, informed me really decent about the whole mechanical keyboard history and the specifications beforehand. As i read all specifications about the different switches it really fast became clear to me that only the MX Browns would fit my style of typing and feeling. I wanted to have some feedback but not the clicky one.
So my keyboard arrived really fast... even though not fast enough as i wanted it in the same minute of ordering xD

After the first two days of owning the keyboard i felt in love with it, the Browns gave me exactly what i wanted and what i expected. So overall i am really happy with my new and first mechanical keyboard...
If there wheren't that really fast wearing off at the keys :/ that's really nothing to expect from a 120€-keyboard in my opinion.
I thought about sending it back and ordering an Filco Majestouch Fullsize with the Browns (as this is a keyboard to get reasonably easy with german layout) or waiting for the BlackWidow Stealth-Edition to come with german layout.

But now that i have read your thread i calmed a bit down and will try the isopropyl-cleaning-method

Thank you dxong for your really good write-down and especially the cleaning of the keys.

I will write my experiences down here.
(and i hope my english isn't totally humble ^^)

greetings,
zirb

neverlast74 · « **Reply #91 on:** Tue, 29 November 2011, 07:32:49 »

OK so I am back after 9 months of using the celeritas and now have the comparsion of my Zowie with a Majestouch 2 all brown.
Zowie caps feel better when touched due to nylon. (more friction) But the stamp of the cap is shorter so they wiggle a bit more than Filco. I would say very minor almost not noticeble effect. at least not disturbing me.

Brown switches are a bit "scratchy" when pressing down a keys. also minor problem...on both keyboards...
page down button on my filco is squeeking a bit. very minor problem.
zowie has the probem of greasy key after a while...

What is disturbing on the zowie is that I have double entries when I am writing I housse or dooing example... so some letters are displayed twice because it is sooooooo fast. I had to adjust the delay time in win7 to even out the effect which helps. Perhaps I am just a lazy writter. overall I would say they are very similar - Filco is a bit better quality - but the caps are better on the zowie and it has more features (light, 8x, media keys)... so torn and useing both...

edit:
I realized this double entry is called "chattering" is it has become WORSE. so better stay away from this zowie - the 8x is not worth it.

Mo0rbid · « **Reply #92 on:** Tue, 29 November 2011, 08:16:04 »

I bought this keyboard today and I have a question regarding the spacebar key. The spacebar is veeery sensitive and it doesn't feel like the other keys, there's no tactile bump, it just goes straight down, is this normal?

enomooshiki · « **Reply #93 on:** Mon, 27 February 2012, 17:56:53 »

Quote from: Mo0rbid;460604

I bought this keyboard today and I have a question regarding the spacebar key. The spacebar is veeery sensitive and it doesn't feel like the other keys, there's no tactile bump, it just goes straight down, is this normal?

I noticed the same thing.
When I took out the space bar key cap, I noticed it's Cherry Black, not Brown like other keys.

Yoshihiro Akiyama · « **Reply #94 on:** Sun, 04 March 2012, 16:29:44 »

Hi, I'm thinking of buying this keyboard. It looks really nice. One issue though: is it possible to turn off all of the lights on the board (i.e. both the Zowie red/blue light and the red lights under the F9-12 keys)?

News:

Author Topic: my new keyboard, Zowie Celeritas! (Read 66058 times)