CM Storm Quickfire vs Filco Ninja Majestouch

[bckai]

I'm torn between the two (CM Storm or Filco Majestouch).

This will be my first mechanical keyboard. I'm looking to get the brown switches for typing and gaming. I do a lot of both, so I figure the Browns will be a good compromise(?)



note: I would add links, but apparently since I'm a new member on this forum, I'm limited to how many I can put in a post.

[litster]

Welcome to GeekHack!

Brown is good.  I like Brown.  It is a good first mechanical keyboard.  I am still using one frequently.

[alaricljs]

So to answer the title/subject of your post...

They are manufactured by the same OEM (Costar) from many of the same molds.  The CMStorm has media functions with a Fn key replacing the Menu key.  The CMStorm's USB cable is detachable.  The colors and fonts and logos on the boards are of course different.  CMStorm's extension feet do not (yet) have rubber bits on them.  I think that sums it up.

[bckai]

Lol, thanks! I'll keep that in mind. You got any input on my question?

[bckai]

So to answer the title/subject of your post...

They are manufactured by the same OEM (Costar) from many of the same molds.  The CMStorm has media functions with a Fn key replacing the Menu key.  The CMStorm's USB cable is detachable.  The colors and fonts and logos on the boards are of course different.  CMStorm's extension feet do not (yet) have rubber bits on them.  I think that sums it up.

Keeping this in mind... Anyone know when CM is going to release this puppy in the states? I don't want to have to go through PCHome if I don't have to.

[alaricljs]

I vaguely remember something about mid November... I could be completely wrong.

[Tony]

I like my Filco MJ1 and MJ2 brown very much. I don't know how a CM storm keyboard is.

CM Storm is a new brand, while Filco is a respected one. If they are sold at the same price, I'll get the Filco.

If it is not so, please put the price of both keyboards here so we will consider.

[jpm804]

i have the cm storm and like someone already mentioned that the oem manufacture for this board is probably costar which oems filco also.

The quality I would have to say is pretty comparable to the filcos with some additional extras like detachable cable, media keys...while the drawbacks are obvious like the logo's everywhere.

if price were the same of course people would get the filco due to the name recognition and subtle styling but the reality of it is the cm storm is half the price of a filco with comparable build and features.. I'm just saying dont count it out of thought based on it being cm's first offering.

[slueth]

Should come to the US this month, I would wait for it.  really great keyboard.

[Shuki]

Choose whichever keyboard you think you would like typing with the most. Out of any switch that I have tried (red, blue, brown, topre) they all differ for typing, but gaming there isn't really any switch with an advantage. It's all about personal preference. Browns are a nice switch, but if you are thinking of getting them as a compromise between blues and blacks because "blues aren't good for gaming" and "blacks aren't good for typing" then I'd suggest dismissing that thought.

[slueth]

I would think of which switch do I like the most, because its a pain to swap keyboards around for mulch-purposes.  I think all cherry switches are fine for gaming but it all comes down to preferences.

[rich0d]

Is there any official word on a US pricepoint? I believe I heard something like $79.99?

[HWI]

Another thing the Quick Fire has that wasn't mentioned is channels for the USB cable. It also comes with a keycap puller and some extra keycaps.

[dorkvader]

Another thing the Quick Fire has that wasn't mentioned is channels for the USB cable. It also comes with a keycap puller and some extra keycaps.

But the CM logo windows keycaps are lower quality.

Also, the cable is excellent.

[bckai]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think what I'm going to do is wait for the CM Storm Quickfire to start shipping here. Although I like the styling of the Filco much better, the price point of the Quickfire is just too compelling.

[dorkvader]

After taking mine apart, It's almost identical in construction to the pictures of filcos I've soon.

I love my CMstorm QF rapid! The red metal plate is also nice.

[bckai]

After taking mine apart, It's almost identical in construction to the pictures of filcos I've soon.

I love my CMstorm QF rapid! The red metal plate is also nice.

