Cult of Mac Review of Das Keyboard(Mechanical Keyboard)

[Smartazz]

I was doing some searches on how to best keep my keyboard clean and working optimally. I've had it for almost half a year and I absolutely love it and absolutely dread working on a non-mechanical keyboard, especially laptops. For starters I can type roughly 80wpm, whereas I cannot come close to that on a something like a Mac chiclet keyboard. Sure it's loud, but it's only annoying for the other people in the room. Some of those comments are utterly ridiculous too, saying that a flat chiclet keyboard is preferable. I guess the design of the Das just doesn't fit well with Apple's products, but I put function before form, especially since I write a lot everyday(My setup is also all black). Any mechanical keyboard owners here? Thoughts? Also, what's the best way to key these things working for as long as possible?

Link: http://www.cultofmac.com/148494/das...r-mac-is-like-a-jackhammer-for-typing-review/

 

[vbuggy]

I think many scissor-action keyboards - though not Apple's too-slim, really-bad-feedback POS's - are superior to Cherry's. Heck, the low-profile rubber domes I normally use I prefer over any of my remaining Filco's. The only 'mechanical' I can stand is Topre action - and reds at a pinch.

But people who switch to mechanical keyboards for the first time get all born-again about it. Some even speak like buckling-springs are like keyboard Nirvana. Instead of pressing them down really slowly and cooing over them like some uber-sad nerd, use one for 12 hours a day slaving over a 3090/etc in a commercial scenario and see how you feel. After that, a decent rubber dome or scissor will feel far more like keyboard nirvana.

I love the customisations they do on geekhack though. Still, wish they'd just come out and admit they miss playing with their Barbie dolls and it's what they do as a displacement activity now.

 

[Smartazz]

Interesting, I personally don't like scissor-switch keyboards myself, but to each their own. I had a model M when I was a kid and it's really nice to have a similar keyboard again. I also have to respectfully disagree about using these things for very long typing sessions as the increase in accuracy and typing speed are great. I went through four keyboards including some of Logitech's best before I settled on a Das. I've also used three different models of the Macbook Air, my Dell Studio 15 and none of them even compare. The Torpe Action looks pretty slick as well as it also has elevated keys which I think is a very nice feature in a keyboard.

 

[vbuggy]

Yes as you say, people do seem to arrive at 'mechanicals are better' when they haven't really had a chance to compare anything worthwhile, or a limited group of gear to say they've gone through.

A lot of people read statements like yours after having been on a crappy budget dome for years, get *one* mechanical, and go ZOMG THE SCALES HAVE DROPPED FROM MY EYES

 

[Smartazz]

So you think that all of Apple's keyboards and Logitech's $100+ keyboards are crap? I've also used Lenovo's supposedly amazing laptop keyboards and I wasn't impressed.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I think many scissor-action keyboards - though not Apple's too-slim, really-bad-feedback POS's - are superior to Cherry's. Heck, the low-profile rubber domes I normally use I prefer over any of my remaining Filco's. The only 'mechanical' I can stand is Topre action - and reds at a pinch.

But people who switch to mechanical keyboards for the first time get all born-again about it. Some even speak like buckling-springs are like keyboard Nirvana. Instead of pressing them down really slowly and cooing over them like some uber-sad nerd, use one for 12 hours a day slaving over a 3090/etc in a commercial scenario and see how you feel. After that, a decent rubber dome or scissor will feel far more like keyboard nirvana.

I love the customisations they do on geekhack though. Still, wish they'd just come out and admit they miss playing with their Barbie dolls and it's what they do as a displacement activity now.

QQ

 

[vbuggy]

So you think that all of Apple's keyboards and Logitech's $100+ keyboards are crap? I've also used Lenovo's supposedly amazing laptop keyboards and I wasn't impressed.

I like the Logitech Illuminated. It's one of the best scissor-action keyboards out there. The baseplate is a little flexy but the key action is near faultless IMO. Most of their regular and gaming rubber-domes though suck. Not a gaming keyboard though - it's mostly 2KRO.

And yes, the Apple scissors have a dreck action. At least it's an improvement over their previous-gen full size keyboards though, which were considerably more terrible. Both look great of course though, which is the point of Apple gear.

