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On November 19 2010 03:16 CaptainFwiffo wrote:
The differences are subjective, so it depends on what you want.
Construction/quality of the keyboards is very similar, and they both use high-quality plate-mounted Cherry MX switches. The Steelseries only comes with black switches, so if you want brown or blue you'd have to go with the Filco. The key texture is different, but which is better is a matter of preference. There are some other cosmetic differences.
The Filco has a pretty standard layout, the Steelseries goes with a large enter key and smaller right-shift -- which is better depends on preference. The Filco is available in tenkeyless in addition to a standard 104-key layout. The Steelseries is only full-size. The Steelseries has no left side Windows key and instead has a function key for multimedia controls. The Filco does not have multimedia keys (although you could easily create software mapping for that).
Both keyboards are available with full-NKRO and include a PS/2 adapter. There is a less expensive version of the Filco without NKRO.
Also / resides underneath return instead of above it on like most standard keyboards. This was a dealbreaker for me (as a programmer) so I ended up returning my 6gv2.
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Maybe someone already answered.
I'am looking for a filco but i am quite afraid of the noise.
Does the borwn switches make as much noise then the blue or they are less noisy ?
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On November 23 2010 01:52 Erectum wrote:
Maybe someone already answered.
I'am looking for a filco but i am quite afraid of the noise.
Does the borwn switches make as much noise then the blue or they are less noisy ?
browns are less noisy than the blue.
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On November 23 2010 01:53 skyR wrote:Show nested quote +On November 23 2010 01:52 Erectum wrote:
Maybe someone already answered.
I'am looking for a filco but i am quite afraid of the noise.
Does the borwn switches make as much noise then the blue or they are less noisy ? browns are less noisy than the blue.
It's still quite noisy or it could be the same than a normal keyboard ?
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The noise issue is exaggerated. All mechanical keyboards are noisier than rubber dome boards, but it's not like they sound like a typewriter or anything, and even cherry blues are not as loud as old buckling spring keyboards like a Model M. It also depends on your typing style. If you really hammer on them, they're louder.
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I've read a lot of the thread and some of the other links to help learn what a mechanical keyboard is.
It sounds like I'd want one with brown switches. I like keys to click and then spring back, and still have an audible report. So, if I can feel that I've pressed the key and I can hear it, I'm happy.
This is what the brown keys do, right?
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On November 23 2010 05:31 LazyMacro wrote:
I've read a lot of the thread and some of the other links to help learn what a mechanical keyboard is.
It sounds like I'd want one with brown switches. I like keys to click and then spring back, and still have an audible report. So, if I can feel that I've pressed the key and I can hear it, I'm happy.
This is what the brown keys do, right?
go back to geekhack.org and look again 
brown switches do not have an audible report at actuation, the sound you hear with brown switches is you bottoming out (they keycap hitting the plastic at the bottom of the stroke, you can avoid it if you dont press the key all the way down). you're looking for blues, or old school buckling springs, or some less common switches.
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Yeah, I literally just started taking notes because I kept getting so damn confused.
So the Tactile Click/Blue switches make an audible click, and have tactile feedback. The Tactile Touch/Brown are quieter, but still have tactile feedback. The Linear Force/Black don't have either. Eww.
Hm, now I guess I just have to decide between the Blue or Brown. :\
I've considered preordering the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, but lately I've been underwhelmed by their stuff. (I had to return an Imperator because it couldn't track on the z-axis. My Lycosa is a bit too easy to...lock up. My DeathAdder, which I love, don't get me wrong, gets dirty easily.)
I think I'll get a Tenkeyless and try a new mouse and a new mousepad.
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A quit tip:
Anyone in Europe looking for their first mecha should simply get a Cherry G80-3000 with blue switches (black also available). This can be gotten for below €50!!
If you like it you can always branch out from there but after it, laying down the €140 for a brown FILCO won't feel much less severe since you already know what you pay for.
Or maybe you like the clickyness of the blues and have suddenly got an awesome, inexpensive mecha keyboard :-D
P.S:. I want to go for a German tenkeyless brown Filco when they become available in spring but so far I'm loving my Cherry blues. Just a tad too noisy. Still 50 Euro very well spent :-)
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Just received my FILCO Tenkeyless Cherry Brown's and I'm loving the feel of the keyboard. The smaller size is awesome, as I can keep my mouse closer to my body and I have a more natural feel in holding my left hand over the left side of the board. The Cherry Brown's are awesome!!
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Just orderer a Filco with brown switches stay tunned for the review :^p
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On November 23 2010 01:52 Erectum wrote:
Maybe someone already answered.
I'am looking for a filco but i am quite afraid of the noise.
Does the borwn switches make as much noise then the blue or they are less noisy ?
I feel that there is variation in noise depending on how you type.
Me, I bottom out HARD. And the noise is audible to the person I am talking to via phone. With the way I type, the filco with browns is louder than the membrane. The pitch of a brown switch is a little lower, with a thunk thunk, while blue is higher and more annoying, cha click cha click.
My ideal switch would be a filco blue, without the noise. But my brown is ok, though it requires slightly less force to actuate.
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Got my Filco brown NKRO yesterday, then played with a Steelseries 7g and Razer Blackwidow at Fry's today. Honestly, in terms of switch feel alone, all three are awesome. You won't be disappointed with any of them (all will likely take some time to get used to).