Hey Dorkvader, do you do a lot of typing or gaming? How does the Cherry reds work for both? I heard that they are very light, and sometimes just resting your fingers on them will actuate them. How much does that hold true? I'm torn between the Browns and the Blues, but I'd like more insight on the Reds.

[jpm804]

Hey Dorkvader, do you do a lot of typing or gaming? How does the Cherry reds work for both? I heard that they are very light, and sometimes just resting your fingers on them will actuate them. How much does that hold true? I'm torn between the Browns and the Blues, but I'd like more insight on the Reds.

They are light but not that light....resting my fingers on them does not cause any accidental accuations. some people dont like the reds since you tend to bottom out more due to the lightness but I dont mind.

I probably had more the accidental accuations on my topre 86U variable with the 30g pinkies.

[litster]

After taking mine apart, It's almost identical in construction to the pictures of filcos I've soon.

I love my CMstorm QF rapid! The red metal plate is also nice.

Is the inside of the CMstorm case the same as Filco's?  Could you put the CMstorm keyboard innards inside the Filco case?  If would be great if you could try that and let us know.

[dorkvader]

Hey Dorkvader, do you do a lot of typing or gaming? How does the Cherry reds work for both? I heard that they are very light, and sometimes just resting your fingers on them will actuate them. How much does that hold true? I'm torn between the Browns and the Blues, but I'd like more insight on the Reds.

I don't have that problem, but I only use it at my "standing desk". It's not that bad to type on, better than I expected. I still prefer my Unicomp for long typing sessions, but the reds are pretty cool too. For some reason, I don't bottom out as much as I expected. I'm continually surprised how little I have to press to get the keys to actuate, and for me, it's like I've thought about hitting it, and that's enough. It's pretty cool. Right now, I'm testing my WASD in browns for typing, though.

I've not had a chance to game in ages! Stupid work. I do tend to bottom out a bit more then, but it's great how light tthe switches are.

Is the inside of the CMstorm case the same as Filco's?  Could you put the CMstorm keyboard innards inside the Filco case?  If would be great if you could try that and let us know.

I don't have a filco to look at, but the holes in the PCB are in the same places (I'm looking at where they are compared to the switches, as a pretty accurate reference)

Let me grab an SD card and try to take the pics off my phone. Back in a sec.

[RenoFox]

Oh awesome, I wanted Filco but couldn't really justify getting one due to the price of it + shipping, so I just got the CM Storrn (for like 1/2 the price of a Filco), good to know they're practically the same thing lol.

[bckai]

Oh awesome, I wanted Filco but couldn't really justify getting one due to the price of it + shipping, so I just got the CM Storrn (for like 1/2 the price of a Filco), good to know they're practically the same thing lol.

Where did you end up getting yours, Reno?

[chel-]

Well you can always paint the Quickfire one if you really dislike how it looks.

[jpm804]

Where did you end up getting yours, Reno?

Assuming PChome.... RenoFox - which switch did you get?

[RenoFox]

Yep I got it from PCHome, I ended up getting the Browns all up it was like $103usd shipped to New Zealand (Would cost me like over $200usd to actually get a filco delivered to here in NZ)
They also stock the Reds and Blacks, only thing I could imagine being a problem is that there's some Chinese characters on the keyboards too. But you can always replace the caps if it really bothers you that much.

Btw here's the review of the board they got from PCHome (reds)

[chel-]

Nice review. As much as I hate the font and the ugly logos all over I really like the Chinese characters on it.

[dorkvader]

Nice review. As much as I hate the font and the ugly logos all over I really like the Chinese characters on it.

I hate them. Do you want to buy my set?

[slueth]

Yea, I hate mines keys too, gonna change them out asap with doubleshots or pbt.  Good thing you swapped the ducky for the QF RenoFox. The quickfire is such an awesome keyboard.

[chel-]

I hate them. Do you want to buy my set?

lol I don't know if I like them THAT much. Maybe if the price is right...

[bckai]

Another question: Blue or Brown?

I play a lot of games (mostly FPS and MMOs) but I also type a lot. I'm a writer.

