geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: BenBenMan on Wed, 06 May 2009, 07:39:49
-
Hi guys,
I've been lurking around Geekhack for the past few days, as I'm currently looking at getting a keyboard. I'm a second-year computer science student, so I spend a lot of my time typing, but on occasion I'll play a few games. I've been using this Dell notebook keyboard for the past three years and am becoming increasingly concerned by the effect it's having on my fingers... so now I'm looking at real keyboards.
At the moment I'm looking at either the Das Keyboard III Professional or the Unicomp Customiser 104 ... every review I've seen of the Das has been positive, but on the other hand every review I've seen of the Customiser has said it's excellent as well. For those who have both, which is the better keyboard?
Also, are there any places in Australia which sell the Unicomp keyboards, or do I have to order directly from Unicomp?
Cheers...
-
While I'm sure the Das is a decent board (cherry blue switches are nice), I wouldn't pay $130 for something that does this (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=4691).
As for the Customizer, it should be a fine board if you don't mind the high spring tension of buckling springs. I personally find them too heavy for my liking, but many others here love them. You will probably have to order directly from Unicomp.
-
At the moment I'm looking at either the Das Keyboard III Professional or the Unicomp Customiser 104 ... every review I've seen of the Das has been positive, but on the other hand every review I've seen of the Customiser has said it's excellent as well. For those who have both, which is the better keyboard?
Welcome to the forums! :smile:
I have both and have had them for some time, now. If I were going to buy one, or the other again, I'd definitely go for the Customizer. It's not nearly as cool, shiny, and fancy looking as the Das III, but you can almost get two of them for the price of one Das, and I personally don't find the Das all it's cracked up to be. That said, I'll probably never buy another Das, whereas I have 3 of the Unicomp buckling spring boards and am very likely to buy more of them in the future.
Hope you will be happy with whatever you should choose, and that you will let us know what you get, and how you like it.
-
At the moment I'm looking at either the Das Keyboard III Professional or the Unicomp Customiser 104 ... every review I've seen of the Das has been positive, but on the other hand every review I've seen of the Customiser has said it's excellent as well. For those who have both, which is the better keyboard?
Why those two specifically? They seem like an odd pair, having nothing in common.
-
Thanks for the replys guys.. I'm starting to swing towards the Unicomp, since it sounds like it's better value than the Das.
Why those two specifically? They seem like an odd pair, having nothing in common.
No real reason other than I've heard they're both really good to type on ... are there any other keyboards around which are significantly better to type on than the Unicomp?
Also, another question for those with the Das, do the blank keys actually help you type faster, or is it just a marketing thing?
-
It's a hyper-leet paladin lv70 kind of thing, that increases your e-pen0r. Though it could be a paedagogical aid to learn to touch type.
-
No real reason other than I've heard they're both really good to type on ... are there any other keyboards around which are significantly better to type on than the Unicomp?
All the keyboards discussed on here regulaly are good to type on, which is best depends on what sort of keys you like. Probably the most popular overall is the Torpe Realforce series and HHKB Professional, but they're expensive and only availible in certain layouts.
-
The Unicomp will be a good choice. I bet you'll learn to love the feel and sound of the board once you get working on it regularly. It takes a little time to strengthen your fingers if you're coming from a soft board but it's worth it.
-
Thanks for the replys guys.. I'm starting to swing towards the Unicomp, since it sounds like it's better value than the Das.
In the end, you probably won't be happy or sure until you've actually tried both boards. However, knowing what I now know about both boards, I'd recommend starting off with the Customizer and going from there.
Best of luck with it whichever route you should take. :smile:
-
As for the Customizer, it should be a fine board if you don't mind the high spring tension of buckling springs. I personally find them too heavy for my liking, but many others here love them. You will probably have to order directly from Unicomp.
I don't know if I can agree with this. I have had two unicomps and am down to one now. Its a customizer and just like the spacesaver the keys/springs were actually very smooth. As for high spring tension; it was more noticeable for me on the IBM's where there could be obvious differences. Some IBM's that I have had were actually quite hard to press versus some others where the springs were actually overly bouncy.
The two unicomps that I had had the same feel. I thought they were very consistent. And overall a bit smoother then any IBM keyboard that I have ever used.
If I had to pick between a Das or a Unicomp I would go with the Unicomp. Ideally, you would have a chance to try both of them out before you making the decision and spending the money.
-
Before you leap can't you find a IBM Model M in Australia to try?
I tried one, once, a long time ago and it was quite nice to type on.
