Das Keyboard Professional hits US retail stores
By Donald Melanson 
posted November 11th 2008 2:50PM
posted November 11th 2008 2:50PM
Keyboard aficionados have been able to order the Das Keyboard Professional directly from the company for a little while now, but those that prefer to check out their keyboards up close before committing will no doubt be pleased to hear that it's now also available at two US retailers: Micro Center and J&R Music and Computer World. The price apparently stays the same at $129, which'll get you those trademark mechanical switches, a two-port USB hub, a glossy black finish, and a couple of blue LEDs to jazz things up a bit. Those interested in the blank key-equipped Das Keyboard II are out of luck, however, as it's still only available online.
i see what you did there
I don't understand the engadget's obsession with keyboards...
They're barely a gadget (if at all)...
Fyi, http://www.clickykeyboards.com sells Model M keyboards. They have refurbished models as well as never-opened "new" models. I have two of the latter, both of which I paid ~$75 for. They are fantastic. Plus, if I ever need to brain someone, they are solid as rocks.
Huh? How are they NOT gadgets? They allow you to interface completely and efficiently with your computer. Some keyboards have displays on them, some have backlights, and some are ergonomic playlands (such as ones with mechanical switches and no numpad).
They are electronic devices that allow usage of other electronic devices, and significant engineering goes into any decent one. I'd call that a great gadget.
-Typed on my Deck Legend keyboard (One of my most favorite gadgets)
I've just realized, looking at some photos, that in my youth I apparently used those famous IBM M keyboards, but I don't remember them being all that good. After some years of heavy videogaming (and I'd guess some work, but I couldn't care less about that) the space key just got destroyed in the ones my father and uncle owned. The handle which kept it tied to the spring broke in both instances, and you could only use the right part of the key or otherwise it would get stuck. I vaguely recall other keys degrading in a similar way, like the intro or the backspace.
Was that really an extended problem in the M series or did IBM build lower quality models which would look exactly the same to the untrained eye (me)?
I mention this because those experiences have kept me from acquiring mechanical keyboards again, and I am right now looking for a USB replacement for the cheap one I have.
They actually did make lower quality models...
Everything made by Lexmark was lower quality. And, they slowly phased in the Lexmark boards - I've found Lexmark Model Ms made in February 1993, and I'm typing this post on an IBM Model M made June 3, 1993. (They're almost all badged as IBM, but the label on the bottom says who made them.) The really screwy part is that Lexmark boards were made in the same plant in Lexington, KY. (Hence *Lex*mark.)
Also, Lexmark made a model known as the M2, which had a rather fragile spacebar, and was much smaller and lighter. However, if I find one in Goodwill, I'm grabbing it - because it's much smaller, and might even fit in my laptop bag. You might've been using an M2.
Another thing... Lexmark made both Model Ms and Model M2s with rubber dome sheets instead of the buckling spring mechanism. (And, Unicomp still makes their keyboards with that option - the Customizer 101 is the modern equivalent of the old Model Ms, although most of their models are badged as "Model M.")
I will note, I don't really care for my Unicomp EnduraPro 104's key feel... which is why I'm typing this post on my June 1993 1391401, not it. This is the best keyboard I've ever owned... and I paid $5 for it at Goodwill. :)
This is old old news. Microcenter has been selling them in US for over a month now.
Talk about epic news fail.
I have one. The clicking keys are great. Not so great is the typeface they use on the keys. Also - if you have a Mac and want one of these you end up with the problem that the keys are mapped to a PC kb layout. The Alt and Command keys are easy enough to deal with, but what you don't get is any volume controls. The three top right keys are effectively useless: Port Source, Scroll Lock and Pause, and I'd like to remap those to Mute, Volume Down and Volume Up. There's a pay option in ControllerMate: http://www.orderedbytes.com/controllermate/ but it would be nice to get a free solution just for those keys. Griffin's Proxi: http://proxi.griffintechnology.com/ says it's capable of doing this, but I can't for the life of me work out how, even after watching their instructional videos.
http://geekhack.org