[alaricljs]

I love my browns.  Biggest consideration was how much I might irritate myself and my wife with the noise of blues.  Browns aren't too much quieter if you're bottoming out, however I bought a set of PBTs and the wife is like wtf?  Then she heard the difference and said it was worth the money.  This was on a Filco.

[bckai]

I love my browns.  Biggest consideration was how much I might irritate myself and my wife with the noise of blues.  Browns aren't too much quieter if you're bottoming out, however I bought a set of PBTs and the wife is like wtf?  Then she heard the difference and said it was worth the money.  This was on a Filco.

Did you notice much of a difference in the tactile feel of typing when going to the browns from the blues?

[alaricljs]

The blues might be a tad more tactile, but then it might be my ears telling my hands what they just felt.  I haven't tried blues with headphones on so I'm not sure.

[HWI]

Browns and blues aren't very comparable imo, the tactility is much less in browns and the overall feel is quite different.

Edit: I hate blues, so between blue and browns I would definitely go with browns for typing and gaming.

[Gfresh404]

I'd get the blues, I really did not like the browns at all - way too boring for me.

Ideally, I would get blues for typing. And either reds or blacks for gaming

[slueth]

hmm.. there is a switch for every person, non is the best, just preference.

[bckai]

Interesting. My initial thought was to go with the browns based on the research that I've done. I'm still leaning towards the browns after considering people's opinions here. I do like the feel of the IBM Model Ms, however I am very optimistic about the brown switches. I've tried both blues and blacks at my local Fry's here in California, but they don't have any brown switch keyboards on display there.

[dorkvader]

Interesting. My initial thought was to go with the browns based on the research that I've done. I'm still leaning towards the browns after considering people's opinions here. I do like the feel of the IBM Model Ms, however I am very optimistic about the brown switches. I've tried both blues and blacks at my local Fry's here in California, but they don't have any brown switch keyboards on display there.

I have tried blacks, and browns are certainly lighter. I think I prefer reds, though. Ican type much faster, but I have to be careful, as any stray weight will cause them to activate, thus adding extra errors. It's also too easy to "double space" and hit the backspace key too many times.

[Gfresh404]

Interesting. My initial thought was to go with the browns based on the research that I've done. I'm still leaning towards the browns after considering people's opinions here. I do like the feel of the IBM Model Ms, however I am very optimistic about the brown switches. I've tried both blues and blacks at my local Fry's here in California, but they don't have any brown switch keyboards on display there.

Everyone is going to have a different opinion, you really just have to try them out for yourself. But I'll give my two cents anyway.

The browns were my least favorite, too light and boring. The blues were my favorite for typing, I always felt like I was typing so much faster than I actually was on these (I was actually typing a little bit faster, but not that much). Reds are my favorite for gaming of the three, but are still a little light for RTS's imo, would be excellent for FPS's though.

[DoctorSnoopy]

Don't know if this was already posted somewhere but I e-mailed CM about the keyboard for the US and the reply I got was:

"Hello,
These will be available in US around the end of December to the beginning of January. MSRP is $99.99 at this time."

[bckai]

Don't know if this was already posted somewhere but I e-mailed CM about the keyboard for the US and the reply I got was:

"Hello,
These will be available in US around the end of December to the beginning of January. MSRP is $99.99 at this time."

That is absurd. If this is the case, I might as well go with the Filco. For months they've been saying that it's $79.99 and that it'd be available by the end of November. Ugh, this makes me angry. At this rate, it's never going to come out here in the states.

[Gfresh404]

That is absurd. If this is the case, I might as well go with the Filco. For months they've been saying that it's $79.99 and that it'd be available by the end of November. Ugh, this makes me angry. At this rate, it's never going to come out here in the states.

That is a little crazy and rather annoying. You could always just buy it from PCHome, it comes out to be about $99 for either the black or brown version, I think that's what I am going to do since the price would be the same anyway. The reds are about $10 more, sucks they don't offer the blues though.

[bckai]

Went with the Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless (Brown). Very happy with it. Thanks to everyone with their suggestions.