I don't think any of these tech sites review the actual high end mechanical keyboards, i've never seen a site like this with a keyboard review/mechanical best of list that actually contained a single keyboard that should be there.
They also can make requests to mfr's for reviews. While smaller sites and individuals will be sent things by manufacturers for reviews to help spread the word about the new product, a site like Anandtech has the industry clout to approach a manufacturer and request a sample for an upcoming article.
I wonder if Anandtech could....persuade people to turn over samples for testing. Say publish an ever expanding db of devices they requested and either a link to the article or a refusal by the manufacturer to send one. Naturally people will ask why, what are they hiding and could look bad on them.
The same ones as the low end mechanical keyboards. The difference between Kailh or authentic Cherry MX isn't as noticeable as the difference between $5 rubber dome office keyboard and an average $70 mechanical keyboard.
Any further differentiation is pretty absurd and ultimately comes down to brand preference or possibly elitism. The entire point is that mechanical key switches have a MTBF of millions of keystrokes, which is several orders more reliable than rubber dome key switches.
The difference between a good mechanical keyboard and a crappy one is the same reasoning why rubber dome key switches were invented in the first place, cost cutting. The difference of type of plastic used in a part can be the difference of lasting for 10's of years without reacting to sunlight and oils/grease/dirt from people's hands/fingers or just making it long enough to exceed the keyboard's product warranty. It is the difference between using double-shot keycaps vs "painted and laser etched". A double-shot keycap will never wear out the character on the key from normal use, but laser etched keycaps will wear at some point as the paint does not last forever (unlike physical plastic which will last hundreds of years). The support braces used are another huge area of cost cutting which ultimately affects how well the keyboard survives. And then there is the matter of the switches being properly secured and supported into the PCB (a quick way to cut costs is to skimp on that physical connection, leading to solder points cracking over use as they take the load of the fingers hitting the key).
I have a Razer Blackwidow Tournament Stealth 2014 and a Das Keyboard 4C Pro TKL and the difference is entirely down to build quality. I actually prefer the typing experience on the Razer, but you can clearly tell the quality of the build of the Das is much better. That being said, I have never had any keyboard in the last 20 years break due to poor build quality of the case, keys, cable or anything else, so its arguable the build quality doesn't add up to much in real terms. I have had the WASD keys on an expensive membrane board get mushy after 5 years of use, but that's still 5 years of use for under $100 which again to me seems trivial as far as the expense of replacing it.
I can understand exactly why you would buy the Das Pro model featured here, the USB 3.0 and media controls as well as the clean but sharp aesthetic work perfectly in the office. If you are using it for productivity, the price also becomes trivial, so being higher quality makes sense. Plus there is little to no chance people will be dropping a Corsair RGB into the office without looking like a complete tool, so this seems to hit the target market perfectly.
In the home however, the prime board starts to make little to no sense, outside of brand appeal. If it still had the USB and/or media controls the price might work, but where it is now, there are simply more feature rich products for less money, so it's going to have a tough time selling on build quality alone.
All they needed to do here IMO was take the previous model, drop PBT caps on it, upgrade the hub to USB 3 and keep that in both models and you would have a compelling product. As it is, I would have a hard time recommending this over a Deck or Ducky board for professional or home use and I have had two Das boards previously.
The difference comes down to build quality and keycap material. Any POS that uses clear ABS (garbage plastic) keycaps that are then painted a dark color except for the legend to create cheap backlighting instead of doing true double shots should automatically be given 1 star out of pure principle.
On a positive note though, painting (or "coating" in a rubberized spray paint if they try to spin it as a feature) completely negates the importance of using better plastics as the cap material in the first place so it really didn't matter if they used cheap ABS or PBT.
For example, my logitech media keyboard (membrane) uses painted characters but the keycaps and plastic case and it stays the same color (black, means no clear ABS)
For an actual high end mechanical keboard, you would have to look at the original high end keyboard from IBM. The model M. Build like a tank, and still sought after by many. Fetching prices of around $100-400. You can find more information on this page: http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/ Nowadays, there is a newer model build by http://www.unicomp.com/. Honestly, once you get used to typing on such a keyboard, you never go back. Just give it a try.
