Filco, are they worth looking into?

[Fragil1ty]

Hey guys, I've decided to stray away from my Keycool and look into other boards, more specifically the "Filco Ninja Majestouch-2" Obviously I want the Tenkeyless model, but one thing is, I'm not 100% sold on them.

They look 'okay', nothing spectacular in my opinion, maybe your opinion may differ but yeah.



The only I don't like really is where the scroll lock and caps lock lights are positioned.

So, just a few questions really.

If I order from UK manufactuerers, it'll cost me £114, so:

1. Are they worth the money, do they have good construction etc?
2. What are they like to type on, what keycaps do they use? PBT/POM etc?
3. Would you recommend one to a friend or whatever?

If not, what is a good keyboard similar to this or the Keycool 84 80% type keyboards?

Thanks.

[boost]

Filcos are great keyboards but you can grab a cm storm for cheaper and doesn't lack quality.

If you go filco or storm you won'r regret it. Filcos/cm storm has ABS keycaps.

[Fragil1ty]

Filcos are great keyboards but you can grab a cm storm for cheaper and doesn't lack quality.

If you go filco or storm you won'r regret it. Filcos/cm storm has ABS keycaps.

That's the only thing drawing me back at the moment, for a tenkeyless board  £114-120 seems a little steep.

[Photekq]

My filco was good. The price is steep though.

[AuRinBei]

I don't have a Filco, so I don't know this for sure, but don't the caps have a problem with their UV protective coating rubbing off easily?

[JPG]

I have 2 filco's. Hard to tell if all the price is justified, but they are very good quality and you also have a lot of choice for switches/layout. Maybe a lil overpriced, but definitely very good.

[saturnotaku]

A CM Storm Quickfire Rapid is just as good as a Filco and costs roughly £70-80, sometimes less if you catch a good sale. I bought mine for USD$65. This is if you want a keyboard with a standard tenkeyless layout.

For 80% and smaller models, there's the TG3 Electronics BL82 (pics here), the KBT Race, and Leopold FC660M (MX switch) and FC660C (Topre switch).

[IvanIvanovich]

Filco is ok and all, but nothing special. They used to be premier MX keyboards, but now days many other manufactures have caught up in quality as far as I am concerned and offer more features, nicer aesthetics in some cases while being less expensive.

[Puddsy]

I own 3 filcos. I love everything about them.

Get one.

[Tony]

I have two Filcos. Filco are of the best quality and the price is high too.

If you can afford it, then definitely go for it.

If you are tight budget, grab a CMstorm Quickfire Rapid.

Sooner or later you will buy a Filco anyway.

Buying it the first time saves time, which cannot be bought.

[esoomenona]

time, which cannot be bought.

I believe we call that employment.

[Fragil1ty]

I own 3 filcos. I love everything about them.

Get one.

I am really tempted I must admit.

I have two Filcos. Filco are of the best quality and the price is high too.

If you can afford it, then definitely go for it.

If you are tight budget, grab a CMstorm Quickfire Rapid.

Sooner or later you will buy a Filco anyway.

Buying it the first time saves time, which cannot be bought.

Don't really like the QFR font to be honest, looks kind of ugly that's why I was more towards the filco to be honest.

[Photekq]

They look almost identical though..

[Danule]

Best mx board ive tried was a filco. I love their simple classy style.

[Tony]

Don't really like the QFR font to be honest, looks kind of ugly that's why I was more towards the filco to be honest.

I touch type, so I don't look at the keycap often, yet I see that CM QFR looks weird.

For blind touch typing experience, QFR is very much similar to a Filco and QFR price is much cheaper.

For overall aesthetic and feel, Filco keyboard has the highest ratings around here. In a month you will soon forget the price difference you have to pay for it.

Anyway, your fingers deserve the best keyboard, right?

[calavera]

I was gonna recommend WASD v2 keyboards but it seems they're way out of your price range.

[terran5992]

How about the code keyboards?

[Pacifist]

Isn't the keycool 84 75%?

[EpiRock]

I do own a Filco Ninja with browns. I've tried comparing the Filco with QFR side by side. They look basically the same besides the fonts, cable and LEDs. Not surprised since they're made by the same OEM. However, when I started typing on them, they do sound and feel quite different. I know one of the reasons might be the cause of different batches of cherry switches, not the keyboards themselves. So I tried comparing with another QFR that I bought my friend. I compared them with stock ABS keycaps and then with PBT keycaps. I can say that the Filco is indeed better imo, it sounds and feels better. Even my friend who uses the QFR say the Filco feels better after trying it. However, it is not 2x better than the QFR so you have to decide if the premium price of the Filco justifies or not. IMO Filco is not worth the price, but I'd still buy one.

