Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate Soft Tactile MX Brown Mechanical Keyboard (DASK3ULTMS1SI)

I normally don't review things on Amazon these days, but I felt that I had to make a few points about this keyboard. Because I'm in love with it. Seriously, if I could marry an inanimate object, I would marry this board.I'll start off by saying that this is not my first mechanical keyboard. I'm also the owner of a CM Storm Quickfire Stealth with Cherry MX Blue switches. It was my first mechanical, I've been using it for quite a while now, and I love it to death. It's a fantastic board that I'd recommend to anybody. I've also been using the typical rubber-bubble cheapo keyboard on my work computer, and I decided that since I do the majority of my typing in the office, I should make the investment and get a mechanical board for my desk. I immediately began looking via Reddit's /r/mechanicalkeyboards and saw quite a few recommendations for this Das board. I love the letterless, minimalist look of the board, and even better, I love that it's a full board. My CM Storm is a tenkeyless version, and you never realize how much you end up missing the number pad until it's not there. Even though I love the Cherry MX Blues on my CM Storm, I decided to go with Cherry MX Browns on my work keyboard, since they're a quieter version of the incredibly clickclacky Cherry MX Blues that my CM Storm was equipped with and I didn't want to annoy anybody in the office with my loud typing.I purchased the Das just three days ago, and the day immediately after I did so I was informed that the opportunity to use my own personal keyboard on my work machine ended up falling through (A long story, I won't go into detail as to why). So I was set to return this just this afternoon when I figured, "Eh, why not open it up and take it for a test drive? Can't hurt, and I can always seal it back up and return it afterwards".And that is when my mind was totally blown by this board.Everything about it is absolutely superb. The board is solidly built; it feels like a slab of granite. The keys are beautifully minimalist. Even the company logo on the board is a nice, minimalist font. In the beginning, comparing it side-by-side with my CM Storm, I felt that the lack of clicking from the Cherry MX Browns was a turn off. Now, as I've used it more, I realize I greatly prefer the Cherry MX Browns dull thud to the high-pitched clacking of the Blues. I've just been using this board only for the latter half of today, and I already know what I'm going to do. I'm going to keep it and make it my new main keyboard for my home PC, because the $130 investment was totally worth it. So I'm throwing my CM Storm (which I really do love) back into its box and into a drawer. That's how good this Das board is. Typing on it is so indescribably satisfying. It's like popping packing bubbles, or peeling off the plastic on the bezel of a new television. Seriously, it's damn near a religious experience.If I had any criticism of this keyboard, it would probably be the gloss finish that I can imagine will easily become populated with fingerprints as time goes on. There's literally nothing else wrong with it.I realize that a big weakness of this review is that I've only used the keyboard for a few hours, and thus can't speak to its durability. So I'll be coming back in a few months to chime in on how the board holds up.I've built several PCs, from entry level, to enthusiast gamer level. I've used dozens of different keyboards, mice, headphones, and other peripherals over my years as a gamer and a builder. And as of now, with just 3-4 hours of using this board, I can say that it's absolutely, by far, my favorite peripheral I've ever used. It's just that good.If you're considering purchasing it, just do it and don't look back. I promise you won't be disappointed.

I bought the Das Keyboard as I saw so much praise for it online. Having tried Cherry Blues and disliking them on another keyboard, I decided to get the Das Keyboard and try out Browns. So as it turns out, I do not like Cherry Browns either. There's just a gritty feeling with Cherry switches that isn't pleasant to me. Keep in mind my daily keyboard has been an IBM Model M for years. I needed to buy a new keyboard that had USB support to use with a KVM as they don't make one with PS/2 connectors like my old IBM use.The keys feel nice being blank, but the ABS texture if you've ever felt PBT just isn't as nice (Model M's use PBT keycaps, feel a bit more textured to the touch). While I'm totally able to type without looking at the keys, having a blank keyboard is a bit gimmicky. I was frustrated a few times when playing a game which uses a key on the right hand side of the keyboard for some less frequently used function in the game. When you're playing a game, it's nice to be able to just glance down for a second to make sure you're hitting the right key. For pure typists, blanks might be fine but if you game I'd recommend getting one with printed keycaps. Blanks really aren't as cool as you think.The other big thing that I despised about the Das Keyboard - glossy finish. As someone who frequently rests their palms between typing on the front lip of the keyboard, I detest the feel of a glossy plastic finish. I also sometimes rest my left hand on the left edge of the keyboard. Coming from an IBM Model M where everything is very textured, thick plastic - the thin slick feel of the Das is just hugely uncomfortable to me. Being a clean freak I constantly was wiping the edges of the keyboard down with the included cleaning cloth. Some might be fine with a glossy finish, but I had no idea how glossy it was and it smudges extremely easily.Overall a well built keyboard, but between my apparent dislike of Cherry switches, the blank keys, and the glossy finish this keyboard just really wasn't for me. I ended up spending even more and ordered a Topre Realforce with all 55g weighted keys and I would strongly recommend a Topre switch over Cherry switches. In this price range, I think a Type Heaven would be a much better choice. Topres cost more, but are totally worth it for something you type on every day. If you just can't spring for a Topre, you'd be better off to just buy a cheaper Cherry based keyboard from someone like Cooler Master as they have a thinner lip around the keyboard, have a non-gloss finish, and have good build quality. The Das is a bit overpriced for what you get. Of course a Model M is an excellent keyboard assuming you can use PS/2 and don't mind the old school looks and loud keys (Honestly I think it sounds pleasant, in contrast to Cherry Blues which I find way to clacky and plastic sounding), and you can buy one for a fraction of the cost of even cheap new Cherry boards. I love my Topre, but I will never let go of my Model M.Update 4/4/2014: Seems that the makers of Das Keyboard realized the glossy finish was unappealing to a lot of folks like myself, new version of the Das Keyboard is now matte finish. I think this keyboard would resolve most of the issues I had with the Das. The price is a bit high for what you get though, as I don't think the Das does anything especially better than some of the cheaper mechanical keyboards.