DAS Keyboard Lovin

[jcrouse]

In the past fe days I have seen a few post regarding DAS keyboards. Ya don't see many here. Why is that? Are they not plate mounted and very sturdy? Is the quality poor or is it just the goofy case?

Thanks,
John

[dorkvader]

Well it depends on the DAS. I don't have one, but I believe the first was RD, the second Gen ones was a rebadged cherry (Which everyone here has, it almost seems a requirement of joining) and the third-gen ones are expensive.

I mean, People here clearly own DAS. There was just a post recently about them. In my opinion, there are better options, though. When I first became interested in this subject (and was too poor to get a mech keyboard) I considered DAS, but decided to keep my Model M. I still don't like that glossy case. Even with the branding I prefer my matte/rubberized CMstorm.

Perhaps some DAS users here will chime in.

Link to topic:
http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/whi ... t3292.html

[Paulie]

Here's mine. It's a Professional S (Brown switches). Engraved WASD keycaps.


DSC_0005 by paulie_jb, on Flickr

[4en]

the das professional was my first mechanical keyboard. i could not stand the size of it and sold it after a mere 2 weeks.
honestly das would be better off making TKLs.

[hoggy]

The marketing puts me off Das as a company. The boards are nothing like a model m - I wish they'd stop saying it, and especially stop saying it to journalists. Nothing against some of their keyboards.

[The_Beast]

I looked at one, but then saw it was glossy = finger print magnet

[ajdane]

I have a DAS Ultimate. I quite like it. Though after bouncing around this forum for a week or so and being bitten by the keyboard bug. Im definitely branching out more. (HHKB and Model M on the way).

I will say that its not a bad Keyboard at all. The only minus is the glossy black surface. It does attract fingerprints and smudges. Though just after cleaning it really looks awesome. Typing wise its great (though i have limited comparisons still) the blues feel crisp and give good feedback but they can get a bit noisy if you are typing furiously.

I have the blank keycaps, I really like the all black look, and after reading about the fading / yellowing of the text on the professional i must admit im happy with my choice.

Its also fun having a colleague or a consultant come over (I use the DAS at work) and do a double take over your keyboard.

[gbohn]

Here's mine. It's a Professional S (Brown switches). Engraved WASD keycaps.


DSC_0005 by paulie_jb, on Flickr

I was wondering how hard you found it to remove and replace the key caps with sabilizer bars underneath. Were you able to slide they key cap toward one side to release the cap from the bar, or did you need tools to pry one end of the bar out of the white holder?

Thanks;

[jcrouse]

I actually use a paper clip, bent with a small hook on the end, to reach in, hook the wire, gently pull it to the side and lift the cap up.

[gbohn]

I actually use a paper clip, bent with a small hook on the end, to reach in, hook the wire, gently pull it to the side and lift the cap up.

Thanks.

To replace the key, do you just do the reverse? (With the white holders in the new keycap, slide the one side on the bar and then use the tool to pry the other side of the bar enough to make the final connection to the other white holder?)

[jcrouse]

Yes

[maxrunner]

In the past fe days I have seen a few post regarding DAS keyboards. Ya don't see many here. Why is that? Are they not plate mounted and very sturdy? Is the quality poor or is it just the goofy case?

Thanks,
John

What does it mean plated mounted compared to the other methods?

[Paulie]

I was wondering how hard you found it to remove and replace the key caps with sabilizer bars underneath. Were you able to slide they key cap toward one side to release the cap from the bar, or did you need tools to pry one end of the bar out of the white holder?

Thanks;

I found it pretty straightforward. Firstly I removed all the keys around the stabilised ones, then I could slide the stabilisers sideways to unhook them. After that I swapped the little white holders to the new keycaps, slid them back in, then replaced the surrounding keys. Hope that helps!

[Daniel]

I have a DAS Ultimate. I quite like it. [...] the blues feel crisp and give good feedback but they can get a bit noisy if you are typing furiously.
I have the blank keycaps, I really like the all black look, and after reading about the fading / yellowing of the text on the professional i must admit im happy with my choice.

Full acknowledge for that.
I like the build in usb-hub (the das has actually two usb-connectors, one for the keyboard itself and one for the hub). I use the hub to plugin a mouse from time to time if feel the need to play a first person shooter.

The blank keycaps started to get shiny within 5 months of normal use (you should be able to spot it on the f and j-keys in the picture). But this was the case as well on my old Logitech keyboard which also had black keycaps. Therefore this is no DAS specific problem.

[appeac]

My first mechanical keyboard, when I was a nub. Blues with o-rings, has been relegated to work duty since getting a Filco.