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ABS M1 Mechanical Keyboard $20 Newegg

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Filcos are much better keyboards, my personal favorites. That being said, I have an M1 as well, and for the price, you can't beat it. Cherry browns tend to be my favorites, and the M1 doesn't have that same type of feel or sound.

I personally only get a metallic clang from the space-bar, which is annoying, but the rest of the keys sound solid.

Also, not sure if this is still the case, but ABS was advertising the M1 as being able to depress more keys than it actually could at once. It's not bad by anymeans, but it certainly has 'regions' of the keyboard that you can only press down four keys simultaneously. If that's going to be a problem for you go for a filco!
 
Got mine today. After using it for a few hours, I'm pleased. The feel is better than the generic keyboards I've been using from Dell/HP. I almost didn't get one, but now I'd buy another to have on my other machine. Too bad it's OOS.
 
CosmosRewind said:
Got mine today. After using it for a few hours, I'm pleased. The feel is better than the generic keyboards I've been using from Dell/HP. I almost didn't get one, but now I'd buy another to have on my other machine. Too bad it's OOS.
Click to expand...
If you don't need new (and you can remove and wash the keycaps anyway), it's pretty easy to get mechanical keyboards relatively cheap from eBay. The Dell AT101W has similar (complex, not simplified) Black ALPS switches to this ABS model, while the Compaq MX 11800 has Cherry Brown switches. Note that fairly low Best Offers have won a bunch of the latter...
 
s44 said:
If you don't need new (and you can remove and wash the keycaps anyway), it's pretty easy to get mechanical keyboards relatively cheap from eBay. The Dell AT101W has similar (complex, not simplified) Black ALPS switches to this ABS model, while the Compaq MX 11800 has Cherry Brown switches. Note that fairly low Best Offers have won a bunch of the latter...
Click to expand...

I knew people liked the original IBM keyboards (had one for awhile), but didn't know about all this black, blue, and brown Cherry,etc switch stuff. 🙂

The last "good" keyboard I've bothered with was a Northgate Omnikey Plus (still have it downstairs someplace). However because I'm always moving between a lot of machines, getting used to a modern layout made me stop using it. Never researched much beyond that because generic models we're adequate at that point.
 
Just got mine and I'm happy with it. No, it's not like the old IBMs that I remember, but it still has an old school feel to it. Combined with the modern layout and look, small footprint, solid construction and the low price I'd say that this was an excellent buy.
s44 said:
If you don't need new (and you can remove and wash the keycaps anyway), it's pretty easy to get mechanical keyboards relatively cheap from eBay. The Dell AT101W has similar (complex, not simplified) Black ALPS switches to this ABS model, while the Compaq MX 11800 has Cherry Brown switches. Note that fairly low Best Offers have won a bunch of the latter...
Click to expand...
Hey, thanks! That's good to know for future reference. 🙂
 
Ayrahvon said:
Filcos are much better keyboards, my personal favorites. That being said, I have an M1 as well, and for the price, you can't beat it. Cherry browns tend to be my favorites, and the M1 doesn't have that same type of feel or sound.

I personally only get a metallic clang from the space-bar, which is annoying, but the rest of the keys sound solid.

Also, not sure if this is still the case, but ABS was advertising the M1 as being able to depress more keys than it actually could at once. It's not bad by anymeans, but it certainly has 'regions' of the keyboard that you can only press down four keys simultaneously. If that's going to be a problem for you go for a filco!
Click to expand...
yep, filco gives you full n-key rollover over PS/2. yeah baby!
 
I got mine today. They keys are a bit more 'wobbly' than I'd like, but it's not a deal breaker.

The metallic ringing noise, however, is a bit of a distraction. Anyone have any ideas on how to reduce?

Otherwise, typing is quite nice. Getting my first real taste of a nice mechanical keyboard has me very interested in getting into something like the iOne Scorpius M10. I'm only needing the best typing, I do not play any games.

I have a feeling my Logitech Wave is going in the trash. I thought for sure the ergonomic nature of it would be an improvement over the standard form keyboards I've used all these years, but I suppose not.
 
