Filco Majestouch-2 NKR 104 ASCII with Red Switches, USA FKBN104MR/EB2
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| Brand | FILCO |
| Color | Red |
| Operating System | Android |
| Number of Keys | 104 |
| Style | Classic |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 17.32 x 5.43 x 1.42 inches |
| Material | Steel |
| Included Components | 1 piece |
| Hand Orientation | Ambidextrous |
| Number of Buttons | 104 |
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 17.32 x 5.43 x 1.42 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 2.73 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Diatec |
| ASIN | B004OX4HWG |
| Item model number | FKBN104MR/EB2 |
| Customer Reviews |
3.7 out of 5 stars |
| Date First Available | September 23, 2014 |
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The only negative and the reason why I gave it a four instead of a five star rating is the keys. They are pretty finely textured and show shininess almost immediately. I don't usually shine up my keys that quickly but this one is different. The other reviewer mentioned that the lettering on the keys is wearing off after only a short time. My lettering shows okay right now but with only pad printing, I'm afraid the lettering is probably doomed. i do really like this keyboard and have ordered a set of replacement key caps to make it my perfect keyboard. The only other con for this board is the price. Pretty expensive.
So there are a wide range of choices out there with different switch types. Until recently it was hard to obtain the cherry mx red switches. These switches are like lighter blacks (only 44 grams opposed to 60 grams of pressure needed to actuate a black switch), they do not have a tactile bump or click. Once considered obsolete because of their light touch, and no tactile feedback, they were made only in limited quantities. This is sort of what this keyboard represents, just a limited red switch batch. Who knows what Filco will do in the future. I have heard they are going out of business. Anyways, the red switch is really light, and if you have tried the brown switch they are very similar to them because they have the same spring. Browns though have a tactile bump that require a tad bit more force to make it over (55 grams).
Overall, the red switch is considered mostly a gaming switch because its linear. Tactile bump's are very useful for typist. But, for those who think tactile bumps are annoying a red switch may be a good alternative from a brown switch or a blue switch (or the more rare clear switch). It's extremely light to push, and they require little effort at all to actuate. I've been typing on them for a couple weeks now, and gaming, the ease of pushing the switches has allowed me to be extremely comfortable while doing both for hours on end. So the fact that these switches require little effort to push, and are like typing on "clouds" is really the strong point of the switch. Gamers will appreciate the fact that they are linear. I know that tactile feedback was always annoying to me while using cherry mx blues.
The downside of reds is really their softness. It's easy to press the wrong key because of it. The same could be said with browns, and even blues, but with reds you having no warning with a tactile bump. So it's easy to press down the wrong keys.
The overall build of Filco is great. They put a lot of thinking into their boards, and with that create a simple elegant design which wastes little space. A lot of fans admire their simplicity. Mechanical boards in general are very rigid, and heavy. This particular Filco weighs in at about 3.7 pounds which is pretty heavy. The weight helps the keyboard stay in place, and underneath are some large rubber feet. Rarely, will my keyboard move much at all unless I want it to. Also, the quality of the plastic base on Filco's creates a particular sound that many users agree is pleasing to the ears. By what I have heard on video's Filco's do sound different. But, in general all mechanical keyboards do sound different based on their unique build.
Filco's keys are the most criticized part of the keyboard. They are just pad printed. Which is not one of the best ways to print key caps. It's actually one of the worst. But, Filco's keys are protected by a glossy surface which protects the padded print. After a period of time you will notice that it will get slick on the surface of these keys. A lot of users find the keys to be not so good at this point. So often times they are replaced with something else. I talked to one of the sales reps of Filco, and he said that the keys would never wear off. That may be true. Just a warning to people that they will get glossy, and slick on top of the keys. I've already planned on replacing these keys with something else entirely. But, the keys are light, and not sure if they are made out of ABS plastic, but they were chosen because they are a light plastic. They are not PBT plastic which is considered the best plastic.
