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A keyboard is a very important part of
the computer, one that's sadly often overlooked. Most people seems to
be happy with the crappy keyboards that come with the systems they
bought. I don't know why people settle for cheap keyboards, most
people just don't care I guess, but I can tell you from years of
knowledge a good keyboard will make a world of difference in your
overall computing experience.
Today for review I have what is
probably one of the best keyboards out there today, well at least it
ranks up there in the top ten anyway, it's the Das Keyboard
Professional. This keyboard is nowhere near what one would call
inexpensive, but if you want quality you've got to pay a premium. The
Das Keyboard Professional is aesthetically beautiful, and it has
clicky keys along with a two port USB hub built-in. Read on...
Product
Name: DAS
Keyboard Professional
Author: Kristofer Brozio
Sponsor: Das
Keyboard
Tech
Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
DAS
Keyboard
Das Keyboard sports
best-in-class German-engineered gold-plated mechanical key switches
that provide tactile and audio feedback making typing a pure joy.
Once you start typing, the tactile and audio clicks create positive
reinforcing feedback. It makes typing fun and addictive. Newly added
blue LEDs provide a slick look and the new USB hub allows you to
charge and sync your iPod or iPhone. Fast typists and gamers will be
glad to hear Das Keyboard has an n-key rollover function allowing up
to 12 keys to be pressed simultaneously. Finally, the new Das
Keyboard has an extra long USB cable that fits through your desk
grommet and keeps your workspace neat and tidy.
Technical Details:
* Das Keyboard compares to the
legendary IBM model M. Its best-in-class mechanical gold-plated key
switches provide a tactile and audio click
* USB 2.0 hub - The high-speed
USB hub allows to sync and charge your iPhone and iPod or any USB
compatible devices.
* Extra-long USB cable - Das
Keyboard sports 2-meter (6.6ft) cable that can go through your desk
grommet in order to keep your workspace neat and tidy
* N-Key rollover - Das Keyboard
allows up to 6 keys to be pressed simultaneously. Great for fast
typists and gamers alike
* System requirements - PC or
Mac, Windows, Linux, or Mac OSX
Price:
This particular model is hard to find and was officially replaced
with the 'S' version that costs $129.99 which features multimedia keys.
A
Better Look at Things:
The keyboard comes in a box as
most products do...
 
Inside you'll find it packed well
with a note about the USB 'Y' cable and a cleaning cloth.
Here's everything unpacked, you'll
find installation manual, USB 'Y' cable, that note and the cleaning
cloth. The Das Keyboard is a USB keyboard so you'll find a USB
connector at the end of the long 6.6 foot cable.
 
The keyboard looks very nice, it's
basically all black, a very high gloss black. Up on the right side
you'll find the Das Keyboard logo and under that are the LED
indicators that will light up blue when activated.
 
On the bottom you'll find four
rubber feet and legs that can fold out to bring the keyboard up at an
angle if you want.
 
On the right side is the two USB
ports:
 
Here's a few other views of the
keyboard:
 
The keys have white lettering on
them, and you'll find the separate number pad, cursor keys and set of
function keys across the top. The layout is similar to most other
keyboards out there.
Installation,
Testing and Comparison:
I've
been using the same keyboard for a long time, sure I've gotten other
for review but I always go back to the one I'm typing on right now.
How long exactly, well it's been over three years now, I got this
keyboard in January 2007 for review. The keyboard is the
Raptor-Gaming K1 gaming Keyboard, you can read my old review of it HERE.
The K1 retails for about $160, and it has never failed me yet.
So you might ask why I keep going
back to the same keyboard? Well I like it, the angle is up just right
for me, and the keys are perfectly spaced. It's also a clicky
keyboard just like the Das Keyboard is. It's also based on the same
Cherry Gold Switch Keys...
As I said I've tried many
keyboards in my time as a reviewer, and most of them are decent, but
using a keyboard everyday for many hours you need one that you like.
Enough of me jabbering on, let's
get to the Das Keyboard Professional.
The Das Keyboard Professional is a
decent one truly, aesthetically it's gorgeous, it has a beautiful
high gloss black finish.
The glossy black finish looks
great but it's a dust and fingerprint magnet honestly
It's not a bad keyboard at all
really, typing is wonderful on it, I like the clicky keys, I like
hearing and feeling when I press the keys. Why? I don't know, I just
do, call it a personal preference.
The keys offer a slight resistance
when pressing them, so you know you're pressing down, but it's a soft
touch and and not a stiff spring under the keys.
The one thing I don't like about
the Das Keyboard is the angle, even with the legs up it just feels
too low for me. I know that the trend is lower and even flat
keyboards, but I don't like that trend at all. For someone who's been
using computers and their keyboard for about 30 years now, it's hard
for me to change from an angle to flat or almost flat.
The two USB ports on the side are
nice to have but with some computers you'll need to use two USB ports
in your computer to provide enough power for the hub. This isn't all
computers though, it's mostly older ones that won't provide enough
power. Just be warned that you might need to use two USB ports for
the keyboard, depending on your computer configuration you might not
have enough of them.
The cable is nice and long at 6.6
feet, should be long enough for any configuration you might have set
up.
Summary
and Comments:
The Das Keyboard Professional, is
it all that? Yes and no, for my personal preferences I'd have to
spend a long of time getting accustomed to using it before I was
really comfortable with it to use it everyday.
Don't get me wrong here, I spent a
while using it as my main keyboard, but I found my typing speed
dropped considerably, but that happens when you've been using the
same keyboard for years and you go to a new one.
The keyboard is nice to type on,
it's clicky but yet soft and firm at the same time, the springs
inside offer a slight resistance to your fingers, but not a lot.
Aesthetically the Das Keyboard
Professional is beautiful, the glossy black finish makes a nice bold
statement, but on the other hand that same finish attracts dust and
fingerprint very easily. Luckily though they did include a cleaning
cloth for you so you can wipe it clean.
Overall it's a decent keyboard
really...
DragonSteelMods gives the Das
Keyboard Professional a 4.5 out of 5 score.
Pros:
+Clicky keys
+USB ports built in
+Long cable
+Looks great
Cons:
-Glossy finish attracts dust and
fingerprints
-Low angle
-Requires two USB ports
review# 665
Disclosure: This product was given to DragonSteelMods for review by the company
for review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for
the review, we do not, never have, and never will, accept payment
from companies to review their products.
To
learn more about our review policy, testing methods and ratings
please see this page.
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Input Devices-Mice, Keyboards etc 
