Links: das keyboard MFR Page / Specifications / Show Official Info /

das keyboard is a clicky keyboard that's surprisingly addictive. Built on uber-high quality cherry micro-switches that you can really bang down on, the positive feel of this minimalist keyboard is sure to delight serious keyboarders, that is, people who live to slam words (or code) onto a screen. True, it's a bit noisy, but all we can say is, if it's too loud, you're too young...

das keyboard takes that crisp, positive feel and brings it back, but with a lighter touch. It's a bit louder than say, my Logitech MX5500...actually, since that keyboard is virtually silent, it's a lot louder than it. But this has a certain value that you may just find indispensable. When you press down on a key, you know it's down. It's a very solid feeling that's hard to explain, but without any of the "mush" that's unavoidable in a quieter keyboard, where you lose some of the energy from each keystroke, which slows your finger rebound rate. It's not quiet, but it's crisp, decisive and fast.

This is a keyboard with a mission, and that mission is pounding out words old school. If that's what you're into, das keyboard is a virtuoso instrument for classical wordsmithing or writing deep code. In either case, pros will find themselves moving into a nirvana like state that they only dimly remember from their youth. On the other hand, if you're looking for something to surf the web, control your computer volume, open email and play/pause you music player all from one place...das keyboard is not the axe to rock you.

It's initially surprising that das keyboard isn't wireless, in a day when any keyboard over 15 bucks sneers at the cord. Well, this slab of keystrokes sneers right back at them, for the same reason that gamers don't like wireless mice. Lag is just too much of a drag for them to put up with, and though there are some pretty fast wireless protocols out there, nothing beats a wire. das keyboard comes with a six foot one, btw, so you can move around with it if you want. Odds are you won't though, because you'll want to optimize your keyboarding experience by setting it up in just the right place and never moving it again. Something nice to note is that it seems to play well with other devices, allowing me to keep a wireless keyboard hooked in at the same time, so you can have the best of both worlds.

The design approach is really quite interesting. Squarish, with black piano finish, it' looks like it would be a home next to a baby grand, or at least a professional mixer, with serious vibes coming off it in waves. This is the second generation of the keyboard, and they've done some useful tweaks to the design, including adding a pair of high speed USB ports, the gloss piano black surface, and some subtle blue LEDs on the deck that it took us a few minutes to figure out what they're there for (numlock, capslock, scrollock...duh) since das keyboard comes without a manual. It don't need no stinking manual. Or drivers. Just a user with a passion for pressing keys. Lots of them.

The other tweak that this keyboard comes with is pretty mindblowing in itself. Now you can get das keyboard with letters on it. The first version was actually designed blank so that typists could focus on the keystrokes not looking at the keys, which anyone who ever took typing in high school will tell you is how it's done. After all, you've never seen a professional musician show up with their instrument labeled with all the notes, have you? You can still get it that way, but you don't have too. The new letters version uses a solid high contrast white on black with strong enough letters so you can clearly see what your doing, if you ever stop long enough to look at your fingers. Personally, I'd like a cheat sheet that would pop up on my screen so I could find pesky function and control keys, but otherwise I love the idea.

The bottom line, in our not so humble opinion, is that the more you use das keyboard the worse other keyboards feel. Seriously.