Look, I have two mechanical keyboards, one at home and recently another one at work. We all know that rubber keyboards don't last as long, but we'll know that 1 million key presses are already more than enough and the 50 millions of mechanicals are not a REAL need or advantage (unless maybe you are in harsh environments like industrial? maybe!).
We buy mechanical for the feeling and for the noise. Someone also for performance in gaming (not me) and someone else for status (again not me, but read the internet and you see it immediately).
Membrane keyboards last forever (unless they are 5 dollar a piece) and are fine for almost everyone.
Still, the feeling and sound of mechanicals makes me feel good :) Not a need.
Perfect example would be any of the Razer Blackwidow boards, custom switches rated to 80 million presses... But the braided USB cable reliably frays and breaks inside 6 months and its not a spare they sell. Also the LEDs aren't rated to last anywhere near that long, so it's all really just marketing when it comes down to it.
Really you should be buying a board based on size, USB hub, media controls and wrist wrest, not switches or longevity. That's coming from someone who has purchased everything from Das and Cherry boards all the way down to cheap Indian and Chinese "fake" boards and really the typing experience and durability has very little to do with price.
Speak for yourself. I got into mechanical keyboards, because I was annoyed by replacing membrane keyboards that kept having keys that stopped actuating. I am nice to my hardware ( well outside of something about my fingers wearing not just letters off, but grooves in cheap plastic keys). Keys stopped working on a so called indestructible silicon roll up, board I liked. I was tired of stuff that kept failing and dug in with research and found mechanicals. Honorable mention to compaq membrane board I bought in emergency as was only thing available for sale; That one did not die, but was not what I wanted, still have it, just in case. Quiet typing and changing ergonomic needs, mean I probably will never go back to membrane. I do measurably better wpm on mechanical, while my wrists and forearms thank me for lighter touch actuation. On an expensive keyboard ( or even just office work horses), who wants some keys that stop being legible in a year? A blank keyboard looks better than that. I don't mind blank, but I've learned I'm in the minority. Businesses actually need labeled boards. Replace a heavy traffic keyboard with one with blank keys and observe. The results will surprise you and you will have pranked.
It's true, durability is a non-reason for purchasing a mechanical keyboard. It's more like a checkbox feature used by marketing departments to help people feel justified in spending 20x more than necessary to get a keyboard for their computers. The same is true of proclaimed performance benefits in computer games that simply cannot be measured or proven valid.
The bottom line is that mechanical keyboards exist in the present time because they can be sold for a higher profit due to customer perception that's been built partly on nostalgia for older generations of such keyboards (IBM Model Ms, for example) and partly on the mythology invented by marketing departments. Their increased margins are all the excuse a company needs to produce and sell a $200 keyboard.
I write novels and other lengthy works of fiction (mostly fluff and source material for RPG worlds) and have done so on membrane and mechanical keyboards. The membrane boards I use last just as long and even if I only got 2 years of use out of each one, at $10 each, they'd be a far better value than a $100-200 mechanical keyboard that worked for ten years.
However, pointing that out will just stir the pot up because people who have purchased mechanical keyboards will naturally seek to avoid negative feelings. It's fundamentally human to seek good feelings and the average mind will simply find a way it thinks is rational that refutes your claims.
sorry that's not entirely accurate. it's not all customer perception. I don't have any nostalgia for an IBM model (never owned one) and don't care longevity or other marketing crap. I tried a mechanical keyboard and its biggest advantage is the nicer typing feel. The presence of an actuation point on certain variants means i don't have to bottom out the keys, and can therefore type faster and lighter. And therefore it feels nicer. in that regard it's objectively better and i didn't have to perform various mental tricks to rationalize it. I'm certainly not in the minority here either.
