Keyboard Review: Filco Majestouch in Metallic Blue
The Filco Majestouch - Acquiring and Unboxing
While quantities are hardly enormous, the Majestouch line is now available through Amazon thanks to the efforts of KeyboardCo. Amazon acts as the frontline distributor, handling shipping, sales, and even returns for the keyboards. As such, Amazon's fantastic 30-day, "no questions asked" RMA process is in full effect and the devices are eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping (or free 2-Day Air if you're a Prime subscriber). Buying a high-quality mechanical keyboard has never been easier (with the exception of those lucky souls close enough to a decent Fry's or Microcenter that stocks some models). My own order was placed about an hour before the daily order cut-off on Amazon and was at my front door less than 24 hours later with a simple $3.99 upgrade to Next-Day Air (Prime really is pretty fantastic if you're a frequent online buyer).
Given that this was the first time I was buying myself a mechanical keyboard, I decided to treat myself a bit and pick up the slightly pricier limited edition Metallic Blue. With fond memories of clickity-clackety Model M's resounding in my head, I also decided on the "Click Action" (MX-Blue switches) version. When I ordered, the smaller tenkeyless options weren't available, but given that I make heavy use of my numpad (and might go back and play the PC version of FF7, which requires it, someday), I was willing to accept the space and monetary hit this entailed.
Amazon's shipping materials were sizable, sturdy, and easy to open up.
The keyboard arrived in an oversized shipping box lightly filled with crumbled brown paper. The Majestouch box within took up less than half the available space and wasn't completely cushioned by the paper, but definitely didn't have room to bounce around too much. The Majestouch box itself was a muted brown with sleek lines and a fair amount of indecipherable Japanese text doubtlessly regaling the keyboard's extensive feature-set. It, too, was an easy open, and within lay the keyboard, gently shielded by a molded plastic shell.
The actual packaging was sleek and simple. The keyboard was well cared for between the cardboard supports and the plastic shield. The optional PS/2 adapter was displayed prominently, as was the Japanese-language manual.
The keyboard itself is heavy: 2.7lbs per Amazon (I lack a fine-grained enough scale to investigate that). It's not an ungainly, brick-like weight, however. Although the Majestouch isn't as sleek and glimmery as a similarly priced Logitech or Razer model, it does have an understated elegance to its design and a solid, dependable feel to it. Unfortunately, somewhere between production and arrival, the keyboard must have suffered a couple of bumps, as the matte finish was blemished in places along the front bezel. Although the spots are purely cosmetic and apparently easily taken care of with the proper cleaning materials, such imperfections do hurt when you're working with a $155 peripheral.
Although the packaging seemed generally sufficient, the keyboard nonetheless appears to have taken a couple of knocks somewhere along the way.
Appearance and Functionality
Nonetheless, the Majestouch is a very beautiful keyboard. The purple-blue matte finish is understated but hardly workmanlike, while the soft black keys sport a simple, italic sans-serif font. The keyboard has no additional media or function keys and sports the bare minimum in LEDs (medium-brightness blue lights for the three locks). A textured, gold Filco logo is the keyboard's sole concession to fashionability, but even that is there for a reason: gold lettering denotes taht this keyboard is capable of full "N-Key Rollover," which means that it can theoretically detect every single key on the keyboard simultaneously, if you should ever need to press them all (multiple keypresses are vital in many fast-paced action and rhythm titles for the PC). Of course, this feature only works when the keyboard is attached via PS/2; over USB, it is limited by the port's design to a "mere" "6-Key Rollover," allowing for at most 6-keys to be pressed and detected at once (along with up to 4 "modifier" keys like Shift and Control). Given that the average human hand possesses a mere 5 digits, I wouldn't be overly worried if your motherboard only supports USB connections.
The left side of the Majestouch--sleek, elegant, but just a little bit bold.
The right-side keys of the Majestouch, along with its Filco logo
They cable tie is simple, thin Velcro, but it does sport a Filco logo as well. The USB jack is plain chrome, not an ostentatious (and ultimately useless) gold, and the PS/2 adapter is absolutely bog-standard. They keyboard hooked up to my PC without any issue whatsoever. Given that I took advantage of my motherboard's PS/2 connection, I did have to reboot to get Windows to recognize the keyboard, but when it did so, it installed a driver without any issues whatsoever. Afterward, I had to manually modify some keyboard settings (especially the "repeating rate," which defaulted way too high) to get just the right feel.
