Author Topic: Filco Alternatives.  (Read 5232 times)

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Offline gr0undzer0

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 26
Filco Alternatives.
« on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 00:17:10 »
I'm looking for a WHITE full size keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches and preferably as little lighting as possible.

Most importantly I'd like it to be available. As in .. not impossible to find. Which has been the case when I tried to find : White Filco with Blue Switches, fc700r blue switches, and a few others. I really want something on par with Filco... and that's white... AND HAS blue switches.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
    -George Bernard Shaw
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Offline urbanus

  • Posts: 110
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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 01:26:26 »
Where are you?

Offline gr0undzer0

  • Thread Starter
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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 01:53:43 »
USA and I should have also said I would love beige more then white.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
    -George Bernard Shaw
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Offline dchang0

  • Posts: 4
Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 02:08:22 »
I wonder if a good 'ol Cherry Corp. keyboard would meet your needs. They tend to make theirs in beige, with as little lighting as possible. And of course most of their models are top-shelf in terms of quality.

Offline The_Beast

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 02:29:06 »
Rosewill but they don't have a white case
Vendor Status: Sadly, not taking any orders/pre-orders at this time

Vendor Quick Links: | Vendor Forum | Hardwood Wrist Rests | Hardwood 60% Cases | Customer Gallery | Giveaway |

Offline Reptile

  • Posts: 511
Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 02:52:56 »
Keycool
Home:Realforce 87UB 55g
Work:Leopold FC700R Ergo Clears

Offline squarebox

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 05:19:55 »
Keycool uses the Leopold style spacebar which is crap IMO.
Filco Yellow Edition  | Filco Brown | Filco 2 Brown TKL | G80-1950 | G80-3494 | G80-11900 | Leopold FC500R | Noppoo Choc Mini

Offline Netdewt

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  • OLKB
Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 08:08:31 »
Did Leopold discontinue the full size white boards?

Offline funxion

  • Posts: 174
Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 08:43:16 »
The Filco shipment should be hitting Amazon mid-June...

Not sure about the FC700R.
Filco Ninja MJ2 TKL

Offline IvanIvanovich

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 09:05:27 »
Rosewill will have white version sometime soonish if you're not in a hurry. Cherry G80 is an option, though if you want normal ansi layout and better than 2kro it gets harder. Ducky Rabbit, but it was 'limited' and I don't see any in stock at the moment from usual places. Word is Ducky will be doing some white boards soon, but maybe only applies to shine. Keycool... but their fullsize board is real ugly.
If you don't mind used you might be able to get Filco or Leopold in white, try make a wtb in marketplace. Failing all, you could get any keyboard and vinyl dye or wrap it to make white/beige.

Offline terrpn

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 10:02:22 »
Buy a CM Storm, pull the face plate, get some Krylon Fusion Beige or white paint (if that is the color you want) for "plastic" and just apply a couple thin coats. Give it a good day to harden up and put back together. After 7 days you can't chip it with a file nail.........very durable.

Rustoleum has a beige plastic paint that is pretty spot on to the older vintage "beige" keyboards, I've matched it up, used and no one would ever know.

Keyboard is under 80 bux, can of paint is about 6 bux...........blue switches, done deal. I don't own one but everybody swears by them- except the crazy finish with too many logo's. You can change the caps at will. Somebody is always offering some used that are in decent shape for a decent $.

Some of the older AT boards you find with futaba switches that will take cherry keycaps are pretty decent, I know they are not cherry switches and all that, but still not to shabby- depending on what your standard is. I've seen a few come with double-shots as well. Even if they are yellowed you can pop apart and do an "oxyclean" soak in the sun for about 6-8 hours and it will come back 90% to the color it was when new. I have a blue cherry, a futaba, white alps, a blue alps and a buckling spring (IBM M) and to be honest it's a toss up up between the blue alps and futaba switch. I'm probably biased liking the older boards and do a lot of typing, where I'm sure the majority swings to the newer boards.

Of course if you are a heavy gamer I don't how well they will stand up- I bump to others who have more knowledge than I for that:>}

Quote from: gr0undzer0;610139
I'm looking for a WHITE full size keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches and preferably as little lighting as possible.

