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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: NewToKeyboards on Tue, 16 August 2016, 09:48:23

Title: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Tue, 16 August 2016, 09:48:23: Hello everyone,

I have been looking into the Das Keyboard and have not seemed to be able to find anything that is terrible about the keyboard. That is why I wanted to ask on this forum to see if anyone here would have had some experience with the board. I am currently using the corsair K70 LUX RGB with the cherry MX blue switches. At first I was not 100% sold on the MX Blues, but after using them for a while now I definitely like them more than the MX Browns that I have on the other K70 that I used for a long, long time. Now, I was thinking that I would really like to buy one of these Das Keyboards, since I will be using it in a mostly productivity setup and I think that its looks will definitely fit in with the theme of the work-space.

To the main question here; What do you all think of the Das Keyboards, and would I be better off using that money in a better/different keyboard, when it is for strictly typing and no gaming at all?

The main things that I am looking for in a keyboard right now is, the best typing experience, a minimalist look/ very clean and not the standard gamer aesthetic, as well as the best switches that I can get for typing(currently love the blues but have only ever tried the blues, browns and the red which the reds were just a quick typing test on display in the store :p ), if that means that I would be better off with a 60% keyboard please let me know.

Thanks in advance for all of the help!
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: Screwdriver on Tue, 16 August 2016, 11:31:58: I have not heard anything bad about their boards. Only issues I have is the design/look...I really dislike the "media" hump on the upper right of the board and this is what keeps me from buying one.
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 16 August 2016, 11:45:31: What chu' need is an Ergodox or an Ergodox Infinity..

That'll really impress the coworkers.. .

(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion_custom/th_0suit.gif)
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Tue, 16 August 2016, 12:22:29: Quote from: tp4tissue on Tue, 16 August 2016, 11:45:31
What chu' need is an Ergodox or an Ergodox Infinity..

That'll really impress the coworkers.. .

Show Image
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion_custom/th_0suit.gif)

I am not sure that I would be able to do any typing on those, or that, depending on what you would call that 'thing' LOL
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Tue, 16 August 2016, 12:23:20: Quote from: Screwdriver on Tue, 16 August 2016, 11:31:58
I have not heard anything bad about their boards. Only issues I have is the design/look...I really dislike the "media" hump on the upper right of the board and this is what keeps me from buying one.

Okay, that is a good thing then, thanks for the reply and the information on the board!
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: SBJ on Tue, 16 August 2016, 23:34:35: Ducky's are decent boards.
I haven't heard too many people complain about them at least.
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 17 August 2016, 09:52:59: Thank you all for the help this is the last post that I am going to put in this thread as I am considering it closed ;) I ended up with the Das Keyboard Ultimate and I am more than happy that is the one that I got. This whole message was typed out on the Das Keyboard with the blank keys and I am not having any troubles right now, luckily that is LOL. One thing that I have found about this board though is that the keys and the switches sound a lot better than they did on the corsair K70 LUX that I am returning. The build quality is amazing and my typing speed as well as accuracy is already faster, probable a mental thing but none the less it is better!

Thank you all so much for the help this is an amazing keyboard!
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: y11971alex on Wed, 17 August 2016, 17:51:45: Quote from: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 17 August 2016, 09:52:59
Thank you all for the help this is the last post that I am going to put in this thread as I am considering it closed ;) I ended up with the Das Keyboard Ultimate and I am more than happy that is the one that I got. This whole message was typed out on the Das Keyboard with the blank keys and I am not having any troubles right now, luckily that is LOL. One thing that I have found about this board though is that the keys and the switches sound a lot better than they did on the corsair K70 LUX that I am returning. The build quality is amazing and my typing speed as well as accuracy is already faster, probable a mental thing but none the less it is better!

Thank you all so much for the help this is an amazing keyboard!
>Das Keyboard
>Build quality amazing
>Bad command or file name
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 17 August 2016, 22:15:59: Quote from: y11971alex on Wed, 17 August 2016, 17:51:45
Quote from: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 17 August 2016, 09:52:59
Thank you all for the help this is the last post that I am going to put in this thread as I am considering it closed ;) I ended up with the Das Keyboard Ultimate and I am more than happy that is the one that I got. This whole message was typed out on the Das Keyboard with the blank keys and I am not having any troubles right now, luckily that is LOL. One thing that I have found about this board though is that the keys and the switches sound a lot better than they did on the corsair K70 LUX that I am returning. The build quality is amazing and my typing speed as well as accuracy is already faster, probable a mental thing but none the less it is better!