[Emospence]

They're the board to get when it comes to Cherry switches

(If price is not an issue)

[Linkbane]

I would quote everyone, but it would be too great of a block. Filco has very, very high quality standards but I think that the price is completely unjustified, considering that the same company, Costar, makes Cooler Master as well as Filco.

I mean, the quality of the board, unless horrendously bad, isn't going to alter your typing experience. That's undoubtedly hype and false claims; a cherry is a cherry is a cherry.

[bueller]

Honestly I know that QFR's and Filco's are from the same OEM but I'd tend to agree with Epirock, I definitely think the Filco is better quality. Don't know if they have higher quality standards but somehow the Filco just feels a lot nice to type on.

[rowdy]

I own 3 filcos. I love everything about them.

Get one.

I am really tempted I must admit.

I have two Filcos. Filco are of the best quality and the price is high too.

If you can afford it, then definitely go for it.

If you are tight budget, grab a CMstorm Quickfire Rapid.

Sooner or later you will buy a Filco anyway.

Buying it the first time saves time, which cannot be bought.

Don't really like the QFR font to be honest, looks kind of ugly that's why I was more towards the filco to be honest.

Filco is a good keyboard.  QFR is similar, but many, like you, do not like the font.

What a lot of people (me included) do is get QFR and replacement keycaps for less than the price of a Filco.

[dante]

Does anyone know why Keyboard Co. is unable to stock MX Brown Filco's 87/104 on Amazon?  NCIX US doesn't either but NCIX Canada does.

It's like someone bought the rights to selling the Filco Brown 87/104 in the US but they aren't doing anything with it.

[Lycoth]

Filco was my first high quality board after joining GH after recommendations. I am also from the UK so I paid about the same, and to be honest I never regretted it. It was an amazing keyboard with a great feel, good quality, very sturdy, I loved the look. Anybody who used my keyboard, whether they were gamers or office staff would comment on exactly how nice it felt to type on (I had MX Browns).

I did end up selling it simply because it got to the point where I wanted a backlit board (For certain modifiers and the such that I couldn't always hit without looking), and something slightly more aesthetically pleasing as I had got bored of the standard look, So I replaced it with a Ducky, selling to a friend of mine, who had never used a mechanical keyboard. He says he never wants to replace it.

I hope that answers some of your concerns about whether it's worth the asking price.

[Austin Powers]

Go for filco, mostly every set of common keycaps will fit on them. IMO, the non ninja version is cheaper compared the ninja version. It comes with ABS though. Here's my suggestion, go for the non ninja version and change those keycaps into PBT or POM.

[ZeodoHokill]

I can find some shop locally and the shop keeper usually allow us to "play" with his product, and sometime we can compare the product from Filco with other provider, I think that Filco product is better in quality in general, their key response feel solid, and the key alignment is better also (in other provider you may find the key not quite align since poor switch bonding alignment). Like now I am currently using Filco Majestic MINI Air to type this message, the only difficulty I still not very get used to 60% keyboard.

[Grim Fandango]

1. Are they worth the money, do they have good construction etc?

Yes, they are worth it, and they are known for being solidly built keyboards. However, there are some things to take into account. One is that they are sold from the UK. This makes it more attractive if you live in Europe, and less attractive if you live in the US because of shipping and customs charges. The other thing is that you can get something very close for a lot less. I have 2 Filcos but have also used the CM Quickfire rapid and it came awfully close while costing almost half. Many of the characteristics of these keyboards are the same, like the dimensions and the stabilizers.
 
2. What are they like to type on, what keycaps do they use? PBT/POM etc?

It is not possible for me to describe the way they subtly differ from another keyboard. This is one of those things you will just have to try. The stock keycaps they use are kind of crap. They are ABS , which is fine, though many people now prefer PBT etc., but they are also pad printed. Now I do not hate pad printing as much as some. My experience has always been that the printing does not fade quickly or easily. However, the pad printing on the Filco keycaps is kind of ugly and inconsistent (different shades and not perfectly printed). Most people here would swap out the keycaps.

3. Would you recommend one to a friend or whatever?

I would recommend them. But there are a few things I would take into consideration before I would. To be just really honest, if that friend is not a touch typist and does not type a lot, I would feel like he should not even bother. That is just a personal thing though. I do not think I could enjoy mechanical keyboards the way I do now if I did not type properly. A lot of the feel and experience is lost if you do not. I would also look at his budget. If he had trouble spending that much money on a keyboard I would probably tell him to just go with the Quickfire rapid.

