Lack of 'Xtreme' Keyboards on XtremeSystems

[JaccoW]

A nice review of 7 mechanical keyboards: Professional Mechanical Keyboard Comparison - Benchmarkreviews.com

I have been using a G15 v1 keyboard for more than three years now, but it is slowly dying. screen hasn't been working for almost a year now and the leds sometimes flicker.
At work one of the older pc's has what I believe to be an old IBM model M keyboard attached to it (see if I can get my boss to part with it. ) and it has a really nice feel to it.

I was interested in the Deck Legend and Das keyboard professional, since I have a tendency to really 'hammer' the keys.
The Deck legend looks nice, but I would want to try it first and I don't really like the font. But the leds are really nice.
Das Keyboard probably takes a while to find around here.

I did like the small lcd screen of the G15, so maybe i'll get a G13 for gaming and that.

Does anyone know if the issues with the Das Keyboard, such as letter fading and a maximum of 6 simultaneous keystrokes has been fixed?

[AndrewZorn]

letter fading on black keys with white text is GOING to happen unless it is double-shot, which is an actual separate color of plastic molded into the keys (some cherry BRAND boards, the deck supposedly, since the clear is a diff color than the black, but it looks to me when i squint at the pictures that it's inside a 'box'...)

i thought the das was blank?

6 keys is the max on any USB keyboard
you can get infinite with PS2
but modifiers are usually not included
so is 6 really a problem?
i cant really see using 6 in the main cluster, or at all
if it IS that important, make sure to use PS2
and get a REAL NKRO keyboard
a lot advertise it
but not all have it

das uses cherry blue one of the lightest switches around, so basically the total opposite of a model m or deck

das has issues with typing speeds over 100ish
but dont necessarily say "oh well i dont type that fast"
because for short rolls you might (typing 'the', your name, etc)

if you like backlit and heavy (non clicky) switches (cherry black) get the deck, but i also dont like the font or layout
but the das is pretty frowned upon everywhere (well not EVERYWHERE), kind of seen as the poser mechanical/ultimate keyboard
get a filco

ditch the logitech altogether
just get a separate screen if you so desire

EDIT by the way
liking my HHKB more and more
still havent taken the filco back out since my revelation, im scared it is TOO good and want to like my HHKB
the sound of the HHKB's enter (err, RETURN) is sublime
also accidentally found out that using the mac mode on the hhkb (softwareless, dip switches inside) gives me an alt-gr key, so i can do ¡ºª¢€ħðþ‘’–×~¹²³£¥ĦÐÞ“”—÷~äåãøłáéíółúüö«»õõ¿æœœẮ~~ ~~ÇÆŒ~ñÉ~ĐŁÜÍÅ without alt codes (not that i CAN do alt codes, theres no virtual numpad like on a laptop keyboard, one of the things i think is bad about the layout)

[agor]

I've also been looking at the Das Keyboard for quite some time now, and I think around christmas it is time to get yet another keyboard.
I'm pretty torn between the Das Ultimate and the FILCO Majestouch Tactile Click "Otaku" NKRO

Problem being that the Filco isn't carried anywhere in Germany / EU (or am I just too stupid to find it?), the Das Keyboard is.

[AndrewZorn]

i think no one reads my posts
too long or too short, and all lowercase

[agor]

i read your post about daskeyboard being buggy above 100 wpm, but they got free tryout for 30days here :P

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I have the Tactile Deck and it breaks in really nicely, and the adjustable brightness LEDs are great. the Plastic is a 2 type molding with replacement keys available on warranty from deck

Also be sure to get the PS/2 model! usb can only handle 7 strokes simultaneously by spec, PS/2 can handle as many as you throw at it!

[JaccoW]

Thanks, I have been reading a bit more today and I am currently looking for a Deck Legend Frost (white) tactile PS2 version.
Looks like the best of both worlds.

I have a favourite webshop here in Holland and he is looking into it. So maybe I'll have one before christmas.

@AndrewZorn: Das Keyboard is now available in a Ultimate (blank) and a professional (with letters) version.
Also; NKRO?
Edit: N-Key-Roll-Over: pressing multiple keys at once. The Deck should have it.

The keys on the deck are black with a white center. The letters are supposedly burned into the white plastic. That is how they should be pretty wearproof and still enable backlighting.

