Metadot Das Keyboard... *all* black, no markings whatsoever

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Maetryx

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
4,849
1
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Maetryx here, :cool:

I couldn't help myself. I ordered one of these bad boy ubergeek peripherals as the first component of my new system that I'm putting together. Prior to deciding on the mobo, cpu, vid card, mem, hdd, sound.... I *knew* I wanted this keyboard.

Maximum PC Review
Manufacturer/Vendor's website daskeyboard.com

Even without the no-label gimmick, this is a keyboard worth cherishing?we wouldn?t attach just any keyboard to our Dream Machine, after all. The Das Keyboard?s secret is in its individually weighted keys. While all the keys on standard keyboards require the same amount of force to depress, the Das Keyboard has five different groups of keys, each of which responds to a different degree of force to accommodate the way most people use a keyboard.
Click to expand...

I can't wait for this to arrive so I can build my new system around it. :)
 
U

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
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can you give us a little review (in this thread or another one) when your das keyboard arrives...i want to get the keyboard but for 80bucks or so, i just don't seem having no letters and different weights worth it comparing all the other good keyboard you can get for less than $80...
 
Maetryx

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
4,849
1
81
I will definitely come back into this thread and give it a "hands on" review. Heh.

At $80 it is a little steep, but I tend to keep my keyboards for forever on the compulogical timescale. My current keyboard is an IBM M2 PS/2 keyboard manufuactured in 1994, and thus has no Windows Keys (which is why I love it).
 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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I wouldn't doubt it (yup - buy.com $20, MSRP = $30).
. People are always looking for the "nothing-for-something" sales angle. These Das Kbd guys will probably rake it in - for a little while... there always seem to be enough people out here to fall for them. At least these guys are using a halfway decent kbd as the basis - it could have been one of those $5. junkers. But all good scams are more plausible if they contain a grain of truth... I guess they deserve the 300%+ profit for having the stone cojones it takes to pull it off.
. If you want to see one of the biggest "nothing-for-something" scams I've ever seen, check out the International Star Registry... :roll: The Ultra X-Connect was a pretty good N-F-S while it lasted too.

.bh.

Das Kbd, Exposed! It's a blacked-out $20. Keytronic...

What chutzspa - wish I'd thought of it!

Image from Keytronic site: Key Weighting-D

Image from Das Kbd site: Key Weighting-K

.bh.
 
Maetryx

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
4,849
1
81
....

Oh well live and learn. Maximum PC will probably run an article in their section where the "dog" goes after scams and vanishing vendors. Woof.

Of course my keyboard shipped today.

I can still redeem this situation. I won't tell my wife.

Maybe "blacking out" the keyboard is really hard (*squints eyes shut and hopes real hard*)
 
Maetryx

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
4,849
1
81
I just sent an email to info@daskeyboard.com. Let's see what happens. Here's what I wrote:

You may want to check out this thread on AnandTech:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=30&threadid=1693081&enterthread=y

Your company is being accused of basically rebadging and blacking out a $20- $30 Keytronic keyboard. AnandTech is hugely popular with the type of folks that read Maximum PC, so you may want to post a reply in that thread.

Or at least I feel you owe me an explanation since I ponied up $80 for your keyboard and then bragged about it on AnandTech.

Regards,

"Maetryx"
Click to expand...
 
A

AmberClad

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
4,914
0
0
Heh, depending on how those key labels were put on, all it would take is a $1 bottle of isopropyl alcohol or something similar to dissolve the labels or the glue holding them on the keys.
 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
If you pony up the money, Key Tronic will make their keyboards any way you want them. Letters, no letters - it's no sweat off their b...s.
I just found the black KT that the DK is made from for $18.72 at ProVantage, and the beige one is only $16.02 - now where's that can of black vinyl dye... I'll call it "Le Keyboard" and sell 'em on eBay for $50. - yeah, that's the ticket. ;)
. What I want to know is how you remember where the carat is or the vertical bar (characters I seldom use) is if you can't see them to learn in the first place?

