Cherry Brown Backlit Gaming Keyboard

[Kurz]

I've been eying a XArmor Keyboard precisely because its Backlit and It has Cherry browns.
Are there any other brands/models I should be looking at?

[IvanIvanovich]

There is a pretty short list for mechanical backlit. Besides the Xarmor:
Mionix Zibal 60 - black mx
Deck - Black or Clear mx
Razer Black Widow Ultimate - blue mx
So you will need to either change switch type or give up backlight to have another choice.
Welcome.

[bdpq]

Or you can wait for the new Ducky 9008

[Lpb45]

id be pretty interested if ducky made a backlit 1087

[The Solutor]

I've been eying a XArmor Keyboard precisely because its Backlit and It has Cherry browns.
Are there any other brands/models I should be looking at?

 
If you want browns Xarmor is your only option, a really good option anyway

[The Solutor]

Or you can wait for the new Ducky 9008

This one is black

[IvanIvanovich]

The standard 9008 comes in all switch types. I'd be surprised if they offered only black on the shine. I would also like to see a 1087 shine. I wouldn't mind a Zibal TKL either though.

[Kurz]

So when is the Shine going to come out?
I'll wait for it especially since it looks like XArmor went out of business.

[The Solutor]

I'll wait for it especially since it looks like XArmor went out of business.

Xarmor is not a company, is a brand.

The company is iOne, and looks like being live and kicking.

[IvanIvanovich]

I've heard the Shine may be out as early as late August. So around another month if it is not delayed.

[wompwomp]

Sorry not trying to steal your thread but does anyone know if there are any tenkeyless backlit boards?

[Criminal]

Sorry not trying to steal your thread but does anyone know if there are any tenkeyless backlit boards?

Deck makes one

Sent from my Incredible using Tapatalk

[Kurz]

So when is the Shine going to come out?
I'll wait for it especially since it looks like XArmor went out of business.

[The Solutor]

deja vu... someone changed something in the Matrix :happy:

[BucklingSpring]

Read other opinions before you go with an XArmor.

I have one... It's the lowest bang for the buck of all my keyboards.

The XArmor quality goes side by side with my TVS Gold (not backlit but worth 35$ instead of $130)
Main grips (not in order)
-Unreliable LEDS
-Wobbly keys due to cheap keycaps (Yes I know... same crap as the Razer BWU)
-Horrible stabilizers due to cheap implementation which also contributes to wobbliness.
-LEDs Doesn't stay on between reboots

[The Solutor]

Read other opinions before you go with an XArmor.

I have one... It's the lowest bang for the buck of all my keyboards.

The XArmor quality goes side by side with my TVS Gold (not backlit but worth 35$ instead of $130)
Main grips (not in order)
-Unreliable LEDS
-Wobbly keys due to cheap keycaps (Yes I know... same crap as the Razer BWU)
-Horrible stabilizers due to cheap implementation which also contributes to wobbliness.
-LEDs Doesn't stay on between reboots

Even Ripster has stopped posting this bull****, you should follow his example.

[The Solutor]

Only because I'm too busy talking to KL.

Ok, introduce BS in to the discussion, please

[BucklingSpring]

Even Ripster has stopped posting this bull****, you should follow his example.

Dude you are probably accountable for 90% of the positive comments about XArmor on the Net.

As I said to the op, look around before you go for XArmor. Don't rely on a single guy's opinion.
Btw, when it comes to XArmor threads, every contributors with a nick ending by "or" is suspicious ;-)

[The Solutor]

Dude you are probably accountable for 90% of the positive comments about XArmor on the Net.

An then even if was true (and it isn't) ?

As I said to the op, look around before you go for XArmor. Don't rely on a single guy's opinion.

So, suggest a better brown backlit keyboard to the OP

Btw, when it comes to XArmor threads, every contributors with a nick ending by "or" is suspicious ;-)

I'm afraid that a nickname  that can be shortened in BS is way more suspicious... :becky:

[BucklingSpring]

Mionix clame the Zibal is "rage proof"

I don't have to try raging on a XArmor or a Razer BWU to know they will not handle it well. The keycap stems will snap and the large key stabilizers will break in pieces before breaking the Cherry switches or cracking the board.

I know Decks can sustain a sh!t load of abuse without breaking. They can take rage all right cause I've done it myself. The weakest link is probably the switches, although I never broke one.

The Mionix claim remains to be seen. I don't own one and haven't seen enough pictures of it. But the few ones showing under the keycaps are not reassuring.

[BucklingSpring]

So, suggest a better brown backlit keyboard to the OP

LoL, Isn't XArmor the only backlit brown on the market?
If it must be Brown and you don't mind the crap around it. Then go for it.

Lysol already posted some alternatives.

[The Solutor]

Mionix clame the Zibal is "rage proof"

Until Mionix will start to make some blue or brown boards is not a competing product, who tested both the keyboards was more impressed by Xarmor.

The keycap stems will snap and the large key stabilizers will break in pieces before breaking the Cherry switches or cracking the board.

I have dismantled and reassembled my board a zillion of times, and my keycaps are perfect, is not a coincidence that razer, Xarmor, Qpad, Termaltake, and likely duky are using all the very same kind of keycaps.

Then, be sure that in 6 months the market will be invaded by replacement keycaps and this (supposed) problem will be easily fixable with the Filco way (just replace the keycaps).

I know Decks can sustain a sh!t load of abuse without breaking. They can take rage all right cause I've done it myself.

Maybe Xarmor and Qpad users are just happy with a good, comfortable, full featured and nice keyboard.

But the few ones showing under the keycaps are not reassuring.

Mionix keycaps are exactly the same as xarmor and this is more than reassuring, while the pinging board is likely made by costar as filco and das ones, and this is less reassuring.

[BucklingSpring]

Maybe Xarmor and Qpad users are just happy with a good, comfortable, full featured and nice keyboard.

Feel free to show me happy XArmor and Qpad users.
I agree with confortable and feature rich. But I don't see the "good".

"I have dismantled and reassembled my board a zillion of times"
A figure of speach I suppose. Let just say you did it a lot... Why would you dismatle so often a keyboard you like so much?

I don't do that on a keyboard I like... Maybe it's just me. If it's not broken, I don't fix it.

[The Solutor]

Feel free to show me happy XArmor and Qpad users.

You spent months to seek the few people unsatisfied by the product, I'm sure you can use the same skill to find the positive comments yourself.

But I don't see the "good".

World is plenty of people who like sausage and onions more than caviar, one more is not a biggie.

"I have dismantled and reassembled my board a zillion of times"
 A figure of speach I suppose. Let just say you did it a lot...

At least you are intuitive...:pound:

Why would you dismatle so often a keyboard you like so much?

Because I like perfection more than the shopping, and I like to tailor what I buy to made it unique, you like just to spend and to collect, good for the US economy.

I don't do that on a keyboard I like... Maybe it's just me. If it's not broken, I don't fix it.

Luckily a lot of GH aren't with you or this would be the next dumb forum, meant just to be a fight arena between opposite fanboysm, instead is a place full of people that enjoys doing something, that enjoys contributing with nice projects, that enjoys made something better.

Once, someone said, this is geeckhack, not lazypussies

[Dr_DX]

Well I'll cast a vote in favor of the U9BL-S.  I picked up one about a month ago and I really like it so far.  I have the newer version which supposedly has overcome many of the older version's flaws and quality issues.  Coming from a Dell 101 with black Alps, it is a much better built keyboard.  Mine seems to be quite soild (2.8 lbs).  I like how the switches are plate mounted so they don't have that pinging sound like the filcos and others that I have heard on YouTube.  I am not an expert and so I admit to not having a lot of other keyboards to judge by, but the stabilized keys don't seem any more wobbly than the 101's are.  I like being able to work and game in the dark so I don't keep the rest of the house up.  I don't rage, and frankly don't understand people that lack that kind of self control.  In a month's time of moderate use, I haven't seen any degradation of the keycaps and only a very little shine on the space bar.  I only have 2 small issues and neither is a deal breaker.  The backlight setting not staying between reboots and, as a gamer with big fingers, a narrower (widthwise) caps lock so I don't hit it when using the A.  The NKRO and mic, headphone, and USB ports are gravy.  