The sound of the keyboard is precisely like all writeups about the MX-Blues indicate: loud, clicky, high-pitched. It sounds almost comically like a mid-90s "hacker" flick's interpretation of a keyboard. Some might find the sound grating (the Blues have been vetoed by many significant others and coworkers throughout the years), while others will likely see it as soothing. It reminds me of older keyboards from simpler times, and when my WPM begins to climb and I stop bottoming out the keys quite as badly (the key actuates after about 2mm of travel, but it will continue going down twice that far before loudly hitting bottom), the sound is almost lulling or peaceful: a rolling, chattering voice that's certainly more unique than the mushy thumping of a rubber-dome keyboard.
A brief recording of my keyboard. Taken with the microphone of a Logitech Webcam 500, so the quality's no great shakes!
The Filco logo printed on the velcro cord-tie.
The full cable (USB) and its PS/2 adapter.
The back of the Majestouch, featuring its rubberized grips, height-extending supports, and FCC certification sticker.
As far as using the keyboard goes, well, it's a mechanical. Your fingers feel an unmistakable "bump" on the way down the key's travel, and almost immediately thereafter, the key actuates. Skilled touch-typists will be able to easily identify this point and ease off the key thereafter, sparing their muscles the additional strain. They keys feel solid and the board is remarkably stationary on the desk. It feels like some weathered castle wall, immobile and majestic. Of course, this means that adjusting its positioning can be something of a pain, and compared to the virtually weightless scissor-switch wireless units so popular now, it's definitely an acquired taste. They keycaps are smooth without being slippery, the "F" and "J" bumps sharp enough to be noticeable, but small enough to not mar the keys.
One interesting issue I've run into is the feel of the space bar. Coming from a sloping, wavy Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000, my thumb registers an immediate difference in the key: rather than a broad, gently slanted shake, it's a hard rectangular prism, barely rounded at the top and all sharp edges around that. While not as dramatic as a Topre's severe cut, this key manages to snag the sensitive skin on my thumb's side with every word-spacing "whack!" Proper posture and typing acumen would likely enable me to angle my thumb differently and take the impact on the pad of the digit, but I can't help but feel that for some typists, this hard corner will present an inevitable challenge.
The space bar's sharp corner catches my flash like a sword's cutting edge!
The Verdict
All in all, the Majestouch is a fine addition to my household. It carries a recognizable name and a fantastic warranty, so while it's hardly the cheapest Cherry Blue-equipped mechanical keyboard on the market today, it does present an enticing mix of availability, respectability, and reliability. It's attractive without being ostentatious, loud without being obnoxious, and, if you're into that sort of thing, eminently customizable (Filcos will readily accept a wide variety of alternative keycaps made of different materials, cast in different colors, and offering different sound qualities). While I wish it was more price competitive with the recently announced Leopolds from EliteKeyboards ($99 for a tenkeyless variety that would run you $139 for a similarly kitted Filco from Amazon) and that it made just a few more concessions to modern ergonomic stylings, I can do nothing but happily recommend the Majestouch.
Morever, I must make special mention once more of just what a fantastic job Amazon's done with this distribution. KeyboardCo and Diatec fade imperceptibly into the background, naught but a faint patina of good reputation, while Amazon's expert payment and shipping processes rise to the fore. While I adore hobby shops like EliteKeyboards and even KeyboardCo, Amazon's professionalism and presentation are second to none.
Further reading
Want to know more about mechanical keyboards and the Filco line? Check out these phenomenal resources--this piece wouldn't be here without them!
Geekhack is the premier English-language keyboard enthusiast community (and a fantatsic general purpose geeky forum to boot), frequented by old hands at the mechanical game. They have a lively classifieds section, are home to several international distributors, and regularly organize extensive group buys. More impressive are their phenomenally massive reviews section and most importantly, their Wiki. Fantastic articles like The Geekhack Mechanical Keyboard Guide and the Worldwide Shopping Links are an invaluable resource for a beginning mech-lover.
The Keyboards Section over at the wildly popular computer website, Overclock.net. If Geekhack is a muted collective of sage keyboard scholars, then OCN is a chattering chorus of passionate peripheral geeks. The pace is much faster and the advice more varied (as there is still a thriving rubber dome community at OCN), but it's still a fantastic resource for a beginner. Heck, they've even got their own Mechanical Keyboard Guide!
And, of course, one more time, here's a link to the star of the show, the Filco Majestouch!
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