For every person I've met that cites a non-impact actuation point of mechanical keyboards, I've also noted that none of them actually type that way. The key goes all the way down for those people regardless of the keyboard. When you're dealing with a few millimeters of travel and pecking out something on a keyboard, the human brain and muscle/tendon structure is simply incapable of physically reacting that quickly or with that degree of precision while still delivering even a modest rate of key entry. Nevermind when it's under the relative duress of something like a game where its busy reacting to stimulus rather than processing the best way to lovingly stroke its overpriced keyboard. As with everything else, higher actuation points are nothing more than bullet points on the keyboard's box that help justify the added expense to the buyer.
you met a few people that type a certain way and extrapolated that to a theory of the human brain? talk about sweeping generalisations! i touch type (not pecking) and i don't bottom out unless i'm gaming. I don't type much faster while bottoming out either. You're free to disbelieve me, but it's increasingly looking like you're the one trying to rationalise sticking to membrane keyboards.
If you don't count the Das keyboards as high-end then I can't imagine what would satisfy you. I've used a lot of keyboards and I now own three of the Das boards. The 4 Pro is my favorite.
I have hopes that the Keyboard.io will exceed it, but we'll see if they ever get their manufacturing running.
The target market is very hard to pin down because of how commonplace it is to play video games these days and how broad the definition of "gamer" is now. After all, a grannie rocking it out hardcore on Pogo.com is as much of a gamer as a 22 year old boy that's gone bloodshot from playing Call of Duty. Given the broad demographics, I think most companies simply can't cope and pick that they think is the most common stereotype to target with products, hoping not to lose appeal to everyone else based on packaging and sales speak.
Yeah but using words like that on the cover of your product, even if for "badasses," just seems like a terrible choice in marketing. Good for them that they have such a company that clearly doesn't care all that much about being PC but overall it's probably not a good move.
I don't really think it's a good marketing method either, but I'm willing to give a company a little wiggle room on that because none of them understand their target market beyond the basement dwelling gamer man-boy stereotype. If, like me, you've always been outside of that stereotypical demographic, then you eventually get used to ignoring marketing and focusing on the product's more utilitarian elements to determine if its right for you.
Try kinesis-ergo.com. I've been using their keyboards for 15 years and could never go back to a traditional keyboard for regular use. Good for productivity but probably not gaming.
I have a Das Keyboard and it's fairly nice to type on and the build quality is great.
However, the ruler is daft. There are no rubber feet on it, so when it's installed, the keyboard just slides all over the place, which makes it completely useless.
Then you have the caps lock light, which is hidden between two rows of keys, so you cannot see the light from the standard sitting position. Other lights are hidden there too.
I still use a generation 2 DAS Keyboard at work which is now called the Ultimate because of the blank keycaps. The DAS keyboards have always been tanks in my experience. Great thing about the blank keycaps, is that there are so few people that can touch type now in the workplace, that no one is going to screw with you, if you leave your computer unlocked.
Seriously since Anand left, what is being reviewed here has really been poor. There are some good ones, but the amount of keyboard review, lack of GPU reviews, etc are troubling.
I'm finding it a bit silly not to include audio and media keys to gaming keyboard. Or the other way around, not to include backlight to more expensive (more premium?) one. I like the design, though.
I've been looking for a keyboard with a simple functional volume knob without the gaudy gamer styling. Das Keyboard 4 is the first mechanical keyboard that's a perfect fit.
I have a couple of Cherry branded keyboards with blue MX switches. I'm not much of a gamer, but am not bothered by the sound. The keycaps are laser etched. I doubt they will wear out in my lifetime. Guess it won't last for generations in my family. Boo hoo. I'm a pounder so I love mechanical keyboards. Built like a tank. No backlights or multimedia buttons. Just how I like it.
My first keyboard (before they became commonplace) had Chinese characters next to the English ones. The pictures online had no Chinese characters so I returned it. The replacement had Chinese characters as well. They retailer gave me a 50% discount just to keep it. Ended up being under $35. Now, I've grown attached to the Chinese caps. The only part that didn't last was a cable that one of my cats chewed through. I got a replacement from some kind soul on geekhack. Those guys are cultish when it comes to keyboards. I just like having something that I can type on all day and not get fatigued.
I noticed a thing in the article that I missed before. The author wrote, "programmers tend to reprogram certain keys to insert ready, frequently repeating code" and I have to say, "No, we don't."
We have editors for that. Programmable editors, because we are programmers. Java editors like Eclipse get extensions in Java. Atom in Javascript. Emacs in elisp, VIM in vimscript, LUA or Python. Etc.