I got mine too, really wanted to like it, but unfortunately it looks like I'm going back to MS Comfort Curve.

Initial impressions:

- the keys are louder than I thought they would be, but not too bad
- the keys are "wobbly", more than my previous keyboard
- the ringing/pitching sound of the spring after each key press is annoying
- key feedback is nice!

Now I wonder if there is a better mechanical keyboard that is not louder than an average keyboard, has more "stable" keys, and does not make any ringing/pitching sounds (other than the click itself).
 
you should try whatever keyboard that has cherry browns in them. the only i have tried is my current main - filco majestouch. It ain't cheap though, gotta pay for quality! I think the newer DAS also has cherry browns in them.
 
konakona said:
you should try whatever keyboard that has cherry browns in them. the only i have tried is my current main - filco majestouch. It ain't cheap though, gotta pay for quality! I think the newer DAS also has cherry browns in them
Click to expand...

I seem to remember paying over $100 for my old Northgate back in the day, so the Filco's don't seem too bad. What I'm trying to figure out is how useful the "N-key Roll Over" feature is on the Filco's. It's not very clear if it's just to better detect multiple keys for very fast typing, or will it literally repeat multiple keys also (e.g. if I hold down 4 keys will all 4 repeat over and over in a notepad window). Did you get one with the feature or not?
 
Yes, mine does n-key rollover. It's more of the former from what you describe. Helps you tons with keyboard-centric games (fighting games, rhythm games, certain MMOs) and general day to day typing of course. With those games, you need very precise timing to pull off certain combos, where a cheaply made keyboard can jam and ruin all the fun. Depressing four keys simultaneously on the Filco will produce initial sequence of four keys in whichever order they were registered, with the last one in the chain being repeated over and over.
 
Got mine. It's solid and compact, but the keys are too wiggly for me to be happy. Yeah, it's loud, but then I knew that going in. It's more than just the wiggly keys...it's that they contribute to a rattling noise that I'm not fond of.

This will be a good system-building keyboard, but not a regular keyboard for me.
 
Last edited:
gevorg said:
I got mine too, really wanted to like it, but unfortunately it looks like I'm going back to MS Comfort Curve.

Initial impressions:

- the keys are louder than I thought they would be, but not too bad
- the keys are "wobbly", more than my previous keyboard
- the ringing/pitching sound of the spring after each key press is annoying
- key feedback is nice!

Now I wonder if there is a better mechanical keyboard that is not louder than an average keyboard, has more "stable" keys, and does not make any ringing/pitching sounds (other than the click itself).
Click to expand...

Brown cherries will give you (very light) tactility without the click, and blue cherries will give you both tactility (more than the browns) and a light but audible click. Both will be quieter than the ABS by a wide margin. Blue Cherry switches are probably the least noisy "clicky" switch on the market. They still might annoy your coworkers in an office environment, though, as the pitch of the click is somewhat high/sharp.

I agree that the Filco boards are your best bet for Cherry-based KBs if you want quality build (i.e. no wobbly keys or ringing). Elitekeyboards sells them in the US, but as others have mentioned, they aren't cheap. iOne makes the Scorpius M10, which is a decently well-constructed blue Cherry board, but many (myself included) have had various quality issues ranging from non-working keys to complete failure to power on. I would rather pay once for a Filco than have to deal with an iffy board- a KB is something that I just expect to work, and keep on working.
 
dawza said:
Brown cherries will give you (very light) tactility without the click, and blue cherries will give you both tactility (more than the browns) and a light but audible click. Both will be quieter than the ABS by a wide margin. Blue Cherry switches are probably the least noisy "clicky" switch on the market. They still might annoy your coworkers in an office environment, though, as the pitch of the click is somewhat high/sharp.