[Belfong]

Having not used a Filco before, I'm curious on two counts. Many here says it's expensive. How much is it anyway? US$150?

And if it US$150, that made Filco the same as WASD and Matias. So how does Filco compares to these two in terms of quality?

[Puddsy]

Having not used a Filco before, I'm curious on two counts. Many here says it's expensive. How much is it anyway? US$150?

And if it US$150, that made Filco the same as WASD and Matias. So how does Filco compares to these two in terms of quality?

It's something like $150 yeah. I got mine in Japan for cheap, so I wouldn't know.

It's certainly higher quality than WASD or Matias (or CM for that matter, that's Costar too). I've revived my miniLA twice from juice spills.

[Belfong]

And yet, in this thread everybody thinks that Filco is overpriced. If that is the case WASD and Matias would be even worse, if as you said, their quality is not as good as Filco's. Sometimes, these stuff are so subjective, it's really hard to place - what does quality means, right? In some threads, I see people complaining that their Filco has keys dead on arrival.

So, OP, my advise, just buy what you think you liked in terms of branding.

[Danule]

And yet, in this thread everybody thinks that Filco is overpriced. If that is the case WASD and Matias would be even worse, if as you said, their quality is not as good as Filco's. Sometimes, these stuff are so subjective, it's really hard to place - what does quality means, right? In some threads, I see people complaining that their Filco has keys dead on arrival.

So, OP, my advise, just buy what you think you liked in terms of branding.

I have 2 and have had no issues,  I have taken 1 apart because i spilled water inside.  The soldering and PCB are high quality, maybe not as nice as a realforce, but very nice none the less

[Tony]

Filco is a luxurious keyboard. It is highly priced, but if you can afford it, then definitely go for it, like a Porsche or Rolls Royce car which is also a luxurious item.

You don't buy it because it is cheap and has the best p/p factor, but because of the luxuries it brings to you. It massages your fingers and your ego at the same time. Your delicate fingers certainly deserve the best keyboards the world can offer.

Looking at another angle: Part of a Filco keyboard's price is the brand price. In my own country you can sell a second hand Filco much faster than any other brands.

[Danule]

yeah the resale value of filso, hhk, and realforces are very good.

[Hyde]

Don't really like the QFR font to be honest, looks kind of ugly that's why I was more towards the filco to be honest.

I touch type, so I don't look at the keycap often, yet I see that CM QFR looks weird.

Yeah I'll admit the QFR font do look weird.

BUT if you get QFR Stealth I find I actually like that font in that one.  Maybe because it's smaller and less noticeable so it's not too bad.

So I'd actually recommend you get that one instead even though I do own a Filco. 

[saturnotaku]

Filco is a luxurious keyboard. It is highly priced, but if you can afford it, then definitely go for it, like a Porsche or Rolls Royce car which is also a luxurious item.

You don't buy it because it is cheap and has the best p/p factor, but because of the luxuries it brings to you. It massages your fingers and your ego at the same time. Your delicate fingers certainly deserve the best keyboards the world can offer.

A Filco is, at best, an Acura TL to the Honda Accord that is a CM Storm. There are differences between them but under the skin they are fundamentally similar.

[Dreamre]

Filco is a luxurious keyboard. It is highly priced, but if you can afford it, then definitely go for it, like a Porsche or Rolls Royce car which is also a luxurious item.

You don't buy it because it is cheap and has the best p/p factor, but because of the luxuries it brings to you. It massages your fingers and your ego at the same time. Your delicate fingers certainly deserve the best keyboards the world can offer.

A Filco is, at best, an Acura TL to the Honda Accord that is a CM Storm. There are differences between them but under the skin they are fundamentally similar.

I agree with you, however I'd compare it with an Acura TSX to a Honda Accord.

[rowdy]

Don't really like the QFR font to be honest, looks kind of ugly that's why I was more towards the filco to be honest.

I touch type, so I don't look at the keycap often, yet I see that CM QFR looks weird.

Yeah I'll admit the QFR font do look weird.

BUT if you get QFR Stealth I find I actually like that font in that one.  Maybe because it's smaller and less noticeable so it's not too bad.

So I'd actually recommend you get that one instead even though I do own a Filco. 

Or just replace the keycaps.  I did

Currently my QFR has Miami on it.

[Andrew3000]

Filcos are priced higher than average for a reason. A good keyboard is never a bunch of parts and electronic components just thrown in and soldered together, it's more about design and thoughtfull selection, deep professional understanding of its possible uses and limitations plus quality control.  It's what sets apart a brand and noname assembled from basically the same components. While there are other manufacturers making decent boards that are more affordable or feature-rich, every Filco I have tried was absolutely worth every dime of its price.

