Keyboards and mice - accessories known to man ever since the breakthrough of this device known as a “computer”.  If there’s anything to describe the keyboard industry, it’ll be the word “abundant”.  My local Future Shop has a keyboard section rivaling its section of Wii games and PS3 games put together.  I’ve got more than a few keyboards lying around in my house, and those are just the ones I found while cleaning up.  Such a variety explains why searching for that perfect keyboard is so hard - but you’re in luck, because the one we’re having a look at is the Das Keyboard (officially known as the Das Keyboard Professional).

Design Perspective

Let’s cut right to the chase - keyboard alone, minus the cord: I would proudly call the Das Keyboard one of the finest-looking keyboards in the industry.  The keyboard body is made of a glossy black plastic: no matter how much I admit to loving the glossy black, I would admit that it does attract finger print smudges as well as minor dust particles sadly easily.  You’re going to need that cloth Das Keyboard company included in the bundle to clean off the smudges and dust pretty often.

The LEDs the Das Keyboard uses are unique, to say the least: where most companies have a standard LED light, the Das Keyboard features unique icons that get lit up: for example, instead of just an LED light with “Caps Lock” over it, the Das Keyboard has an icon that says “A” that lights up when the Caps Lock button is pressed.  I definitely approve of this innovation because when the LED is off, it looks like part of the keyboard body - a good disguise for an LED.  Absolutely beautiful.

Caps Lock button off: wait, is there an LED?  Looks like part of the body to me…

Caps Lock button on!  Isn’t she purdy?

I can only find one real problem with its design though: the way the cord emerges from the keyboard is much too obvious.  For such a glossy, and otherwise heavenly keyboard, it’s a real eyesore to see the cord so explicitly seemingly erupt from the keyboard body.  I propose a solution for the next design: why not create a balcony to cover the cord, and have a place to attach the cord to on the right or left side to hide the cord more?  I expected such a simple feature to come with the Das Keyboard, seeing as how it came with my HP stock keyboard two years ago.  If I sound a bit upset, that’s because I’m actually very disappointed with such a design flaw.  The only benefit I can see to such a design is its durability, to which I will respond: my HP keyboard has not been treated kindly, and still has its cord stuck in it very tightly.  Besides, keyboards don’t seem to be the type that will have to worry about durability.

Look at that, it’s so blunt!  It just sticks out.  It’s gross - almost, unnatural to the design.  Shame, really.

An example of a design allowing for a well-concealed cord.  I see my keyboard everyday, so this is an absolute necessity - just because it’s not wireless, doesn’t mean it has to show off its cord.  And this design should be pretty standard - it came with my HP keyboard.

The cord can hook right on to that latch, allowing for cover.  If I can’t see it, it’s not there, right?  As good as wireless.

I rest my case.  On one hand, you see the Das Keyboard’s cord stick right out - and near the bottom, you barely see the HP’s cord stick out.  Where one blatantly emerges, the other relatively naturally connects.  I’d prefer the HP design to the Das Keyboard one any day.

Ignoring the imperfect small detail, the Das Keyboard’s design would’ve been near perfection.  If anyone questions the practicality of the cord, I will justify Das Keyboard’s inclusion of it: they claim it’s for better response time, which I can’t really attest to - I play Counterstrike: Source just as badly with it (haha, I guess it’s a matter of the player and not the keyboard, eh?), but what I really appreciate is the integration of the two USB ports on the side.  Without the cord, such a feature could not be implemented, and the Das Keyboard would be…well, just another keyboard.  Right now, I can plug my Logitech G5 in there and I can’t see any performance issues.  However, I still would’ve liked for something to be implemented to make the cord much less obvious.