I agree that the Filco boards are your best bet for Cherry-based KBs if you want quality build (i.e. no wobbly keys or ringing). Elitekeyboards sells them in the US, but as others have mentioned, they aren't cheap. iOne makes the Scorpius M10, which is a decently well-constructed blue Cherry board, but many (myself included) have had various quality issues ranging from non-working keys to complete failure to power on. I would rather pay once for a Filco than have to deal with an iffy board- a KB is something that I just expect to work, and keep on working.
Click to expand...

The Scorpius has crappy soldering work inside of it. How do the keys compare to Filco? Are they nice and tight with no rattling or wobbling?
 
The Scorpius? The keys weren't anything remarkable- bad or good. I threw mine out after it stopped powering on for the seventh or eighth time, but I don't recall the keys themselves being particularly loose. Definitely no comparison whatsoever to the build quality of a Filco, though. Even at more than 2x the cost, the Filco is definitely the better value IMO.

The Scorpius was basically a plain Jane KB, with slightly above par build quality/heft (except for the craptastic soldering, as you mentioned); the keyswitches were the only redeeming quality. It is really a pity, because if the QC were better, the M10 would be an exceptional value for a Cherry blue board.

Edit: If you are referring to the ABS keycap feel, I would also say that they are far from a Filco quality-wise. Not as tight, but not so terrible as to be annoying.
 
Just got mine today and am typing on it as I speak... er, type...

I think I'm going to like it. BITD I used a Focus 2001 keyboard that seemed kinda clicky and I liked that. I was okay with using a cheapie KB for years, but I think this baby might spoil me. Good thing deal is dead, or else I may buy more. These keyboards are pretty heavy - can probably do some damage by beating someone over the head with it. Hmmm, would be good versus cheaters at LAN parties...
 
a review from the egg lol

STURDY!

white Reviewed By: on 2/11/2010
Rating + 5
Tech Level Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week

Pros: I RAGED THE OTHER DAY AND BEAT MY MONITOR INTO MY DESK WITH THIS KEYBOARD!!!! IT STILL WORKS!!!!!!!
Cons: I KEEP DYING!!!!
Other Thoughts: NONE
 
got mine today... funky keyboard, not much noisier than any other kb i use because i've got heavy fingers... definitely not like my old ibm klackity clack (that i finally got rid of a couple years ago because it had a ps2 plug), not as noisy or as heavily sprung... that thing was a auditory and digitary experience...
 
jst0rm01 said:
a review from the egg lol

sturdy!

White reviewed by: On 2/11/2010
rating + 5
tech level tech level: Somewhat high - ownership: 1 day to 1 week

pros: I raged the other day and beat my monitor into my desk with this keyboard!!!! It still works!!!!!!!
Cons: I keep dying!!!!
Other thoughts: None
Click to expand...

lol!
 
JSt0rm01 said:
a review from the egg lol

STURDY!

white Reviewed By: on 2/11/2010
Rating + 5
Tech Level Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week

Pros: I RAGED THE OTHER DAY AND BEAT MY MONITOR INTO MY DESK WITH THIS KEYBOARD!!!! IT STILL WORKS!!!!!!!
Cons: I KEEP DYING!!!!
Other Thoughts: NONE
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

hilarious.
 
After living with mine a for several days, I think it was a good deal for $20. The new problem is that I'll probably take it to work to use.... I feel spoiled by mechanical keyboard 'feel' now, and will probably spring for a Filco 🙂
 
BeatCrazy said:
After living with mine a for several days, I think it was a good deal for $20. The new problem is that I'll probably take it to work to use.... I feel spoiled by mechanical keyboard 'feel' now, and will probably spring for a Filco 🙂
Click to expand...

Yea, exactly what I'm considering. It's been so long since I've used a mechanical keyboard that I had forgotten what they were like.
I've had the Filco and their palm rest in my shopping cart a couple times now 🙂 Just haven't pulled the trigger.

While likely not up to par with the expensive ones, this $20 one was a good deal.
 
I picked one up on an earlier deal.. the length of the key stroke makes it unusable for me. It's not so much the individual key throw, but my fingers can't move from one key to the next without fully letting go of the previous key.

Other than that fairly major issue.. the keyboard is nice. 😛
 
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