Thank you all so much for the help this is an amazing keyboard!
>Das Keyboard
>Build quality amazing
>Bad command or file name

Why is there something wrong with the build quality of the Das Keyboard 4?
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: Screwdriver on Wed, 17 August 2016, 22:58:36: Quote from: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 17 August 2016, 22:15:59
Quote from: y11971alex on Wed, 17 August 2016, 17:51:45
Quote from: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 17 August 2016, 09:52:59
Thank you all for the help this is the last post that I am going to put in this thread as I am considering it closed ;) I ended up with the Das Keyboard Ultimate and I am more than happy that is the one that I got. This whole message was typed out on the Das Keyboard with the blank keys and I am not having any troubles right now, luckily that is LOL. One thing that I have found about this board though is that the keys and the switches sound a lot better than they did on the corsair K70 LUX that I am returning. The build quality is amazing and my typing speed as well as accuracy is already faster, probable a mental thing but none the less it is better!

Thank you all so much for the help this is an amazing keyboard!
>Das Keyboard
>Build quality amazing
>Bad command or file name

Why is there something wrong with the build quality of the Das Keyboard 4?

Your thread got m looking at the Das and all the reviews I read seem to be positive. I wish it had more options over Blues and Browns. I am looking for a MX Black board and would give them a serious look if that was choice.
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: y11971alex on Thu, 18 August 2016, 00:29:36: Quote from: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 17 August 2016, 22:15:59
Quote from: y11971alex on Wed, 17 August 2016, 17:51:45
Quote from: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 17 August 2016, 09:52:59
Thank you all for the help this is the last post that I am going to put in this thread as I am considering it closed ;) I ended up with the Das Keyboard Ultimate and I am more than happy that is the one that I got. This whole message was typed out on the Das Keyboard with the blank keys and I am not having any troubles right now, luckily that is LOL. One thing that I have found about this board though is that the keys and the switches sound a lot better than they did on the corsair K70 LUX that I am returning. The build quality is amazing and my typing speed as well as accuracy is already faster, probable a mental thing but none the less it is better!

Thank you all so much for the help this is an amazing keyboard!
>Das Keyboard
>Build quality amazing
>Bad command or file name

Why is there something wrong with the build quality of the Das Keyboard 4?
The Das Keyboard has decent build quality, that much I admit, but nothing more. It's passable, not amazing.

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/thusIHpu6ks/maxresdefault.jpg)

This keyboard, even without its case, has better build quality than your Das.
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Thu, 18 August 2016, 06:36:14: Quote from: y11971alex on Thu, 18 August 2016, 00:29:36

The Das Keyboard has decent build quality, that much I admit, but nothing more. It's passable, not amazing.

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/thusIHpu6ks/maxresdefault.jpg)

This keyboard, even without its case, has better build quality than your Das.
[/quote]

That is reassuring, what board is that that you are using in the picture? Sorry for the ignorant question but as my username says, I am new to keyboard :p Would you say that the Das Keyboard is of a better build quality than that of my corsair K70's that I have had, I had both the original K70 as well as the newer K70 Lux, the original one that I had was with the Cherry Mx Brown switches, and the Lux version is using the Cherry MX blues switches, which is one thing that I have noticed about this board is that the Das Keyboard's Blues feel and sound very different from the Blues that were on the K70.
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: y11971alex on Thu, 18 August 2016, 18:36:02: It's an IBM 5251's keyboard, by the looks of it. :D
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: Auxo on Fri, 19 August 2016, 02:41:59: First thing I'd recommend is figuring out what you need in a keyboard for your work space. Do you require a numpad? Do you require the F row? etc. Then once you've figured out what you do or do not need, it will narrow your options and ease your search
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Fri, 19 August 2016, 21:01:28: Quote from: CJD_Anthony on Fri, 19 August 2016, 02:41:59
First thing I'd recommend is figuring out what you need in a keyboard for your work space. Do you require a numpad? Do you require the F row? etc. Then once you've figured out what you do or do not need, it will narrow your options and ease your search

I do a lot of work that needs number pad in AutoCad as well as in Excel and even sometimes word depending on the course that I am working on at the time. I also use three or four of the F keys a lot, mostly for overclocking and all of the times that I need to enter the UEFI, as well as the amount of times that I need to refresh pages with F5, although, I would have no issues binding CAPS LOCK to F5 instead as I don't think that I have ever used CAPS LOCK... on purpose LOL I can think of one time that I use CAPS LOCK and that would be when I am typing out postal codes which I don't do often, just because it would be a pain to have to hold shift for that whole time well I am typing out the letters and numbers. So, to answer the F row question properly, No, I don't think that I would 'need' the F row of keys it is a feature that I like to have but not something that I absolutely need.

