Mechanical Keyboard Guide

The Poker looks nice, but I think I'd miss the traditional arrow keys too much. I go for them all the time, and I think it would be too much of a nuisence to have to use the Fn key to activate them and turn them off.

That, and I often use the numerical keypad in Excel.
 
I got my Filco Majestouch Ninja tenkeyless with cherry browns today. I ordered direct from the Keyboard Company instead of waiting for it to pop back up on amazon.

Very nice. Soooo much better than the Saitek I was using & I notice I do type faster.
Love the clank sound the keys have. The space bar is the loudest I think but it doesn't bother me. Very satisfying after using the cheaper ones for so long.

Now, got to put some games to the test with this bad boy.
 
Zarathustra[H];1037662381 said:
The Poker looks nice, but I think I'd miss the traditional arrow keys too much. I go for them all the time, and I think it would be too much of a nuisence to have to use the Fn key to activate them and turn them off.

That, and I often use the numerical keypad in Excel.

There's two sets of them, the keys to the bottom that has to be activated, and the WASD keys.
When I need to use the arrow keys, I press Fn+W,A,S,D instead of using the bottom ones. It takes some getting use to but it's simple.
I'm not a heavy/volume typist so it works for me.
 
I got my Filco Majestouch Ninja tenkeyless with cherry browns today. I ordered direct from the Keyboard Company instead of waiting for it to pop back up on amazon.

Very nice. Soooo much better than the Saitek I was using & I notice I do type faster.
Love the clank sound the keys have. The space bar is the loudest I think but it doesn't bother me. Very satisfying after using the cheaper ones for so long.

Now, got to put some games to the test with this bad boy.

Congratulations! Whiners complain about Filco Ninja ping. I'd like to THWACK their spacebar.
 
How long did shipping take from the UK?

I ordered one yesterday and got some kind of tracking today. I selected UPS but it doesn't work for a UPS tracking number. It shows "air express" on the tracking info screen on KeyboardCo....
 
I got my Das S with Blues today. The USB hub is OK I guess. They included a passive USB to PS/2 adapter in my package. I'm going to use the hub with flashdrive and my Garmin Edge which has a pretty short cable.

I got my Filco Majestouch Ninja tenkeyless with cherry browns today. Very nice. Soooo much better than the Saitek I was using & I notice I do type faster.

How much faster? Hearing the clicks makes me think I'm typing faster, but I'm still getting around the same 65-70 WPM. I think when I get used to the tactile points, I could get better.
 
Very nice want a DAS keyboard myself but damn they are expensive. Stuck with my lycosa still =(
 
Just finish the rubber O-ring mod, to cut down on the "clack" noise when I bottom out.

Rubber O-ring on the bottom of the red esc key.
DblD6.jpg


In the bottom right corner, you can see the rubber O-rings on the shift key.
SmpbI.jpg


This keyboard mod is awesome. It reduced the noise by more than half. Bottoming out is much softer and quieter now. The sound produced is more of a thump than clack. The thump also makes the board feel more solid then before. I highly recommened his mod for any one that's looking to lower the noise of the traditional click clack sound of mechanical keyboards, or eliminate the Filco "ping" noise. Five Stars.

You can purchase then from WASD Keyboards. 125pcs per pack.
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index....ries-2/cherry-mx-rubber-switch-dampeners.html
 
I've never heard of this Filco "ping" noise.

And why would it be on a Poker Cherry Red MX if it's a Filco "ping" noise?
 
I've never heard of this Filco "ping" noise.

And why would it be on a Poker Cherry Red MX if it's a Filco "ping" noise?

I think you misunderstood the review. It's a Cherry MX mod, not a Filco mod.
It can also be used on Filco boards the have a ping sound when bottoming out.

The purpose of the mod on the Poker was to reduce the noise(clack) when the keys are bottomed out.

Filco Ping (Turn up the volume, you can hear the ringing "ping" noise after the keys are pressed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNND9kaWP6s&feature=related
 
Got my Filco wristrest from Amazon but still waiting for my keyboard from the UK. Looks like delivery is going to be Monday though.
 
Unless you feel like ordering from a store in Taiwan or whatever, that's your only option. Just wait for the keyboard co to get another shipment in to amazon.
 
Do they make Filco Majestouch Ninja Tenkeyless keyboards with blue switches?

And what is the difference between that and a regular Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless keyboard besides the lettering being printed on the sides?
 
I would really love if someone came out with a bluetooth mechanical keyboard with cherry switches.
 
Hmm, I think I'll buy a Filco JUST for the ping. That noise sounds so comforting.
You can hear the quality. :p

Do they make Filco Majestouch Ninja Tenkeyless keyboards with blue switches?