Also, users may notice that keys like backspace, and larger than normal keys move a little. This movement can cause a "rattle" sound not to be confused with the infamous "ping" sound (that is a defective plate, and PCB where there is a gap). These keys that move a little is normal. If you are daring enough, and patient enough you can take those off to oil them up. This can reduce noises. White lithium grease is recommended. This is a good thing to learn how to do for all of you that love mechanical keyboards for typing, and gaming.
This is a great keyboard, which some rare switches. The switches may become more available later, but it may be hard to find a Filco red switch board ever again (at least at this price) unless Filco actually makes more of them. The keycaps are what they are, but overall aren't the greatest. This keyboard is a delight to type on, and is good for gaming once you get used to it. I do think that this price 179 is a bit too much. This is actually part of marketing a rare switch, and then making more off of it. Filco's have always been expensive. Arguably they have made the best cherry mx boards available (although usually you have to get them shipped over here).
Pros- Red switch is unique to Filco, and great to type on, and game on. Overall build quality is awesome as always for Filco, and a lot of people will love the space saver design. Red led's are better IMO than the blue. Logo better with silver than the old gold. Keyboard stays in place very well, and will not move. Layout is familiar to most users.
Cons- The price is a bit expensive (although I can relate to why they are selling it for more, will cost more later on Ebay), So I guess supply, and demand. Keycaps are not PBT (the best) are probably ABS. Durability on key caps is questionable, but still should be pretty good for along time (if you can get used to the glossy-slick surface which develops on keys after a relatively short period of time).
Much Thanks to The Keyboard Company (UK). They made it happen bringing over this Limited Red, and other Filco's to Amazon.
Some background:
I am an avid Starcraft 2 player. I've become very interested in getting the optimal gaming gear so I've been doing some research. My previous keyboard was the SteelSeries 6Gv2. It was my first mechanical keyboard and I stumbled upon it by doing some research and reading that gamers liked the keyboard. When I first tried the keyboard, it felt extremely different. The linear feel was one thing, but it required so much force to actuate. I eventually got used to it and began to love the linear feel. However, even after some time, I realized that I was still consciously pressing down hard on the keys. Dedicating a part of your consciousness to pressing down is not ideal for gaming. FYI, the 6Gv2 has Cherry MX Black switches that requires 60 units to actuate.
I started looking for keyboards with linear switches like the 6Gv2 but lighter. Turns out, the Cherry MX Red switch is just what I wanted! It is just like the black switch, except that it requires 45 units of force to actuate.
Cherry MX Red switch keyboards are hard to get in the US. For some reason, they are popular in Asia but not the US. This particular keyboard was very hard to locate, so make sure you give it consideration! I had to check back a couple times before it was available. Anyway, my research indicated that Filco builds sturdy, reputable keyboards. Also, this keyboard, among others, seemed to have a niche group of fans.
I finally got the keyboard, and yes, the keys are light (as in easy to press). I don't know why people make such a big deal out of it though. I would say it is lighter than the DELL keyboard I used to have, but not by that much. It definitely felt weird at first because I was so used to the black switch. However, now that I've become acclimated, I absolutely LOVE this keyboard. I have fast, piano-playing fingers and I just flew over this keyboard. My APM increased literally overnight because I wasn't bogged down by needing to push so hard.
In terms of keyboard sound, I'd say it's about average if you bottom-out. If you don't bottom-out, it's really quiet.
One thing I wish is to be able to buy this keyboard with blank key caps. Just blank Filco key caps would suffice, I guess, which I can't seem to find on Amazon.
Pros
* Good, sturdy build.
* Light, effortless keys -- just the way I like it.
* Comes with red key cap replacements for the WASD keys (looks pretty).
* Linear feel is lovely for gaming.
* NKRO is sweet :) To be fair, most gaming keyboards have NKRO, so this feature isn't that special.
Cons
* Expensive.
* Lighter than most keyboards -- if you are not a precise typist or like to rest your fingers on the keys, you might mistype often.