Thanks for taking the time to help!
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 21 August 2016, 15:18:59: Das keyboard no longer has the Original build quality, People say it's gone down ever since the switched OEMs..

Did they ever go back ?
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Mon, 22 August 2016, 19:17:52: Quote from: tp4tissue on Sun, 21 August 2016, 15:18:59
Das keyboard no longer has the Original build quality, People say it's gone down ever since the switched OEMs..

Did they ever go back ?

For my sake I sure hope that they did! Right now all of the keys are starting to make a squeaking sound which is getting really annoying so I might have to give it a quick WD-40'ing!
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 22 August 2016, 19:35:54: Quote from: NewToKeyboards on Mon, 22 August 2016, 19:17:52
Quote from: tp4tissue on Sun, 21 August 2016, 15:18:59
Das keyboard no longer has the Original build quality, People say it's gone down ever since the switched OEMs..

Did they ever go back ?

For my sake I sure hope that they did! Right now all of the keys are starting to make a squeaking sound which is getting really annoying so I might have to give it a quick WD-40'ing!

just stabilizer keys or all of them?
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: Auxo on Mon, 22 August 2016, 19:51:19: maybe a CM Storm Quickfire TK would do the job, it pretty much eliminates the arrow key cluster for a more compact work space.
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Mon, 22 August 2016, 21:13:58: Quote from: tp4tissue on Mon, 22 August 2016, 19:35:54
Quote from: NewToKeyboards on Mon, 22 August 2016, 19:17:52
Quote from: tp4tissue on Sun, 21 August 2016, 15:18:59
Das keyboard no longer has the Original build quality, People say it's gone down ever since the switched OEMs..

Did they ever go back ?

For my sake I sure hope that they did! Right now all of the keys are starting to make a squeaking sound which is getting really annoying so I might have to give it a quick WD-40'ing!

just stabilizer keys or all of them?

Right now it seems like only the stabilizer keys, but then again I am not sure as I am not usually able to discern between the squeak coming from the keys or coming from the space-bar.
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Mon, 22 August 2016, 21:14:46: Quote from: CJD_Anthony on Mon, 22 August 2016, 19:51:19
maybe a CM Storm Quickfire TK would do the job, it pretty much eliminates the arrow key cluster for a more compact work space.

I did try that board at a local computer shop and I thought that it was nice, so maybe that is another option for me. Thanks for the input!
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Wed, 24 August 2016, 18:59:18: After reading what you all have said in this post and after the amount of time that I have used the Das for, I am going to return it. It is not the board for me. Thank you for all of the help and please do keep the recommendations coming!

NTK
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 25 August 2016, 05:50:08: try the lube first..
Title: Re: Keyboard Recommendations - Das Keyboard Ultimate/Professional 4
Post by: NewToKeyboards on Thu, 25 August 2016, 06:59:30: Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 25 August 2016, 05:50:08
try the lube first..

That is okay, I don't think that the Das is the one for me, I don't type properly in the first place. My palms are on the desk meaning that the sharp aluminum edge of the board is cutting into the base of my hand as I type. Not to mention the fact that when I was using the blank keys (not a problem of the Das but a problem of mine) I must have hit CTRL+X instead of CTRL+S when I saved my last word document as when I came back the next day all of my work was gone and there was no back up of the file! So that was not fun at all! All of this meaning that I am not quite ready for all blank boards yet :p I will return it for now, keep using my K70 with Cherry MX Brown switches that I have right now, do more digging, and hopefully find the right board soon :thumb:

I have been really liking the look and all of the comments on 60% keyboards so that may be an option, as well as the Unicomp Ultraclassic is on MassDrop right now, which I have always wanted to try buckling springs and I am not able to find many used Model Ms for a reasonable price around me.

Thanks for your input so far!

NTK