Just got my first mechanical keyboard and I'm curios about the quality of it.

[Heinstar]

Hi Geekhackers, I've been lurking around this forum trying to find the best keyboard for Starcraft 2 and I came to a conclusion that most people recommend Cherry MX Brown Switch for RTS games. Cherry MX Blue Switch was said to have double tapping issues so I avoided that. I decided to go with Filco instead of Leopold since I heard that Filco was tad bit better in terms of typing quality.

I just received my first mechanical keyboard(Filco Majestouch 2 Cherry MX Brown Tenkey-less) in mail. I did a quick test and found some concerns so I have a few questions:

Q1.) When I type on some keys it makes a slight "ping" sound. The keys that I have found to "ping" are Top Arrow, Right Arrow, Print Screen, Scroll Lock, F7, 6, 9, +/=, Home, Page Up, Page Down and Space bar. Page Down makes the loudest ping. Is this normal?

Q2.) The Enter Key, 2 Shift Keys and Backspace Key makes a stange clicky noise and feedback different from the rest of the keys. It's weird because Caps Lock Key and Tab Key which are the similar size doesn't make that strange clicky noise or feedback. If press these Keys near the edge though, it doesn't make any clicky noise or feedback. I don't really like the noise and feedback I get from these keys, is there a way to fix it or is this normal as well?

If you don't understand the question or not sure what I mean, I can test it again and rephrase the question for you if you'd like.

But overall, I'm happy with this keyboard and I can't wait to start using it for Starcraft 2 though

[duncan]

Q1.) When I type on some keys it makes a slight "ping" sound. The keys that I have found to "ping" are Top Arrow, Right Arrow, Print Screen, Scroll Lock, F7, 6, 9, +/=, Home, Page Up, Page Down and Space bar. Page Down makes the loudest ping. Is this normal?

Yes. Nothing to worry about. Search GH for more information.

Q2.) The Enter Key, 2 Shift Keys and Backspace Key makes a stange clicky noise and feedback different from the rest of the keys. It's weird because Caps Lock Key and Tab Key which are the similar size doesn't make that strange clicky noise or feedback. If press these Keys near the edge though, it doesn't make any clicky noise or feedback. I don't really like the noise and feedback I get from these keys, is there a way to fix it or is this normal as well?

Quite normal.
You can try lubing the stabilisers if you really care. Search GH for 'how to' instructions.

[enoy21]

If you read there was a big craze around here a month or two ago about the "ping" . It was mostly found to be over rated issue and something that happens often with mechanical and sometimes goes away after time.  A poll is in Ripsters forum I believe.

Some are way more sensitive to it than others though.  I have it on a couple of my keys around F2 or did on the first day but it's only noticeable if I bang on the keys fast and hard and really listen for it. I haven't heard it at all in the course of normal typing.

[Tony]

Every Cherry switch is noisier than rubber domes, so all pings and different sounds are normal. Cherry blue switches are even noisier but most of us geekhackers are used to it.

Since all switches are made from metal, they tend to resonate with each other, with stabilizers and the plate in the back, so sometimes a bigger "ping" sound is heard.

[spolia optima]

really?
jesus tapdancing christ, not this **it again

[peda]

PING!

And I can't believe that the rumors about a 'doube-tap issue'  on blues is still around...

[N8N]

A Filco is a great keyboard, but the ping is kind of annoying.  One of these days I really need to try my Dynamat idea to see if it actually works.

I second the recommendation to lube all the stabilized keys.  Just get some white lithium grease in a tube from your local auto parts store.  Stabilized keys are shift (both,) space bar, enter, backspace, numpad enter, and numpad add.  Will probably be a lot easier if you have a keypuller, I like the wire type, but you can improvise with paper clips if you have to.

Enjoy your new keyboard!

[Heinstar]

Quite normal.
You can try lubing the stabilisers if you really care. Search GH for 'how to' instructions.

I see, thanks. So the "ping" is normal.

Actually they hardly bother me since most of the ones that "ping" aren't loud at all. Besides, the ones that do "ping" are the Keys that I hardly use anyway. Although some Keys can get pretty loud if press down on it fast though. But this is probably just the nature of mechanical keyboards.

I'm more curious as to why the Enter, Shift and Backspace Keys feel and sound different from the rest of the Keys. But since it sounds like this is normal as well, I'm going to see if I can get used to it first before going for the lubrication route.

I must admit I was skeptical about mechanical keyboards at first but the hype about them is true, I'm typing faster on this thing and making less mistakes. Not to mention it feels very nice.

PING!

And I can't believe that the rumors about a 'doube-tap issue'  on blues is still around...

That was a rumor? Meh it doesn't really matter to me since Cherry MX Brown is probably better for RTS anyway. I've read lots of threads about the right Switch type for RTS and most Keyboard gurus and Starcraft pros prefer Cherry MX Brown over Blue. I actually tried Razer Blackwidow(Cherry MX Blue) at the store and I didn't like it very much. It felt very cheap, the quality wasn't the same as the Filco I have right now.

[N8N]

I'm more curious as to why the Enter, Shift and Backspace Keys feel and sound different from the rest of the Keys. But since it sounds like this is normal as well, I'm going to see if I can get used to it first before going for the lubrication route.

