13 Responses to “Das Keyboard - II”

1. ruertar Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 11:22 am

   i really want one of these. i loved the old IBM keyboards.

2. Bo Parsons Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 11:27 am

   I absolutely love this keyboard. It bring back the feeling of the old school IBM keyboards that I grew up with while being somewhat stylish (not that that really matters). It has really helped with my typing speed, and the clickyness of the keys lets me know when I’ve misses a key without necessarily having to look at what i’m typing. It’s an excellent keyboard that I would recommend to anyone that already touch types, but would like to improve their speed even more.

3. Ian Monroe Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 4:57 pm

   I use an old IBM keyboard. The letters are slowly rubbing off, so perhaps I’ll have the Das Keyboard ideal in a decade or so - I’m confident the keyboard will last that and longer (IBM must have built these keyboards for 24hour/day industrial use).

   This poll has a keyboard (Apple’s) thats essentially just a rumor of a future product, why not have the old IBM keyboard as an option as well.

4. Netmonger Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 8:00 pm

   I use an old IBM keyboard as well — I paid $120 for it!! I cant remember the model # off the top of my head, but its got the real mechanical keys, no numeric keypad (leaves room for a mouse), and has the ‘nipple’ in the middle of the keyboard that acts as a pointing device along with 3 button for the mouse buttons. (like a ThinkPad).
   Ive got both a wireless mouse and the ‘nipple’ working c/o USB. I use the ‘nipple’ when working on something that requires alot of typing (coding) - that way your hand never has to move back and forth from the keyboard to the mouse. And I have the wireless mouse available for gaming and use of the ’scoller wheel’.
   Its a mint setup: I highly recommend it.

5. Mike Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 9:15 pm

   Are you thinking of the IBM Model M keyboards? The ones with the buckling spring keyswitches?

   Best.
   Keyboard.
   Ever.

   A little loud, but an absolute dream to type on.

6. Gary Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 9:21 pm

   If you love this keyboard, you would like the tactilepro:
   http://matias.ca/tactilepro/index.php

   It has mechanical switches.

7. kuwert Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 9:35 pm

   Do not buy this. Das Keyboard is cool but it’s a $30 keyboard repackaged.
   http://www.amazon.com/104KEY-USB-Keyboard-Black-Layout/dp/B000RPVJJ4/

8. mrsno Says:
   November 21st, 2007 at 9:38 pm

   i own a das v2, had it for over a year and its the best i have tried, well worth the monies :)

9. Greg Says:
   November 22nd, 2007 at 12:57 am

   The first edition of the Das was a reskinned el-cheapo keyboard, but these new v2 ones are (as far as I can tell) unique and have mechanical keyswitches. Disregard what kuwert says. I have 2 IBM Model Ms and a Das - they’re all great. It may be heresy, but I think I prefer the lighter keyswitches of the Das. By the way, you can get NEW “Model M” keyboards from pckeyboard.com. They sprung off from IBM/Lexmark with the designs, tools, etc. so the keyboards are for the most part exactly the same.

10. Ryan Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 12:58 am

    I also have one of these. The feel and response of the keys is by far the best of any keyboard I have ever tried. I also have an IBM Model M keyboard. The keys on the Das Keyboard have a lighter feel than the IBM Model M. My opinion is that the IBM Model M is an excellent keyboard, but the feel of the Das Keyboard is better.

    The other thing the keyboard has going for it is the shape of the keyboard and the keys themselves. I don’t know how to explain it, other than to say that it is just the right shape, or close enough to most traditional keyboards, that it just “feels right”. The keys also have just the right concavity, angle, etc… so that your fingers settle on the keys easily and don’t lose their seating on the keys. I had a Apple keyboard, the one with the white keys and the clear base that was the standard a few years back. I have used IBM keyboards, Dell keyboards, Packard Bell keyboards, generic PC keyboards, Sun Microsystems keyboards, and Silicon Graphics keyboards, and I have never had the problems I had with the Apple keyboard. There was something about it that I couldn’t put my finger on. (pun intended) My fingers would slip off the keys, or I would lose my positioning of my hand on the keyboard. It’s hard to explain, but it would really slow down my typing. I think it had something to do with the angle of the keys, that the keys were fairly flat, or perhaps the spring or travel of the keys. Anyway, my whole point to this is that the shape of the keys is as important as anything else, and the Das Keyboard really gets it right in this category. Meanwhile, the latest abomination to come from Apple are the “chicklet” keyboards, which are a perfect example of form over function. So, getting back to my original point, the shape of the Das Keyboard works very well. The only one criticism I have in this category is that, rather than going with the standard of putting bumps on the “F” and “J” keys, they have keys with slightly “deeper” curves to them. You can find these keys by touch, but it is not as effective as the standard bumps.

    The biggest, and most obvious downside to the keyboard is that the lack of lettering on the keyboard. I don’t quite buy their official explanation of it, which is that it forces you to learn the keys and to touch type. I suspect that it was more to give it a “l33t” look. Whatever the reason, it can get annoying at times. So they say that it forces you to learn to touch type, and that you will get better over time. This is true, but it is a very painful process. I’m not talking about the standard letters and punctuation; I haven’t had to look at those since I learned to type 22 years ago. I’m talking about the number keys and their associated symbols. You use them so infrequently that the learning process becomes impractically slow. That is, you learn them so slow that it effectively is more of a hindrance than a help. This excruciatingly slow learning especially annoying while you are coding. You end up searching for the right key using a trial-and-error method, which really puts a wrench in the works. I really wish they would just sell a version with lettering on the keys. Yes, I know there are stickers you can buy, but I’d rather have the letters painted on rather than worry about changing the shape or feel of the keys by putting stickers on them.

    Other than that, when you first get the keyboard, you might be shocked when you pick it up. The keyboard as a whole just doesn’t feel very substantial, and the keys feel like very cheap, light plastic. But it types better than anything I’ve ever tried. In my opinion, it should be number one on the list in place of the “form over function” chicklet-key Apple keyboard.

11. Ryan Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 1:18 am

    By the way, I checked on the keyboard kuwert mentioned. (I thought I’d pick up a second one if it was true) If you go to the manufacturer’s website and look at the specs for the keyboard, it says that it uses “High quality membrane switch”. The Das Keyboard uses mechanical switches made by Cherry. So no, it’s not the same, and there is a big difference in feel between mechanical switch and membrane switch keyboards.

    I also checked out pckeyboard.com, and I like what I see! Thanks Greg!

12. Kay Says:
    November 27th, 2007 at 4:13 am

    Hehe so you are a keyboard-maniac as I am, Ryan! ^^

    Got das keyboard II, too. Its keys are very similar to the ones on IBM M5 which I’m missing in this gallery.
    After a huge keyboardtesting-odyssey I landed at das keyboard and thinking I’m satisfied now ^^
    Perfect keys and Uber1337 blank layout.
    Only cons: price in Germany nearly 90€ (for a cherry-keyboard which costs only 45€ with standart layout) and the “das Keyboard”-Logo sucks a bit cause of manipulated typography.

13. Zed Potts Says:
    October 7th, 2009 at 11:28 am

    Does anyone know where you can buy one of these? Unfortunately the II is no longer being sold. My girlfriend stepped on my II and they do service through Gremark, who want 40$ to fix it. If you want a cheaper alternative, check out the Scorpius m10 - they’re great keyboards for 50$, but some people have had solder issues with them.

    if someone reads this and knows where I can buy a das II, I’m chintimin@gmail.com

Have you an opinion, used or been to this object or place? Tell us what you like don't like about it, or post any specs/info about it: