Just got Filco Majestouch 2 with blue switches - mixed feelings

[Mahtar]

Hi all, my first post here.

I've just received Filco with blue switches and have mixed feelings...

I've decided to get better quality keyboard to improve my typing and gaming experience (I'm on PC). I'm casual gamer (mostly FPS) but I spend quite a lot of time in front of the computer (programming etc.)

I've done some research and wanted to try mechanical boards. I wasn't sure which switch to choose. Blue seemed to be the most talked about and having the most different feel (and sound) from all the other I decided to go for it.
I was considering browns and blacks but was a bit afraid that browns won't be as much different from my current keyboard and blacks will be too stiff for typing.

Now, I can see myself getting used to the blue switches for typing although as much as I like the clicky sound I find it a bit distracting at the same time...
Another thing is bottoming out which of course adds another click and I really don't like how it feels - I've read this will be an issue at the beginning when coming from rubber dome boards but not sure how quickly I would learn not to press it all the way down if at all - and maybe I just like the softer feel...

As for the gaming experience with this board and blue switches, one word - horrible. I've played for around 15 minutes and everything was wrong - keys were too light and too high, again I didn't like the feel and click when bottoming out, blue switch click felt out of place and again distracting, completely not what I've expected and not sure if could get used to it at all.

Immediately black switches came to my mind as the best option for FPS (although I haven't tried them)

It seems that I'm quite used to lower profile and quiet keyboards for typing (see my current and previous keyboards below) which I thought wouldn't matter once I try proper mechanical board... hmm...

So I'm asking myself a question, should I try different mechanical boards (perhaps start with blacks and then browns?) or should I just find some better non mechanical board that will do fine for typing and gaming? What do you think?


My current keyboard is simple Dell model (SK-8175 - see image here) I really like it and so far it's been probably the most comfortable for casual gaming and quite good for typing. The profile is slightly lower than normal but not extreme.
I like it for its simplicity although I wouldn't mind few media buttons (play/pause, prev/next, maybe vol/mute) somewhere where can't be pressed by mistake (above numeric pad?).

Other keyboards I've been using on and off before were:
Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad - like the low profile and feel when typing, not the best for games and overall not the best option for PC in a long run anyway...
Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 - quite ok-ish for typing - again I like the low profile but probably this one was a bit too flat.
Microsoft Reclusa - I think the keys felt quite good overall but hated the additional buttons around which I kept pressing instead of Tab, Esc and so on.

If you have any suggestions or had similar situation please share, thanks.

[sth]

AFAIK all of the cherry switches (at least in common boards available today) have the same travel.

If I were in your shoes I'd get blacks. You can probably even trade someone on GH.

[Ahlitah]

If you want to lower the travel, install some o-rings! it should also quiet down the blues some.

[Kamikaze K]

Yeah you sound like the heavy typer type... Black will probably suit you more. It's also a lot quieter than blues.  Just be aware... I used to be a heavier typer (since adjusted to reds andtopre switches) but even then my little finger on my left was getting a little fatigue from holding my sprint key down.  Got used to it soon enough but thought you should know.  Look, mech are going to take a little to get used to if you've only been using low profile rubberdomes.... Ive found that as well as vastly improving my typing experience, gaming on them was more responsive due to the fact that you don't have to bottom out for the keys to register. My movements registered quicker than I was used to from my rubberdome... it's really minute but I noticed it.

[longweight]

Why on earth did you buy blues for a gaming PC? I have never seen anyone recommend it and it is probably the worst choice for gaming!

[hcry4]

The internet told him to do it.

[Kamikaze K]

I guess thats a better excuse than "God told me"....

[Mahtar]

I was gonna go for browns although God was telling me to go for blacks, at the end Internet won.

I don't think the travel is an issue there, it seems that I would prefer the actual key caps to be shorter...

[Kamikaze K]

hmmm... Maybe it seems that God was a better choice! lol

Like Ahlitah said... you can always install dampener rings to your keycaps but i reckon you'll get used to it soon enough... The leap from rubberdomes to linear switches, I found, isn't as big as going to blues. Just my observation.

