At first, we would like to thank DIATEC CORPORATION for sending us a sample of their FILCO Majestouch Stingray Low Profile Red Switch Tenkeyless Front Face Keyboard for testing and reviewing.

 

 

 

About DIATEC CORPORATION:

 

"Start of services: June 17,1982

Corporate Address: Kairaku-Building (Sotokanda) 4F, 6-5-4 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0021, Japan

Capital: 40,000,000 Yen

Representative Director: Kunihiro Nabeta

 

C.P.S Division Business Portfolio

Supplier and distributor of the PC peripheral devices and mobile devices under the brand of "FILCO".

"FILCO" is the registered trademark of DIATEC Corporation.

"Majestouch" is the registered trademark of DIATEC Corporation.

"Mobile Cruiser" is the registered trademark of DIATEC Corporation.

"PtoGo" is the registered trademark of DIATEC Corporation."

 

Product Features:

 

Linear low-profile action (Cherry MX low profile RGB Red switch)

Gold contacts

3.2mm travel

1.2mm actuation point

45g ~ 1.6oz actuating force key switch

Switches tested to 50 million actuations

 

Product Specifications:

 

Manufacturer: Filco

Part Number: FKBS87XMRL/EFB

Connection: Combo USB & PS/2

Cable length: 1.5m

Language Layout: USA

Number of keys/buttons: 87

Switch Type: Cherry MX Low Profile RGB Red

Length: 356 mm

Depth: 135 mm

Height: 32 mm

Weight: 980 g

Compatible: PC

Gross Weight: 1.35 kg

 

After a very long time, we do have another DIATEC FILCO keyboard in our labs, and to be more exact the Majestouch Stingray [Low Profile Red Switch / Tenkeyless / US Layout / Front face keycaps]. This long name describes the features of the keyboard, which incorporates the pleasant linear and low-profile CHERRY MX LP Red switches, with 45cN operating force, 1.2mm pre-travel, a total travel of 3.2mm and does not produce click sounds.

 

The keyboard was shipped inside a compact cardboard enclosure, with the name of the product right in the middle. The Stingray series uses a LP switch design versus the regular switch boards, having 16mm front height from the desk surface; in comparison, the Majestouch 2 series has a front height of 21mm! The Ninja name also represents the positioning of the keycap letters, which is not placed on top but on the side facing the user, so the possibility for it to wear in time is near zero:

 

 

 

 

On the side of the box, we will learn of the keyboard details, on a small sticker:

 

 

 

The tech specs are available on the bottom area of the box, but not in English language:

 

 

 

By lifting the top cover, we will get to see the main product, but also some documentation:

 

 

 

The documentation allows the user to check the extra button functions, applicable together with the Fn key:

 

 

 

Unlike most manufacturers, DIATEC is supplying plastic covers for their keyboards, which is great for keeping your peripheral dust-free for longer:

 

 

 

 

Besides the keyboard, we will also receive a keycap puller, some replacement keycaps but also a PS/2 to USB adapter:

 

 

 

When looking at the keycaps up close, we will get to see the Ninja-like inscriptions on the side; thanks to the low height, the actuations are more pleasant when using the keyboard for productivity work but also for gaming purposes. DIATEC did not use RGB-enabled switches on this keyboard, citing that enabling lighting does increase the possibility of malfunction and they are focusing on quality and reliability. This is true for using the keyboard at the office, but quite a bit of gamers which use the keyboard at night as well would seem happy if RGB feature would have been enabled as well:

 

 

 

 

 

The supplied PS/2 to USB adapter will be mostly used for legacy systems, when you have an old machine in order to play with different emulators or PC “oldies but goodies”:

 

 

The key puller is handy when performing cleaning maintenance on the keyboard, but also when replacing keycaps:

 

 

The keyboard does feature an all-plastic black chassis, while the Tenkeyless form factor allows it to be more compact; this is great for smaller office desks, especially when you are not working with a lot of numbers:

 

 

The keycaps are easily removable, and this operation will reveal the transparent casing of the CHERRY LP Red switches:

 

 

The only LEDs we will see on the keyboard are for the CapsLock, ScrollLock and NumLock functions; these also feature a graphite diffuser to minimize the overall brightness, making them less intrusive:

 

 

The Esc key does also have the function to bring the Majestouch Stingray to default settings, if presets were saved onto the board; moving further with the function keys, we will get to see some multimedia controls:

 

 

F9 will change the Fn key and App key, F10 will change the left Ctrl and CapsLock keys, while F11 will invalidate the Windows and App keys. Sleep mode can be also entered by pressing Fn+F12:

 

 

When looking at the keycaps from an angle, they really look quite interesting and it will be more difficult for someone nearby to find out what you are typing, only by looking at the blank keycap covers:

 

 

Near the directional keys, we did also spot a subtle FILCO logo:

 

 

 

The key switch rows and the chassis is placed at an angle, so called “step sculpture profile”, for better fitting a natural typing position:

 

 

 

In the frontal area of the keyboard, we will only see the non-removable USB cable, without an USB hub:

 

 

 

The bottom layer presents itself with a cable management guide, so the USB cable can be routed to the front, left or right sides of the keyboard:

 

 

 

The corners do feature long rubber feet but on the top we will also notice kickstands:

 

 

 

These kickstands come with a rubber tip, so the keyboard won’t create strange noises or move on the table, even when it will be placed at an angle:

 

 

 

Near the USB cable, we will also find a FILCO authenticity sticker:

 

 

 

The large middle sticker does show the product code name, some internal code names but also a serial number; if you are unfamiliar with the extra function keys, their meaning is also explained here:

 

 

 

The supplied cable is 1.8m long and is not braided as we have seen with many gaming keyboards; a nice FILCO cable tie is supplied with the cable:

 

 

 

Since we were already familiar with the LP switches from the previously reviewed mechanical keyboards, we did not need any extra time to get accustomed with the Majestouch Stingray Ninja layout. The keys are very responsive but since DIATEC is using an all-plastic exterior chassis unlike the CHERRY MX 10.0, the actuation sound is a bit more perceptible. For cleaning purposes, the low-profile keycaps are even easier to remove than the full-size ones, while the TKL design allows the keyboard to take considerably less space on the desk.

 

The N-key rollover function helps gamers by recognizing all keys which have been pressed with accuracy, at the same time and we do also have some basic functions available using the Fn key. The Ninja-type keycaps do have the key printing on the side facing you, not on the top so they won’t wear off in time, but people which are typing by frequently looking at the keycaps will need a bit of adjustment time. This type of layout is clearly more oriented for professional typists or gamers which know where is each key without looking at the keyboard when redacting a document/playing.

 

In terms of negative aspects, these are mostly aimed at the gaming aspect of the keyboard: it does not feature RGB lighting (though it may be difficult to implement this with the keycap writing on the side), the lack of an USB passthrough port for connecting other peripherals and the missing software for in-depth configuration like macros and so on.

 

The DIATEC FILCO Majestouch Stingray (Ninja) TKL keyboard with CHERRY MX Red LP switches can be found online for about 135 pounds in UK, via The Keyboard Company.

DIATEC FILCO Majestouch Stingray Low Profile Red Switch Tenkeyless Front Face Keyboard is Recommended for:

 

 

We would like to thank again to DIATEC CORPORATION for making this review possible!