More photos of the Filco Majestouch

[o2dazone]

Updating an old thread - Desktop resolution links are below the photos (the post is a little darker, to make a more 'subtle' background)


desktop (1920 x 1200)



In the photo below, you can see an original photo. Well not original. I HDR everything to give me the most control of my shot (sometimes they hardly look different from a normal exposed shot)




And here's the corrected shot



Desktop resolution is here


Another uncorrected shot. Lots of dust and dog hair. Despite me putting on the little shield that came with the keyboard...it still gets this dirty from normal use.




Here's the dark cleaned up version


Desktop here


Enjoy






_______________*old post*_____________
Again, I'm a terrible reviewer because of my very shallow experience with mechanical keyboards. I'll discuss what I notice differently, reserving the right to withhold any opinions about it until I test drive it for a week or so.

Shipping on this puppy was fast. The board came from Diamond Bar, CA to Henderson, NV (about 250m). Upon putting an order in early Thursday (Buying $130 keyboards at 6am is a hobby of mine), it was here by Friday morning (standard shipping). I won't make an assumptions to this taking longer if he generates more business, but damn - that's fast. Everything was very prompt, and being a "startup" distributor, Brian (EliteKeyboards.com) did a great job keeping me informed when it was being shipped with a tracking#.

Opening the package is everything you've seen from previous "unsheathings" of a majestouch. A thin clear plastic shield over the keys, with a ps/2 adapter and velcro around the cord. When removing it from the box it was much heavier than the g80-3000. As such, the key feels more solid when I bottom out the key. It's more compact, and people are right, the blue LED is BRIGHT (but only when looking straight on, it doesn't bother me when at an angle).




Filco on top, Cherry g80-3000 on bottom. Noticeable size difference between the two, as well as a slimmer design around the keyboard itself.



The finish on the Filco is also different. It's a lot more "matte" and less textured than the Cherry board is. The surface of the keys are also smoother in comparison.



Filco seems to be a real solid brand. Because it's a "typists" keyboard over what the Cherry felt more like a 'point of sales' keyboard, its form and functionality makes a lot more sense. That's not to say the Cherry won't get anymore love, he's got a warm spot at work


Also, I'm noticing when holding a key down, it begins to repeat much sooner. I'm not sure if this is a by-product of N-Key rollover, but I like it! The original idea that made me want to buy a board with nkro was it would be neat to have, just to see what it was like, but it's fast 'pickup' on repeating keys when held down definitely made it feel like money well spent. (I do this a lot in coding, highlight or jumping from word to word holding down control).

[ozar]

Hey, thanks for the review!  

The difference in footprint between the Cherry and Filco is amazing.  Unfortunately, my board (the Tenkeyless) won't be in until Tuesday, but then I live quite a bit further from Elite Keyboards than you do.  Looking forward to playing with it.

Best of luck with your own...

[FKSSR]

Nice pictures.  Thanks for posting your thoughts!

[Ysaquerai]

Sorry but i had to ask since i don't owe one, is the keys from filco laser engraved?

[majestouch]

Great photos o2, glad you like your new board;)

Sorry but i had to ask since i don't owe one, is the keys from filco laser engraved?

No reason to be sorry. The keys on the FILCO are not engraved. However, the process that is used to print the letters seems to be very good. I've had my board for close to 3 years (of heavy use) and there is no evidence of fading.

[Ulysses31]

I wonder if it's cheaper to ship one of these from the US to England, or directly from Japan.

[D-EJ915]

wow those letters are small, nice pictures and review

[kyamei]

How do you like the feel of the browns compared to the blues in your G80?

[o2dazone]

Thanks for the comments

majestouch: LOVE the board

kyamei: After test driving it on Typeracer (still getting used to N-key not letting me get away with mistakes and the softer feeling of browns), I'm almost up to my usual typing speed. It's interesting, it's definitely easier to press over the blues, and there's a little tactile 'bump' that you can feel with every key press. It's definitely there, even when typing fast. The keyboard is a lot more dense too, so I'm feeling that as well the switches. The keycaps also feel different, but that could be placebo from the switches. It'll take a little more driving to get into them, but I've made the decision about an hour after owning the board (before taking pictures LOL) that it's my daily driver. If anything, it'll give my wife some peace and quiet

[Chloe]

The keys on the FILCO are not engraved. However, the process that is used to print the letters seems to be very good. I've had my board for close to 3 years (of heavy use) and there is no evidence of fading.

Do you know which models? The keycaps on the FKBT104ML/EB are laser printed but other models don't include keycap printing in their descriptions.

[majestouch]

Do you know which models? The keycaps on the FKBT104ML/EB are laser printed but other models don't include keycap printing in their descriptions.

