Transform a DAS Keyboard to azerty

[Kuvkhgh]

Hi!

First, I apologise for any mistakes in my English, I'm French and I'll do my best.

I love the Das Keyboard 4, but it's only available in qwerty (104 & 105 keys).
(You can see the Professional and the Ultimate models here)
I can still take the Ultimate model (with the blank keycaps), but I don't really like it that way.

So, I was wondering if taking the Professional model and changing the symbols keycaps may be a good idea?
I'm afraid that the new keycaps may look a bit different than the originals ones? (not the same black/fonts/fonts color) 

What do you think?

[Oobly]

I don't think you're going to find AZERTY keycaps easily. You may just have to get any of the 105 key ISO boards (from here for instace: http://www.getdigital.de/Das-Keyboard-4-Professional.html) and then ignore the "wrong" characters. Or buy some Honeywell SA profile keycaps from 7bit's Round 5 Group Buy here and replace all the keycaps: http://deskthority.net/wiki/R5_leftovers

You would need a base, alpha, french language, ISO and numeric kit to complete the board.

I can't think of another set that includes the french language specific keycaps, but you may be able to find one somewhere.

[IvanIvanovich]

The easiest way to get French set is to steal it from a Cherry G80/G81 if you can find one. The model code will end in FR or F.

Like that which is older model with nice doubleshot keycap... though you are more likely to find recent model with lasered key. You might also look for Belgian (BE or B), if those differences won't bother you. Sometimes those come up and may be better than nothing as it is also Azerty. Like there was recently a lot of Peacock branded Belgian G81 available for cheap.

[nrd]

I don’t know where to find AZERTY caps either but if all else fails, you could get a set of custom keycaps printed. I believe the caps from WASDkeyboards are the same material as the original DAS caps.

Probably easier/cheaper than hunting down a bunch of different kits.

Edit: http://www.keyboardco.com/product/double-shot-filco-105-key-french-keyset.asp

Keyboardco seems to have some french layouts, too but they come with Filco stabilizers … not sure how much of a problem that is.

[Oobly]

I don’t know where to find AZERTY caps either but if all else fails, you could get a set of custom keycaps printed. I believe the caps from WASDkeyboards are the same material as the original DAS caps.

Probably easier/cheaper than hunting down a bunch of different kits.

Edit: http://www.keyboardco.com/product/double-shot-filco-105-key-french-keyset.asp

Keyboardco seems to have some french layouts, too but they come with Filco stabilizers … not sure how much of a problem that is.

That set from Keyboardco looks the business! Thick doubleshot ABS in the right layout! Looks like SA profile or something similar, quite tall spherical dent caps. Great find!

Any ISO version of the keyboard with these caps on would work.

Unfortunately they have Costar stabilizers GLUED in place, so you can only use them on the older DAS boards that used Costar stabs. The new ones apparently use unlinked Cherry stabilizers... Actually, after reading a little more about the new DAS boards I would recommend you don't buy one. They have really gone cheap on the build of the new ones compared to the old. Get a Filco, Ducky, Coolermaster, even a Corsair instead of DAS.

One of these for instance: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/french-filco-majestouch-2-nkr-mechanical-keyboards.asp