And what is the difference between that and a regular Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless keyboard besides the lettering being printed on the sides?

Not sure, you can ask around on Geekhack. No difference of features, just the lettering.
 
The keyboards are sold by The KeyboardCo in the UK. They are shipped from the UK to Amazon who then sells and ships them within the USA.

There are more on the way from the UK but it will be a couple weeks. I was waiting for the Majestouch2 with brown switches to come in stock and didn't want to wait anymore so I just ordered it directly from the UK. Price is the same as Amazon after currency conversion but you do have to pay about $30 for shipping. I ordered on a Thursday and received it via UPS on a Monday.

Also got a Filco keypuller, some red Filco keys, and a Filco wrist rest at the same time since the puller and caps aren't sold on Amazon (yet).

http://www.keyboardco.com/

Anyone know anywhere that has Brown and Blue Majestouch-2 Filco keyboards in stock? I ordered a Blue from here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WOF7S0 but apparently it still hasn't shipped yet because it's out of stock!
 
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so what's the best gaming mechanical? FPS in mind precisely I want the best one for coming Battlefield 3.
 
Most pro games don't use mechanical keyboards they use rubber dome ones.

Mechanical keyboards aren't really the best for gaming.
 
Most pro games don't use mechanical keyboards they use rubber dome ones.

Mechanical keyboards aren't really the best for gaming.

Bullshit. It makes no difference when playing games unless the sound bothers you. If anything mechanical switch based keyboards have more consistent key presses and last a shit load longer. They also tend to have better NKRO support or at the very least, manufacturers of these keyboards tend to publish the NKRO information. Your statement is FUD at best. And what the hell do you think "Pro" gamers used before membrane keyboards existed?
 
Bullshit. It makes no difference when playing games unless the sound bothers you. If anything mechanical switch based keyboards have more consistent key presses and last a shit load longer. They also tend to have better NKRO support or at the very least, manufacturers of these keyboards tend to publish the NKRO information. Your statement is FUD at best. And what the hell do you think "Pro" gamers used before membrane keyboards existed?

Agreed.

Let's place the word "gaming" in the trash can completely.
Look beyond gaming, and focus on quality.

Mechanical keyboards are for people looking for a unique experience that can be tailored to their needs.
There are many different switch types to satisfy any user, from the gamer to the touch typist. The board itself is not going to increase your skill level.
Every pro-gamer will say practice got them where they are, not the parts they're using.

A membrane board user isn't better than a mechanical board user, based on the difference of boards.
I get the same results in BC2 on my mech and membrance board. The difference is my mech board keystrokes are more solid and sure.
 
Agreed.

Let's place the word "gaming" in the trash can completely.
Look beyond gaming, and focus on quality.

Mechanical keyboards are for people looking for a unique experience that can be tailored to their needs.
There are many different switch types to satisfy any user, from the gamer to the touch typist. The board itself is not going to increase your skill level.
Every pro-gamer will say practice got them where they are, not the parts they're using.

A membrane board user isn't better than a mechanical board user, based on the difference of boards.
I get the same results in BC2 on my mech and membrance board. The difference is my mech board keystrokes are more solid and sure.


Quality is key, and for gaming I like to know im pressing the damn button than not hearing or practically even feeling the button being pressed. My money is on mechanical!
 
Quality is key, and for gaming I like to know im pressing the damn button than not hearing or practically even feeling the button being pressed. My money is on mechanical!

Yep, there were many times I "tapped" the space key on a dome board to jump in BC2 and stood there, death followed.
On the mech board, I can gently tap it and I will jump every time. Big difference.
 
Keyboards don't make a damn difference for gaming. I can game on anything. Even blues and buckling springs are fine. If anything being able to ride the dome and knowing exactly when the key is going to activate is a big positive for the rubber dome. The whole blacks or browns are better for gaming is nothing but pure placebo. Its all about personal preference.
 
So who's making the best quality mechanic keyboard?

Das Keyboard and the Filco are two of the better ones. Deck makes a great unit too but they lack switch options. There are a few others as well. Though I've got no personal experience with any of the other good ones.

The Steel Series are OK, but nothing special. The XArmor and Razer mechanical keyboards are bottom of the barrel as far as mechanicals go.
 
wow Flico looks fantastic. But there's so many models that my head spin.
http://www.diatec.co.jp/en/list.php?cate_c=1&subcate_sq=6

1) Majestouch 2 (brown)
2) Majestouch Linear R (red)
3) Majestouch N-key rollover (brown)
4) Majestouch click tactile (blue)

I would think for sure not blue because I want something more quiet.
So brown or red? Wouldn't N-kay rollover be the best regarding gaming? But linear red also got n-key rollover... hmmmm....or maybe black? But I read it might be too tiring for fingers.
 