No one bothers writing macros for their keyboard. That would be incredibly limiting and a dumb idea.
Well, you don't actually need to write a macro if the software allows you to just copy-paste your code into it. :)
Depending on what exactly that is you do, sure you can be using macros to insert common, repeating commands and very efficiently so. I know quite a few people who do that myself. No matter how good the editor is, the code is not going to write itself. For example, Eclipse will create your packages and classes, but it won't start adding things like fields, declarations and strings. Why type "//fields - private field 1/2/3/4...X" when you can just insert it and then just type the field names, then do the same with Constructors and CTRL+Space your way through the code from then on? Unless if Eclipse got a lot smarter since I last used it, and that was several years ago, you certainly need to start typing a lot of repetitive commands when you need to program something.
Programming aside, I even do it when I expect a piece of text, even if it is just a name or cell code, to repeat itself many times in whatever what I'm working on is. I just insert it as a macro by pasting it into the keyboard's software and then just press that button whenever I need to.
Do not mistake that with having the keyboard insert huge chunks of text/code for you; well, at least not if you don't have some weird repeating template that you work on all the time for some very strange reason.
Thanks for the review! I've been using mechanical keyboards for some years now, thanks to this site, as the membrane keyboards kept getting worse and worse by the year.
I like that Das Keyboard has media controls on their keyboards now-that was the one thing preventing me from buying one before.
I've only used Cherry MX Brown, so it's possible I'd like something else better, but I like them a lot and don't plan on ever using a keyboard that doesn't use Cherry MX.
I'll definitely look at Das Keyboard next time I buy! (Among other things, I've got two Razer keyboards, but they switched from Cherry MX to some offbrand thing they of course claim is better, so I'm done with Razer...)
one note on mechanical keyboards, particularly the Model M and current clones. the M is a membrane keyboard, meaning you have to bottom the key to get the character. Cherry type switches don't require full stroke, and are sometimes credited with being easier on the hands. I worked on Ms for years, and then membranes when I had to. I'm typing on a Das and have been for some years, and still haven't lost the habit of bottoming the stroke.
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WorldWithoutMadness - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Please do a review about Topre realforce RGB!Krause - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
I don't think any of these tech sites review the actual high end mechanical keyboards, i've never seen a site like this with a keyboard review/mechanical best of list that actually contained a single keyboard that should be there.Flunk - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
They review what the manufacturers send them.tachi1247 - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
They also can make requests to mfr's for reviews. While smaller sites and individuals will be sent things by manufacturers for reviews to help spread the word about the new product, a site like Anandtech has the industry clout to approach a manufacturer and request a sample for an upcoming article.Holliday75 - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
I wonder if Anandtech could....persuade people to turn over samples for testing. Say publish an ever expanding db of devices they requested and either a link to the article or a refusal by the manufacturer to send one. Naturally people will ask why, what are they hiding and could look bad on them.JCB994 - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
What are the high end mechanical keyboards?JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
The same ones as the low end mechanical keyboards. The difference between Kailh or authentic Cherry MX isn't as noticeable as the difference between $5 rubber dome office keyboard and an average $70 mechanical keyboard.Any further differentiation is pretty absurd and ultimately comes down to brand preference or possibly elitism. The entire point is that mechanical key switches have a MTBF of millions of keystrokes, which is several orders more reliable than rubber dome key switches.
Fallen Kell - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
The difference between a good mechanical keyboard and a crappy one is the same reasoning why rubber dome key switches were invented in the first place, cost cutting. The difference of type of plastic used in a part can be the difference of lasting for 10's of years without reacting to sunlight and oils/grease/dirt from people's hands/fingers or just making it long enough to exceed the keyboard's product warranty. It is the difference between using double-shot keycaps vs "painted and laser etched". A double-shot keycap will never wear out the character on the key from normal use, but laser etched keycaps will wear at some point as the paint does not last forever (unlike physical plastic which will last hundreds of years). The support braces used are another huge area of cost cutting which ultimately affects how well the keyboard survives. And then there is the matter of the switches being properly secured and supported into the PCB (a quick way to cut costs is to skimp on that physical connection, leading to solder points cracking over use as they take the load of the fingers hitting the key).Jetpil0t01 - Sunday, January 15, 2017 - link
I have a Razer Blackwidow Tournament Stealth 2014 and a Das Keyboard 4C Pro TKL and the difference is entirely down to build quality. I actually prefer the typing experience on the Razer, but you can clearly tell the quality of the build of the Das is much better. That being said, I have never had any keyboard in the last 20 years break due to poor build quality of the case, keys, cable or anything else, so its arguable the build quality doesn't add up to much in real terms. I have had the WASD keys on an expensive membrane board get mushy after 5 years of use, but that's still 5 years of use for under $100 which again to me seems trivial as far as the expense of replacing it.I can understand exactly why you would buy the Das Pro model featured here, the USB 3.0 and media controls as well as the clean but sharp aesthetic work perfectly in the office. If you are using it for productivity, the price also becomes trivial, so being higher quality makes sense. Plus there is little to no chance people will be dropping a Corsair RGB into the office without looking like a complete tool, so this seems to hit the target market perfectly.
In the home however, the prime board starts to make little to no sense, outside of brand appeal. If it still had the USB and/or media controls the price might work, but where it is now, there are simply more feature rich products for less money, so it's going to have a tough time selling on build quality alone.
All they needed to do here IMO was take the previous model, drop PBT caps on it, upgrade the hub to USB 3 and keep that in both models and you would have a compelling product. As it is, I would have a hard time recommending this over a Deck or Ducky board for professional or home use and I have had two Das boards previously.
Krause - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
The difference comes down to build quality and keycap material. Any POS that uses clear ABS (garbage plastic) keycaps that are then painted a dark color except for the legend to create cheap backlighting instead of doing true double shots should automatically be given 1 star out of pure principle.On a positive note though, painting (or "coating" in a rubberized spray paint if they try to spin it as a feature) completely negates the importance of using better plastics as the cap material in the first place so it really didn't matter if they used cheap ABS or PBT.
Lolimaster - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
For example, my logitech media keyboard (membrane) uses painted characters but the keycaps and plastic case and it stays the same color (black, means no clear ABS)Murloc - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
what if I don't care about the paint chipping as long as it works?Krause - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
Then you're clearly not looking for a high end mechanical keyboard.AlexanderTheSexy - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link
For an actual high end mechanical keboard, you would have to look at the original high end keyboard from IBM. The model M. Build like a tank, and still sought after by many. Fetching prices of around $100-400. You can find more information on this page: http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/Nowadays, there is a newer model build by http://www.unicomp.com/.
Honestly, once you get used to typing on such a keyboard, you never go back. Just give it a try.
Lolimaster - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
My rubber logitech media keyboard has 0 issues being my daily companion for near 10years.buxe2quec - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
Look, I have two mechanical keyboards, one at home and recently another one at work.We all know that rubber keyboards don't last as long, but we'll know that 1 million key presses are already more than enough and the 50 millions of mechanicals are not a REAL need or advantage (unless maybe you are in harsh environments like industrial? maybe!).
We buy mechanical for the feeling and for the noise.
Someone also for performance in gaming (not me) and someone else for status (again not me, but read the internet and you see it immediately).
Membrane keyboards last forever (unless they are 5 dollar a piece) and are fine for almost everyone.
Still, the feeling and sound of mechanicals makes me feel good :)
Not a need.
Jetpil0t01 - Sunday, January 15, 2017 - link
Perfect example would be any of the Razer Blackwidow boards, custom switches rated to 80 million presses... But the braided USB cable reliably frays and breaks inside 6 months and its not a spare they sell. Also the LEDs aren't rated to last anywhere near that long, so it's all really just marketing when it comes down to it.Really you should be buying a board based on size, USB hub, media controls and wrist wrest, not switches or longevity. That's coming from someone who has purchased everything from Das and Cherry boards all the way down to cheap Indian and Chinese "fake" boards and really the typing experience and durability has very little to do with price.