IMHO this is "normal" for a new out of the box keyboard, but it isn't right.  I'd just lube them.  In my own, personal opinion uniform keyfeel is part of the reason you just spent 10x what you'd spend on a crap keyboard from Best Buy on a nice MX-based mechanical keyboard, so just lube those stabilizers and don't think any more about it.  This is definitely a recommended and not unusual procedure; for the record, WASD uses the same exact stabilizers as Filco and those come pre-greased when you receive your shiny new keyboard.  A $4 tube of grease and 15 minutes or so will make a big improvement in the feel and sound of your new keyboard.

Another mod that I'd personally do to a Filco with browns is to swap the space bar switch to a Cherry MX clear switch (I like a heavier weighted space bar than the rest of the keys,) but that may be a more ambitious modification than you want to undertake, and does involve both soldering and voiding your warranty.

[noodles256]

ping

[peda]

That was a rumor? Meh it doesn't really matter to me since Cherry MX Brown is probably better for RTS anyway. I've read lots of threads about the right Switch type for RTS and most Keyboard gurus and Starcraft pros prefer Cherry MX Brown over Blue. I actually tried Razer Blackwidow(Cherry MX Blue) at the store and I didn't like it very much. It felt very cheap, the quality wasn't the same as the Filco I have right now.

Well, actually let me rephrase that: it is like the ping issue ghosting around.

There is actually an issue if you manage to try to reactivate the key after not releasing fully. BUT to make it happen you will have to hit an extremely small window to make the switch fail to register the 2nd time. But it is as negligible and rare as the ping issue.

I also think that most pros prefer browns over blues purely because of the noise.

Also, don't blame the switches in the razer keyboard for felling not as good as your filco now - Blame Razer!

[insilica]

@OP

your lucky your ones "ping", some keys "fart"!

Welcome to GH btw

[spolia optima]

My HHKB queefs

[a1san]

Enjoy your filco brown! even with the Ping issue i will bet that you gonna love it!
Same as mine , it Pings on some keys, although is not THAT issue that you want to change the board!
Filco quality is the best and i like the costar stabilizers a lot.

As my best friend told me ,who also have a filco that pings , nowdays (haha) a filco that does not ping , its not a filco! (kidding:P ).

Enjoy!

[spolia optima]

Also, ping is one of the many reasons why PCB mounted > plate mounted :mullet:

[pyro]

[strike]Meh.[/strike] Ping is really easy to get rid off on [strike]plate[/strike] pcb mounted keyboards.

I used [strike]toilet paper[/strike] paper tissue.

Just get one layer* of your favorite [strike]toilet paper[/strike] paper tissue as big as a ring-finger nail up in the stem (impale it on the rod that stabilizes the spring). Don't stuff it, just inserting the spring will fit it just fine. Reassamble and you're done.

*You know how one sheet of [strike]toilet paper[/strike] paper tissue has 2, 3 or 4 layers? I mean one of those layers.

[spolia optima]

toilet paper? might as well use maxi pads:rolleyes:

[insilica]

Meh. Ping is really easy to get rid off on plate mounted keyboards.

I used toilet paper.

Just get one layer* of your favorite toilet paper as big as a ring-finger nail up in the stem (impale it on the rod that stabilizes the spring). Don't stuff it, just inserting the spring will fit it just fine. Reassamble and you're done.

*You know how one sheet of toilet paper has 2, 3 or 4 layers? I mean one of those layers.

I would not recommend this. toilet paper is designed to degrade, and very quickly. so you will in time clog the switch with all the bits that will fall out of it, because you will probably replace it when it's no longer effective.

You want to stop PING PING! stop bottoming out... learn to touch and not smash your keys!

toilet paper? might as well use maxi pads:rolleyes:

rofl ... mini tampons for your cherry mx springs ... man now I've heard it all!

[spolia optima]

I find that pooping on the keyboard is an effective method for removing ping

[N8N]

Also, ping is one of the many reasons why PCB mounted > plate mounted :mullet:

I'd rather have ping than flex!  (probably really only an issue for full size boards w/ clears or blacks though)

I'd really rather have neither, but apparently you can't always get what you want.

[daerid]

I'd rather have ping than the feel of PCB mounted keys. Plate mounted for life!

To the OP: Those keys make a clicking noise because they have a small metal bar that aids in keeping the downstroke of the key even. You can pop the key off (see the Wiki on Cherry switch stabilizers) and apply a little lithium grease, and that click will go away.

[spolia optima]

PCB mounted is more ergonomic. Try typing a few hundred thousand words on a metal plate. Your fingertips will basically wear down to the exposed nerves. Ouch.

A foam pad/o-rings are an acceptable solution though.

I just feel like arguing this morning.

[spolia optima]

Kinesis advantage = PCB mounted
G80-5000 = PCB mounted

any other ergo cherry 'boards? They're probably PCB mounted.

[daerid]

PCB mounted is more ergonomic. Try typing a few hundred thousand words on a metal plate. Your fingertips will basically wear down to the exposed nerves. Ouch.

I have. They didn't. Not a twinge. But then again, I'm kind of a light  typist anyways.

A foam pad/o-rings are an acceptable solution though.

I like the solid feel of bottoming out (when I do).

I just feel like arguing this morning.

Perfectly acceptable keeps the wits sharp