Pros & Cons
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- Provides an outstanding experience for both the fingers and the ears.
- Hefty construction.
- Integrated USB hub.
- Can support full n-key rollover.
- Now works with KVMs.
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- Very expensive.
- No media keys.
- Full n-key rollover requires PS/2 port connection.
- The Blank Ultimate version may drive non-touch typists insane.
Metadot is well known among typing enthusiasts for its Das Keyboard line of high-end (and, in most cases, highly "clicky") mechanical PC keyboards, which feature gold-plated mechanical key switches rated for millions of presses. But the company and gamers have not publicly embraced each other since the first Das Keyboard appeared several years ago, though that could change with Metadot's new introduction of a set of colored key caps.
The set offers green replacement key caps for the typical gaming movement keys (W, A, S, and D), as well as a red Esc key. If you own a Model S Ultimate, the green key caps are available blank, to match the lack of labels on the rest of the keyboard's keys. (The red cap is blank in both cases.) A key cap puller is also included with the set to facilitate replacing the caps.
Daniel Guermeur, the creator of the Das Keyboard and Metadot's CEO, said in a statement, "The Model S keyboard is frequently praised as a top keyboard by reviewers and gamers alike, and we thought a little extra 'zing' would further add to its geeky appeal. Das Keyboard is also a company that listens to its fan base, and there's been growing demand for a color keycap set among our community of keyboard and gaming fanatics. We trust this new offering will help feed gamers' power-hungry desires in a small yet fancy way, and give them one more reason to be the envy of their peers."
The colored key caps are available from the Das Keyboard Web site for $14.90; ground shipping is free.
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Final Thoughts
Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate
If you think the cost is high for a keyboard, you're right, but the Das Keyboard Model S more than gives you your money worth. With gold-plated mechanical key switches (rated for upwards of 50 million key presses), you can both feel and hear the elegant, comfortable typing experience you'll receive. There are no media keys, and if you want to be able to press more than six keys at once, you'll need to connect via your PS/2 port. But these—and the $130 (direct)—are small prices to pay for one of the best keyboards (whether labeled or blank) on the market.