Das Keyboard Ultimate S unleashed for the tactile experience-loving typist
By Laura June 
posted October 5th 2009 11:59AM
posted October 5th 2009 11:59AM
Das Keyboards are pretty well known for the tactile and auditory assault they delight fingers and ears with. Well, the mechanical Ultimate S -- an updated model which has just surfaced -- is just as tactile and noisy as all the other models, but it's also got a few added features, including two USB ports, an external PS / 2 adapter, plus full 'n' key rollover with PS / 2. The board is also KVM switch compatible, and of course, the keys are still blank. The keyboard is now shipping, and runs $129.
[Thanks, Rocky]
[Thanks, Rocky]
Yes. Also, back ticks, insert, home, page up, page down, end, del, arrow keys, num lock print screen, scroll lock, pause, the entire numeral pad, all the F keys, and esc.
I can not seem to find any literature specific to an "Ultimate S" product, even on the dk website.
We've sold hundreds of these in the past few months. 98% of our customers have been sys admins attaching them to their servers. It makes unauthorized monkey'ing with the server just that much harder.
I agree, this type of keyboard is not for everyone, but for a specific niche, they swear by it.
I will buy it. Compared to the $280 Happy Hacking keyboard, the Das Keyboard is a bargain! + it has a number pad.
$280? Fuck!
Get an IBM Model M from a secondhand store for $5 and you'll be better off.
The logo ruins it.
ohhhh so thats why my copy of das boot had no subtitles.
I am typing this on the pre-S Das Keyboard Ultimate at work. The black keys are wonderful, they have improved my typing a LOT, but the keyboard is a lot more then just black keys. It is all about the tactile experience. At home I spend way too much time in front of my computer writing code or doing network admin stuff (dealing with lots of passwords) so I am looking to get the Das Keyboard Professional which is the same price, but with letters imprinted on it. Why spend an insane amount of money on the keyboard? Because the tactile experience gives my fingers the feedback they need to move that much faster and smoother. The Das Keyboard is worth every penny!!!!
Thats alot for a key board. Now, if it were a DAS EFX keyboard, then we'd have something.
Just a heads up these DAS keyboards had some controller issue which causes it not to have any key roll over so if you type over 100wpms or a gamer you will have errors when typing fast, but this is a new model so they may have fixed the issue. Also the DAS uses clicky blue cherry switches which are good for typist or people who like to hear a click after activating a key, but may be annoying for gamers or your coworkers in that case I would suggest brown cherry or black cherry switches which are perfect for gamers since they don’t make clicking sounds just make sure it has any key roll over. Do I think it’s worth $130? If they fixed the any key roll over issue then maybe, but there are cheaper blue cherry keyboards available.
The main feature they promote with the new version is the built-in USB hub - two port. Though it also adds blue LEDs for the status indicators, and it can handle six simultaneous keypresses - which I'd think would be better for gaming than typing, if it can't tell the order the keys were pressed...
And it is available in a "Professional" version that has the key imprints, same price. (Dvorak users: pop off the key caps and rearrange them...)
For those who diss Windows, they have a Mac/Linux keycap set for $14.95.
I used a factory IBM keyboard on my PC for years. It was an exact copy of the IBM selectric typewriter. This was $100 YEARS ago. I finally retired them (I had two). I do miss the tactile feel.
People amaze me on many levels. To use a cheap crappy keyboard all day baffles me. Two things communicate with your computer, your
hands and your eyes. This means a good keyboard and monitor.
I am totally interesting in this keyboard. But I do see it’s not for everyone.
PS - Carleton - I agree with you. I'm not a super typist, but I write computer code and administer networks. Password, odd symbols etc.
I am totally in love with the IBM Model M keyboards and use them both at home and work--at work, we're -all- ex-IBMers and practically all of us, whether cubicle-bound or not, use a Model M.
In fact, over the years I've collected about thirty of these vintage little beauties (dating back to the late-eighties and all in marvelous shape) that I'm going to start selling on eBay as soon as I get off my lazy ass and photograph them. I only need the two... :-)
In any case, I'm totally spoiled to the Model M. Everything else feels like typing on oatmeal.
If only this thing had a split space bar I would be all over it.
Its not KVM compatible... FAIL!
The new one (Ultimate-S) is.
Damn, I would love to have one of these, except the three times a year that I use the PrtScn key and can't remember where it is.
If you want the tactile feedback, but not the blank keys, you can get a Unicomp keyboard:
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/
Through Lexmark, they still produce the old IBM style "buckling spring" keyboards. I have one of their Customizer 104/105 keyboards and love it. I don't like quiet keyboards at all, though if I was in an office, I think I might have to get one. There is nothing quiet about these keyboards.
I'll stick with my old fashioned IBM Model M keyboard from 1993 from which I removed the key markings. Although I do like the idea of the Das Keyboard, but I'd have to try one first to see how I liked the tactile sensation of typing on it.
I use a Das Keyboard Professional at work and a Logitech G15 at home for gaming. If only a Das Keyboard came in the older G15 layout ...
I used to have a pile of those IBM clickers collected from the office as I simply hated those DELL keyboards supplied as standard equipment. I am so glad the Das came along when I ran out.
Ran out? Heretic.
One is all you need. Unless you don't know how to use a dishwasher.
No KVM support? No powered USB? I'll stick to my Model M and revel in it's vintage cacaphony.
The main problem with a blank keyboard: You might have people that want to use it who ARE NOT TYPING PROS. Besides, if you don't look at the keys anyway, why does it matter about the labels?
Mechanical keyboards have great feel. If you hate the sound and love wimpy keys, go back to your Sony/Apple chiclet garbage keyboards.
Just a smile and the rain is gone
Can hardly believe it, yeah
There’s an angel standing next to me
Reaching for my heart.
Just a smile and there’s no way back
Can hardly believe it, yeah.
浜松ステーションホテル
But there’s an angel, she’s calling me, reaching for my heart
I know that I’ll Be Ok now, this time is real.
浜松ステーションホテル
For me, it's a Model M all the way. I have two--one for home and one for work--and both are the super-duper rare black M4 variety with the TrackPoint in the middle, made by Maxi Switch, circa 1996.
I have a couple of boxes of Model Ms I "liberated" (with permission, sheesh!) from IBM's office in Ft. Lauderdale during a technology refresh. They're all in fantastic shape and I'm going to sell them on eBay once I get around to photographing them--all I need are the two...
These things are NOT for the faint-of-heart: they make more noise than a gravel truck going down a cobblestone street; if you use one in a cube farm, be prepared for your neighbors to despise you (unless, of course, you work with all ex-IBMers and -everybody- has one of these things). But nothing--repeat, NOTHING--feels better to type on than a traditional buckling-spring keyboard.
You can keep that rubber-dome crap that feels like typing on Cream-of-Wheat, and you can have my Model M when you pry it out from under my cold, dead hands.
Is it just me or can you guys also not find the updated "Ultimate S" keyboard on www.daskeyboard.com???
I've been thinking to buy one of these for a while now, and reading this i thought "Hmm, updated version, let's order one", but I can't find it on their website or webstore :S
where's the any key!
Yea, I use prt scr all the time and I have yet to find it on my DAS keyboard, I simply use the laptop keyboard the DAS is attached to ;) hehehehehe
$129 !!! I prefer to use my old keyboard with the discolored keys.
The Das Keyboard is nice, but, as other readers have said, too expensive, especially relative to the Unicomp Space Saver and Customizer. I wrote a much more elaborate explanation of why that is here: http://jseliger.com/2009/10/31/product-review-das-keyboard .