[sth]

I guess thats a better excuse than "God told me"....

Not if you're Bob Rebadow.

[Mahtar]

To add to that, I'm not sure if I would call myself heavy typer, but definitely prefer the heavier and softer feel in game - the thing is I don't really play a lot, hour or two every other day, if I have other things I may not play for weeks.. so it's not the most important thing - but when I play I want it to be comfortable..

Is there anything else than cherry switches and rubber dome out there that could be my thing?
I guess I would have to check out some board with black switches - SteelSeries 6Gv2 is coming out in UK on the 9th, hmm, price is good.

[longweight]

Try browns FFS they are the switch for use on machines that are both for gaming and typing.

I TOLD YOU TO DO IT. (Also sell me your board).

[Kamikaze K]

You mean you guys don't have the 6Gv2's yet? It's been out for a while now....  I've heard reports of the keycaps on the SS wearing out fast.  Can't back it up but thought you should be aware... The other option is to grab the CM Quickfire's with cherry blacks.  It's a Tenkeyless board... You need a full deck?  Check it out... sounds like it'll fit the bill.

[Mahtar]

Try browns FFS they are the switch for use on machines that are both for gaming and typing.

I TOLD YOU TO DO IT. (Also sell me your board).

If you are me then you already have this board... but you think you would prefer blacks or browns and want to get rid of it anyway? I'm confused

Browns, browns... anyone know where I can find some shop to test different switches in London?

[Mahtar]

You mean you guys don't have the 6Gv2's yet? It's been out for a while now....  I've heard reports of the keycaps on the SS wearing out fast.  Can't back it up but thought you should be aware... The other option is to grab the CM Quickfire's with cherry blacks.  It's a Tenkeyless board... You need a full deck?  Check it out... sounds like it'll fit the bill.

From what I've seen you can get 6Gv2 only with US layout and it costs £25 more than upcoming UK version. I've heard about the keycaps as well, not nice.

I would prefer to have the full deck to be honest, I like to type my numbers on the numpad.

[Mahtar]

Dell doesn't look so bad.

It looks quite good actually and has that slightly lower profile but the keys still have the standard shape (not flat) so they don't feel crammed or too flat.

Actually just took a picture (from the left: Filco, Dell SK-8175, Microsoft 600)

[HaiiYaa]

After reading your post I think that topre would be perfect for you

[bavman]

I think blues are just fine for gaming. Never had a problem with them. In fact they are by far my favorite switch.

[rknize]

As you can see, it is all a matter of personal opinion.  Brown switches are probably the best way to ease into Cherry MX keyboards from rubber domes.  You can kill the plasticy "lego" sound of the key bottoming out with o-rings.  It also reduces the travel some, as others have pointed out.  There will still be a sound when the key hits the top on release, but it's not as loud.  Give it a couple of weeks and you may find that you gain speed on the lighter keys.  That was how my first experience with browns was.  There is also the fact that you paid serious money for something and therefore had very high expectations.  Give it a bit of time.

I don't like gaming on the browns much, but it is OK.  Doing it with blues is highly irritating.  A linear key is the way to go for an ultimate gaming experience.

I got a Poker with blues recently and found them to be highly annoying...like there is something loose or broken in each key.  This is coming from a guy who prefers to type on a Model M, so the decibel level is not an issue.  If it comes to it, you shouldn't have any trouble selling a Filco with blues.

[Awful]

I prefer the blues for gaming. The audible click and the feel of the click within the switch let me know "you just pushed that button, **** is going to happen." and I say "thank you mx blue, I wasn't sure if I had pressed the button or not."

[omuerte]

I've found that I can't ride the actuation point with blues (rapid key repeats fail to register pretty often,) but I can with browns. Go figure. I'd try browns and/or reds if you're afraid that blacks will be too stiff to type on. I found clears too stiff to type on so I went back to browns.

Don't get me wrong, blues are great for all around use - they just didn't work that well for me in situations where I was repeating the same keystroke without allowing a ton of key travel.