Tried the Topre Realforce ND31BS
Its like typing on a slice of heaven
RM930
Expensive heaven

I'm in Japan now. For 2 weeksend I have been scouting around Akihabara for the keyboards here.
Filcos, Leopold's, Archiss, HHK, Poker, Ducky Realforce, Zowie, Steelseries, Razer, etc. Everything is available, but all very pricey.
Most popular ones are HHK, Realforce, Filcos and Leopold.

Whats the cheapest or most value for money deal for now a Brown? Man for 2 years already I've been looking at Mechanical keyboards but still havent jumped the gun .

The CM Storm Quick Rapid Brown is going for RM250-275.
The Archiss Brown is going for about RM300 in Japan
The Poker is going about RM300 in Japan

Is the CM Storm still the better choice?

Thats true
But for me, since im on a tight budget, and I do come to Japan quite often, if price difference is too big, the might be more worth it to get here.

But amongst those 3, which is better in your opinion? To my knowledge, the CM Storm is by Filco OEM, thus it offers more compatibility and quality i guess from sam, the Poker KBT. Is this true?

Or is the Poker generally more preferable compared to CM Storm Quick Rapid?

Of course if I can get a Filco TKL, that'll be best, but for a budget of RM250 or so, i highlight doubt so

Thanks ^^

Did a read up on it and it seems very good for its price .
Unfortunately if its a Leopold OEM, Filco keys shouldnt to too compatible with it am i correct?
Would the RM50 premium for warranty and Filco keycaps compatibility make the CM Storm Rapid the better option?

Thanks for your opinion! ^^. Sadly they are out of stock for Browns. Only blue left. Next batch is Mid May

This post has been edited by daijoubu: Apr 6 2012, 11:42 AM

Ooh so that means the Keycool BL87 keys are all fully compatible with Filco's, including spacerbar? =D
Nicee.
Just a side ques, CM Storm's is also 100% fully compatible with Filco am i correct?

Yeah read somewhere that the Archiss are basically Leopolds

So in summary, my choices for sub-RM300 KB are as below:

Keycool 87: RM200
Keycool 87 BL: RM250
The CM Storm Quick Rapid Brown: RM250
The Archiss Brown (AS-KB87T)): RM300 (Japan)
Leopold Brown (FC200R/EB): RM300+ (Japan)
Poker KBC Brown: RM280 (japan)

Leopold TKL are getting abit harder to find these days.
I saw some Rosewill keyboards too but stock is low, maybe due to its still new in the market.
Heard some not so good news about their quality tho.

Looks like the Keycool 87BL seems to be best choice if it has full compatibility with filco keycaps.
Will take a look at it and decide between that and CM storm.
Another possible one is the Poker KBC, but it feels light compared to the Filcos. Feels not as good in terms of build quality

This post has been edited by daijoubu: Apr 6 2012, 03:48 PM

Haha because money my friend, is hard to come by.
In Japan, i am close to EVERYTHING gadgetry. The latest in technology, the first in the market, all the high end products. Not just keyboards, but cameras, watches, electronics, etc. If can I would like to buy everything . Thats why I have to limit myself =.=. Don't we all wish we're filthy rich?

Unfortunately I dont know Japanese . I can imagine that if i do, i can get more things cheaply

Guys, if i were to get the CM storm keyboard, what is the cheapest way to get blank or black on black keys? And how much will it cost for a set of 87pcs?

Thanks =D

Darn can't read chinese for nuts
Is this it: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/tra...12mxQTXJ_B8T5zg

Price that i see is 159 YEN?

Whoa, meaning blank keycaps would be RM40 + RM83 = RM123??

Owhh got it =D

Means RM 250 + RM40 = RM290 for a CM Storm quick rapid with the abomination keycaps replaced
Do they sell pure black compatible faces for the CM Storm? Would Keycool or Any compatible Filco ones fit?

Omg i meant cases =.=
As in the shell of the KB

Sorry, bad typo

Thanks for the info.

