Need last minute help deciding Filco Linear v. Tactile Click

[nijikon5]

Hi, friend and I are looking to get mechanical keyboards for gaming. We recently both got Steelseries 7Gs and tried them out. Loved how the Cherry Blacks felt for gaming ( Primarily FPS players ) but really felt awkward typing with them. Didn't really like the layout of the Steelseries, plus one of them had a defective number pad. We decided to get Filcos with NKRO to save on shipping. Was pretty much set on getting Blacks since these KBs will primarily be used for competitive ( cevo/esea ) FPS gaming ( TF2, CoD4, MW2, CS ). I know a lot of mechanical KB enthusiasts are not the most fond of blacks, but I want to know if blues are really that much of a downgrade in terms of high level gaming. Feedback from anyone/everyone is greatly appreciated, if you have experience with both these switches and you play FPS ( casual or competitive is fine ) please chime in!

I originally placed an order for the 2 Linear Force NKROs from EliteKBs, but flip flopped to Tactile Clicks last minute, and then decided back on the Linear Force. EliteKBs is rather close to where I live so they told me to E-Mail them before tomorrow to finalize my order. I was also thinking I could just pick up a Scorpius m10 in a couple of weeks as a typing KB if I decide on the Linear Force. Thanks in advance!

Also a few quick specific questions:
Cherry black users, do you ever suffer from fatigue or soreness with prolonged typing/gaming with cherry blacks?
Cherry blue users, how loud is the cherry blues at night, does it wake people in your household?

[devilcm3]

id say...since you already had 7G..why bother getting another blacks?
blues are good for typing

[Rajagra]

Sorry for muddying the water, but I think Cherry browns (tactile touch) would be best. They aren't *that* much lighter than the blacks. The tactile feel is subtle - you can easily pretend it isn't there if you wish. Moving from blacks to browns is just a question of acclimatising yourself to the slightly lower force.

The trouble with the blues is that there is a definite hysteresis - the release point is higher than the make point - meaning it is fundamentally different in operation to blacks and browns.

OK, the hysteresis is only 0.5mm see here but I suspect it's enough to make a difference for competitive gaming.

[Xede]

Go for topre! I still love my filco MX black though, I would definitely get that if you aren't keeping the 7g.

[Mental Hobbit]

Browns would be the obvious choice in your case.

[itlnstln]

Browns would be the obvious choice in your case.

I was thinking the same thing.

[meltie]

I was thinking the same thing.

Me, too! :bounce:

[Laxer]

Browns here too I actually switched a week ago for gaming from a 7G to a Filco browns - for me the best decision!

[nanu]

I don't use either, but I would still go for linear switches since you're gaming seriously. Are there any serious gamers using browns? According to popular comparisons the blues are better than browns, for gaming.

I have a fellow mech.kbd convert using linear/Cherry blacks... he can't avoid tired fingers, after months of gaming, but he still loves the keyboard. I can only imagine that fatigue would be a great regulatory mechanism to take breaks, IMO. I doubt that prolonged use of a heavy switch would lead to chronic injury for most people, unless you're using the keyboard non-stop, everyday.

Oh, and I consider ring-dampened Cherry browns to be just a bit quieter than "loud," so I would avoid blues for that reason, too.  I'm in the minority around these parts with perception of loudness, however.  If it isn't near-silent, it's loud.

[nijikon5]

I like typing on the Cherry Blues to annoy people.  Usually the people on this forum.

Seriously, buying one keyboard for gaming and another for typing is the way to go if you are gaming at the competitive level.

Thanks Ripster, it looks like I'll go with the Blacks from Filco and probably a Scorpius M10 as a typing kb.

[itlnstln]

Solid plan.

[Mental Hobbit]

Solid plan.

I was thinking the same thing. Meltie?

[ricercar]

I like typing on the Cherry Blues to annoy people.  Usually the people on this forum.

You don't need Cherry blues for that. You annoy people just by clicking "Submit Reply"

[trievalot]

i was using my Model M for Urban Terror for ages, the browns are so much nicer on the Filco.

[dion2k]

In my experience I've never been able to tire my left hand before my right, although that might be due to my lower mouse sensitivity. I was recently debating on getting a Black for gaming and a brown for typing, after weighting all the variables I decided to go with a Realforce 55g. The Blacks, while unmatched in games that require repetitive key presses such a WoW, seem (in my opinion) to be less important in FPS games. The Browns will have a better feel and that feel will be whats important when you're moving around and switching weapons. The Blues weren't in my choices because the sounds are too high pitched, and coming from buckling springs and white alps I'm looking to get away from that noise.

[kriminal]

yep i play FPS games more than anything and my brown seems to fit the bill, however that damned spacebar on my filco felt... off...