I think I'm going to go for the Customizer. I might also get a set of blank keycaps to try. Thanks for the advice guys, I'll let you know how it goes. :)
-
In the end, you probably won't be happy or sure until you've actually tried both boards.
Very true. I was in a similar situation. I went with the Customizer first. Although I liked it very much I kept wondering what a Cherry Blue keyboard would feel like, hence my G80-3000 purchase.
Best of luck in your quest!
-
Well, I just placed my order with Unicomp. I decided to ring them beforehand to get an idea of the shipping cost, and spoke to Jim Owens who was really helpful. Apparently shipping is going to be about US$60. So, the keyboard plus the blank keycaps, a protective cover, and shipping should add up to about A$210. Excellent! :D
-
BenBenMan, I'm curious (if you know)... how does that total price compare to the Das III Keyboard with extra blank keycaps shipped to your location?
-
BenBenMan, I'm curious (if you know)... how does that total price compare to the Das III Keyboard with extra blank keycaps shipped to your location?
The Das is sold in Australia by =KE-DASKEYBOARDU]Aus PC Market (http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code) for A$214.50 incl. shipping, so it ended up being roughly the same price, however the Unicomp has a dust cover and an extra set of keycaps... I'm not sure if you can get extra keycaps for the Das, I couldn't find them on Aus PC Market...
edit: fixed the broken link
-
I'm not sure if you can get extra keycaps for the Das, I couldn't find them on Aus PC Market...
That might be correct. I know you can buy it with or without blanks, but maybe not get both.
Either way, thanks for the pricing info.
-
Just a quick update on the shipping to Australia for those who are interested, there's an option for shipping with FedEx for US$41, which I think I'll go for. It will take approx 3-5 days to get here once shipped. The other options are air shipping which is US$60 and will take 3-5 days, or priority mail which is $52 and will take 6-10 days. Air shipping and FedEx are trackable, the priority mail isn't. So, now that I'm going for FedEx, that brings my order total to about A$182.
-
The Das is sold in Australia by =KE-DASKEYBOARDU]Aus PC Market (http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code) for A$214.50 incl. shipping, so it ended up being roughly the same price, however the Unicomp has a dust cover and an extra set of keycaps...
What about customs charges?
-
Also, another question for those with the Das, do the blank keys actually help you type faster, or is it just a marketing thing?
I've been using computers for ... decades, shall we say. Although I knew where all the keys were, I would often look at the keyboard while I touch-typed, if you can see what I mean. It held me back.
Now, after a week of having a blank-keyed DAS and using TypeFaster (http://www.typefastertypingtutor.com/) I can touch-type properly.
I'm kicking myself for not doing this long ago.
-
Nothing slows down my own typing speed like looking at the keyboard does. It's weird how you can be typing along with a good stride and without any issues, but look down at the keyboard for just a moment and everything seems to go to pieces.
-
buckling springs all the way!
-
What about customs charges?
I don't think there will be any customs charges... according to Australian Customs (http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549) you don't have to pay any customs for goods with a declared value of $1000 or less.
-
I don't think there will be any customs charges... according to Australian Customs (http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549) you don't have to pay any customs for goods with a declared value of $1000 or less.
Lucky you, here in the UK it's only £18 - which pretty much excludes all keyboards.
-
Well, I got the shipping options email last Friday and responded, saying I'd prefer the FedEx shipping .. but now I haven't heard anything back? How long does this usually take? Should I ring them?
-
Well, I got the shipping options email last Friday and responded, saying I'd prefer the FedEx shipping .. but now I haven't heard anything back? How long does this usually take? Should I ring them?
Unicomp has always provided a tracking number for my orders, but they've all come by UPS and not FedEx, so I don't know if that will make a difference, but I wouldn't think it will. It took about a week before they shipped my last order, so if it's been less than that for your order it might be too soon to be expecting a tracking number.
-
I would go for the Unicomp over the DAS keyboard if I were you. It's really not worth $130 for some blue Cherries.
-
This would be worth the money if you don't mind the Chinese legends: http://www.geminicomputersinc.com/g80-3000lscrc-2.html
-
I almost forget about the letters until I read posts like this lol
-
Ben's gonna love the Unicomp.
Hah, I hope so ... I'm having a difficult time trying to convince my friends I'm not absolutely crazy for spending A$180 on a keyboard, but I suppose when it arrives I'll have the last laugh ... and the last clacks?
Anyway, I might ring them tonight and see what's happening with the order...
EDIT: It's hopefully going to ship by the end of next week. :)