Means I have the choice to either get:

CM Storm Quick Rapid (RM250 + RM40 to remove ugly stock keycaps)
Pros:
- Costar stabilizers
- Known compatibility with Filco keycaps
- Solid build
- Local warranty

Cons:
- Fugly branding all over
- Fugly font
- Even after changing keycaps, i still have 3 huge branding, 2 of EM facing me when im using the keyboard >.< and i cant do anything about it

Archiss AS-KB87T (RM300) same as Leopold FC200R
Pros:
- Nice stock look, only Esc key is branded. Need to replace 1 piece only
- Solid build (same as leopold)

Cons:
- Cherry stabilizers
- No local warranty
- Unsure about compatibitily of key caps with Filcos. Are all keys standard types/changable?


In future i'd like to change em all to ninja or black on black caps, BUT even with CM Storm, i'll have a ninja keyboard that shouts CM STORMMMMM all the time unless i tape it up, but taping is soo tardy

If you were in my shoes, which will you take?

Haha well i know its personal preference, so one man's meat is another man's poison .
Anyway, its a small pro/con that one. I can live with either i guess just a matter of getting used to it.

What is more pressing is rather:

1) Warranty: Do these boards tend to spoil/fail early? If yes then I guess its better to take the one with warranty
2) Compatibility with standard keycaps: I plan to change em in the future. I heard Leopold's have off center spacer bars. Is this true to the FC200R/Archiss AS-KB87T also?

I guess this CM Quick Fire Rapid Pro vs Archiss AS-K87T is like a Filco MJT2 TKL vs Leopold FC200R kinda thing . What are you guy's opinion on this?

Thanks! Will check Cyclone's thread
In terms of build quality and longevity, should be comparable with Filco's am i right? Only major difference is the stabilizers?

CM Storm, not sure whether a custom paint job can work due to the case is rubberized

Yup . Pity huh.
The CM Storm has the making of every a Filco can be,with the advantage of being cheap, but the downside, and from a purist point of view, a HUGE one, is the bloody excessive branding. 6 of em! Not to mention the stupid fonts. And now considering that to fix it will push its price close to the Leopold/Archiss territory it became less easy to make a decision already .

Either i just screw my desire of getting a purist look keyboard and go with the CM Storm, or i take a risk with warranty, and get the Leopold/Archiss.

Or i can consider the Poker KBC but that is a totally different animal altogether .

Sheesh decisions. But i guess thats part of the fun

Just back from Mechanical Board hunting in Akihabara again

Managed to see many types again:

Available for testing:
- Most Realforce Topre models
- HHKB Pro 2
- All Filco models
- Leopold FC400r
- Rosewill RK-9000
- Archiss ASKB87T
- Poker KBC
- CM Storm Quick Rapid Fire
- Zowie Celeritas
- Thermaltake G1
- ioGear
- Razer BWU
- Ducky Shining
- Corsair Vengence K60

Available for sale but not testing:
- Dharma Point
- KBT Race 75%


Also, i really tested again this time all types of Cherry switches, and i can summarize that my preference is Red and Brown =D. Most probably I'll go for red. Which means I have 3 choices:

Poker KBC
Archiss AS-KB87LR
CM Storm Quick Rapid Red

Sadly cant find Red Filcos.
Freaking tired from walking . Most of these boards are all scattered everywhere so you gotta really find em.
Also, i realised that there are 2 types of CM storm enclosures. One is black colour with red CM Storm logos, and one is dark silver greyish with black CM Storm logos. The black logos are so much better looking. Not as loud as the red ones .

Cant seem to find it
Filco reds are super rare i guess
Lots of KBC poker and Archiss reds tho.

Oh that explains about the CM storm. Damn what a pity. I thought the silver cases were nice compared to the black case. Pity i now like the red more than the black .

i agree i did try it again and now realised that i really dont like it =.=
i prefer the red, brown and blue much more than topre

Kaiser, i have question if you dont mind. How do you like the body and size of the Poker vs the Filco TKL? Do you find it less solid when typing?