Washuai - Monday, January 23, 2017 - link
Speak for yourself. I got into mechanical keyboards, because I was annoyed by replacing membrane keyboards that kept having keys that stopped actuating. I am nice to my hardware ( well outside of something about my fingers wearing not just letters off, but grooves in cheap plastic keys). Keys stopped working on a so called indestructible silicon roll up, board I liked. I was tired of stuff that kept failing and dug in with research and found mechanicals. Honorable mention to compaq membrane board I bought in emergency as was only thing available for sale; That one did not die, but was not what I wanted, still have it, just in case.Quiet typing and changing ergonomic needs, mean I probably will never go back to membrane. I do measurably better wpm on mechanical, while my wrists and forearms thank me for lighter touch actuation.
On an expensive keyboard ( or even just office work horses), who wants some keys that stop being legible in a year? A blank keyboard looks better than that.
I don't mind blank, but I've learned I'm in the minority. Businesses actually need labeled boards. Replace a heavy traffic keyboard with one with blank keys and observe. The results will surprise you and you will have pranked.
BrokenCrayons - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
It's true, durability is a non-reason for purchasing a mechanical keyboard. It's more like a checkbox feature used by marketing departments to help people feel justified in spending 20x more than necessary to get a keyboard for their computers. The same is true of proclaimed performance benefits in computer games that simply cannot be measured or proven valid.The bottom line is that mechanical keyboards exist in the present time because they can be sold for a higher profit due to customer perception that's been built partly on nostalgia for older generations of such keyboards (IBM Model Ms, for example) and partly on the mythology invented by marketing departments. Their increased margins are all the excuse a company needs to produce and sell a $200 keyboard.
I write novels and other lengthy works of fiction (mostly fluff and source material for RPG worlds) and have done so on membrane and mechanical keyboards. The membrane boards I use last just as long and even if I only got 2 years of use out of each one, at $10 each, they'd be a far better value than a $100-200 mechanical keyboard that worked for ten years.
However, pointing that out will just stir the pot up because people who have purchased mechanical keyboards will naturally seek to avoid negative feelings. It's fundamentally human to seek good feelings and the average mind will simply find a way it thinks is rational that refutes your claims.
maximumGPU - Thursday, January 12, 2017 - link
sorry that's not entirely accurate. it's not all customer perception. I don't have any nostalgia for an IBM model (never owned one) and don't care longevity or other marketing crap. I tried a mechanical keyboard and its biggest advantage is the nicer typing feel. The presence of an actuation point on certain variants means i don't have to bottom out the keys, and can therefore type faster and lighter. And therefore it feels nicer. in that regard it's objectively better and i didn't have to perform various mental tricks to rationalize it.I'm certainly not in the minority here either.
BrokenCrayons - Thursday, January 12, 2017 - link
For every person I've met that cites a non-impact actuation point of mechanical keyboards, I've also noted that none of them actually type that way. The key goes all the way down for those people regardless of the keyboard. When you're dealing with a few millimeters of travel and pecking out something on a keyboard, the human brain and muscle/tendon structure is simply incapable of physically reacting that quickly or with that degree of precision while still delivering even a modest rate of key entry. Nevermind when it's under the relative duress of something like a game where its busy reacting to stimulus rather than processing the best way to lovingly stroke its overpriced keyboard. As with everything else, higher actuation points are nothing more than bullet points on the keyboard's box that help justify the added expense to the buyer.maximumGPU - Thursday, January 12, 2017 - link
you met a few people that type a certain way and extrapolated that to a theory of the human brain? talk about sweeping generalisations!i touch type (not pecking) and i don't bottom out unless i'm gaming. I don't type much faster while bottoming out either. You're free to disbelieve me, but it's increasingly looking like you're the one trying to rationalise sticking to membrane keyboards.
BrokenCrayons - Thursday, January 12, 2017 - link
"You're free to disbelieve me.." I will, thanks. :3Iloveherb - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
Most of the keyboards on this list https://www.gamewire.org/pc-gaming/best-mechanical...Ducky Shine, Cherry MX Board, Das Keyboard 4 etc.
I think the main difference is the build quality
Zan Lynx - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
If you don't count the Das keyboards as high-end then I can't imagine what would satisfy you. I've used a lot of keyboards and I now own three of the Das boards. The 4 Pro is my favorite.I have hopes that the Keyboard.io will exceed it, but we'll see if they ever get their manufacturing running.
