Das Keyboard

Das Keyboard is a series of computer keyboards sold by Metadot Corporation, an open-source software company located in Austin, Texas. Their most distinctive feature has been the absence of key labels, i.e. the keys themselves are completely blank, thereby supposedly helping to improve touch typing skills and eliminating the need to rearrange keys for alternative keyboard layouts. Labeled versions have also been available since 2008. The current iterations employ mechanical keyswitches.

The product's name is an example of foreign branding as “das” is the German neuter definite article. Since the English word “keyboard” is indeed a commonplace term for computer keyboards in German and as such takes the neuter gender, the name is correct and idiomatic German. On the other hand, "keyboard" is mostly used without an article in German, using the German word "(die) Tastatur" instead when an article is to be used as well as in more formal contexts. Thus the use of "das" mirrors the usage in slogans like "das Auto" ("the car", a slogan from VW), which are meant to convey the marketing message that these particular products are a kind of gold standard.

Das Keyboard products

Example of Das Keyboard, model S Ultimate (unlabelled)

There have been multiple generations of Das Keyboard:

The third iteration in 2008 was the first to be offered in both Ultimate (unlabeled) and Professional (labeled) versions. This USB-only keyboard also offered six-key rollover capability (the maximum for a conventional USB HID keyboard), an internal two-port USB hub and came with a glossy surface. Both 104-key (ANSI) and 105-key layouts (ISO) were offered.[1] This version was not without its problems, however, as it became known that key transposition errors could occur at high typing speeds.[2][3] In addition, interoperability issues related to the USB hub were noticed with some systems.

The "Das Keyboard Model S" constitutes the latest addition to the lineup, as of late 2009. It contains revised electronics to address some of the common complaints along with supporting media keys and PS/2 operation. Again, it is shipped in both Ultimate (unlabeled) and Professional (labeled) versions, both 104- and 105-key, with the addition of a labeled Professional Silent model [4] featuring non-clicky but tactile MX brown stem keyswitches. The latter is intended for applications demanding lower noise levels than obtained with the regular clicky MX blue stem switches while retaining a similar tactile characteristic.[5][6][7]

History

The keyboard was designed by Daniel Guermeur, the founder of Metadot Corporation, an open source software company located in Austin, Texas, USA. Daniel Guermeur noticed that hunting and pecking was not very efficient for someone spending most of his days typing on a computer. He was looking for a radical solution which would prevent him from looking at the keys. Thus he had a Chinese factory make his first blank keyboard. After a few seconds of using it, the low-cost, rubber-membrane keyboard was giving atrocious tactile feedback so he decided that blank keys were not enough to type fast; the keyboard component quality was paramount as well. He then had another factory make the best quality keyboard they could deliver and added the blank keys. After a few weeks of usage Daniel doubled his typing speed.

Friends and colleagues asked him many times where they could buy a blank keyboard like his, but this was a one-of-a-kind keyboard. After he noticed a wide interest in this blank typing device he decided to launch a new product line focusing exclusively on providing the best quality keyboard equipment available on the market. The first week after the launch of the first Das Keyboard, its website got several million hits and was mentioned in numerous blogs and leading newspapers including Slashdot[8] and The New York Times.[9]

Das Keyboard was manufactured by Costar Electronics in Taiwan, R.O.C.[10] They are currently using a non-disclosed OEM from China to produce their new Media models.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Das Keyboard Professional product page". Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  2. ↑ "Forum discussion: Details regarding serious key transposition issue with Das Keyboard III".
  3. ↑ "Daniel Guermeur reveals that the Das Keyboard III may transpose keystrokes".
  4. ↑ O'Neil, Faith. "Das Keyboard Professional S Quiet Mechanical Review". Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate product page". Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  6. ↑ "Das Keyboard Model S Professional product page". Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  7. ↑ "Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent product page". Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Zipern, Andrew (2005-05-26). "A Keyboard That Lets the Supremely Confident Show Disdain for Qwerty". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  10. ↑ Costar Electronics
  11. ↑

External links