Das Keyboard Ultimate S unleashed for the tactile experience-loving typist
By Laura June 
posted Oct 5th 2009 11:59AM
posted Oct 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]
Hey, did they forget to put letters on keys? How are you supposed to type? Maybe it is photoshoped so we can't see how final product really looks like? You know like pre-production car masks...
The idea is you are supposed to have memorized the key layout by now and only type by touch and not by looking at the keys.
It's for touch typist.
Ideally you're not supposed to look at the keyboard when you are typing. This keyboard is for those kinds of people.
it's meant for people who use the "Force"
Ack, I hate clicking keyboards. I like the soft touch boards. Dell keyboards are a little loud, but at least they don't make too much noise or force you to hit the key a certain amount every single time to make an input entry.
Your post has been downranked because you're not sufficiently geeky to post here.
They made it like that just so you would ask why (and no, it's not for blind people)!
That's why you need to buy a typing book and do constant character drills when learning how to type, so as not to need to look at keys. With constant practice your fingers memorize location. I used to do keyboard drills a couple of hours a day. A person that glances at the keyboard will most likely make more errors and would definitely lose their place when typing from long documents. I don't see any advantage to having a blank keyboard. You just need to practice more. This keyboard would be a nightmare for casual typists.
I don't understand these keyboards. o_O
It's for people who want to pretend they are really 'elite' by knowing where all the keys are and having a keyboard that sounds like a jet engine you type.
Possibly, but it's still silly.
> Possibly, but it's still silly.
Not really. Many computer professionals have became touch-typists over time.
Yet, the bad habit of looking at the keyboard is extremely hard to overcome. The habit is bad because looking at keyboard (1) makes typing slower due to extra move of hands from keyboard and (2) most importantly increases stress on your neck because you have to actually look down.
The idea is great. Price is good too.
But I personally prefer split-keyboards. And btw there are number of professional split-keyboards which also have blank keys without any markings. IOW this is pretty common.
P.S. Not even once I have looked at keyboard when typing the comment. Touch-typist's here with MS Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard. Oops. Bet is lost: had to look at keyboard - back of it - for the model number.
Dummy, I don't need to watch my fingers jumping on my keyboard either (and I bet I use more characters than you do, since I'm not American ;) - no offence meant, of course) to type. I just don't understand why I would ever want a keyboard with blank keys (I use a generic US keyboard layout and still type in my native language with all those special characters not printed on the keys) that makes terrible noise, more so for a hundred?! If you want a noisy keyboard, buy one from Chicony for about $5 USD. It's white, very ugly, heavy and it has all the letters printed on it, but hey, at least it makes the typing noise ;)
I abdokutejty lovw rhis keyvoard
i can touxh rype all dau ;ong witj thia thinh
I lolled.
+1, almost had to clean my lunch out of my keyboard.
I approve this message.
LOL!!
Thank you, I needed that.
Ondeed tjos os tje best leubpoard arpimd/ O
, gpmma get pme fpr everu fa,o;u ,e,ber/
P.S.
You rock Todd Bernhard!
Bah. I was just looking into these the other day. All I want is a blank keyboard, and I don't want to pay over $100 for it, that's silly.
Just close your eyes.
For a buck or two, you could just grab a bottle of white-out. Problem solved. :)
@slyd3z wouldn't you use black paint instead?
a bottle of black out?
So get a keyboard with printed keys, a little fine sandpaper and away you go. Soon have a blank keyed board in your choice of design. Or use a Logitech wave for a while and the keys will gradually blank themselves before your eyes.
> I don't want to pay over $100 for it, that's silly.
It advertised to have proper keys and most importantly balanced keys.
To me who works on keyboard ~10 hours a day $100 is really nothing. Keyboard is my primary tool. And good tool could be worth more than that. (Though of course as not an owner I cannot comment on the quality of the Das Keyboards.)
What I want is a blank keyboard in the split-ergonomic style to really drive other people insane when they try to type on my keyboard.
Sanding an existing keyboard changes the texture as do black stickers, which is clearly unacceptable when you're out to annoy your friends to death.
If they had an ergonomic version, I would definitely be getting my hands on one of these puppies.
Judging by your avatar, I know you would...
Any keyboard: 20$
Black stickers from Home Depot: 5$
.... so why do i have to pay 120$ for this? it doesen'T even have a Apple logo on it :(
Mechcanical keyswitches, if you're into that kind of thing.
Yeah, I paid around $100 for my Matias TactilePro keyboard back in '02. Story at the time was they bought the last million ALPS mechanical keyswitches, but it sounds like mechanical keyswitches are making a comeback.
I love my TactilePro (it has letters printed on it, heh) but honestly I'm really digging the Apple Pro keyboard I use at work -- the slabby aluminum one with the chicklet laptop keys. Still very positive key engagement, much quieter, short key travel. I think all keyboards will head this direction since we're used to short-travel laptop keyboards by now anyway...
Apple logo: 30$
But you are still right. It still doesn't add up yet. Better add a few more logos. :-)
I had one of these, without blank keys, for awhile. It's a great keyboard with great feel. I felt it was definitely worth the $130 but if you don't want to pay the premium a regular keyboard works too.
The only reason I don't have it anymore is because of the way they implemented the USB controller. Something wasn't quite right and my computer (and many other users' computers) wouldn't recognize the keyboard on like 80% of boots, so I had to return it.
So what's the keyswitches in this keyboard? The last Das had the fairly clicky Cherry Blues.
That said, the Filco Majestouch line has replaceable keycaps so you can just order blank keys and yes, they have a choice of keycaps so I'm still not a huge Das fan.
ABS M1 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823224001
Just sayin
Uh, what?
I've had the keyboard pictured for over a year now.
It's got all the features you mentioned.
Tell me, where is this new keyboard you're talking about, hm?
The article doesn't mention the part that makes it new....
The new model adds media buttons for mute, volume up/down, play/pause, stop, previous/next track and sleep. All of which I've come to love on my current keyboard. I'm actually glad now that I waited this long to pick up the DAS.
Jesse, can you elaborate on your experience with Das Keyboards? How it compares in you opinion to split-keyboards?
Well, I can't hardly give much of a comparison to Split-Keyboards, as I've never used one for more than a moment.
(Or really any "ergonomic" or basically any keyboard other than plain ol' flat, rectangular keyboards)
I for one have owned and used Model M's, Happy Hacking, and Das keyboards.
To be honest?
Between the Model M and the Das keyboards, there's no advantage to either.
I honestly like my Das more simply for the "Win" factor of a pretty, blank keyboard.
The feeling between the Das and Model M is QUITE DIFFERENT.
Das keyboards ARE NOT Buckling Spring, not by a long shot.
BOTH, however, have a tactile feel, and are very fast and comfortable to type with.
I like both.
I prefer my Das simply for aesthetic reasons.
Worth $130?
Depends who you are.
Seriously, I'm on a computer roughly 14 hours a day.
Work or Play, games, programming, the internet; I drive my car, eat food, and sit at a computer, that is a normal day for me.
You better believe this thing was worth the $130 to me.
Unless you're a serious typist, I don't see the need for this kind of keyboard at all, not at this price at least.
Can we get a Das Keyboard for $50? Otherwise I see absolutely no reason to even think about giving up my G15...
And for everyone who decries not having letters on the keys... learn2type. You should be looking at the monitor, not down at your keyboard.
You should learn to type .. it's PHOENIX not pheonix.
that's intentional - inside joke.
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
typing from my ibm model m with its keys removed, i can say that keyboards such as the das keyboard are worth every penny.
they are much sturdier, and while not ergonomic, the tactile feedback from each keypress feels more satisfying than typing on
a dome switch keyboard. one day they will make a das keyboard without a windows key, and i will buy it.
I want a tactile experience-loving typist. WPM irrelevant.
Oh yeah, well, it's got NOTHING on Das boot!
I love this keyboard. I type with the Dvorak keyboard layout. This makes every keyboard but this one wrong as when you type the letter on the keyboard, you get something "Completely Different" unless it is the A or M. One should never look at the keyboard when typing. You should either look at the monitor if you are doing a direct brain dump. If you are re-typing something from a document or form, you should look at the document and not the monitor. One should be confident in one's own typing skills and let it rip. It is kind of like The Force. You either have it or you don't Mrs. Kibbler, my typing teacher would be proud. Touch Typists! FTW!!
What about buttons like windows key, alt, ctrl and the F row? Can you do all that blindfolded?
There are letter stickers for keys, you can assemble your own layout on any keyboard you have.