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Review of Das Keyboard

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky dept.

My old keyboard was so crusted up with junk from years of abuse that I found myself struggling to depress most of the keys on the left side. So I decided that it was time to find a new keyboard. My plan was to steal the keyboards of my co-workers and try them out when they aren't around. But as this plan was underway, Das Keyboard asked me to review their newest keyboard. I used it for a few days to see if their website's claim of 'the best keyboard on the planet' is valid. Read on to learn more.

First of all let me say that it sounds great. There's something really satisfying about the thunderous racket created by a nice tactile keyboard. The buttons move smoothly and lightly. As I type these words I find myself typing very fast. Ironically, I have to turn up my speakers just to listen clearly to the NPR program quietly playing... and this leads me to my first point. There are no volume control keys. So I have to navigate through various menus to put the volume control widget back on my toolbar. I haven't needed it for years, but this keyboard has none of the bloated keys that over populate a modern keyboard. Save for the 2 keys added for windows 95, this is practically the same layout as the first keyboard I called my own in the 80s. The keyboard is also available without any markings on the key- although my keyboard had them.

Then I hear the ping that tells me that I have mail so I apple-tab to go to my Mail program and then... crap. Did I mention that this is a windows keyboard? The alt key and the windows key are obnoxiously transposed, requiring me to rewire my brain to get to the program I need. It's not the end of the world- and of course it only matters if you are using a Mac. But since I switch daily from the laptop keyboard to a desktop keyboard, I suspect that I would slowly go mad as I was never able to reliably remember which key was alt and which key was apple. To say nothing of this meaningless preferences button which does nothing. Of course the OSX preferences panels contain an option to remap these keys, but I'd have to reset it every time I went home. And I just don't like the idea of monkeying around with this sort of thing twice a day.

So I decide that just for now I will use my mouse to navigate from app to app. This makes my heart cry a little bit- I don't much care for my mouse. He sits there lonely, the tool of last resort as I instead opt to use ridiculous keybindings requiring 7 fingers of syncronized chording. It only inflames my carpal tunnel, but I don't have to move my arm. But times of desperation call for us to rise up to the challenges that come before us.

Now Das Keyboard has the USB ports on the right hand side. I've plugged in 2 devices: the first is a little spinner wheel that I use for editing video, and the other is a little RF broadcaster for a wireless Logitech mouse. And like most of you, I'm right handed. So as I fling my mouse around, I find myself constantly bumping into the 2 giant USB plugs that now overlap my mousepad. My old keyboard had the mouse ports at the top and I never had this problem.

The toggle lights are completely invisible unless on, hidden cleanly within the black plastic surface. The num lock key doesn't seem to do anything, although I assume that's a mac thing. And scroll lock... well now seriously, who among us relies on that in any serious way? Maybe I should just remap those keys, along with the windows 'preferences' key to be the volume up, down, and mute key I'm missing.

But it's black. It's sexy. It's loud. It feels good to type on it. Which takes me to the big question: is this really worth shelling out $130 plus shipping for? For me the answer is a no. It feels great to type, but the lack of volume controls, the mac keys, and most of all, the irritating position of the USB ports make it an inferior keyboard in all practical ways except for the simple act of typing. But if you are a left handed windows user, you might feel differently. As for me, I'm going to have to keep searching for my perfect keyboard. This one is close, but it's just not it.

23 of 713 comments (clear)

  1. There is only one true keyboard... by Corporate+Troll · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's called a Model M. Yeah, I have one and my wife hates it because it is indeed very noisy... (The keyboard, not the wife.)

    1. Re:There is only one true keyboard... by DJ+Jones · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Model M = The most annoying keyboard ever created. The guy in the cube behind me insists on using one. Aside from punch-card mainframes it is the loudest most obnoxious piece of computer equipment ever created.

      There is a reason modern keyboards are quiet and it's not because of cheap manufacturing. It's common courtesy.

      Seriously, it's not cool in an office setting.

    2. Re:There is only one true keyboard... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Agreed. I'm typing this from a Unicomp Customizer right now. It's basically built in the old IBM Model M keyboard factory (the employees bought the division and spun it off into its own company).

      The external keyboard casing is thick plastic instead of solid metal, but it's still sturdier than most computer peripherals you'll run across. And as a bonus, mine has a USB interface instead of an AT connector.

      I use a Mac, so I actually wanted the Windows keys. However, I didn't want the stupid Microsoft logo on a keyboard for my Mac. For $10 extra Unicomp actually made me two replacement keycaps that say "Command" on them and provided a free blank keycap. I popped off the three Windows keys and replaced these with the new ones, and now it's just perfect.

      As with the Das Keyboard, on a Mac the alt and command keys are reversed. You can easily fix this in the System Preferences -> Keyboard and Mouse settings though. In OS X Leopard, they've even added a per-keyboard mapping option so I don't have to unswap the buttons every time I take my laptop out and use the built-in keyboard.