Remember Evian spelled backwards is Naive because they didn't think anyone was dumb enough to buy water in a bottle... But there's one born every minute.

.bh.
 
R

Rufio

Banned
Mar 18, 2003
4,638
0
0
is there apalce where this special spring keyboard is sold, but w/writing on it?
 
U

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
1,659
0
0
Originally posted by: Zepper
I wouldn't doubt it (yup - buy.com $20, MSRP = $30).
. People are always looking for the "nothing-for-something" sales angle. These Das Kbd guys will probably rake it in - for a little while... there always seem to be enough people out here to fall for them. At least these guys are using a halfway decent kbd as the basis - it could have been one of those $5. junkers. But all good scams are more plausible if they contain a grain of truth... I guess they deserve the 300%+ profit for having the stone cojones it takes to pull it off.
. If you want to see one of the biggest "nothing-for-something" scams I've ever seen, check out the International Star Registry... :roll: The Ultra X-Connect was a pretty good N-F-S while it lasted too.

.bh.

Das Kbd, Exposed! It's a blacked-out $20. Keytronic...

What chutzspa - wish I'd thought of it!

Image from Keytronic site: Key Weighting-D

Image from Das Kbd site: Key Weighting-K

.bh.
Click to expand...

Owned.

 
BurnItDwn

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,353
1,862
126
I've read about these ....
Basicly the same "feel" as the classic IBM Model M keyboard, but without labels .....

I've been tempted to pick one of those black blank key keyboards, but I ***HATE*** the windows function keys. So I just use Model M's with the key's rekeyed to Dvorak. I've also been tempted to bring sandpaper to work and get busy to make my model M keys all blank. I figure that would be something to do on a slow day...
 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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0
FYI: Keytronics don't have mechanical keyswitches - so they are nothing like the original IBM Model M. The LT (Lifetime) series has the original rubber-dome mechanism and the E0 series has a membrane system. But Keytronic kbds do have a positive break so there is no doubt as to when a key has connected - many touch-typists like the Key Tronic feel - plus they are quieter than the IBM mechanicals.

.bh.
 
BurnItDwn

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,353
1,862
126
Originally posted by: Zepper
FYI: Keytronics don't have mechanical keyswitches - so they are nothing like the original IBM Model M. The LT (Lifetime) series has the original rubber-dome mechanism and the E0 series has a membrane systen. But Keytronic kbds do have a positive break so there is no doubt as to when a key has connected - many touch-typists like the Key Tronic feel - plus they are quieter than the IBM mechanicals.

.bh.
Click to expand...



Noted, Looks like I'll be buyin sandpaper then :)
 
Maetryx

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
4,849
1
81
Well, I did get the keyboard, and Windows recognizes the keyboard as a Key Tronic USB Keyboard. Nevertheless, I like the keyboard and it is helping me type better. My passwords are typicaly a combination of characters that include numerals. I'm getting a lot better at typing those without looking, since looking doesn't help as much. It still helps some, mind you, because it turns ou that my brain knows by pattern where keys are located in reference to the overall layout.

Anyway, it does appear that the Das Keyboard is based on a Key Tronic. If you want the technical specifications, you can get the Key Tronic. If you want the badass l337 (ha ha, that was tough to type) black keyboard, this is one of your options.
 
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Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
1,659
0
0
hmmm....spending 60bucks more or just learn to type without looking at the keyboard...tough choice, eh?
 
Eureka

Eureka

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
3,822
1
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Originally posted by: ElTorrente
What exactly is the benefit of having no labels on the keys?
Click to expand...

Other than to prove your '1337ness' and enhance your skill at typing by depravation, nothing really.

Norm
 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
You can get a copy of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (recent versions are under $10) and she'll gladly give you a tongue-lashing about looking at the keys when she gives you a pretty screen to look at instead.... ;)

.bh.
 
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