Phantom pcb in Filco case

[UnlikeAny]

Why would you have Phantom pcb in a Filco case, instead of just having a normal Filco keyboard? Is it because it's programmable or is it more of a hobby thing?

[strict]

Why would you have Phantom pcb in a Filco case, instead of just having a normal Filco keyboard? Is it because it's programmable or is it more of a hobby thing?

Phantom's were essentially designed around a Filco-style case. Filco cases are clean looking, high-quality cases with great rubber feet and they aren't super hard to come by so it just makes sense to use them for the Phantoms. Also, in my opinion, the LEDs on the Filco case are nicer than the in-key LEDs that are very common in CM boards and other cheap cases. Another huge plus is that the Filco cases don't have that cheap-ass rubber coating on them that CM cases have.

If you're asking why people build Phantoms instead of just buying a Filco, you'll probably get 100 different answers from 100 different people. Personally, I built mine for a few reasons:
- More than anything, it looked like a really fun project
- It was one of the easiest ways to get a board with Clears (at the time)
- Totally programmable and customizable with support for multiple Fn layers
- Easy way to get a keyboard with plate that allows for switch top removal
- Wanted a second TKL for home or work

[jdcarpe]

In addition to what strict said above...

- Customizable for different layouts (ISO/ANSI, 125/150 bottom row, etc.)

Also, when the Phantom was designed, it was the only way to have full programmability in a TKL keyboard. Later, the same guy who designed the Phantom PCB (bpiphany) did some detective work on Costar PCBs and figured out the matrix connections to the controller. He then made programmable replacement controllers for those Costar-made keyboards, so that now you can get the same functionality from a stock keyboard that you can from a Phantom with regard to the ability to program your own layout. But the Phantom came first. And as strict said, it was designed to fit in Filco cases, because those cases were commonly available, and it obviated the need to create a custom case for the project.

[UnlikeAny]

Thank you both very much! That's all I needed to know.