Most importantly I'd like it to be available. As in .. not impossible to find. Which has been the case when I tried to find : White Filco with Blue Switches, fc700r blue switches, and a few others. I really want something on par with Filco... and that's white... AND HAS blue switches.
More

Luga G80-1865/MX Reds + Dolch G80-1813/MX Blues + G80-3700HQAUS + DK9008G2 Pro/MX Browns Thick PBT + DK9008G2 Pro/MX Clears Thick PBT +  QFR TKL/Ghetto Greens + Cherry G80-1800/MX Blues + IBM Model M SSK Bolt Modded + IBM Model M + IBM Model F + IBM AT F + Cherry G80-1000 (HAD)/MX Vintage Blacks + Razer BWU/MX Blues + Leading Edge DC2214/Blue Alps + Compaq MX11800/Browns + Chicony 5181/Monterey Blues + Chicony 5161/MX Black Cherry Clone + Focus 2001/White Alps + Chicony 5191/White Futabas + Olivetti ANK27-101 + Dell (Old Logo) AT101/Black Alps + NMB RT8255C+/Black Space Invaders + Unitek K260/Green Alps + Apple M0116/Orange Alps + AEK II M3501/Cream Alps + AEK M0115/Orange Alps + NEC  APC412/Blue Sliders + NEC APC410/Blue Sliders + Omnikey /White Alps + Wang/Yellow Alps (Omrons) + Laser/White SMK + Fame/Blue Aruz + AEK II M3501/Salmon Alps + Zenith ZKB-2R/Green Alps + Wang 724/Orange Alps + DK1087/Green Alps + Zenith ZKB-2/Yellow Alps + Dell Old Logo AT101/Salmon-Pink Alps + Leading Edge AK1012/White SMK's + Magitronic SK-1030/White (Linear) Futaba's + Packard Bell/White (Clicky) Futaba's + Datacomp DFK101/White  Alps + SGI AT101/Dampened White Alps + NMB AQ6RT-72511/Grey Space Invaders (Hi-Tek) + Datacomp/Blue Alps + Phillips 2812/White Space Invaders (Linear) + Dah Yang K251/Vintage MX Blues + Chicony 5161/DS Caps/Vintage MX Blue + Archie-NMB AQ659ZRT-725/Black Space Invader (Tactile) + IBM Model M 71G4644 (RD) Bolt Modded with Soarers Converter + IBM Model M Silver Label 1390131 + Cherry G80-1501/Vintage MX Clears + Focus FK8000/Linear Futabas + Gateway 2000 Anykey Programmable/Maxi-Switch + Dell GY13PVAT101/Dye Sub Caps/Salmon Alps + Chicony 5161/White Alps + AST K0B101/Slider over RD + Qtronix QX-32H + Everex/NMB RT8255CW+ Black Space Invaders-Split Erase + Tandon/NMB AQ659ZRT-101A/Beige Space Invaders + Cherry G80-11903 MNRUS/MX Blacks + Apple IIGS A9M0330/SMK Whites + WYSE PCE/MX Blacks + Chicony 5160AXT/Clicky Futaba + Cherry G80-0528/Vintage MX Blacks + Dell AT101/Linear (Modded) Black Alps+Topre 55g

Offline dorkvader

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 10:54:05 »
Quote from: terrpn;610311
Buy a CM Storm, pull the face plate, get some Krylon Fusion Beige or white paint (if that is the color you want) for "plastic" and just apply a couple thin coats. Give it a good day to harden up and put back together. After 7 days you can't chip it with a file nail.........very durable.
I would imagine the "rubberized" coating on the CM wouldn't take paint well.

Offline gr0undzer0

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 26
Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 11:02:05 »
nkey rollover is something I surely want that's why I just didn't buy the keycool. I might just have to wait till mid June and see if any blue switches in white appear. The cherry sounds promising. How hard are the keys to replace? Is it US layout?
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
    -George Bernard Shaw
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Offline gr0undzer0

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 26
Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 11:20:04 »
by the way those Cherry Keyboards in beige with blue switches in US layout are hard to find as well.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
    -George Bernard Shaw
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Offline terrpn

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #14 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 12:05:25 »
Yup..............ya wanna try to get rid of, scuff with some fine grit sandpaper, wipe with detergent, etc. Regardless it is an inexpensive option and just biased on part beings that I refinish antiques. Like I said I have not seen one up close- so you guys know wuts best.