I do like the full size because I remap my game movement keys to the arrow keys (when I can - fat fingers) and use the keypad too.

[Bry]

Or you can wait for the new Ducky 9008

Show Image

Dont get me wrong I love my U9BLS but......



O____O SEXY



As for the U9BLS, I think a lot of the negative stuff that people were saying doesn't apply to the newer revisions. My board is 110100033, and I havent had a single issue. The stabilizers leave a bit to be desired but other than that, it's is a pretty solid board and it looks nice even with the LED's turned off. As BucklingSpring points out, if you are needing to pull the caps off of it a lot, they aren't the most durable things in the world. However, I've pulled mine quite a few times for cleaning and haven't broken anything yet. It just requires you to be a bit more careful and make sure you are pulling straight up because if you don't do it correctly you're likely to snap a stem. Also, like I said, the stabilizers and the little plastic pieces that press into the key that hook on to the wire part are very thin, but as long as you don't go tearing it apart like a moron it should be okay.

[The Solutor]

but as long as you don't go tearing it apart like a moron it should be okay.

Likely this is the problem for someone...:pound:

[Trueepower]

Well, the poster said brown switches, and back lighting so that pretty much narrows it down until the Shine comes out. That should be relatively soon, so the poster should think about waiting.

I've tried both the Mionix, and the Xarmor, and I liked how the Xarmor was smaller. The rubber plastic around the Xarmor, and overall design was nicer. The Mionix comes from the Meka G1 with the video's showing how it can be ran over by a car, and still work. I think that's great, but the Mionix is still ugly.

So if it were between the Xarmor, and Mionix I would take the Xarmor. Although, I picked neither in the end. It makes it hard to pick a back lit keyboard when there are few choices.

[Trueepower]

Nah.  Plus I don't own one.  Plus Noodles said the plastic case quality was better than the Mionix at least.

I don't know if the plastic quality is better, but the plastic appears nicer. In the end, that may be more important unless your dog chews on it, or you decide to let a car run over it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH3jbIU_iZ0&feature=related

[Curetia]

@The Solutor
A friend tested some keyboards the last month for a journal in germany (Qpad, Deck, Zowie Celeritas, Steelseries 6Gv2, Razer Black Widow Ultimate)
He told me that the Razer was the one he loves because of the extra keys he can use. His mouse doesnt have enough keys because he is a left-hander.
His ranking in build quality was RBWThe Qpad or any other Xarmor clones are much lower in build quality as a Deck or Filco or something else. The gaps at the side of the casing are not at the same level, the stabiliziers are not as good and so on.
But the Xarmor are the only one with browns and backlit.

[The Solutor]

A friend tested some keyboards the last month for a journal in germany (Qpad, Deck, Zowie Celeritas, Steelseries 6Gv2, Razer Black Widow Ultimate)
 He told me that the Razer was the one he loves because of the extra keys he can use.

This is pretty obvious BW is tought as true gaming keyboard, as the upcoming G unity and Cr Storm

His ranking in build quality was RBW

Quality is a word often abused here btw I cant agree with this rating

The Qpad or any other Xarmor clones are much lower in build quality as a Deck or Filco or something else.

Good keycaps, rattling spacebars, pinging boards aren't part of quality ?

And even agreeing in the absolute, the ratio price/quality is not just in favor of Xarmor, is HUGELY in favor of Xarmor/Q-pad but even BW

The gaps at the side of the casing are not at the same level,

My housing are just perfect on both Qpad and Xarmor

the stabiliziers are not as good and so on.

Define good.

The more robust and firm stabilizers are the Cherry stile, found on cherry boards and leopolds, many people find them unpleasant, the ones from Xarmor are lighter than the Costar ones, this means sligtly more wobbliness, but also less inertia and no rattling or squeaking as happen on Filcos or DAS. So which one is the good one ? Just matter of preferences, not absolute facts.