[skuko]

i have 3 filcos, 1 of them is being RMAd now, one blue switch didn't click out of the box. other than that, they are flawless.

the only thing i'd love to have on them is to have plate cutouts for solderless switch swapping

[amasokin]

I think the Filcos feel better than any of the other Cherry keyboard I've ever tried. They're sturdier, better polished, and the typing feeling is just amazing. Typing on Blues on a Filco is not the same as typing on Blues on a Ducky (which is also plate mounted) for example. Not at all. And not just because of the Cherry vs Costar stabilizers.

Keep in mind though, it's the only Costar-made keyboard I've ever tried, never had a QFR. Considering the price difference, it may be worth looking into.

As someone said earlier in this thread though, "collection" and resale value of the Filco are much higher.

Keycaps quality/font is not really an argument, considering you'll probably be changing them quite fast

[ch_123]

And yet, in this thread everybody thinks that Filco is overpriced. If that is the case WASD and Matias would be even worse, if as you said, their quality is not as good as Filco's. Sometimes, these stuff are so subjective, it's really hard to place - what does quality means, right? In some threads, I see people complaining that their Filco has keys dead on arrival.

So, OP, my advise, just buy what you think you liked in terms of branding.

I've owned both a WASD V2 and a Filco, and I prefer the WASD. There's some nice things that the WASD has over the Filco, such as lasered keycaps (but probably irrelevant if you end up buying third party keycaps) and a detachable cable (this is more an issue of preference). Aside from that, they are quite similar, and my preference for the WASD is largely to do with the customization and other value-added services they provide compared with other Cherry keyboard vendors.

Then again, I'm more of an IBM guy, so they all are inferior to my SSK in one way or another, except perhaps noise

[Nakapfao]

Filcos are great keyboards but you can grab a cm storm for cheaper and doesn't lack quality.

If you go filco or storm you won'r regret it. Filcos/cm storm has ABS keycaps.

That's the only thing drawing me back at the moment, for a tenkeyless board  £114-120 seems a little steep.

I agree. Got my CM Storm for about 70 bucks, and as it was coming in the mail I kinda regretted it because I thought I should've gone with something higher quality. Now that the board's here though, I've got no qualms apart from the caps, and if I replace them for about 40 bucks I'm still spending less than a lot of people

[archer]

I have a small handful of Filcos, along with a couple others (keycool, ducky, etc). For whatever reason, the Filco definitely feels more solid and just.. better built? It's almost the most expensive of the lot as well. You get what you pay for, imo! I've never had any buyer's remorse about any of the Filcos that I've purchased. The others I have, on occasion.

Something that the Filcos have, that I prefer, are the costar stabilizers. I think they feel much better than cherry mx stabilizers (I'm not sure which the QFR uses).

[lilky]

I have a Filco MJ2 Ninja in browns and my friend has one in blues. I've extensively tried boards from Leopold, Ducky, Razer, Das, CM, and KBT.

If you have the money, buy the Filco. In all honesty, I don't know what it is about them, but their keyboards are just amazing to type on and you can IMMEDIATELY feel the difference between them and any other board. A lot of people have been commenting that CM makes boards from the same OEM and that they are a much cheaper copy of Filco. I own a CM QFR in blues and my friend owns a CM QFR in browns and I can tell you that this is not true at all. While QFRs are amazing, especially for their price, Filcos are still a league above them in terms of build quality, and you can immediately tell when you type on them.

I'm actually in the process of buying my 2nd Filco (in blues) now, and thinking about selling my blue QFR.

[bMind]

Something that the Filcos have, that I prefer, are the costar stabilizers. I think they feel much better than cherry mx stabilizers (I'm not sure which the QFR uses).

Both are Costar.

[dante]

NCIX Canada charges $35 to US   NCIX US / Amazon doesn't have any 87 MX Brown Ninjas

[Fragil1ty]

I think I'll definitely try one out in the future, I didn't find this UK filco supplier until I had already purchased a Keycool from Qtan (again), so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. >.>

[bMind]

NCIX Canada charges $35 to US   NCIX US / Amazon doesn't have any 87 MX Brown Ninjas

em..they do?

http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EFB2/dp/B004ZJPSGI

[dante]

NCIX Canada charges $35 to US   NCIX US / Amazon doesn't have any 87 MX Brown Ninjas

em..they do?

http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EFB2/dp/B004ZJPSGI

Ok .. Amazon does but they are not $149.99.  The cheapest one on your list was $165 + $30 shipping.