Fujitsu FKB4725 - bhtooefr

[bhtooefr]

I'm well aware that this is an older review, originally posted 2009-02-12, but I'm migrating all of my reviews to Deskthority.

Might as well review this thing...

This keyboard uses the Fujitsu Peerless technology... essentially, spring over cup over rubber dome. I believe the cup allows the spring to jump, causing the tactility and clickiness that this board has.

The tactility is actually surprisingly sharp, and the click is quiet, not annoying, but definitely there.

The keys are rated at 55g operating force. So, it should be much lighter than an ~80g Model M, or lighter than a 60g Cherry MX blue, right? Of course, operating force doesn't tell the whole story.

Operating force doesn't tell the initial force required, or the fact that the thing feels spongy as hell. But, spongy isn't even the right word - the tactility is extremely precise and even a bit... Model M sharp! It feels like a Model M that spent a week or so at the bottom of a riverbed. But that's not even quite right, it feels better than that...

But, there's an even bigger problem. Large keys aren't well stabilized, and therefore bind badly if you hit them anywhere other than on top of where the keyswitch is.

Anyway, I'd rather type for a week straight on an 80g Model M than fifteen minutes on this Fujitsu - it's that TIRING. I'm sure the peak force is only 55g, and that the tactile force causes a 20g drop, but a Model M STARTS much lower, and is more progressive. Which is a shame, because the keyswitching technology actually is an interesting way to provide accurate tactility on the cheap.

Of course, there is one way to make this keyboard feel better - mash the crap out of it. When you mash the keys, it's odd, but there definitely is lower initial force. I can't explain it... it's almost like either the rubber dome sheet or the spring is acting like a thixotropic AND pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluid.

[ripster]

Actually the force curve isn't ALL that different than the Model M but gets resistive after activiation. And peak force is closer to 70g.