      I've also found that keeping my old Apple keyboard around has been useful, I plug it in during conference calls. Otherwise when I start clicking away on the keys everyone stops and asks what that sound is.

      Overall though, this is the best keyboard I've ever owned. It's just fun to type on, and if you're sitting at a computer all day long, that's worth something. The Unicomp keyboard sells for around $70. I'm sure you could get them to send you a set of blank keycaps for a little extra money if having blank keys is important to you.

      It's worth noting to that the key action is a little bit different between the Das Keyboard and the Unicomp Customizer. The Unicomp uses the exact same technology found in the legendary IBM Model M keyboards. Das Keyboard uses something else that is also supposed to be very good, but they're not exactly the same thing. I haven't personally tried both so I can't comment either way on that one. I'm sure it probably boils down to personal preference.

      I don't work for them or anything like that, I'm just a guy that got tired of replacing keyboards every few months.

      For reference, this is the exact keyboard I'm referring to: Unicomp Customizer 104

    3. Re:There is only one true keyboard... by dedazo · · Score: 5, Funny

      It is a well-known fact that the only two things that can damage a Model M are a Cyberdyne Systems Series 800 and a tyrannosaurus rex with a shoulder-mounted particle beam. So I wouldn't worry about it.

      --
      Web2.0: I love when people Flickr my cuil and digg my boingboing until my google is reddit and I start to yahoo
    4. Re:There is only one true keyboard... by MBCook · · Score: 5, Informative

      No kidding. I'm tying this on a 1995/6 Microsoft Natural keyboard. The first natural keyboard. The one that came with a diskette to add functions for the Windows key (which was new at the time). The logo on the bottom says "Windows Compatible". Not Windows XP, or 2000, or NT, or 95. Windows.

      I've used this keyboard daily for years and years. It got a break of a few years when I spent most time on a laptop in college (though I'd break it out for long papers due to comfort), but I took it to work (because typing on those standard non-ergonomics keyboards becomes painful quickly) and it's been in constant use for the last two years.

      It's big, it's heavy, and it feels great to type on. Only two letters (N and M) are faded, every other one looks as good as the day I bought it. I took it apart a year or so ago to clean it really well (grime and dust from sitting around unused) and it was very well built. It has a large steel or aluminum plate in it to provide support.

      Best of all, it has a real inverted T set of arrow keys and a 3x2 set of home/end keys. I hate the way they've changed those on all their models they sell now.

      I had one of their internet natural keyboard a few years ago (with all the buttons on top). I didn't really use them, and at this point I'm not even sure where it is.

      But my comfortable 1995 keyboard works as well today as the day I bought it. Microsoft can make some really nice hardware at times.

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    5. Re:There is only one true keyboard... by multipartmixed · · Score: 5, Informative

      And a wife armed with a glass of Pespi. *grumble*

      --

      Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
    6. Re:There is only one true keyboard... by Teilo · · Score: 5, Informative

      On a side note, it's funny that there have been no Mac trolls so far :)

      That's because Mac users smart enough to buy a Das Keyboard are also smart enough to find the setting in System Preferences that lets you swap the Command and Option keys so that it behaves as expected. In Leopard, this can even be done device-by-device, thus alleviating CmdrTaco's problem.

      Using ControllerMate, I was even able to add volume keys and an Eject button (used the PrtScr, Scroll Lock, and Pause buttons for volume.)

      I love my Das Keyboard II.

      --
      Mir tut es leid, Menschen daß Einfältigfehlersuchenbaumfolgendenaffen sind.
  2. The old IBM 101 Keyboard by monkeyboythom · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not only does it have the best spring action on the key, but it has the heft to kill a man.

    Just trust me on that last bit.

    1. Re:The old IBM 101 Keyboard by EvilMonkeySlayer · · Score: 5, Funny

      Is that you Hans?

    2. Re:The old IBM 101 Keyboard by sed+quid+in+infernos · · Score: 5, Funny

      I trust you, but "I smacked a man with a keyboard in Reno, just to watch him die" doesn't have the same ring to it.

    3. Re:The old IBM 101 Keyboard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's his secret... strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.

  3. The only thing I want to know... by Xtense · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why don't they sell keyboards without these stupid windows-keys? I keep my old IBMish clone keyboard in top shape just so I don't have to endure getting used to such a gap in-between of Ctrl and Alt, and a much shorter space. I have no use for these additional keys, and I bet I'm not the only guy around who despises them. Why aren't old-style keyboards on the market? That's what I want to know.

    (And yes, I realize this is probably a years-old question)

    --
    "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams [...]."
    1. Re:The only thing I want to know... by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Informative

      Why don't they sell keyboards without these stupid windows-keys?