nkey rollover rules out old boards:(

Thought I saw somebody on ebay trying to get rid of a white filco for $170.00 but don't recall the switch type? Little pricey...........
Quote from: dorkvader;610334
I would imagine the "rubberized" coating on the CM wouldn't take paint well.
More

Luga G80-1865/MX Reds + Dolch G80-1813/MX Blues + G80-3700HQAUS + DK9008G2 Pro/MX Browns Thick PBT + DK9008G2 Pro/MX Clears Thick PBT +  QFR TKL/Ghetto Greens + Cherry G80-1800/MX Blues + IBM Model M SSK Bolt Modded + IBM Model M + IBM Model F + IBM AT F + Cherry G80-1000 (HAD)/MX Vintage Blacks + Razer BWU/MX Blues + Leading Edge DC2214/Blue Alps + Compaq MX11800/Browns + Chicony 5181/Monterey Blues + Chicony 5161/MX Black Cherry Clone + Focus 2001/White Alps + Chicony 5191/White Futabas + Olivetti ANK27-101 + Dell (Old Logo) AT101/Black Alps + NMB RT8255C+/Black Space Invaders + Unitek K260/Green Alps + Apple M0116/Orange Alps + AEK II M3501/Cream Alps + AEK M0115/Orange Alps + NEC  APC412/Blue Sliders + NEC APC410/Blue Sliders + Omnikey /White Alps + Wang/Yellow Alps (Omrons) + Laser/White SMK + Fame/Blue Aruz + AEK II M3501/Salmon Alps + Zenith ZKB-2R/Green Alps + Wang 724/Orange Alps + DK1087/Green Alps + Zenith ZKB-2/Yellow Alps + Dell Old Logo AT101/Salmon-Pink Alps + Leading Edge AK1012/White SMK's + Magitronic SK-1030/White (Linear) Futaba's + Packard Bell/White (Clicky) Futaba's + Datacomp DFK101/White  Alps + SGI AT101/Dampened White Alps + NMB AQ6RT-72511/Grey Space Invaders (Hi-Tek) + Datacomp/Blue Alps + Phillips 2812/White Space Invaders (Linear) + Dah Yang K251/Vintage MX Blues + Chicony 5161/DS Caps/Vintage MX Blue + Archie-NMB AQ659ZRT-725/Black Space Invader (Tactile) + IBM Model M 71G4644 (RD) Bolt Modded with Soarers Converter + IBM Model M Silver Label 1390131 + Cherry G80-1501/Vintage MX Clears + Focus FK8000/Linear Futabas + Gateway 2000 Anykey Programmable/Maxi-Switch + Dell GY13PVAT101/Dye Sub Caps/Salmon Alps + Chicony 5161/White Alps + AST K0B101/Slider over RD + Qtronix QX-32H + Everex/NMB RT8255CW+ Black Space Invaders-Split Erase + Tandon/NMB AQ659ZRT-101A/Beige Space Invaders + Cherry G80-11903 MNRUS/MX Blacks + Apple IIGS A9M0330/SMK Whites + WYSE PCE/MX Blacks + Chicony 5160AXT/Clicky Futaba + Cherry G80-0528/Vintage MX Blacks + Dell AT101/Linear (Modded) Black Alps+Topre 55g

Offline gr0undzer0

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 26
Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 12:24:44 »
Quote from: terrpn;610356
Yup..............ya wanna try to get rid of, scuff with some fine grit sandpaper, wipe with detergent, etc. Regardless it is an inexpensive option and just biased on part beings that I refinish antiques. Like I said I have not seen one up close- so you guys know wuts best.

nkey rollover rules out old boards:(


Really I thought older pst keyboards were rollover.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
    -George Bernard Shaw
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Offline funxion

  • Posts: 174
Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #16 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 12:26:05 »
Quote from: terrpn;610356
Yup..............ya wanna try to get rid of, scuff with some fine grit sandpaper, wipe with detergent, etc. Regardless it is an inexpensive option and just biased on part beings that I refinish antiques. Like I said I have not seen one up close- so you guys know wuts best.

nkey rollover rules out old boards:(

Thought I saw somebody on ebay trying to get rid of a white filco for $170.00 but don't recall the switch type? Little pricey...........