Iloveherb - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
I agree, Das keyboards are greatJohnMD1022 - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
Which do you consider to be high end? I used a series of IBM Model Ms for years, and am now using a Razer.JohnMD1022 - Monday, January 16, 2017 - link
Topre? I tried one for a few hours, put it back in the carton and gave it to a friend who loves it. Tastes differ.MTEK - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
"The Ultimate Experience for Badasses".... Looks like a nice keyboard and all.... but are they mocking their customers?BrokenCrayons - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
The target market is very hard to pin down because of how commonplace it is to play video games these days and how broad the definition of "gamer" is now. After all, a grannie rocking it out hardcore on Pogo.com is as much of a gamer as a 22 year old boy that's gone bloodshot from playing Call of Duty. Given the broad demographics, I think most companies simply can't cope and pick that they think is the most common stereotype to target with products, hoping not to lose appeal to everyone else based on packaging and sales speak.niva - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Yeah but using words like that on the cover of your product, even if for "badasses," just seems like a terrible choice in marketing. Good for them that they have such a company that clearly doesn't care all that much about being PC but overall it's probably not a good move.Samus - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Germans.Krause - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
It's not even German, even the company name is marketing BS.BrokenCrayons - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
I don't really think it's a good marketing method either, but I'm willing to give a company a little wiggle room on that because none of them understand their target market beyond the basement dwelling gamer man-boy stereotype. If, like me, you've always been outside of that stereotypical demographic, then you eventually get used to ignoring marketing and focusing on the product's more utilitarian elements to determine if its right for you.Michael Bay - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
>2017>caring about PC
I don`t think they are feminists there either, gasp.
crimson117 - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
It would be helpful to see a chart comparing features between these two keyboards.crimson117 - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Oops, here it is: http://www.daskeyboard.com/compare-keyboards/boeush - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
I'm a big fan of the ergonomics of Microsoft Natural keyboard.Wondering whether, if ever, there will be an actually ergonomic design with mechanical switches...
voicequal - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Try kinesis-ergo.com. I've been using their keyboards for 15 years and could never go back to a traditional keyboard for regular use. Good for productivity but probably not gaming.HMK - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
I have a Das Keyboard and it's fairly nice to type on and the build quality is great.However, the ruler is daft. There are no rubber feet on it, so when it's installed, the keyboard just slides all over the place, which makes it completely useless.
Then you have the caps lock light, which is hidden between two rows of keys, so you cannot see the light from the standard sitting position. Other lights are hidden there too.
Just barely worth the money, I'd say.
Ninhalem - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
I still use a generation 2 DAS Keyboard at work which is now called the Ultimate because of the blank keycaps. The DAS keyboards have always been tanks in my experience. Great thing about the blank keycaps, is that there are so few people that can touch type now in the workplace, that no one is going to screw with you, if you leave your computer unlocked.dan82 - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
If the keyboard is designed to last 10 years, shouldn't it have a USB Type C port?Otherwise, great review. I've been using a Das for years and still love the typing experience.
dave_the_nerd - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
adapters are cheap. Or just replace the cable.crimsonson - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Need more keyboard reviews....Seriously since Anand left, what is being reviewed here has really been poor. There are some good ones, but the amount of keyboard review, lack of GPU reviews, etc are troubling.
robotslave - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Give 'em a little credit-- the flood of power supply reviews seems to have dried up for the time being, at least.But yeah, still waiting on that review of the MacBook Pro with touchbar, guys.
nikon133 - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
I'm finding it a bit silly not to include audio and media keys to gaming keyboard. Or the other way around, not to include backlight to more expensive (more premium?) one. I like the design, though.Agent Smith - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Totally agree. If i'm buying premium keyboard why is it missing back lighting and palm rest?Bad decision !
