Hey guys before I start can we please keep it as a healthy and well informed discussion. I know it's very easily to jump into a bashing war but I'd rather we have a discussion backed up with proofs. Thanks !!!List of Topre Keyboards:Realforce - trademark and brand owned by Topre,
see herePFU Limited - contract customer of Topre for HHKB.
Leopold - Leopold is only the
distributor for only the 87U.
Diatec - AKA Filco! Distributor for 91UDK-G, 91UBY (Yellow)
JUSTSYSTEM - 91ATOX (programmable key version?)
ILOVEX -
The green and yellow monstrosity.EliteKeyboards - Exclusive United States distributor (all models) to my knowledge.
So here's how it works. Topre manufactures all Topre switch keyboards to my knowledge. (Not sure if it's direct or indirect.) But they do not have a distribution channel for keyboards - their primary industries are things like refrigerated trucks, industrial paint application, you get the idea.
Now we're really confused, no? Here's how supply chain works for Realforce, abridged version.
Topre makes keyboards -> keyboards go to MAIN distribution -> shipped to regional distributor (think Ingram Micro, TechData equivalent) -> regional ships to retail -> you buy your keyboard from retail.
Topre makes contract order keyboard -> keyboards go to contract customer (e.g. PFU, ILOVEX) directly -> contract customer supply chain.
So for example, with the 87U what they might do is just ship all of them to Leopold who then sells and ships to retail (e.g. EK) so that Topre doesn't have to worry about any of it. So technically they're all distributed by Leopold, since Leopold is handling the distribution chain. But for a 105U they might ship direct to certain retailers, and through distributors for other regions. Leopold won't sell them to other retail channels in the US because EK has an exclusivity agreement, but is free to sell them to anyone they want in say, Japan or Taiwan or Europe. It's very complicated and confusing, yes.
Thank rootwyrm for all the Topre info
List of Costar Keyboards:GEEKHACK FAVORITEFilco - Sounds like geekhack's most recommended. Though I would like to hear if there's any problems with this. For example the debatable "ping" issue.
CM Storm QuickFire Rapid - The most recommended bang for the buck keyboard, sometimes recommend over Filco. Although only tenkeyless option available.
OTHER GOOD ONESCM Storm QuickFire Trigger - A lot of confusion on this one but it's actually a Costar board confirmed by Carter. Though doesn't seem to be as popular as QuickFire Rapid (most likely because of price and macro keys).
Last Gen Das Keyboard - Aside from the glossy finish, seems like a very good option. The cheapest full size Costar board available next to Rosewill.
WASD Keyboards - A good solid option and let you customize your keycaps also. Though can get very expensive very quickly depends on what you do with it.
Thermaltake MEKA G1 - Doesn't seem too popular either, too gamer?
Mionix Zibal 60 - Doesn't seem popular, maybe because it's expensive and it's green?
DEBATABLERosewill 9000 - The cheapest fulll size Costar board, goes on sale occasionally for super cheap. Has mini b connector issue that might or might not have been fixed.
Do keep in mind even though Costar is highly regarded amongst the forums, but they still vary in quality between brands. For example Filco is consider higher quality than CM Storm and Rosewill.
List of iRocks Keyboards:Thermaltake MEKA - MEKA NOT MEKA G1, different model. This one is sort of like CM Storm TK layout with dedicated arrow key, quality unknown.
Rosewill 9100 - Backlit version of Rosewill keyboards, quality unknown.
List of Ducky Keyboards:MOST RECOMMENDED BACKLITDucky Shine II 9008/9087 - Made in Taiwan. High quality backlit boards, one of the best backlit mechanical keyboards.
NEWDucky Zero 2008/2087 - Made in China. New lineup to replaced the 1008/1087 series. So far well received.
OLDDucky 1008/1087 - Made in Taiwan. Though the 1000 series aren't so well received.
List of iOne Keyboards:NOT WELL RECEIVEDRazer Blackwidow - Seems like there are a lot of negative feedback on it, but at the same time I heard a lot of people have no issues with it. So not too sure.
Razer Blackwidow 2013 - It appears that the quality remains the same for their 2013 edition.
XArmor U9BL - I heard this is just bad, won't argue with it.
iOne Scorpious U9BL - Same as above.
HOWEVERQPAD MK-85 - I heard this is actually a decent keyboard.
Max Keyboard - Same as the QPAD, I've mostly only heard great reviews regarding those.
ANDMonoprice - No review yet.
Adesso - No clue also.
CM Storm QuickFire Pro - Sounds like the main complaint is the regarding the plug, but I heard it's just people didn't plug it in all the way. And got member stating that this actually has quality comparable to Costar boards.
This is a quote from Carter from OCN:
Moving away from that, iOne was actually not an awful manufacturer for us. The Pro unfortunately caught a bad wrap because we went with a snap method on the USB connector which required quite a bit of force to plug in.... In certain regions (Everywhere except North America) this was considered a really nice and secure fit/feature. The market here, was unable to plug in the keyboard properly and thus we had a "DOA" failure rate which was astronomical & deadly to the boards lifespan. In actuality the boards were perfectly fine.....
Source:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1316851/new-cooler-master-quickfire-tk-keyboard/60#post_18621069List of Datacomp Keyboards:SteelSeries 6GV2 - Decent keyboard from what I've heard. Though I think this would definitely sell better if they just did a proper ANSI and ISO layouts instead of mixing it.
List of TG3 Keyboards:Deck - Really high quality backlit keyboard with price tag around $180. Has PBT dye sub keycaps (Clear plastic dye sub with black surrounding). However only has MX Black and MX Clear switches choices at the moment. Also some describe the font choice as "crayon scribble".
List of Plum Keyboards:Plum - Made in China, otherwise unknown OEM. Good soldering but questionable housing and keycaps, also loose keycaps.
List of Sunsky Technology Keyboards:Noppoo Choc Mini - Made in China, don't know too much about quality.
Boards With Unknown Manufactures:THE GOODLeopold - Thought they were made in Korea then one memeber claimed it's made in Taiwan. But 2 member later claimed it's made in China, so I wonder if they changed OEM also.
THE UNKNOWNCorsair K60 - One vote for this being actually good as oppose to K90.
Corsair K90 - Mostly negative feedback on this one.
New Das Keyboard - Not iOne, not Costar, and made in China. Based on the new amazon review it appears that the new ones are indeed inferior to the old ones (Costar).
CM Storm TK - Not iOne, not Costar.
Logitech G710+ - No info at all, just doesn't look like Costar. Seems really good quality but a lot of customers have reported LED flickering/dying early on.
Based on Carter's quote from the same article:
The OEM of TK is not one ever mentioned in Mechanical Keyboard market. Its quite funny as they have done several popular boards and manufacture one of the biggest hyped releases recently.
I'm guessing he's hinting Logitech G710+, so I wonder if CM Storm TK is made in the same place.
So what do you guys think, again keep it civil please.
EDIT: Converted to OEM Discussion so we can talk about all the OEMs.