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Three years ago Metadot Corporation challenged what it meant to be an elite typist by releasing its original Das Keyboard into the marketplace. An all black plank devoid of any labels, the keyboard (and its successor, the Das Keyboard II) was not for the faint of heart. It didn't matter how long ago you had learned to type, staring at an all blank keyboard carried a certain intimidation factor, and if you could master the Das Keyboard, you knew you were a badass typist.
"Daniel Guermeur, founder of Metadot Corporation, an open source software company, created Das Keyboard because he believed the only way to improve his typing skills was to stop looking at the keys. Having a blank keyboard with a great tactile feel would be the ultimate answer." - Metadot Corporation
But it wasn't the label-less keys that drew the most criticism, and instead astute typers accused the Das Keyboard of being little more than a rebadged (albeit custom) Keytronics board with an inflated price tag. That isn't the case this time around, as Metadot Corporation unveils two new keyboards with a redesigned body and gold-plated mechanical key switches with German engineering roots. The version we're looking at today is the Das Keyboard Professional, the only plank Metadot has ever released with labeled keys, but for those who prefer to traverse through their daily typing without any mappings, Metadot offers the exact same keyboard sans labels in the Das Keyboard Ultimate.
Specifications
- Glossy black upper enclosure with matching black USB cable, Darth Vader approved (yes folks, that's an actual quote)
- Mechanical key switches with gold contacts
- Two-port US hub 1.1 and 2.0 compatible
- Blue LEDs
- 2-meter (6.6ft) USB cable
- Enhanced 104 or 105-key layout
- Three Windows keys
- Dimensions: 18in x 6.5in x 1in
- Weight: 1.2Kg, 2.6lbs
We can't recall a time when a keyboard ever came with a noteworthy bundle, and while the Das Keyboard is no exception, we do appreciate the inclusion of a lint free cloth. Good thing too, because you'll need it (more on that later).