[AndrewZorn]

here's what i mean:



look at backspace, right shift, then all the other keys. you can see the 'square', and on backspace and right shift even a little light leaking past it?
wear or not it makes it look kind of cheap.

also, at least the full-size legend doesnt have TOO crazy of a layout

with the das... you might not realize it now, your speed might (should) go up over time, and a 100wpm+ roll isnt unusual
but ive even heard rumor that the new "S" version might have fixed it
still the das is just a medicre-to-good blue cherry board. the filco is better.

[JaccoW]

There does seem to be a little bit of light leakage, but this one:

looks a lot better. Perhaps a little bit at the \| key.

I probably wouldn't really mind anyway.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

small amount of light leakage on mine, I dont mind it though because I cant see it sitting while typing and i dont sit at my computer with my face over my keyboard saying "damn the light is leaking"

[JaccoW]

SNiiPE_DoGG what colour Deck do you have? Would you mind taking some pictures of it?
Are the edges of the keys and their prints really visible?

I have a feeling this is a board that doesn't really look all that good on photographs, but better in real life.
What are your experiences?

Edit: The keys of the Deck are made like this:

[AndrewZorn]

the new DAS model S has indeed fixed the transposition/rollover issues.

[webbyboy]

Nothing beats filco blue switches.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I am sorry I cant take pictures, no camera here at schoo >.< I have the blue tactile deck legend

I would definitely say it looks better in real life, maybe during thanksgiving I will put in in the photo studio

[JaccoW]

Looking forward to it.
How does it type?

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Well I haven't used a Das or a Filco but I think its wonderful, I used to have a bunch of avant stellar boards and they were good too but i find this board nicer, the keys are a bit firmer (need breaking in when you first get it) but I have found that my typing speed has gotten much higher!

[AndrewZorn]

just thought i would bump this with my current collection, which is growing in diversity (or completeness (or absurdity, depending on how you want to think about it)):


PFU Happy Hacking Pro 2 (Topre)


Filco Majestouch Tenkeyless Tactile Click (Cherry Blue)


Cherry G86-62410EUAGSA (Cherry Brown)


Compaq MX-11900 (Cherry Black)


IBM Model M13 (Buckling Spring)


Filco Zero Tenkeyless Fukka (Fukka Alps)


Dell AT101W (Black Alps)

[JaccoW]

IBM Model M13 (Buckling Spring)

That IBM Model M13 looks pretty cool. Especially with the red "keyboard nipple".
Is that for mousing, or...?

EDIT: I found it is a trackpoint. And it can be used to move the pointer.

[AndrewZorn]

yeah, its a model M with a trackpoint, and the only version that comes in black.

[Andrew LB]

I'm happy with my current keyboards. On my desktop setup I have a Logitech DiNovo Bluetooth Laser keyboard/mouse combo (courtesy of Logitech) and on my ION system is a Logitech Illuminated Keyboard. The feel of the Logitech Illuminated is by far the best I've used.

[JaccoW]

I finally got my Deck Legend Frost (white) tactile PS/2 version today, so it's time to post pics:

First impressions are good. I come from a Logitech G15 so there is quite a difference in keyfeel. (and noise)
I thought the casing might look a bit crappy, but it's actually a very sleek and chique looking dark silver.

The lighting is a bit off in the pictures, it's really white instead of the light blue it shows, but whatever.

Some more:





Mysterious shot:


Yaaargh!

[stevecs]

Anyone have one of the Das Keyboards? personally I would have in a flash if they had a wireless model for it but seems all the good keyboards are tethered.

[JaccoW]

I have no idea why that is, but someone else asked the same on Geekhack.
Or you can build it yourself. (Dutch)

[stevecs]

Interesting, the dutch site one I think would be better if everything can be fit into the keyboard itself (would also allow for different power sources like rechargeable batteries or whatever for longer run times). Though that design probably fits better with the happy hacking keyboards.

[One_Hertz]

Anyone have one of the Das Keyboards? personally I would have in a flash if they had a wireless model for it but seems all the good keyboards are tethered.

I have the DAS ultimate. Before that, I had the deck legend for 1.5 years. I slightly prefer the Das, but really this has to do with my preference for keyboards that click when they register a key stroke.

Something else to note is that the USB controller on my Das is ed. The keyboard only works on USB 1.1