fanofanand - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
Das price is too high! Nice looking keyboard but it doesn't provide anything exceptional in terms of value.voicequal - Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - link
I've been looking for a keyboard with a simple functional volume knob without the gaudy gamer styling. Das Keyboard 4 is the first mechanical keyboard that's a perfect fit.bigboxes - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
I have a couple of Cherry branded keyboards with blue MX switches. I'm not much of a gamer, but am not bothered by the sound. The keycaps are laser etched. I doubt they will wear out in my lifetime. Guess it won't last for generations in my family. Boo hoo. I'm a pounder so I love mechanical keyboards. Built like a tank. No backlights or multimedia buttons. Just how I like it.My first keyboard (before they became commonplace) had Chinese characters next to the English ones. The pictures online had no Chinese characters so I returned it. The replacement had Chinese characters as well. They retailer gave me a 50% discount just to keep it. Ended up being under $35. Now, I've grown attached to the Chinese caps. The only part that didn't last was a cable that one of my cats chewed through. I got a replacement from some kind soul on geekhack. Those guys are cultish when it comes to keyboards. I just like having something that I can type on all day and not get fatigued.
Zan Lynx - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
I noticed a thing in the article that I missed before. The author wrote, "programmers tend to reprogram certain keys to insert ready, frequently repeating code" and I have to say, "No, we don't."We have editors for that. Programmable editors, because we are programmers. Java editors like Eclipse get extensions in Java. Atom in Javascript. Emacs in elisp, VIM in vimscript, LUA or Python. Etc.
No one bothers writing macros for their keyboard. That would be incredibly limiting and a dumb idea.
E.Fyll - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
Well, you don't actually need to write a macro if the software allows you to just copy-paste your code into it. :)Depending on what exactly that is you do, sure you can be using macros to insert common, repeating commands and very efficiently so. I know quite a few people who do that myself. No matter how good the editor is, the code is not going to write itself. For example, Eclipse will create your packages and classes, but it won't start adding things like fields, declarations and strings. Why type "//fields - private field 1/2/3/4...X" when you can just insert it and then just type the field names, then do the same with Constructors and CTRL+Space your way through the code from then on? Unless if Eclipse got a lot smarter since I last used it, and that was several years ago, you certainly need to start typing a lot of repetitive commands when you need to program something.
Programming aside, I even do it when I expect a piece of text, even if it is just a name or cell code, to repeat itself many times in whatever what I'm working on is. I just insert it as a macro by pasting it into the keyboard's software and then just press that button whenever I need to.
Do not mistake that with having the keyboard insert huge chunks of text/code for you; well, at least not if you don't have some weird repeating template that you work on all the time for some very strange reason.
E.Fyll - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
"...in whatever what I'm working on is."And I'm not even drunk.
"...in whatever I'm working on."
Wolfpup - Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - link
Thanks for the review! I've been using mechanical keyboards for some years now, thanks to this site, as the membrane keyboards kept getting worse and worse by the year.I like that Das Keyboard has media controls on their keyboards now-that was the one thing preventing me from buying one before.
I've only used Cherry MX Brown, so it's possible I'd like something else better, but I like them a lot and don't plan on ever using a keyboard that doesn't use Cherry MX.
I'll definitely look at Das Keyboard next time I buy! (Among other things, I've got two Razer keyboards, but they switched from Cherry MX to some offbrand thing they of course claim is better, so I'm done with Razer...)
FunBunny2 - Thursday, January 12, 2017 - link
one note on mechanical keyboards, particularly the Model M and current clones. the M is a membrane keyboard, meaning you have to bottom the key to get the character. Cherry type switches don't require full stroke, and are sometimes credited with being easier on the hands. I worked on Ms for years, and then membranes when I had to. I'm typing on a Das and have been for some years, and still haven't lost the habit of bottoming the stroke.oneoff - Friday, January 13, 2017 - link
The Model M is most assuredly NOT a membrane keyboard.It is an ancient design that uses buckling springs.
FunBunny2 - Saturday, January 14, 2017 - link
-- The Model M is most assuredly NOT a membrane keyboard.it absolutely is. the buckling spring is just the actuation. the "switch" is embedded in a membrane at the bottom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard#Des...
note the animated little thingee on the right.
helvete - Tuesday, February 7, 2017 - link
"This can be very handy for quickly putting a PC to sleep/lock and then waking it up from the keyboard without having to reach for the tower..."I don't see this as an advantage, because:
- you can always set up "Power on by keyboard" settings in BIOS
- and it is _very_ inconvenient to hit a key like this by accident