How much is too much to spend on a keyboard?

[theenforcer]

I wondered on Twitter a while ago about how much was too much to spend on a keyboard (here referring, of course, to the kind of keyboard you type on. This had come from a discussion on a distribution list that day at work where a guy was talking about how he would never understand the IBM keyboard cult, meaning people who prefer the olde-tymey

Comments

[kishmo]

Ha! You crazy nut. Enjoy your crazy nut-board!

[anonymous]

Try using nail polish with a toothpick or paper clip to write your own letters on. I had good results with hot pink on my old laptop keys. Just ask if you want to borrow it, I think pink is your colour!

Jenn

[theenforcer]

People who make that argument seem to not notice that the Das Keyboard is sold in two versions, one with letters and one without, and there is no difference in price. So if I'd wanted one with letters, it would have been no problem.

But I agree, pink is totally my colour.

[cinnamon_digory]

*snerk* NICE

[anonymous]

Lemme know how it goes. I'm definitely a closet keyboard-o-phile. When I bought my Goldtouch keyboard three years ago, it was $129 USD (the USD was at 1.15).

Now, it retails for $159 and the USD is at 1.25... I like to think of it as an investment that has appreciated about 10% year over year.

[theenforcer]

I'll take it out and show it off when you're over on Friday. And if you ask nicely you can also look at my keyboard.

When it comes to the Das / Model M

[anonymous]

It's not about the click and it's not about the click (as much) and it's not about the letters. In fact, you can buy Das Keyboards that have letters on them. I suppose you lose some cred, though.

Also, it's less of a pain if you're trying to forget QWERTY. That's a silly argument though.

The CSC has Model-Ms. They're nice, I like the tactile feel of their mechanical switches. The sound, while aesthetically pleasing, is a side-effect and I suppose a smoking gun that indicates that I'm on the real deal. The Das' biggest claim to fame, I think, is that it also uses the same ALPS mechanical switches.

It's not enough to convince me from the MS naturals, which are decent. I'd rather have the curve. If Das (or Matias, though the latter company might be Mac-focused) ever made split keyboards, I'd be sold in a heartbeat.

--GCD

Re: When it comes to the Das / Model M

[anonymous]

God I butchered that first sentence. What I meant to say was that it isn't about the letters or the click so much as about the feel of having a key-cap actually resist your now-authoritative pressure. Also, the feel of having the key stop when it's gone as far down as it's going to go is far nicer than what you'll find on newer membrane? keys.

Turns out the Das doesn't use true Model-M switch--err, buckling springs, but similar ones. I have no idea how the Das compares with the true successors, whether they are improvements or usurpers.

Re: When it comes to the Das / Model M

[theenforcer]

Neither do I. But I remain hopeful that this keyboard will last me a damn long time and that's good enough for me.

It sucks to admit it but I'm going to miss the media keys. I have to figure out how to hotkey Volume Up, Volume Down, Play/Pause, and Next/Previous Track.

Re: When it comes to the Das / Model M

[anonymous]

God Damn it, Cupcake! now I'm really noticing that I don't have buckling keys at work or home.

Oh well. I'm going to constantly mute/remute in revenge. Maybe even load a few calculators.

--GCD

[cinnamon_digory]

... so you bought a Das Keyboard?

[theenforcer]

Yes. The Ultimate. The one with no marks on the keys.

[cinnamon_digory]

ah cool

enjoy