Filco FKB104M/EB

[patrickgeekhack]

Before I begin describing my observation, I would like to point out that I'm not sure if it's the keyboard which is faulty or if I'm actually the one triggering the behaviour.

Anyway, has anyone of you noticed that sometimes the Filco FKB104M/EB would add an extra space character? This behaviour did not attract my attention until courses started and I had to take a lot of notes. I've noticed this behaviour in Office 2008 (Mac) mostly, because that's what I used for my notes. On very rare occasion, I have the impression that an extra space character is triggered when I'm doing speed test.

[d4rkst4r]

... has anyone of you noticed that sometimes the Filco FKB104M/EB would add an extra space character?

I've never noticed this and I've been using my Italian Red version every day for a few weeks now.

[timw4mail]

Blue switches are easy to accidentally double-actuate due to the unique way they click. I only assume the green spacebar switch is the same way.

[patrickgeekhack]

Blue switches are easy to accidentally double-actuate due to the unique way they click. I only assume the green spacebar switch is the same way.

But, my Filco is equipped with Brown Cherries. I have not noticed the same  behaviour on my Blue Cherries G80 keyboard. In fact, I make the least amount of typo on my G80. That's one of the many reasons why it's my favourite keyboard :-)

[patrickgeekhack]

Maybe it's just me. I will continue monitoring it. I'm currently using it as my primary keyboard at home because since my wife has been able to compare my Filco noise level to the G80's, she cannot go back not knowing. Ignorace is bliss.

[hyperlinked]

I have the same keyboard and have had no such problems.

[patrickgeekhack]

Maybe it's just me. It's harder to test this thoroughly when typing notes. I will be getting a better test when typing my essays.

[patrickgeekhack]

It's you.

Show Image

When I read the comment  in my e-mail programme, and saw "It's you," I immediately knew it was from Ripster.

[banquo]

I have the same keyboard, as well as the same problem (just happened 3 times as I typed that first sentence). The spacebar on that keyboard is capricious.  The problem persists across programs, and is not limited to Word.  It could be me (us), but I have not encountered this problem in my other boards.  

One reasonable partial solution:  I have a Mac and I lowered the 'key repeat rate' toggle, and that helps a bit, but since lowering it seems to cause (for unknown reasons) other issues in the Mac system, I usually leave it pretty high.  Frustrated a few months back, I switched to my Model M for a few months, but after brown cherries, typing on the Model M is more of a workout than I could tolerate.  So, I'm back to the Filco...and extra spaces.

[majestouch]

Anyway, has anyone of you noticed that sometimes the Filco FKB104M/EB would add an extra space character?

Trying to understand your meaning here. When you say "add an extra space," do you mean that when you press the spacebar you get 2 spaces sometimes?

If so, then 2 possibilities I can think of

1. You're a space bar idler: you type with your thumb resting on the spacebar and you inadvertently press it.  

2. You have a switch that is double actuating, which would need to be fixed.

[patrickgeekhack]

I have the same keyboard, as well as the same problem (just happened 3 times as I typed that first sentence). The spacebar on that keyboard is capricious.  The problem persists across programs, and is not limited to Word.  It could be me (us), but I have not encountered this problem in my other boards.  

One reasonable partial solution:  I have a Mac and I lowered the 'key repeat rate' toggle, and that helps a bit, but since lowering it seems to cause (for unknown reasons) other issues in the Mac system, I usually leave it pretty high.  Frustrated a few months back, I switched to my Model M for a few months, but after brown cherries, typing on the Model M is more of a workout than I could tolerate.  So, I'm back to the Filco...and extra spaces.

Glad to hear that I was not going crazy. It's pretty much the same experience to mine and like you I'm on a Mac. One thing I also noticed (once only) is that CAPS Lock was on but the LED was not. I could not understand why my password was not accepted until I tried to retype my username again.

[patrickgeekhack]

Trying to understand your meaning here. When you say "add an extra space," do you mean that when you press the spacebar you get 2 spaces sometimes?

If so, then 2 possibilities I can think of

1. You're a space bar idler: you type with your thumb resting on the spacebar and you inadvertently press it.  

2. You have a switch that is double actuating, which would need to be fixed.

I'm not a space bar idler, that's for sure, and I don't rest my wrists when typing either. So, I think we can eliminated this possible cause.

It may need to be fixed, but I'm not very fond of sending it across the border :-(

In my previous comment, I said that I (only once) noticed that my Caps Lock was on without the LED being lit. I have to monitor the situation.

[mech]

NB: I had a double-actuating blue switch, and when I pulled the keycap, there was a hair sticking out of it.

Edit: never mind, search is my friend.

[Techno Trousers]

I had this problem extensively with rubber dome keyboards, which is one of the main things that drove me to find a way to get a modern equivalent of my old SIIG board with white Alps switches.

I'm now using a Filco 104 Tactile Click at both home and work with no spacebar issues at all. And since I know I'm prone to this exact issue, I definitely think you have a bad switch.

An easy way to test it is to type something like the following sequence over and over as quickly as you can. You shouldn't get double spaces:

a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a

[majestouch]

I'm not a space bar idler, that's for sure, and I don't rest my wrists when typing either. So, I think we can eliminated this possible cause.

It may need to be fixed, but I'm not very fond of sending it across the border :-(

In my previous comment, I said that I (only once) noticed that my Caps Lock was on without the LED being lit. I have to monitor the situation.

Yes, please monitor things, the capslock issue sounds *very* strange. And please send an e-mail to support@elitekeyboards.com if these issues persist and we'll figure something out.

[patrickgeekhack]

Yes, please monitor things, the capslock issue sounds *very* strange. And please send an e-mail to support@elitekeyboards.com if these issues persist and we'll figure something out.

Thanks. It's always nice to see someone standing behind his products :-)

[majestouch]

you've outdone yourself this time ripster!

[patrickgeekhack]

I just did a test with the a a a a thing and got this:

A a a a a a a a a  a a a a
D d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g
T t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
E e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
R r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
W w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
M m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
M m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
A a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a

As you can see, it's not  consistent. There is a extra space just before the last 4 a in the first line, then nothing. However, notice the extra space between not and consistent.

Majestouch, I will monitor this during the next two months. I want to make sure it's a product problem before sending it for repairs.

[patrickgeekhack]

LOL, I just realized that the extra space is truncated once I post the message.

[patrickgeekhack]

Another try, I will attach a .txt file.

[d4rkst4r]

Just a guess, but have you tried to increase your repeat delay setting? I have no idea how to do this in Mac OSX.

[patrickgeekhack]

Just a guess, but have you tried to increase your repeat delay setting? I have no idea how to do this in Mac OSX.

I have not tried this and like you, I don't know how to do this in OS X. That said, I don't really want to do this because I tend to rotate my keyboards from time to time. I just love my blue Cherries G80 too much :-)