I'm sorry I do not have anymore information on this than I can read on DIATEC's website. It appears only the boards in the wireless series have a newer keycap technology. Since I was told by DIATEC that the FKBT104M/EB is no longer available, it is questionable if this new keycap is the future FILCO keyboards or passing experiment for these boards only. When I have any new information about the keys I'll be sure to post it.

[pex]

I'm sorry I do not have anymore information on this than I can read on DIATEC's website.

You don't get any extra helper information, in the course of being the only official US distributor, that sheds more light on technical questions you might receive from your salesbase?

[majestouch]

The details that geekhackers are looking for sometimes tend to be a bit above the average consumer threshold. My relationship with DIATEC is still very new, and outside of that consumer threshold I have to ask very specific questions that take time to answer.

[o2dazone]

bump

[dlarellano]

Awesome pics. Gave me a stiffy.

[Hyperion]

Oh man, I found this thread AFTER I ordered my Das Ulti, and it seems that this Filco Majestouch is the perfect board for me. Too bad I spent all of my money on the Das, I really would have liked to buy this board.
Since Filco has all of these FKNSBNS.... serials as names I find it hard to keep track of the keyboard that I wanted so I didn't buy one in fear of getting the wrong board.
Is there a version without the numpad and how much does it cost? *braces for 130 USD+ 40 AUD shipping*

[lam47]

Great pictures! What camera are you using? (not that I am suggesting it is the camera rather than your photographic skill that has made these shots so nice. Just curious)

[huha]

Do you have any high-res versions of these?

-huha

[lam47]

He does. Its on the first page.

[huha]

He does. Its on the first page.

I really should learn to read sometime.

That said, do you also have a desktop-sized version of the second shot, uncorrected? The corrected version is a bit too dark as far as I'm concerned.

-huha

[o2dazone]

huha: No problem, I'll shoot over an uncorrected shot when I get home this evening

lam47: a Canon 400 D (Rebel XTi) with an 18-55 and a fixed 50

Hyperion: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=filco_keyboards,majestouch_104key&pid=fkbn87meb

dlarellano: Excellent!

[iMav]

Received my second blue Cherry-equipped tenkeyless from j-goods (FKBN87MC/EB).  They contacted me, letting me know they had one available (buyer backed out of the deal).  Couldn't pass it up.  

Once elitekeyboards.com has these available (and replacement, blank keycaps), the world will be a MUCH better place.  

[rdjack21]

Received my second blue Cherry-equipped tenkeyless from j-goods (FKBN87MC/EB).  They contacted me, letting me know they had one available (buyer backed out of the deal).  Couldn't pass it up.  

Once elitekeyboards.com has these available (and replacement, blank keycaps), the world will be a MUCH better place.  

Yea I can't wait either as I really want a blue Cherry tenkeyless. I have the Brown Cherry version now but I really think I would prefer the Blues.

[Special K]

I have 2 questions:

1. Have you done any tests to verify that the n-key rollover works correctly with the PS/2 port?  Also, they claim 6-key rollover with the USB port.  I ask because after doing some searching on here, it seems the ABS M1 and Das Keyboard 3 Pro don't perform their n-key rollover as advertised.

2. Have you ever used the Compaq MX 11800 keyboard?  If so, would it give me a feel that is similar to the Filco FKBN104M/EB?  The MX 11800 uses cherry MX brown switches ike the FKBN104M/EB, but can be had for much less.  I think I would like the FKBN104M/EB, but because of it's cost and the fact that elitekeyboards doesn't allow you to return anything, I want to be more sure of the feel of this keyboard before I buy it.  Based on what I have read, the MX 11800 might be a cheap way for me to experience the feel of the cherry brown switches, and give me a good idea of what the Majestouch would feel like.

[majestouch]

I have 2 questions:

1. Have you done any tests to verify that the n-key rollover works correctly with the PS/2 port?  Also, they claim 6-key rollover with the USB port.  I ask because after doing some searching on here, it seems the ABS M1 and Das Keyboard 3 Pro don't perform their n-key rollover as advertised.

2. Have you ever used the Compaq MX 11800 keyboard?  If so, would it give me a feel that is similar to the Filco FKBN104M/EB?  The MX 11800 uses cherry MX brown switches ike the FKBN104M/EB, but can be had for much less.  I think I would like the FKBN104M/EB, but because of it's cost and the fact that elitekeyboards doesn't allow you to return anything, I want to be more sure of the feel of this keyboard before I buy it.  Based on what I have read, the MX 11800 might be a cheap way for me to experience the feel of the cherry brown switches, and give me a good idea of what the Majestouch would feel like.

Hi Special K,

zillidot did a test a while back on the FKBN104M/EB using the geekhack n-key rollover test page: http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=59495&postcount=23 Basically it seems to pass with flying colors.