      Because the windows keys are really, really useful? They give you 3 more keys in easy reach of your thumbs. I dislike the current trend to remove some of them. If yiu want to know how to get the best out of them, try running the following command:

      man xmodmap

      and if you want to do something handy with the key, try:

      man fvwm2

      Which reminds me... the reviewer complained about having to do lots of key remapping every day. Is this really the case? With a good system (eg, X) you can keep lists of kemappings in a file and just apply the whole file in one go. You can even bind the command to do that to a menu in any good window manager. That way, you can have as many keyboard types as you wish, for instance wierd laptop internal, external UK and external US.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    2. Re:The only thing I want to know... by Hatta · · Score: 5, Funny

      Win + R opens the "run" box

      The only thing missing is a built-in shortcut to open a command prompt.

      Well that, and a functional command prompt.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  4. No, it's not a split-key ergonomic keyboard by SpecialAgentXXX · · Score: 5, Informative

    After I first started using ergonomic split-key keyboards over a decade ago, I can't go back to the old-style "bust your wrists" keyboard. After 5 min of typing, my wrists hurt.

    So, no, Das Keyboard is NOT the best keyboard ever made. Microsoft's Natural Ergonomic 4000 is still the best IMNSHO.

    1. Re:No, it's not a split-key ergonomic keyboard by value_added · · Score: 5, Insightful

      After 5 min of typing, my wrists hurt.

      Has the possibility occured to you that you don't know how to type?

      If your wrists aren't parallel to the keyboard and completely relaxed, you most likely don't. Double, if you're resting your wrists on something, and your hands and fingers are splayed up in the air like the legs of a cheap Las Vegas hooker.

      If an "ergonomic" keyboard works for you, that's great. But to me, that's a lot like saying there's nothing better than a big fat comfy chair for people who like to slouch. Who can argue with that? The irony, though, is that it's only in conversations that involve keyboards where people raise such ideas, while those who play piano, cello, guitar, violin or anything else that requires accuracy, dexterity and speed for 12 hours a day have no complaints, suffer no epidemic of carpal tunnel injuries, nor show interest in theories of how deviating from established technique would improve things.

      But while we're on the subject of theories, my own pet theory is that aside from the fact that few people today can be bothered to actually study typing, the height of desktops is mostly to blame. They're just too damned high. While the height does offset the too-low monitor problem, trying to type properly at that height is, if not next to impossible, then definitely problematic.

  5. And when you hit Ctrl-Alt-Del... by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...you get Das Boot.

  6. Caps-Lock key by QuietLagoon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I really wish that one keyboard vendor would take a stand, and move that CapsLock key to a more remote part of the keyboard. It is rarely used, and often accidentally hit.

  7. Just a Keytronick KT-2001 usb sprayed black by Depili · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have one of them and they are just a trusty old KT-2001 "ergoforce" keyboard sprayed black, it's sticker on the bottom and usb-id both confirm that.

    While KT-2001 is quite excellent keyboard, the das keyboard is just plain overprized, also it comes in only the us layout.

    Pity that I only have a tech demo kt-2001 as an alternative, as it's candy colour-coded spring stiffnesses are quite ugly, but atleast it has scandinavian layout.

  8. Das Keyboard Ultimate! by InvisblePinkUnicorn · · Score: 5, Funny

    For only $130 you too can have a keyboard with no labels on the keys! This is perfect for learning how to type!!

    Because these days, electrical tape is bound to set you back a hefty sum.

  9. Re:Dishwasher? by UnknowingFool · · Score: 5, Funny

    THHEEE oNLLY Issue wwwwithhh thaaat issss yOU haaavvveee TTOOO kLeett itTt ddDryy& FIIRRRST. NNOOtttt L**Iikke meEEE.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  10. No, not really by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ergonomic keyboards have the keys in the positions your hands are supposed to be. It's a neutral position. There's plenty of research as to this, but really you just need to look at the position your arms and wrists take when you use one.

    As to you using a normal keyboard with no problems, well that's great, and most people can. Most of the population doesn't suffer from RSI, even when they do things improperly. However if you do, you need to deal with it, and part of that is getting ergonomic input devices.

    If you are really interested in this sort of thing, you should do some research. Most of what you know, the "mother's common knowledge" stuff is probably wrong. Like the idea that sitting up straight is the best idea. Nope. Reclining is a very healthy thing to do, and indeed the very best ergonomic chairs are made to support working in a reclined position.

  11. Best Keyboard for unix geek... by mritunjai · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Best Keyboard for unix geek... is a Sun Type 7

    Reasons:
    * Damn good tactile feedback
    * Heavy
    * Has 15 (yes fifteen) extra function keys
    * Dedicated meta, compose and alt-graph keys.
    * 3 USB Ports (on top, not sides), including a hidden one for mouse.
    * Comes in a variety of native layouts
        - Traditional PC
        - UNIX (American)
        - UNIX (British)

    Country kit is $70 and comes with a keyboard and (a damn good ambidextrous) mouse. Choose carefully. Part numbers are google away.

    --
    - mritunjai