Question about space bar in Filco Majestouch 2 with Blue switches

[droon]

Hello everyone!

I recently decided to get a better keyboard, and after some research (mostly reading your forum here) settled on the Filco Majestouch 2 with the blue switches. I got it today, and I've been typing away happily and enjoying the noise, but I'm usually really paranoid about new items, which is also the case here:

Apart from typing, I've done a bit of gaming as well, and it feels to me that the space bar is kind of stiff (or alternatively lackluster) when it's coming back up. I do kind of rest my thumb on it, which means extra weight for the mechanism to overcome, but when compared to, say, the Alt key next to it, the space seems to have more trouble with the tactile bump.

Now, I kind of thought that this might be because the space is physically larger, and thus heavier. (And that maybe the balancing(?) mechanism causes slightly different behaviour.)

I suppose my question is, is this considered normal? The effect is very slight and I'll probably get used to it anyway, it'd just be nice to know if there's potentially something awry.

Thanks!

[droon]

Thanks for the quick reply and confirming that my shiny new purchase is up to snuff.

That McRip Effect thread sure put things into perspective. I guess I was indeed expecting perfection, subconsciously, because of the relatively high price of the hardware. Better to get to know this board before going all OCD

[droon]

Speaking of the same key, I must say that it feels awfully wobbly, like it was a bit loose. I suppose this could be attributed to that McRip effect mentioned earlier, though. I tried pressing down on it with a bit of force to see if that makes a difference, hope I didn't break it.

[Fantus_Longhorn]

I wouldn't worry about the space bar wobbling, it's just the nature of the way it's fitted and how it has to work with the stabilisers. You will never notice it while typing, only if you fiddle with it.
Mine wobbles about as well but only if I make it. And the switches are plate mounted so I wouldn't worry about having broken it, the plate will have taken the force, not the pcb.

Enjoy your keyboard and don't worry about it; I just got a Filco with Blues and am loving the noise and feel. The wife isn't enjoying the noise quite as much as me though!

[Deverica Wolf]

Love the spacebar on my Filco Blue.

[droon]

I wonder if there's something to this, since (quoted from another thread*): "The other major difference is that the insertable tabs on Costar stabilizers are very, very fragile, while the Cherry stabilizers are much more durable."

I have no idea if "very very fragile" applies as such, but the Filco spacebar does seem to kinda go clunk clunk if pressed down on either side, which seems to be the stabilizers being exposed to force.


(* http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3189022&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=69)

[droon]

You have a unique way of dealing with other peoples' buyer's regret malarkey, and it's pretty effective!

I've been alternating with this Filco and a Qpad MK-50 (Cherry reds), and both have their slight oddities, but with the Filco it really feels like a problem with the user.

(Also, not going to make a thread out of this, but I gotta say that the Qpad reds somehow manage to feel really weird. With the blues the travel seems smooth, but with the reds it's like, strangely coarse, like there was a bit of fine sandpaper in the switch. Also, some keys have more of the sandpapery feel that others. Go figure.)

But, I'm like 99% done with accepting this Filco as an extension of myself!

[droon]

Your methods are commendable, especially because a mustache is proven authority as such.

While you have your eye on the thread, Mr #1 KB expert, is it your experience that the reds lack the certain smoothness that the blues exhibit (before the tactile bump and click, at least) I've taken a look at the MX Red specification, but I fail to see anything that would indicate such coarse travel. Which is apparent on at least two of those Qpad MK-50's. Maybe Xarmor/Qpad has some kind of manufacturing oddity going on?

Furthermore, I removed a couple of the the keycaps on the MK-50, and the switches are the wrong way around, at least when compared to this Filco, where the "cherry" text in the switch is normal. In the Qpad, it's upside down. Odd.

Also, I'm not particularily good with all this forum stuff, since I'm accustomed to IRC and stuff like that, so sorry if this is misuse of a thread.