I have very limited keyboard experience and to that extent even smaller experience on the mechanical keyboard side.
I have used several cheapo rubber dome keyboards and laptop scissor keyboards, and then I got to use the razer arctosa - which when I got it initially I was disappointed because it didn't really feel its worth in gold, and then I moved to the razer blackwidow-which got me hooked with the mechanical keyboards and then now I have the cmstorm quickfire rapid with brown switches.
Out of all the keyboards I have used though I could say I like the surface finish of the cmstorm quickfire rapid (non-black).
Does anyone know what this surface finish is called? I'm not that sure if its rubberized... I don't think so. The surface feels and looks more like powdery finish type.
When I say I have sweaty hands I mean I have SWEATY hands. And its also the type of sweat that easily corrodes finishes. This adds to the reason why I like this type of finish. It is SUPER fingerprint resistant. I am touching it with my sweaty fingers and it doesn't mark. Even when my fingers are super moist you can barely make out the prints even when you hold it at an angle. It is also very much resilient to dust which really amazes me. I guess its a combination of the finish itself plus the choice of the color -- which is sorta like gunmetal or something. (does anyone know what exactly is the color on the cmstorm?) Good job on your first venture in the keyboard market cmstorm.
Are there any other keyboards with this type of finish? I am looking at the filco finishes (which from what I have heard is manufactured by the same guys that manufacture the qfrapid) and it doesn't seem to match this surface. I have also tried the steelseries keyboards and not that I'm saying their keyboard surfaces are bad but they went for the nothing special finish. I am planning on getting a full sized keyboard one of these days when I get a better paying job and I would very much like to have another keyboard with the same type of finish as this is.
I guess it is too bad for me that they made the key-caps rubber-coated and pad printed. Again my sweaty hands problem will probably cause these key-caps to fade and shine quicker than I can finish writing this post. My shift key already shows noticeable signs of fading. The rubbery finish of the caps seem to be standing pretty well though... its not shining yet. or loosing much of its rubbery feel. I am not saying that it fades quick and therefore the board isn't worth its weight in gold. The keys fade because you use them - that's it. Fading keys is a first world problem for me. I just would have preferred not having the pad print on the keycaps in the first place.
I am very much attracted to buying (not sure if I am using the proper terms because I am a noob) "pbt" etched key caps. I saw pics of it here and I got a better view in one youtube video I watched. The key caps have etched letters but no fill color on the etch. I initially wanted the blank ones but I guess it won't match well since the cmstorm already has a lot of labels on it. Besides I haven't memorized the special characters in the keyboards in touch type so that's a bummer. One thing that bothers me with the etched type is do dirt fill the etches? I'm thinking yes

and I am not really the clean-your-keyboard-frequently type of guy. Again I am not sure if I am using my terms right. Does anyone know what color the cmstorm quick fire rapid is? I would like to get the same color for the key caps to get rid of the two tone. (personal preference)