Hm this thread starting to get too big.

PM me in case i miss adding you to add you to the list.

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Added on November 4, 2010, 6:10 pmHere's the review
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/1678/giga...oard/index.html

I didn't know Gigabyte had mechanical keyboard even as early as 2008 :/ Sooner than Razer did anyway.

Someone mentioned the Gigabyte had build quality issues, not sure what exactly :/ but from the review they reckon



@alvin

So das blue clicky is loud. But what about Filco blue clicky ? Is that acceptable or do you reckon a cherry brown kb is needed if noise is a main decision factor

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 4 2010, 06:31 PM

Where do you live ? Maybe i can come over and try

Around December i could even bring my Ducky along.

Jesus christ so expensive.


Awww thats too bad :{ i'm selangor.

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 4 2010, 09:25 PM

I agree. Because at the Topres price point, it's better to start out small first before paying gobs of cash for a Topre.

I'm still skeptical about whether it's worth the money for a Topre at this point



@[Top-Gun]

Interesting. Your from Malaysia i take it ? Mind if i ask whereabouts roughly So want me to add you to the club ? Just list your kbs and i'll add you.



An explanation why some gamers find blue cherry switches not ideal for gaming.





This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 6 2010, 02:58 AM

Should be



Filco is quite a premium keyboard. It would be a great choice if your looking for something other than Cherry Mx Black switches, also something cheaper than a Steelseries 7G but not be inferior in any way.


This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 8 2010, 10:35 AM

Yeah cause i believe the Filco and Ducky 9008 are good alternatives to the Steelseries 7G which cost more.

Anyway here are some pictures of the Ducky 9008 PBT variant
http://bbs.kbc-china.com/thread-4085-1-1.html



However the one in the screenshot is some special edition that has black,brown and blues switches on the keyboard :/ But i suspect the one i ordered, just browns with a black spacebar, has the exact same keycaps as shown in that threads screenshots.

Font looks nice (although since i don't read/write chinese i would prefer just regular US letterings. However could be useful for others.)

I tend to prefer black casings. However the coloring seems to have been done nicely

Is it NKRO ? And what key print does it use ? ABS or PBT keycaps (doesn't really matter which, just wondering).

The keyboard wire seems to be missing. Is this a detachable cable like the Ducky keyboards ?


ps: cyclone i added you. I didn't know you were a mechanical kb veteran



Anyway ripster from geekhacks has made a guide how to remove and install keycaps for cherry mx switches, topres, and alps.
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:12649

I'll pin that to the first post.




By the way whiterice from GH has received the Signature Plastic custom made double shot keycaps









He is going to separate them out for 50 ish people and ship them out. You can tell that they are double shots because underneath the keycap is a different color of plastic. These caps letterings won't wear out. The only con is they are abs and can eventually shine, but as long as letterings don't wear, i'm happy can't wait to get mine



This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 10 2010, 09:42 AM

Zowie Celeritas latin word for speed

* Function Key (R-Windows)
* Media Keys (F1-6)
* Repeat Rate Adjustment (F9-12)
* Unknown Cherry MX switch
* rubber adhesive feet
* laser etched keycaps
* LED on bottom change colours











Source:
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=11319

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 10 2010, 07:56 PM

I don't know if anyone from Malaysia has one yet; but modernopc say their are going to stock it. But people reported in thread they have a delay in getting the stock :/

However i haven't been actively kept up to date for the BW in Malaysia since i'm not really interested with a 2KRO kb :/


Anyway on another topic, here is some youtube guides for removing/installing keycaps

http://www.mrinterface.com/content/replaci...s-cherry-boards


Guide on how to desolder Cherry switches

http://www.mrinterface.com/content/howto-d...cherry-switches



This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 10 2010, 09:12 PM

That was what i thought at first. Then i double checked at geekhacks.



http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=NKe...ogy+and+Results


Honestly how can they say it's a gaming keyboard when it's only 2KRO. The minimum needed is 6KRO at least, but even then some gamers may need NKRO to get 7 simultaneous key presses for games like O2JAM.

The BW looks nice alright, if you don't mind glossy finger print magnet; and you don't mind cherry mx blue switches; and 2KRO (which i doubt a gamer would be satisfied with for a so called premium kb). the BW lighting is good as it uses LEDs for each of the 104 keys.