 

[Anubis]

the best non mech keyboard ive ever used was made by BenQ, it was a hybrid between a slim scissor and a normal rubber dome, looked like a slim but had a key press distance that was in between your normal slim desktop keyboard and a full rubber dome. I still prefer reds and blacks, i really cant stand laptop keyboards on modern laptops because of the chicklets

 

[vbuggy]

They were probably dome.

For me, the better short-throw domes (e.g. the Microsoft Sidewinder series) tend to make contact pretty much the moment you break the key, and because of the shorter-throw action generally speaking they tend to be as resistant to binding on off-center actuations as any mechanical. Of course they won't have the 'snicky' mechanical feel of... well, the mechs but when your hands are flying across the keyboard this is not really an issue.

Ultimately these days, given the quality of some of the better domes - and once again, I don't rate any full-size Logitech domes - you're buying into mechs for the gadget status and the appreciation of something mechanical. That's fine, but I see so many flawed and placebo-sprinkled arguments over their supposed functional superiority it's like watching a hi-fi forum discussion.

 

[grundledib]

While I disagree with the review and tend to prefer mechanical keyboards to scissor switch/ rubber dome keyboards, it's impossible to dismiss his argument simply because you prefer a certain type of keyboard. Keyboards, like mice, are entirely subjective; one person may attach more value to the feel of a key press than the sound of one, and in that case may well prefer a mechanical keyboard. Others may like keyboards to be as quiet as possible, or even prefer the feel of non-mechanical boards.

I'm firmly part of the former group, but I won't tell people that mechanical keyboards are better than non-mechanical keyboards in the same way as some processors perform better than others, because it boils down to personal preference. If someone were to ask me, however, to recommend a keyboard to them, I'd tell them about my Model M, say why I like it and give them a go on it. If they don't like it, that's fine.

I really am a fan of mechanical keyboards (call me a child if you will; we all have our own displacement activities), but I won't ever tell anyone that they're better than rubber domes or scissor switches.

Chiclets are the devil's work, though.

 

[Smartazz]

While I disagree with the review and tend to prefer mechanical keyboards to scissor switch/ rubber dome keyboards, it's impossible to dismiss his argument simply because you prefer a certain type of keyboard. Keyboards, like mice, are entirely subjective; one person may attach more value to the feel of a key press than the sound of one, and in that case may well prefer a mechanical keyboard. Others may like keyboards to be as quiet as possible, or even prefer the feel of non-mechanical boards.

I'm firmly part of the former group, but I won't tell people that mechanical keyboards are better than non-mechanical keyboards in the same way as some processors perform better than others, because it boils down to personal preference. If someone were to ask me, however, to recommend a keyboard to them, I'd tell them about my Model M, say why I like it and give them a go on it. If they don't like it, that's fine.

I really am a fan of mechanical keyboards (call me a child if you will; we all have our own displacement activities), but I won't ever tell anyone that they're better than rubber domes or scissor switches.

Chiclets are the devil's work, though.

I've just been very impressed with how much better I've gotten at touch typing since getting it. I guess my last few ~$100 keyboards just weren't my preference. The G15's LCD screen is pretty neat though.

 

[Ben90]

Ultimately these days, given the quality of some of the better domes - and once again, I don't rate any full-size Logitech domes - you're buying into mechs for the gadget status and the appreciation of something mechanical. That's fine, but I see so many flawed and placebo-sprinkled arguments over their supposed functional superiority it's like watching a hi-fi forum discussion.

I concur. A lot of novices hear or read about threads where Cherry MX's get reccomended for gaming and unfortunately come across with the impression that it will help them out a lot.

The real truth is that for the most part, a keyboard is a keyboard when it comes to gaming. Sometimes NKRO comes in handy for a select few, and macro keys help people that don't want to invest their time into scripting. Other than that, it all comes down to preference.

I'm a big fan of MX Blues because the weird activation/reset point gives me something to fidget with when I'm bored and overall they just feel good to me. At the same time I can absolutely see how someone could prefer good rubber domes over Blues, Blacks, Browns, Reds, Clear, and even the infamous buckling spring (although they would have to be mentally ill for that last one).

 

[ALLCAPS]

Das is a nice keyboard, especially equipped with mx browns. The neatniks out there should be warned that the glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet.