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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ValerieV on Sun, 24 February 2013, 12:29:19
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So someone on Ebay is selling 2 DAS original keyboards (the old style ones). I heard that the cherry blues in those are much better than the ones in the newer designed Das keyboard. Can anyone confirm if that is true? If you go on youtube and you listen to someone typing, it seems that there is a difference and the older models are much better.
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There are, what, 3 versions of the Das? The Das II is manufactured by Cherry. Not sure on the quality of the Cherry Blues.
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DAS II is basically just a G80-3000 with blank pom keycaps, in fact it is still available from Cherry as G80-3000L*CXY-2. Big difference in sound because pcb mount vs plate mount, case material, size, etc... and also has some difference in typing feeling. If it is better or not is subjective. Personally I am a big fan of G80 and pcb mount in general. I would reccomend getting one as long as you can get it for less than $70.
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Das I = Rubber Dome
Das II = Cherry G80-3000
Das III = Made by Costar
Das IV = Same exterior but inferior internal, made by different manufacture
Now depends on which one is the one on ebay I'd give you different answers. But in general if it's Das II and Das III I'd say go for it.
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But then why not just go with the Cherry model? Is it really better than that? Thanks.
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Cherry model seldom turns up used, and cost 2x as much as used Das II new. Das II may have slightly better build quality since it is older as Cherry have gone downhill a little bit in the last few years under ZF in my opinion.
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Das I = Rubber Dome
Das II = Cherry G80-3000
Das III = Made by Costar
Das IV = Same exterior but inferior internal, made by different manufacture
Now depends on which one is the one on ebay I'd give you different answers. But in general if it's Das II and Das III I'd say go for it.
Is there a way to tell a Das III from a Das IV, without opening it up? I have a Das Ultimate that I bought from mechanicalkeyboards.com about a year and a half ago, and am just interested to know which Das it is.
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I believe the ones with media keys are the Das IV's, but I could be wrong. My first mech was a das model s with browns and it doesn't have the media keys, so I assume Das III.
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Check to see where its made, the III is made in Taiwan, and i think the IV is made in China.
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Check to see where its made, the III is made in Taiwan, and i think the IV is made in China.
Mine was made in Taiwan. Am I wrong, or has someone on Geekhack stated that all "Ultimates" are Costar boards?
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Das I = Rubber Dome
Das II = Cherry G80-3000
Das III = Made by Costar
Das IV = Same exterior but inferior internal, made by different manufacture
Now depends on which one is the one on ebay I'd give you different answers. But in general if it's Das II and Das III I'd say go for it.
To add onto that here's a lil research I've done on the topic
Ok, so I went poking through the daskeyboard blog to figure out my suspicions.
Starting off. The one that started it all...
April 2006 - Das Keyboard II announced, only blank, and as is well known, just a re branded G80 with beautiful blank POM caps.
Then the confusion and lettered caps begin.
June 2008 - Das Keyboard III announced, no pics, however glossy body is mentioned, and media keys are nowhere to be seen
June 2008 - ArsTechnica has a pic of the "new Das Keyboard" clearly showing the Das S body style, and confirming the lack of media keys.
October 2009 - Das Keyboard "Model S" announced, the S differentates itself from the 3 by having media keys, and a Fn button in place of a windows key. The picture shown has no media keys, however the article specifically mentions them.
Now here's where I get a bit confused, maybe I overlooked an announcement in the blog somewhere...
February 2010 - ArsTechnica posts another review, this time with the Das S using the promo picture which shows media keys, however, media keys or lack of two windows keys are not mentioned anywhere in the article, as well as no pictures of their actual board was taken, so this is the closest thing to a "last-sighting" of the media keys on a Das S/3.
July 2010 - CNET posts a review about the Professional S "the Model S Professional has no specialized media-control buttons"
So now the media control buttons are magically gone o.o
Which now leads us to...
August 2012 - The Media keys have returned!
So there you guys have it. A little mini-history on Das Keyboards :D
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Check to see where its made, the III is made in Taiwan, and i think the IV is made in China.
Mine was made in Taiwan. Am I wrong, or has someone on Geekhack stated that all "Ultimates" are Costar boards?
yes that seems to be the case so far at least they either arent selling as much as the printed keyboards or they havent moved the production to the new manufacturer.
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Das I = Rubber Dome
Das II = Cherry G80-3000
Das III = Made by Costar
Das IV = Same exterior but inferior internal, made by different manufacture
Now depends on which one is the one on ebay I'd give you different answers. But in general if it's Das II and Das III I'd say go for it.
To add onto that here's a lil research I've done on the topic
Ok, so I went poking through the daskeyboard blog to figure out my suspicions.
Starting off. The one that started it all...
April 2006 - Das Keyboard II announced, only blank, and as is well known, just a re branded G80 with beautiful blank POM caps.
Then the confusion and lettered caps begin.
June 2008 - Das Keyboard III announced, no pics, however glossy body is mentioned, and media keys are nowhere to be seen
June 2008 - ArsTechnica has a pic of the "new Das Keyboard" clearly showing the Das S body style, and confirming the lack of media keys.
October 2009 - Das Keyboard "Model S" announced, the S differentates itself from the 3 by having media keys, and a Fn button in place of a windows key. The picture shown has no media keys, however the article specifically mentions them.
Now here's where I get a bit confused, maybe I overlooked an announcement in the blog somewhere...
February 2010 - ArsTechnica posts another review, this time with the Das S using the promo picture which shows media keys, however, media keys or lack of two windows keys are not mentioned anywhere in the article, as well as no pictures of their actual board was taken, so this is the closest thing to a "last-sighting" of the media keys on a Das S/3.
July 2010 - CNET posts a review about the Professional S "the Model S Professional has no specialized media-control buttons"
So now the media control buttons are magically gone o.o
Which now leads us to...
August 2012 - The Media keys have returned!
So there you guys have it. A little mini-history on Das Keyboards :D
If they made the first S with media keys, then they wouldn't have something to sell you later!
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If they made the first S with media keys, then they wouldn't have something to sell you later!
The first Das S did have media keys? The Das III did not?
Moose your comment has me confused.
Working off Hyde's list
Das I = Blank Black Rubberdome
Das II = Blank Black Cherry G80-3000
Das III (June 2008) = Das S Body w/out media keys.
Das S (Oct 2009) = Das S with media keys
Das S (July 2010) = Das S w/out media keys
Das S (Aug 2012) = Das S with media keys
I pulled all my dates/info from the daskeyboard blog, so I'd assume they're pretty accurate.
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Hush my child.