Some negatives with the Das Professional

[phototristan]

I recently tried out the Das Keyboard Professional for a couple of months and found some negatives with it that I thought I'd share:

-It is a total dust magnet because it has a high gloss finish. This means that it will look dusty most of the time and show fingerprints unless you wipe it with the included microfiber cloth all the time.
 
-The lettering on the keys started to wear off after only a couple of months. A keyboard of this price should have very sturdy lettering on the keys, not crappy painted on ones that can be rubbed off.

- The keys started to look shiny from wear/usage after only a couple of months. I'm a normal typist, am not that hard on keyboards, but I use them daily.

-This keyboard required two USB ports to be used on my computer via the included USB Y adapter in order for to work correctly and not cause all my other USB devices to drop off.

I'm much happier with my Model M and Customizer 104 in most all respects.

[LlamaZorz]

I have had a Das III Pro since the day it came out, I pre ordered it.  While yes it may attract dust I have to say so what?  I really could care less about my keyboard being dusty or having finger prints.  As long as it does not hinder functionality then what's the problem.  

I type a lot and program a lot and use the Das III for most of the day.  I must say that none of my keys have had there lettering come off, not even close.  

Ive never experienced the USB problem you mention, my Das works just like any other USB keyboard across all OS'es with no problems.  

You may have had a defective unit, but I still say that this is the best KB I have ever used.

[phototristan]

It's obviously a significant problem for a lot of people given that they now include a note card and a USB Y cable in the box explaining that you may have to use 2 USB ports and the Y cable to power it. You lucked out if you do not have to use two USB ports to power yours.

Same thing with the included microfiber cloth, if it getting dusty and showing fingerprints was not an issue, they would not need to include that.

The lettering is not injected into the keycaps (like it is on the Model M for instace),  just cheaply painted on. On a keyboard that expensive, you would think they would do it better. Give it time, your Das Professional will be an Ultimate soon.

I have had a Das III Pro since the day it came out, I pre ordered it.  While yes it may attract dust I have to say so what?  I really could care less about my keyboard being dusty or having finger prints.  As long as it does not hinder functionality then what's the problem.  

I type a lot and program a lot and use the Das III for most of the day.  I must say that none of my keys have had there lettering come off, not even close.  

Ive never experienced the USB problem you mention, my Das works just like any other USB keyboard across all OS'es with no problems.  

You may have had a defective unit, but I still say that this is the best KB I have ever used.

[bigpook]

I have a das iii and aside from the lettering that is starting to wear off on some keys is holding up excellently.

[ch_123]

aside from the lettering that is starting to wear off on some keys

Anyone else see the irony here?

[Rajagra]

Give it time, your Das Professional will be an Ultimate soon.

I do hope my Ultimate won't turn into a Professional. :wink:

My only problem with my DAS is the location of the USB ports, so I don't use them. I wonder if the USB part could be disconnected if unwanted? (I guess not, the keyboard itself probably connects via the internal hub.)

Oh, and I still think the bumps on the home keys are way too small. I've just put a small piece of black electrical tape below the space bar to help me find the home position.

[bigpook]

I don't use the usb ports on the das III anyways so it isn't a problem. I am not as down on the das as some people here are. My wife does use it and she really likes it. But I think its more the blue cherries then anything else. If the das gives up the ghost I will replace it with a blue cherried filco. The ONLY advantage I can think of immediately is the lettering won't come off of the keys.
Maybe I am being to lenient about that, none of my filcos, HHKB or M's have the lettering going away.

ps: She would probably like the filco alot better too.

[ssb]

Although I'm not a big fan of Das keyboard, I have to admit that I never had a single problem with any of my das III boards (I own three bought from getdigital). I've connected them on netbooks, various desktop systems and monitor hubs; well, never noticed anything weird, no excessive current use, nothing at all.
The only problem I have is keycaps that showed marks of shining in less than a month. However I cannot consider this a Das specific problem; same happened to my Filco keys in less time.

[bigpook]

for awhile there I thought I was the only one blessed with a working das.

[ssb]

Das usb problems are known, we hear about those all time. I wonder how this never happened to me and a few others.
Dunno maybe a different production bunch.

[LlamaZorz]

We have two Das Pro's and neither have problems from what I have seen so far in my year of use.  I don't type as fast as many, so maybe our users don't see the problems which may be there.  I dont even use windows and it works great.

On the note of why it comes with the microfiber cloth, well it comes with one to remove the dust which just so happens to aestheticly look bad on that shiny surface.  The Das doesn't somehow attract more dust or get more finger prints on it, due to its material.  It is just more apparent due to its shiny material.  I assure you the IBM M keyboard gets just as much dust and just as many finger prints as the Das.  They simply are not made as apparent.

[wellington1869]

home row bumps too small

nubblies for sale:
http://hooleon.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=OV-0253&Category_Code=OV-HR&Product_Count=0

[wellington1869]

Oh, that is hilarious!

I was trying to find something else on that site to amortize the shipping for that key puller but missed that one.

A silicon nubbie.  Now that is Barbie's t....

They've got all kinds of fun stuff in that little store

[watduzhkstand4]

what about the n-key rollover on that?

