Which TenKeyLess Mechanical Keyboard?

D

Deathwish238

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 11, 2006
Messages
313
Requirements: Cherry MX Blue

EliteKeyboard Leopold Otaku TenKeyLess - $109
Cooler Master SGK-4000-GKCL1-US Storm - $75
Filco Majestouch-2 TenKeyLess - $178


I'm leaning towards the Leopold. Has anyone been able to experience the Leopold as well as the Cooler Master? The Cooler Master seems to have a great price.

What about the Filco makes it cost so much? I don't see a reason to get it over the Leopold, but it seems to be very popular.
 
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I bought the Ducky 1087, which I can't find for sale anywhere anymore. I would go with the coolermaster. Heard nothing but good things and the price is nice. 178 is a bit much. The blank keycaps would be cool if you don't need to look at yours. That would probably drive me loco.
 
All three of the boards listed are basically the same in terms of quality. The CM Storm has annoying branding all over it, but basically it's a re-badged Filco, as both keyboards are made by the same OEM. If the branding doesn't bother you, go with the Storm. If it does, go with the Leopold. I've owned a Filco for over a year, and love the quality, but agree the price is a little high. A Filco keyboard will have better resale value, but if Leopolds had been available back when I purchased, I would have probably gone with one instead of a Filco due to the price difference.
 
I've owned all three of those you listed, except my Leopold wasn't an Otaku, just the standard tenkeyless. The Leo and Filco were Browns and the Coolermaster was Red.

In terms of build quality and feel of the switches, I'd rank them:

1. CM Storm
2. Filco
3. Leopold

I thought the Leo's switches felt mushy whereas the CM and Filco switches felt a lot more crisp, if you get me.

After experimenting with mechanical boards for about a year I went back to a laptop style board, the SIIG Aluminum. Turns out I just type much faster and more accurately with the SIIG.
 
Interesting that you find the Cooler Master has better build quality. It has a 2yr warranty too vs the 1yr for the Leopold
 
Never used the cooler master but I own a lot of Filcos and Leopolds. I would rate Filco much higher on feel and quality.

There is a difference.
 
Filco all the way. Leopold's are nice, but there's a reason why there $50 less.
Finish, build quality and key compatibility are superior to that of the Leopold.
 
My CM keyboard should be arriving tomorrow or Wed. Can't wait. I too was looking for a mechanical keyboard but found that the CM was easier to get and less expensive. They do have it in Blue and Red switches on the CM website. I'm going with Blue since it will be the "everyday" keyboard for me.
 
I feel kind of stupid asking this question, but what is the purpose of these smaller keyboards? I mean its what, an extra 4 inches maybe? I always see pics of you guys putting theses on large desks so that wouldn't be the problem. Educate me please.
 
MrSmegzabush said:
I feel kind of stupid asking this question, but what is the purpose of these smaller keyboards? I mean its what, an extra 4 inches maybe? I always see pics of you guys putting theses on large desks so that wouldn't be the problem. Educate me please.
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Space saving is only a small part of it, I prefer a very clean, high-impact workspace with minimal clutter. IMO it's all but comfort while typing using a tenkeyless, your arms are given better alignment as opposed to the offset of the built in numpad of a fullsize keyboard. Working on a104 key just doesn't seem natural to me anymore.

Oh, and they look cool too...:)
 
Deathwish238 said:
Ordered the Cooler Master Storm QuickFire w/ Cherry MX Blues for $65 @ NCIX. Can't wait!
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Let us know what you think when you get it, I have also heard really good things about it, but want it more for gaming so I was going to hold out until the red version goes on sale.
 
MrSmegzabush said:
I feel kind of stupid asking this question, but what is the purpose of these smaller keyboards? I mean its what, an extra 4 inches maybe? I always see pics of you guys putting theses on large desks so that wouldn't be the problem. Educate me please.
Click to expand...

I never noticed until I switched from a 10keyless to a standard for a few days. I was like- wtf why do I have to hold my mouse so far away. felt so awkward.
 
MrSmegzabush said:
I feel kind of stupid asking this question, but what is the purpose of these smaller keyboards? I mean its what, an extra 4 inches maybe? I always see pics of you guys putting theses on large desks so that wouldn't be the problem. Educate me please.
Click to expand...

Ergonomics is the biggest thing. If you use your computer for extended periods of time daily(say at least 4+ hours), the lack of a numpad lets you keep your right arm closer in relieving some stress in your shoulder.

Space saving is nice too and TKL keyboards are nice to lug around with laptops.
 
i still have yet o get into the TKL hype. I still use my numpad daily so i don't think i can really part with it. I also use the numpad for specific binds when i play FPS, so its a must have.
 
purple_haze said:
i still have yet o get into the TKL hype. I still use my numpad daily so i don't think i can really part with it. I also use the numpad for specific binds when i play FPS, so its a must have.
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I definitely prefer tenkeyless because I can keep the mouse closer to the keyboard. When I used such boards I'd just add a wireless keypad when I needed it.

