This past week I made a purchase that I had been thinking about for a while. I had continually talked myself out of pulling the trigger, but for the month of August there was a sale on the Das Keyboard , so I decided to go for it. It is a keyboard with the mechanical switches underneath the key so when you type it makes the click-clack sound almost like a typewriter. The switch also gives it a crisp feeling as the key "snaps" down and then up again. It is sort of retro. They used to make the old IBM keyboards with this method. A long time ago they started using a membrane that you depress instead of a mechanical switch. This is much cheaper and allows for thinner keyboards, but it also feels mushy and doesn't provide that satisfying click.
I'm not sure I had ever used one of the old IBM keyboards in my life. But I got it in my head that I needed to try out one of these clicky keyboards. Even though I had never noticed it before every keyboard I touched now felt like crap. These mechanical keyboards are expensive, and it wasn't enough to justify the purchase. However, a 25% discount was the tipping point. Add to cart.
So far I am a big fan. It makes me feel like I am an old-timey journalist that is banging out a big story on a typewriter trying to make the morning presses. I feel like I should wear a derby hat or something. There is a certain satisfaction that comes from the noise. There is comfort in being able to hear the cadence of the keys. The keyboard is heavy and not particularly cool looking. It isn't ugly, but I wouldn't say it is pretty either... but those keys feel amazing. I got the loudest one they make. You can get a quieter model, but I wanted to go all out. I'm thinking about taking it to work, but I'm not sure that would go over very well.
Filed Under: Das Keyboard, Technology