Looking for mechanical keyboard with top quality build

[Berticus]

Which mechanical has top quality build? Originally I was looking at Das keyboard, but was told that Filcos were better made. I also read that WASD were made by the same manufacturer as Filcos, so build quality is equal. Is this true? I'm also looking at the Steelseries G6V2. I'm not closed off to ergonomic keyboards. Unicomp has also crossed my mind, but I read the finish wasn't that great; a little rough around the edges.

[Icarium]

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?8016-de-rugged-military-keyboard-by-Marquardt&highlight=marquardt+metal+heros

[FerretBuster]

Get a filco, you won't regret it .
(As long as you don't get a switch you hate)

[daniel0731ex]

CM Storm -- same thing as Filco, lower-priced.

[boredgunner]

CM Storm -- same thing as Filco, lower-priced.

+1, great tenkeyless board for the price.

[Berticus]

Welcome to Geekhack.

Well, here's MY theory:
Ripsters Quality~Fg Theorem (RipQFT).

Thanks for the welcome!

Not sure how I missed that. Interesting concept. I suppose I'll have to take into consideration some keys that will be missing. I think I forgot to say I'd prefer (although won't require) a tenkeyless board. Although I suppose that won't make much of a difference.

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?8016-de-rugged-military-keyboard-by-Marquardt&highlight=marquardt+metal+heros

Neat. Never heard of them. Will look more into this.

Get a filco, you won't regret it .
(As long as you don't get a switch you hate)

I think even then I won't regret it, per se.

CM Storm -- same thing as Filco, lower-priced.

As in same manufacturer? How do you know? Same with WASD keyboards. How do people know it's the same manufacturer?

+1, great tenkeyless board for the price.

[shogrran]

+1, great tenkeyless board for the price.

Make that +2 to the CMStorm Quickfire Rapid. Its a high quality keyboard that really makes the filco look overpriced. I think it is the same manufacturer - although I might be wrong.

Lets all support a keyboard maker that gives us a proper price.

[Kamikaze K]

Make that +2 to the CMStorm Quickfire Rapid. Its a high quality keyboard that really makes the filco look overpriced. I think it is the same manufacturer - although I might be wrong.

Lets all support a keyboard maker that gives us a proper price.

Make that +3. Best value TKL red's on the market today.

[eth0s]

Why nobody mention Leopold?  They're good too, and cheaper than Filco.

[CaiSter21]

cus people here hate the cherry stabilizers with a passion.
imo, its not something deal breaking that will make me pick one top end keyboard over another just because of different stabilizers

[FinancialWar]

anything but Ducky or boards with Cherry stabilizers

[daniel0731ex]

The Ducky is not as bad as the people here deem it to be. Yes, the exterior may not have the flawless quality of Filcos, but they are very well-builts at where it matters.

Ignore the people hating on Duckys because of the stabilizers. It is entirely a matter of preference, no one have the right to say that one is better than the other.


Cherry's own in-house keyboard uses these kind of stabilizers, just saying.

[elef]

I hate the cherry stabilizers, too. Filco (costar?) just feels much crisper and more 'quality'.
I can vouch for Filco like everyone here, haven't tried WASD (yet).

[elef]

I hate the cherry stabilizers, too. Filco (costar?) just feels much crisper and more 'quality'. It's somewhat subjective, but most aspects of how one chooses a keyboard are subjective.
I can vouch for Filco like everyone here, haven't tried WASD (yet).

[shogrran]

The Ducky is not as bad as the people here deem it to be. Yes, the exterior may not have the flawless quality of Filcos, but they are very well-builts at where it matters.

Ignore the people hating on Duckys because of the stabilizers. It is entirely a matter of preference, no one have the right to say that one is better than the other.


Cherry's own in-house keyboard uses these kind of stabilizers, just saying.

Well not that I hate Duckys. I get to try them out this weekend in the shop I frequently visit. They are still a good board with the same type of switches. It really costs less than most all other keyboards which is a really good thing. But I feel its not the 'sweet spot' between price and quality.  The CMStorm quickfire rapid hits this spot as they are similar if not completely as solid as the filcos with almost half the price (in my area anyway filco TKLs are 140USD and the cmstorm qfr is just 77USD). Now that is what I call the "sweet spot" between price and quality.  No question the duckys may be cheaper but over all you get what you pay for.

[Avazee]

The Northgate Omnikeys are the best built I've seen... They are 20 yrs old though. But still awesome.  I have a couple I need to get rid of soon.. Running out of space :-(
Sent from my SGH-i937 using Board Express

[daniel0731ex]

Well not that I hate Duckys. I get to try them out this weekend in the shop I frequently visit. They are still a good board with the same type of switches. It really costs less than most all other keyboards which is a really good thing. But I feel its not the 'sweet spot' between price and quality.  The CMStorm quickfire rapid hits this spot as they are similar if not completely as solid as the filcos with almost half the price (in my area anyway filco TKLs are 140USD and the cmstorm qfr is just 77USD). Now that is what I call the "sweet spot" between price and quality.  No question the duckys may be cheaper but over all you get what you pay for.

Totally agreed, this is also the reason why I sold my Ducky for a QF.

However, in Taiwan I would pick the Ducky any day. They are priced much lower, and the warrenty is actually useful. Not to mention that you could try it out in the shop to make sure you don't get a lemon.

[Kamikaze K]

anything but Ducky or boards with Cherry stabilizers

Good to see you've expanded your hate to other boards mate!   :deadhorse:

The Ducky is not as bad as the people here deem it to be. Yes, the exterior may not have the flawless quality of Filcos, but they are very well-builts at where it matters.

Ignore the people hating on Duckys because of the stabilizers. It is entirely a matter of preference, no one have the right to say that one is better than the other.


Cherry's own in-house keyboard uses these kind of stabilizers, just saying.

+1 Though I've moved on to other boards (still have my Ducky) I'll continue to speak up for the lil'guy whenever unreasonable hate is thrown at it.

[Berticus]

The Northgate Omnikeys are the best built I've seen... They are 20 yrs old though. But still awesome.  I have a couple I need to get rid of soon.. Running out of space :-(
Sent from my SGH-i937 using Board Express

That's the true way to tell something has great build quality: it passes the test of time.

Anyway, I'm looking into the stabilizers as it's something I hadn't considered. Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of chatter about what's so "wrong" with it. Biggest issue is when you have to take it apart either for putting in custom keys or cleaning?

How do the Cherry MX reds compare to the blues (the ones I was looking into).

[Kamikaze K]

Anyway, I'm looking into the stabilizers as it's something I hadn't considered. Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of chatter about what's so "wrong" with it. Biggest issue is when you have to take it apart either for putting in custom keys or cleaning?

How do the Cherry MX reds compare to the blues (the ones I was looking into).

There's pro's and con's with the cherry and costar stabilisers... Cherry's feel more mushy but it's easier to maintain and swap the keycaps... Costar's feels more crisp and maintains the cherry MX feel but is harder to swap the keycaps and maintain.

The easiest way to describe reds is it's a straight up and down action... no tactile bump or click sounds.  It's only about 5g less in actuation force.  It's like browns after the tactile bump.