I like the standard layout on the Filco (not a fan of the large Enter key and smaller backspace on the Steelseries). On the other hand, the keycaps on the Steelseries felt a bit nicer to me. Meh, give and take, they are all great keyboards.
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So I'm thinking about getting a Filco or the Razer BlackWidow. I've been reading reviews for some time now, but I've never actually touched a keyboard with mechanik switches.
First question to all you german TL users out there: Do you know any big electronic sellers that exhibit any keyboard with blue or brown switches?
Second but the more important one: Since I didn't find any information on that, are there Majestouch keyboards with a german layout? Some posts above someone said there'll be a Tenkeyless in spring, but I can't find more info an anything ^^. Same for the Blackwidow. It'd kinda suck to learn the new layout and I kinda need ß Ä Ö Ü and all that german jazz 
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I have decided that my next buy will definitely be a mechanical keyboard and after spending a lot of time here, Geekhack and OC have narrowed down the list to a few options.
Filco Majestouch Tactile Touch (Brown Switches) - My first choice will be this one but I am seriously wondering whether the purchase will be worth it. I am serious about being a semipro where I can take part in weekly tournaments and all that jazz. So, I think it will be good but the cost of the keyboard plus shipping will kill my pockets. I looked at the Tenkeyless version hoping that it would cheaper but it is not that cheap.
I also heard somewhere that there are places that sell the Filcos without NKRO and that they're considerably cheaper than those with NKRO. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I emailed EliteKeyboards regarding this but haven't gotten any response yet.
Steelseries 6gV2 - If my mind tells me that the Filcos are too expensive for me, then I will most definitely be buying this one. The major cons on this one are the non-standard layout which I definitely can get used it and that in all reviews it is mentioned that the Black Linear Force switches are not the best for RTS Gaming/Typing whereas they are best suited for FPS. Random searching also led me to places where they said typing for longer periods of time can be difficult on the Black switches or is it absolute bollocks.
If anybody can tell me whether for a general person, I wouldn't notice much difference between the Blacks and the Browns, my opinion could be swayed towards this one as it is considerably cheaper compared to the Filcos.
Razer Blackwidow - This is my last choice and one I have out of necessity. The Blues I feel destory anyone's ears who are even close. And I saw Blackwidow videos and I definitely did not like the amount of noise they made. So, yeah I will only go with the Blackwidow or similar Cherry Blue switches only if I have no other choice.
So, what do you guys feel - no major difference between the 6gV2 and Filco Browns or is there a significant difference that justifies the considerably higher price tag?
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+ Show Spoiler +Steelseries 6gV2 - If my mind tells me that the Filcos are too expensive for me, then I will most definitely be buying this one. The major cons on this one are the non-standard layout which I definitely can get used it and that in all reviews it is mentioned that the Black Linear Force switches are not the best for RTS Gaming/Typing whereas they are best suited for FPS. Random searching also led me to places where they said typing for longer periods of time can be difficult on the Black switches or is it absolute bollocks.
As someone who recently got a SteelSeries 6gV2 I can tell you from personal experience that the blacks will feel tough at first, but after a day or so you really do get used to them. I've typed a few papers for class on this keyboard and it's not as tiring as people like to make it out to be.
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Ya honestly, I don't think the black are as tough as people make it out to be. Can you go to a local store to try one out? if you can I'd definately do that before buying it just to see whether the switches put a strain on your fingers (just because they hurt someone else doesn't mean it'll hurt you). I noticed that elitekeyboards removed all their keyboards from their page so they might be having some shipping issues or ordering issues from China. Don't really worry too much on which switch is the "best", focus more on which switch feels the best for you to type on.
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Thanks for the responses guys! The problem here is that you cannot go to stores and actually test out keyboards. They are just packed and sold to you and that has always been the case here. I would guess if I can get my hands on the Tenkeyless keyboard without NKRO, I can strike a great deal on the Filco ones, otherwise my best bet is the SS 6gV2 and it will have to a blind purchase unfortunately. Your thoughts on the Black keys definitely help a lot. I know one thing for sure, I am not buying the Cherry blue ones, the noise is definitely not to my linking for sure.
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On November 30 2010 17:35 BlazingInferno wrote:
Thanks for the responses guys! The problem here is that you cannot go to stores and actually test out keyboards. They are just packed and sold to you and that has always been the case here. I would guess if I can get my hands on the Tenkeyless keyboard without NKRO, I can strike a great deal on the Filco ones, otherwise my best bet is the SS 6gV2 and it will have to a blind purchase unfortunately. Your thoughts on the Black keys definitely help a lot. I know one thing for sure, I am not buying the Cherry blue ones, the noise is definitely not to my linking for sure.
The Filco tenkeyless ONLY comes in NKRO, which is why it is so expensive. The non NKRO full-sized Filco is around $115 when it's in stock.
There are other keyboards with mechanical switches. Check out this list (sorted by switch type): http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Mechanical Switch Keyboards Sorted By Switch
I own the Filco brown and I tried both the Steelseries and the Blackwidow at the store yesterday and both felt fantastic (although the shiny finish on the 'widow is a total dealbreaker IMO).
You can't go wrong with ANY mechanical keyboard. Actually, now that I've had experience on the three primary switch types, I'd worry more about price, features, looks, etc. All feel great.
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So, unless you are super-specific about definitely wanting the brown ones and having a specific type of feel and specific bottoming out area, my guess from what you (and most others for that matter) say is that any mechanical keyboard is good in general. Thanks for the feedback and geekhack link also, it helped tons.
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EPT