Your better of getting a Steelseries 6gv2 or 7g (if you like black switches); or a Filco (coming soon in December to malaysia ?); or if you want you can get a Ducky 9008 (either via Singapore bulk; or you start one for Malaysia if you want a better price); there's also the g80-3494 lycus-2 black (uses the rare cherry mx red linear switches, but harder to get, and have to use Tabao). It all comes down to which of these is cheapest

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 10 2010, 09:24 PM

DIATEC Filco Majestouch N-key rollover Brown Switch Keyboard Review



http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/article/1000091


brand new review by madshrimps


Here is the Steelseries 7G review for comparison

http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/article/...Keyboard-Review




I'm not saying that NKRO is the must have feature, as there many other things to consider when deciding to get a keyboard. So all the facts are here, so decide for yourself what you would be ok with and at what price range

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 11 2010, 03:34 AM

A roundup of some gaming keyboards. Rubber domes and mechanicals added as a comparison

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Keyboard-Steel...eview-1594.html


I just read the review. The sample kbs are just too few. It doesn't even consider the razer bw rubber dome to compare against the Logitech. Also for mechanical no mention of Ducky 9008 or even a Filco. Maybe they were only aiming for the more readily available kbs, but still i would have preferred if they had been more thorough :/



This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 11 2010, 06:30 AM

More pictures of my doubleshots. Surprise item was a orange key puller with pad printed wording saying "Wanna switch?" on the side.






@fssbzz

Nice avy


Speaking of macro, the only time i've used it was for World of Warcraft. Macros for that game are really important ( i was a main tank Paladin by the way ).

But the macros i used were setup ingame and tagged to button boxes ingame. I was a clicker rather than a hot keyer sort of player. But i can see how extra macro keys like on my G15V1 rubber dome keyboard might have helped with reaction time.

Anyway since i have lack of experience with keyboard macros, i'm not sure what other advantage something like Razer's Black Widow macro can do that you can't do ingame which at worse you just replace a preset key for your own custom macro (configured in wow settings ingame).

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 11 2010, 01:20 PM

I tried asking for some pictures of 1 full set (previous pictures were low quality, and just an estimate what it will generally look like), but i think he is just gonna pack them and ship as soon as possible, so he won't have time to do that.

Once i get my set i'll take some pictures. But my digital cam is really bad :/ less than 4 megapixels :{ /cry

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 11 2010, 01:22 PM

No not my keyboard. The keycaps are doubleshot abs custom ordered by bulk from Signature Plastic; i ordered one set for myself :] As you can see it has a dolche black/grey color layout.

That font is the cheapest option which was why we settled on that. If you want a nicer font, you need to pay for licensing fees it seems :/

Getting doubleshot keys on keyboards these days is very rare. Also a keyboard is more than just the keycaps used. Which is why i got a Ducky, then i will install these custom keycaps as replacements.

These keycaps are only compatible with Cherry mx switches. On the bottom of the keycap is the cross matching with Cherry switches. You won't be able to use them for say, Topre, Alps, or rubberdome keyboards etc.

Originally these were replacements for the Filco; however the Ducky has the same layout also uses same switches so should be compatible.

So whats so special about doubleshots ? Out of all the keyprint types; doubleshots are

1. most durable. Always looks brand new. Meaning the lettering will never fade ever. The only thing it doesn't gurantee is the shine and yellowing. That depends on what plastic is used; in this case they are abs; but that shouldn't matter as much as the keyprint being used. ABS keycaps should be sufficiently good enough, although i may have preferred pbt or pom keycaps.

2. the lettering is the most clearest versus other key print types. Because it has 2 different colors of plastics molded onto each other; the letterings come out very very clearly


That is why doubleshots are very sought after for keyboards :]



Well if the mechanical keyboard you use has cherry mx switches yes it should be compatible with mac. You notice the windows keys ? Many people in the bulk didn't really like the windows keys because some of them used MAC or LInux OS. So what we did was add a DIAMOND key as a replacement for the windows key in case you use a different OS and didn't want to show the windows logo.


That is White Rice's keyboard. He installed the keycaps as a demonstration how it will look like. There are 104 + orange WASD keys and some other extra keycaps + free orange key puller as part of the package. If i am not mistaken, that is probably his Ducky 1087 10keyless keyboard.


So how do they feel when typing on ?

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Added on November 12, 2010, 1:42 amHm This is the Zowie Celeritas

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/17492/zowie_...itas/index.html



Says it has repeat response function keys :/ i wonder what they can be used for hm....