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I use a Filco Majestouch2 with browns myself but it seems most Asian games use cheap membrane keyboards, especially for Starcraft2.

Bullshit. It makes no difference when playing games unless the sound bothers you. If anything mechanical switch based keyboards have more consistent key presses and last a shit load longer. They also tend to have better NKRO support or at the very least, manufacturers of these keyboards tend to publish the NKRO information. Your statement is FUD at best. And what the hell do you think "Pro" gamers used before membrane keyboards existed?
 
Keyboards don't make a damn difference for gaming. I can game on anything. Even blues and buckling springs are fine. If anything being able to ride the dome and knowing exactly when the key is going to activate is a big positive for the rubber dome. The whole blacks or browns are better for gaming is nothing but pure placebo. Its all about personal preference.
Yep. It's all about the persons preference of how they want their keys to feel/register.

Das Keyboard and the Filco are two of the better ones. Deck makes a great unit too but they lack switch options. There are a few others as well. Though I've got no personal experience with any of the other good ones.

The Steel Series are OK, but nothing special. The XArmor and Razer mechanical keyboards are bottom of the barrel as far as mechanicals go.

I agree with the order of those brands. Das, Filco, Deck and Realforce/HHK.


I would think for sure not blue because I want something more quiet.
So brown or red? Wouldn't N-kay rollover be the best regarding gaming? But linear red also got n-key rollover... hmmmm....or maybe black? But I read it might be too tiring for fingers.

Reds are very light, if you fat finger often, there not going to be great for you. I like them because I have the lightness of brown switches with the linear feel of the black switches.
Don't consider black unless it's only a gaming board. I had them twice and can do without them. Browns are a good balance between all the switches.
 
Leopold and the Ducky DK9008G2 series keyboards are other high build quality boards from what I've gathered over at geekhack.

if I remember right, most [if not all] the quality boards mentioned above have 6KRO through USB which means you'd have no problems gaming unless you were some kind of super geek (even then, most come/are compatible with p/s2 adapters for full NKRO).
 
The Steel Series are OK, but nothing special. The XArmor and Razer mechanical keyboards are bottom of the barrel as far as mechanicals go.

Don't forget ABS. Man, what a crappy excuse for a mechanical keyboard. I don't think they're in production anymore, and I'm not surprised. Typing on a keyboard shouldn't feel like work, but with the M1 it did.

WorldExclusive said:
I agree with the order of those brands. Das, Filco, Deck and Realforce/HHK.

I wouldn't put Realforce at the bottom of that list by any means if we're talking about key switch feel and build quality. It lacks features if you're looking for a USB hub or media keys and is priced higher than even the too-spendy-for-most Deck keyboards, but it is totally worth it. Especially if you can find one used (but like new) like I did. Saved quite a bit vs. a new one and it even came with purple WASD cluster and red Esc key. Out of the mechanical keyboards I own, this one has earned the most desk time by far.

Can't comment on the HHK, but I know the HHK Pro 2 is almost universally praised by its owners. I don't care for that form factor myself, but if saving space is the a primary concern it's hard to beat as far as mechanical keyboards go.
 
Realforce > Filco > Leopold > Das > Ducky > SteelSeries. Not sure about Deck with the ugly font. And Xforce is out of business as a company (iOne is still around but the U9BL is discontinued).
 
Don't forget ABS. Man, what a crappy excuse for a mechanical keyboard. I don't think they're in production anymore, and I'm not surprised. Typing on a keyboard shouldn't feel like work, but with the M1 it did.



I wouldn't put Realforce at the bottom of that list by any means if we're talking about key switch feel and build quality. It lacks features if you're looking for a USB hub or media keys and is priced higher than even the too-spendy-for-most Deck keyboards, but it is totally worth it. Especially if you can find one used (but like new) like I did. Saved quite a bit vs. a new one and it even came with purple WASD cluster and red Esc key. Out of the mechanical keyboards I own, this one has earned the most desk time by far.

Can't comment on the HHK, but I know the HHK Pro 2 is almost universally praised by its owners. I don't care for that form factor myself, but if saving space is the a primary concern it's hard to beat as far as mechanical keyboards go.

I wasn't really placing them in order myself. lol I agreed with Dan's order and added Realforce at the end.
I would like a Realforce board myself. I will wait until later in the year to get one though.
 
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