I may actually do this...
Filco Ninja MJ2 TKL

Offline jdcarpe

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #17 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 12:27:18 »
Quote from: gr0undzer0;610357
nkey rollover rules out old boards:(


Really I thought older pst keyboards were rollover.

Older PS2 keyboards might have NKRO, if they have a diode installed for every keyswitch. No diodes = no NKRO. :( I mean, diodes are cheap...
KMAC :: LZ-GH :: WASD CODE :: WASD v2 :: GH60 :: Alps64 :: JD45 :: IBM Model M :: IBM 4704 "Pingmaster"

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Offline terrpn

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #18 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 18:55:38 »
Quote from: funxion;610359
I may actually do this...

Here's a post someone already offered and I recommend

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:30620

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:30620&do=comments

If you decide to go ahead just PM me and I'll walk you through it.

Patience, prep and numerous "thin" coats...........YOU CAN DO IT!
More

Luga G80-1865/MX Reds + Dolch G80-1813/MX Blues + G80-3700HQAUS + DK9008G2 Pro/MX Browns Thick PBT + DK9008G2 Pro/MX Clears Thick PBT +  QFR TKL/Ghetto Greens + Cherry G80-1800/MX Blues + IBM Model M SSK Bolt Modded + IBM Model M + IBM Model F + IBM AT F + Cherry G80-1000 (HAD)/MX Vintage Blacks + Razer BWU/MX Blues + Leading Edge DC2214/Blue Alps + Compaq MX11800/Browns + Chicony 5181/Monterey Blues + Chicony 5161/MX Black Cherry Clone + Focus 2001/White Alps + Chicony 5191/White Futabas + Olivetti ANK27-101 + Dell (Old Logo) AT101/Black Alps + NMB RT8255C+/Black Space Invaders + Unitek K260/Green Alps + Apple M0116/Orange Alps + AEK II M3501/Cream Alps + AEK M0115/Orange Alps + NEC  APC412/Blue Sliders + NEC APC410/Blue Sliders + Omnikey /White Alps + Wang/Yellow Alps (Omrons) + Laser/White SMK + Fame/Blue Aruz + AEK II M3501/Salmon Alps + Zenith ZKB-2R/Green Alps + Wang 724/Orange Alps + DK1087/Green Alps + Zenith ZKB-2/Yellow Alps + Dell Old Logo AT101/Salmon-Pink Alps + Leading Edge AK1012/White SMK's + Magitronic SK-1030/White (Linear) Futaba's + Packard Bell/White (Clicky) Futaba's + Datacomp DFK101/White  Alps + SGI AT101/Dampened White Alps + NMB AQ6RT-72511/Grey Space Invaders (Hi-Tek) + Datacomp/Blue Alps + Phillips 2812/White Space Invaders (Linear) + Dah Yang K251/Vintage MX Blues + Chicony 5161/DS Caps/Vintage MX Blue + Archie-NMB AQ659ZRT-725/Black Space Invader (Tactile) + IBM Model M 71G4644 (RD) Bolt Modded with Soarers Converter + IBM Model M Silver Label 1390131 + Cherry G80-1501/Vintage MX Clears + Focus FK8000/Linear Futabas + Gateway 2000 Anykey Programmable/Maxi-Switch + Dell GY13PVAT101/Dye Sub Caps/Salmon Alps + Chicony 5161/White Alps + AST K0B101/Slider over RD + Qtronix QX-32H + Everex/NMB RT8255CW+ Black Space Invaders-Split Erase + Tandon/NMB AQ659ZRT-101A/Beige Space Invaders + Cherry G80-11903 MNRUS/MX Blacks + Apple IIGS A9M0330/SMK Whites + WYSE PCE/MX Blacks + Chicony 5160AXT/Clicky Futaba + Cherry G80-0528/Vintage MX Blacks + Dell AT101/Linear (Modded) Black Alps+Topre 55g

Offline ZcHuer

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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #19 on: Sat, 09 June 2012, 23:51:14 »
Is FC700R available in the market now? I think it is still a lab item...
...

Offline hoggy

  • * Ergonomics Moderator
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Filco Alternatives.
« Reply #20 on: Mon, 11 June 2012, 15:54:29 »
I think wasd are looking to bring out a white case soon.  Not sure when, though.
GH Ergonomic Guide (in progress)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54680.0