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Author Topic: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues  (Read 2938 times)

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Offline Rafen

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Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« on: Wed, 15 August 2012, 19:08:35 »
I just received my BlackWidow in the mail today and I started typing on it and noticed that I felt completely different compared to my Leopold w/ blues. I have been using the Leopold for about a year on and off and it feels really good but for someone reason the BlackWidow feels different and is a lot better in my opinion. I was wondering why this is? Both the keyboards have the same switch and are plated mounted. I even did the nickel test on both of them and required the same about of nickels. So why is it one feels better than the other? Also anyone who owns a BlackWidow and a Filco, how do they compare to one another? If the keyboard feels this good, then I can only imagine how the Filcos must feel. I'm hoping this isn't all in my head... :-[
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 15 August 2012, 19:17:30 »
The existential question is:

What is it - that is not - just "in your head"?

If our subjective feelings were not of supreme importance to each of us, there would only be 2 keyboards in the world:

1. the "best" keyboard - for those who care

2. the cheapest keyboard - for those who don't care
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Offline Rafen

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 15 August 2012, 19:57:54 »
The blues have a much lighter and more responsive feeling while still remaining a little more quiet than the Leopold. I wonder if the texture of the keys might have something to do with it?
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Offline 1391401

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 15 August 2012, 20:02:57 »
There's any number of variables that can affect this.  Size of keyboard can have your wrists/hands at a different position, thickness, contour, profile, texture of keycap... etc.  There's also those other factors such as "this is different and new therefore must be better" that we all experience initially.
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Offline Rafen

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 15 August 2012, 21:10:47 »
Quote from: 1391401 on Wed, 15 August 2012, 20:02:57
  There's also those other factors such as "this is different and new therefore must be better" that we all experience initially.

That's what I was thinking it must be since Leopold keyboards are make very well. Thanks guys for your help.
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Offline thegunner100

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 15 August 2012, 21:33:54 »
Well, Razer claims that they "cherry pick" their switches, but that's just a marketing ploy. The BW will feel different at first because the switches arent broken in yet. MX blues require some  break-in time to loosen up a little.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 15 August 2012, 22:51:23 »
Quote from: thegunner100 on Wed, 15 August 2012, 21:33:54
Well, Razer claims that they "cherry pick" their switches, but that's just a marketing ploy. The BW will feel different at first because the switches arent broken in yet. MX blues require some  break-in time to loosen up a little.

"cherry pick" - very droll :-D
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Offline Rafen

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 16 August 2012, 13:01:03 »
I will just type on this keyboard for a while longer and try to break it in then I will see if I can still tell the difference between the boards. If the BlackWidow still feels better after a couple of weeks maybe by then I can narrow it down to why it feels better.
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Offline Okita

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 16 August 2012, 13:21:52 »
What compelled you to buy a BW after already owning a leopold w/ blues?
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Offline Glockateer

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 16 August 2012, 13:23:25 »
I actually agree with you and it seems to be at least partially related to the cheap ass key caps they give you. The blackwidow is the only mx blue board I even like.
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Offline Rafen

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 17 August 2012, 17:47:14 »
I couldn't help the deal got it on dell.com with a discount I had for being a student. The board only cost me $55 including shipping.

@Glockateer - I notice that the keycaps feel a lot better on the BlackWidow. I am actually going to change them and see if that makes a difference of how they feel. The BlackWidow keys have the texture to them where the Leopold has the smooth keys that feel really cheap and I can't stand it.
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Offline nala

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 17 August 2012, 20:43:20 »
I'd rather feel the keys cheap than having to see that ugly fontface on the Blackwidow.
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Offline Rafen

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 17 August 2012, 20:49:59 »
Frontface? I don't mind how the BlackWidow looks I actually like it next to the look of a Leopold.
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Offline nala

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 18 August 2012, 00:24:37 »
Font face. It means the font that the BW uses. I personally hate it.
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Offline Harlequin

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #14 on: Sat, 18 August 2012, 00:30:46 »
it's because Black Widow's Cherry MX blue switches are modified. Less activation force.
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Offline Gerk

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 19 August 2012, 21:26:04 »
Quote from: nala on Sat, 18 August 2012, 00:24:37
Font face. It means the font that the BW uses. I personally hate it.

I'm with you on that.  The switches and such felt fine, wasn't a fan of the extra row on the left.  Mine is sitting in pieces at the moment, it became a switch donor.
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Offline jwaz

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 19 August 2012, 22:00:07 »
Quote from: Harlequin on Sat, 18 August 2012, 00:30:46
it's because Black Widow's Cherry MX blue switches are modified. Less activation force.

Where'd you hear this?
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Offline Lanx

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Re: Black Widow w/blues feels better than Leopold w/blues
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 20 August 2012, 11:43:15 »
its not modification, just preference selection (they are able to choose the tolerance of each switches requirement)
http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.211324200
Each of the mechanical switches has been sorted prior to manufacture to adhere to a strict design guideline.
the selection (and sorting prior to manufacture) of mechanical switches
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