This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 12 2010, 01:42 AM

Like OCN_fssbzz said



http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=11998



The only color offered is a dolch layout. You could negotiate with signature plastics yourself and setup a Malaysian bulk for a different color and font if you wish; however it may take like 50 ish participants to make it more affordable. Single orders are too damn expensive to be worth it.

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Added on November 12, 2010, 3:38 amBy the way they are starting a new bulk possibly using a different color layout, and font type.

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=12682

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Added on November 12, 2010, 9:03 amMore pictures of the Ducky 9008 i ordered (coming in December)

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Added on November 12, 2010, 11:45 amA cleaner picture of the doubleshots i'm getting

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Added on November 13, 2010, 3:05 amSeems there is another new Singapore Bulk for Cherry G80-3494 Lycus-2 Black keyboard.

178.00 SGD = 426.830 MYR (shipping cost to Malaysia + paypal transaction fee hasn't yet been added)



If order directly from Tabao to Malaysia it cost this much

1,393.76 HKD = 559.513 MYR (shipping price already included)


http://forums.vr-zone.com/requests-interes...l-keyboard.html




Apparently they are also bulking the Cherry G80-3494 Lycus-0 (grey) for 172 SGD. However i wouldn't recommend it since it has PBT laser etched keycaps whereas the Lycus-2 black has POM laser etched keycaps which is very rare.

Both keyboards are using Cherry mx Red switches which are linear non clicky. It's softer than Chery Mx Brown when depressing, but without the tactile feedback. This is a good alternative to the Cherry mx black which is tiring after a while to type on. However the problem with the Cherry Mx Red, it may be too soft so you can accidentally depress keys if you tend to rest fingers on keycaps without intending to press. They are that easily actuated

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 13 2010, 04:08 AM

The Cherry G80-3494 Lycus-2 blacks are more worth it. Both keyboards are virtually identical except for

1. coloring (obviously)

2. the nibs on the keys are slightly different (nothing much to worry about)

3. the Lycus-2 black has POM laser etched keycaps; whereas the Lycus-0 (grey) has PBT laser etched keycaps.


So the Lycus-2 black seems the better choice for 6 SGD more POM keycaps is very rare and more durable.

Other important facts to know.

The keyboard switches are pcb mounted, meaning to remove switches you need not desolder them. If you google in geehacks there is a guide how to do it. Since it's pcb mounted it's not as sturdy against say a Filco which has a metal plate. However some users that have it say even with rough handling it's still ok

Opening the case often isn't recommended as you can eventually break the plastic mechanism holding the keyboard casing pieces together.

Removing keycaps even those on stabilizers should be cake (compared to say a Filco).

Both keyboards support full NKRO when using the USB to PS2 adapter.


Cherry keyboards spacebar is slightly different from norm as the underside is connected slightly right off center. Not really sure why they did that, but anyway it's not like your going to replace POM spacebar anytime soon anyway. Just something to mention.

Alternatively there is the Cherry G80-3484HKCUS-2 which has Double shot keycaps and outwardly looks similar to the G80-3494. What other differences there are compared the the G80-3494 Lycus-2 and Lycus-0 i am not sure, because information is sparse :/ But from hearsay sounds like it is not NKRO.

Here are some reviews of the Lycus-2 black.

http://www.mrinterface.com/reviews/Keyboar...erry%20g80-3494



And here is a review of the Lycus-0 grey

http://www.overclock.net/computer-peripherals/744268-cherry-g80-3494-cherry-red-white.html



Anyway Filco, Cherry g80-3494 lycus-2 or Ducky 9008 you can't go wrong with any of them just compare prices features and switches to see what you prefer.

The only reason i got my Dk-9008 was i felt brown switches were better for me; as the reviews kept pointing out how easily red switches are actuated, sounded too soft for me Also costed more; until this MOQ came along

Depends. Do you use numpad a lot ?

I use it occasionally for gaming :/ so i rather have it.

But even if you get the tenkeyless Filco, they do sell an extra numpad just by itself.

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Added on November 16, 2010, 12:00 pmHere is a picture of a Filco 10keyless with the custom double shot key caps.





This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Nov 16 2010, 12:00 PM

Hm on the first post in this thread is a list of users who own what keyboard. Maybe can ask them directly ?

Anyway, for the doubleshots, they are going to do a SECOND MO !!! So you can participate if you want to. I believe they will be going for a different font and color scheme.

They are still voting on it.

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=12682