[alaricljs]

I like how the switches are plate mounted so they don't have that pinging sound like the filcos and others that I have heard on YouTube.

Um, wow.  Do you know that the Filco is plate mounted too?  And depending on which ping you're talking about the plate is the bit that can amplify the switch ping by resonating with it and helping transfer that to the other switches?

I'm glad you're happy with your board though.

[Curetia]

Good keycaps, rattling spacebars, pinging boards aren't part of quality ?

My Filco Majestouch 2 doesnt have the ping sound, so I'm very happy with my board.

My housing are just perfect on both Qpad and Xarmor

Look this picture:
I took this picture from a german review on computerbase.de My friend said the same problems are on his Qpad Board (which is on the way to me)

The more robust and firm stabilizers are the Cherry stile, found on cherry boards and leopolds, many people find them unpleasant, the ones from Xarmor are lighter than the Costar ones, this means sligtly more wobbliness, but also less inertia and no rattling or squeaking as happen on Filcos or DAS. So which one is the good one ? Just matter of preferences, not absolute facts.

Here you may be right. But I prefer the Cherry ones.

[Mazora]

well reading this thread was really entertaining.

[Bry]

Likely this is the problem for someone...:pound:

I recall a thread on here a couple months back about some guy raging about iOne not wanting to replace his board when he returned it looking like a piece of roadkill, so I figured it was a necessary thing to consider XD

[BucklingSpring]

Because I like perfection more than the shopping, and I like to tailor what I buy to made it unique

I have nothing against modding.
If it takes zilion attempts to pimp a XArmor to perfection, than maybe it's not a good board to start with.

Does yours look like a sports car?

[The Solutor]

Does yours look like a sports car?

Surely not like an ugly american one, this resembles more a deck.

[The Solutor]

I recall a thread on here a couple months back about some guy raging about iOne not wanting to replace his board when he returned it looking like a piece of roadkill, so I figured it was a necessary thing to consider XD

I remember perfectly that thread.

An user broken it's keyboard wanted to have it fixed for free

[The Solutor]

I took this picture from a german review on computerbase.de My friend said the same problems are on his Qpad Board (which is on the way to me)

Even assuming that every keyboard are looking like that, what is more important on a keyboards an invisible detail or a legend who disappear after three months?

[Kurz]

I'll wait for the Shine then!
I really hope the Shine has LED's that remember their states.

[Dr_DX]

Um, wow.  Do you know that the Filco is plate mounted too?  And depending on which ping you're talking about the plate is the bit that can amplify the switch ping by resonating with it and helping transfer that to the other switches?

I'm glad you're happy with your board though.

Yeah I didn't explain myself well there.  I do know they are both plate mounted.

I meant to say, "I like how the switches are mounted to the plate so they don't have the high pitched, ringing ping that some Filcos and others that I have heard on YouTube seem to have."

My bad.

[Dr_DX]

The Cherry MX switches are always mounted the same on any plate mounted keyboard.

Little tabs hold them in securely.
(Attachment Link) 21605[/ATTACH]

But I feel your ping.

LOL!  Fair enough!  

I like whatever Ione has done to their plate mounted switches so they don't have the high pitched, ringing ping that some Filcos and others that I have heard on YouTube seem to have.

:smile:

[The Solutor]

LOL!  Fair enough!  

I like whatever Ione has done to their plate mounted switches so they don't have the high pitched, ringing ping that some Filcos and others that I have heard on YouTube seem to have.

:smile:

Indeed.

I think the leds have their part, bocking better the swirches to the pcb.

Anyway ping or not the Xarmor an Qpads have a more pleasant sound than filcos.

[The Solutor]

Personally I'm looking forward to the OCN Ducky Shine in red, blue and brown switches.
 Quack!

Not that bad, leds inside keycaps are nice, and additional media keys are nice too but if I'm not wrong it lacks the usb ports that are damn useful (in my case to connect another keyboard, with usb ports too)