Mechanical key switches are great,
but they come at a price
The mechanical keyboard market is one of
luxury. While many are happy to spend less than $32 on a functional keyboard
with perhaps a few media keys, those who prefer the more refined and precise
feel that mechanical keyboards offer can often pay more than $160 for the
privilege. It's directly into this luxurious price bracket that the $211.2
Filco Majestouch 2 from Japanese firm Diatec falls.
Diatec
Filco Majestouch 2
The sample I was given to play with has a
red case with black keys, although the keyboard is also available in different
colors if this rather bold aesthetic is off-putting to you. An all-black
version is available for $19.2 less, for example, which does make the red and
black one feel more overpriced than a $211.2 keyboard already is.
The first word that comes to mind when
handling the Majestouch 2 is 'solid', as the keyboard is probably heavy and
hard enough to be used as a lethal weapon. The build quality is superb, as it
should be when you're forking-out this much for a keyboard, and the finish of
the paint job is top-notch too.
In terms of features, the Majestouch 2 is
about as basic as they come. Bundled in the box is a PS/2-to-USB adaptor, and
that's about it. The keyboard has no extra buttons beyond those on the standard
105-key UK layout, so anyone looking for macro functionality or media control
will be disappointed. The keys are not backlit, and no wrist rest is included
either.
The
keys are not backlit, and no wrist rest is included either.
With all this talk of what the keyboard doesn't
have, you might well be wondering what it actually does have (aside from its
brilliant build quality) that means Diatec can charge so high a price for it.
The answer is its use of red Cherry MX switches in every single key. Those who
know their Cherry switches will also know that the red ones are essentially
lighter versions of the linear Cherry MX black switches. As such, they exhibit
no audio or tactile feedback when pressed.
Thanks to the red switches, the Majestouch
2 has keys that require little force to press and only need to be depressed
about halfway to register. Their action is smooth, and the sensitivity compared
to a normal membrane keyboard for example is odd at first. However, it's easy
to get used to, and once you do both normal typing and gaming are thoroughly
pleasing experiences, aided by the keys' lack of stickiness.
Thanks
to the red switches, the Majestouch 2 has keys that require little force to
press and only need to be depressed about halfway to register
This end of the keyboard market will always
be a niche one, but the Majestouch 2 is still a little too expensive for the
minimal feature set it has. It isn't for most people, but for those with a bit
more cash to spare and who want a keyboard that's well made and offers an excellent
typing experience, the Majestouch 2 puts a tick in both boxes.
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Details
§ Price:
$211
§ Manufacturer:
Diatec
§ Key
switch/Number of keys: Cherry MX Blue Switch (click tactile)/104 keys; US
ASCII key arrangement
§ Key
pitch/Key stroke: 19mm/4 ±0.5mm
§ Dimensions/Weight:
W440 x D138 x H38.5mm (49.5mm raised up by stand)/1.2kg
§ Interface:
PS/2,USB (PS/2 interface is available with PS/2 Conversion Adapter)
§ Cable
length: 1.5m
§ Notices:
All our FILCO Keyboard have already passed the CE, FCC and RoHS
certification.
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