I wish SIIG made a tenkeyless version of the full size aluminum board I now use.
 
This CM storm keyboard is well built. I like it. It has a very solid feel to it. The outside is like covered in a rubber-ish material. It's a small keyboard. I'm really impressed. Now, I've only remember using a mechanical keyboard years ago. But for gaming and for everyday use, it's a pretty decent keyboard for the price. I was about to spend over $100 on another keyboard but chose this one and since it's readily available.
 
I got the quickfire rapid today with blues. It's great keyboard, but it's also my first mech board so I might not have the best opinion to go off of. Was also a steal at $65.
 
Also just ordered my first mechanical keyboard today, same one, can't wait to get it, paid $63.74.
 
Yeah. I was also looking into getting the Filco until I saw a member's pic. I'm glad I didn't pay over $100 for a keyboard. Don't know how much of a difference this keyboard is to the others but to me it's pretty good.

So yeah, who said that the Quick Fire is like a Filco?

Dumb question, but can I replace my ESC or other keys with different keys from other manufacturers?
 
Yeah you should be able to replace the keycaps with anything made for Cherry switches. I've considered getting a full blank set.
 
What are good sites where I can get keycaps? I'm really interested in getting some now.
 
Geekhack forums and overclockers.net have them. I would pay pretty good money to have a red [H] for my escape or windows key.
 
I got the CM Quick Fire (blues) and kind of like it. I'm still getting used to it. I had been using a low profile scissor switch keyboard (dinovo edge) before, and the 4mm key travel on this board seems like quite a hole if I bottom out a key.

I've also noticed the tactile click isn't at quite the same point as the switch actuation, it's slightly before the switch actuates, so you can touch type and get a click without the keystroke registering. The keystrokes are lighter than my old scissor switch keyboard, so when I first got this, I was bottoming out every stroke, now I'm much lighter and don't bottom out most keystrokes...but I do run into a keystroke here and there that doesn't register.

I do like the NKRO, has helped out in a few games.
 
CMStorm Quickfire is built by the same OEM as Filco -- Costar. Unless you just can't stand the CMStorm branding, there's zero reason to pay more than 2x the price for a Filco. It's the same board.

I own a Leopold with Browns and a Quickfire with Blues. I prefer the Browns, but the build quality is pretty much exactly the same.
 
I guess I got lucky on the superbiiz sale, got it for 63.74 on the 14th, crazy thing was I paid for it at 8:30pm est, and the damn thing shipped with confirmation at 11:30pm est, that was pretty amazing.
 
silent-circuit said:
CMStorm Quickfire is built by the same OEM as Filco -- Costar. Unless you just can't stand the CMStorm branding, there's zero reason to pay more than 2x the price for a Filco. It's the same board.

I own a Leopold with Browns and a Quickfire with Blues. I prefer the Browns, but the build quality is pretty much exactly the same.
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Very good to know :D
 
silent-circuit said:
CMStorm Quickfire is built by the same OEM as Filco -- Costar. Unless you just can't stand the CMStorm branding, there's zero reason to pay more than 2x the price for a Filco. It's the same board.
Click to expand...

COSTAR also supplies IDFactory here in Korea. I have an IDF m.stone groove87 with MX Browns. It's basically, a CMStorm QF BUT with MX Browns, zero branding, a tad bit better extras (orange ESC, WASD, Arrow Keys, key puller, brush, braided gold-plated cable, USB-PS/2 converter).

Korean Review
IDFKR Product Page

Does Filco supply PBT keys or ABS?
 
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Have had my CM Storm QFR with blue's for a little while now and I love it. The quality is excellent and I couldn't be happier. I bought mine back when it was a little more but it was still well worth it. For $75 you can't go wrong.
 
I got to try out the CM Quickfire as it was on display in a retail store. I came out really impressed by it. Build quality, feel, looks is a win for me.
 
Hey Eric, did you buy it there, or online? I'd love that with browns...
 
DWolvin said:
Hey Eric, did you buy it there, or online? I'd love that with browns...
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I bought it from a small IDFactory shop in The Dungeon. Online pricing... didn't need to haggle. If you're in the Seoul, PM me and I'll walk you through.

NOTE: "The Dungeon" is an affectionate name for a set of three five-story buildings in the shape of a triangle located in Yongsan Electronics Market (YEM) and houses thousands of vendors. YEM is approximately the size of four city blocks and is home to EVERYTHING and ANYTHING electronic. I fukin' love it...
 
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