[Manyak]

I found out the exact technical details as to why the Das keyboard has problems.

Taken from the Deck forums:

USB HID keyboards are strange; there’s no first-in-first-out queing of the data. Instead, there is a “key-down array” Note the “Report order is arbitrary and does not reflect order of events” in the “Comments” column on page 73 of the USB HID specification:

http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs/HID1_11.pdf

Code: [Select]

B down 01000000 04 05 1B Report order is
                         arbitrary and does
                         not reflect order of
                         eventsUSB polls our keyboard about once every 8 ms. So there is about an 8 ms window in which the ordering will be arbitrary...Then the next limiting factor is the scanning frequency of the keyboard [and we are not planning to change this for our current products].

Deck keyboards actually don't exhibit this same flaw as the Das as far as I know, but even they claim you might see it.

[Manyak]

Wow, a real design engineer talking to the support guy.  That rarely happens.

Yeah, Deck keyboards are a bit...tacky, but from what I've seen their customer support is excellent. Hell, their warranty even covers modding, and they give you step by step instructions on certain controller mods as well (change USB to PS/2 and vice versa, change LED color, and I think some others as well).

I don't think he was being specific to the Das - why don't the Filco's have this problem?   They're also a USB HID keyboard.

I think the mystery continues.  I liked how they call it "teh(sic) Das problem", bunch of smartasses there too I see.

Also, I was bummed out by this quote from the post:

I was thinking of a Deck with blues, TG3 style without LEDs somehow.

I wish I could tell you, but I have no idea myself. I'm still trying to research a bit on controller techniques used on USB keyboards, but I'm not finding anything I don't already know.

The one thing I hate with the Decks is that damn font and the size and positioning of words on certain keys looks kind of thrown together without much thought (like 'Shift' and 'Enter').

But what would be nice is the ability to manually select which keys are lit up and which aren't - I'd use that all the time gaming. Then keep them off while doing normal work, making it look almost like a blank keyboard.

[Manyak]

Yeah, I saw that keyboard in a couple of places, and it really boggles my mind why Deck asked to get a fugly font on their version.

But hey at least you can always get that board and harvest the switches off of a Scorpius M10 or something.

[Hak Foo]

I'd sort of love a keyboard with a hub (because I could see it as a sensible spot for a tablet or drive to plug into)-- why does it seem hard to get it right?

500mA from the PC.

100mA to run the keyboard.
Limit each port to 200mA each-- do little 2Gb sticks and mice draw more?  (comparison:  My Logitech MX400 'laser mouse' draws 100mA per the label)

[Rajagra]

I'd sort of love a keyboard with a hub (because I could see it as a sensible spot for a tablet or drive to plug into)

This is one thing I really miss from my dead Logitech G15 (the proper, original version.) One USB port left rear, one right rear. Perfect for a mouse and game controller, or whatever, they really got that aspect spot on.

[Hamps]

Also, I was bummed out by this quote from the post:

Quote:
Is Deck really planning on releasing a tactile response keyswitch this summer? Because summer is basically here right now. Hopefully they'll be blue, if they're brown I'll be a bit disappointed since I do love a good click. Just let people choose imo!

I am working on this right now but I can't let the cat of out the bag just yet...for now all I can say is that if we do in fact release a new product the first lot won't have blue switches. Check back in June

Hey that's me!

Yeah, Deck is offering a tactile switch very soon, this month I think, but unfortunately it's not blue.. it's not even brown. It's 'clear'... which is 'white' I think?
I asked them what that feels like since I've only used blues and blacks and they said

They are like the browns but with a slightly higher force. Basically the same as linear but with a soft tactile response.

[IBI]

The Das doesn't somehow attract more dust or get more finger prints on it, due to its material.  It is just more apparent due to its shiny material.  I assure you the IBM M keyboard gets just as much dust and just as many finger prints as the Das.  They simply are not made as apparent.

Are you sure? A sponge doesn't attract any more water than a block of metal, but it certainly absorbs more of any water it comes into contact with.

The shiny finish is a downside because whether it not it actually clings onto more finger dirt it does need to be kept clean to look good, and if not it looks worse than other keyboards. It's up to individual buyers to decide whether they think it looks better than a non-glossy finish.

And the look is UNIQUE whether you like it or not.  Too many copycat keyboards around these days.

Unique? It looks like a Logitech Dinovo Edge with a lump stuck on the corner.

Here's a keyboard that does the USB port technically right but aesthetically so wrong.

Actually, I like the large surround look. To me it says missile command/nuclear submarine. It's not a design for anyone after a compact keyboard though.

Hey that's me!

Yeah, Deck is offering a tactile switch very soon, this month I think, but unfortunately it's not blue.. it's not even brown. It's 'clear'... which is 'white' I think?
I asked them what that feels like since I've only used blues and blacks and they said

Yeah, 'clears' are actually white, but there are older white switches so I guess whoever named them thought identification trouble was better than confusion with the older model. Qwerters Clinic has pictures of the force graph and slider (I think it uses the spring from the blues): http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech_cherry_mx.htm

[cchan]

Clears are browns with the spring from black. I think. I'm pretty sure.