Typist Perspective

Let’s put it this way - the Das Keyboard is a joy to type on.  With every push of a key, you get an extremely rewarding and unique clicking sound.  It’s not like the click of a mouse, but rather, more comparable to that of a typewriter.  Although I’m not from the typewriter generation, I can appreciate the feeling.  However, I got a few complaints of that loud, obnoxious typing - when I was on the phone with a friend.  This thing is nearly as loud as the crowds at a Bon Jovi concert.

It sounds great, and boy, the Das Keyboard sure feels great.  There is hardly any resistance when the keys are being pushed on, in comparison to my HP keyboard, which is a relative pain.  In fact, I think the Das Keyboard can give Logitech keyboards a run for their money (I’m also the proud owner of a Logitech MX 3000 keyboard, which is nearly as fun to type on).

Human Perspective

Which brings us to the final portion of our review: my personal human experience with the Das Keyboard.  I can say without a doubt or a second thought that the Das Keyboard provided the most unique keyboard experience I’ve ever had the pleasure of using - no boast.  With the clicking (which makes it seem to respond much faster and be much more snappy), the fun-to-push keys, the LED’s, and the glossy black design, this isn’t the kind of keyboard I’d use once and end up tossing it into my closet.  I’d flaunt this baby every time someone came over (as long as I polish it a bit earlier with the included cloth - hey, it’s really useful).

I didn’t kill many more people in Counterstrike: Source (in fact, I think I got worse at it, shockingly), but it was much easier to write this review and change my blog’s design, and do ordinary tasks with such an extraordinary keyboard.  I felt like I was driving to work at McDonald’s while cruising on a Harley Davidson or a Ferrari.  It’s a beautiful thing.

As of today, I was able to connect an iPod Video 5.5-gen as well as a Logitech G5 mouse to the two USB ports on the Das Keyboard without running into any performance or power issues.

Conclusion

If typing means anything to you, you absolutely have to consider the Das Keyboard.  I’ve been droning on and on about how great it is, I realize, but it’s really just that great!  I can’t stress how fun it is to type on this baby.  It looks great (except for the cord thing), sounds (arguably) great, and types excellently.  Although the USD $129.00 price tag may discourage some mainstream purchasers, I recommend the Das Keyboard to each and every single person that uses the computer relatively extensively or for a large portion of their day.

If you’re looking for even a more unique experience, you absolutely must take a look at the Das Keyboard Ultimate: dig this, a keyboard without any letter engravings on it!  I haven’t had the opportunity to personally review this, but if it’s anything like the Das Keyboard, you can’t miss out!

Shout out to Sarah Lambie, I couldn’t have made this review happen without you!

Somehow, I just felt like CutEdge and I haven’t been ourselves lately - it’s gotten increasingly difficult to find ideas for posts, I’ve lost track of my priorities, and I can’t say that I’m exceptionally proud of the road CutEdge has taken in Summer 2008.

That’s why I’m taking an announced break, so you readers can have a chance to explore older content, and I’ll be able to reflect on what I can improve upon, and how to apply pieces of advice I’ve recently received.

I hope you stick around to see the new CutEdge (and no, I don’t think I’ll be redoing the theme just yet - but I won’t count that idea out).

It’s been a pretty busy week for Dell - word is that they’re creating a new iPod killer.  And this fact might’ve slightly overshadowed a more immediate occurrence - the arrival of Dell’s new desktops: Dell’s family-friendly Inspiron 518 and its stylish Studio Hybrid.  I think that the Studio Hybrid is an excellent device to show off in your living room (as opposed to a clunky typical-looking computer).  And, the importance placed on form-factor is noted - a leaf taken out of Apple’s book, perhaps?

With computer makers stepping the form-factor up, I think that this can only be a positive for the integration of computers into living rooms - something that I thought would have happened a lot sooner.  It started with PS3’s and Xbox 360’s being “media centres”, but Dell steps it up by connecting an actual PC to the TV.  However, I’m certain that I missed something - where is the TV tuner card?  Without it, the Dell Studio Hybrid certainly misses one major convenience - the ability to schedule and record TV shows onto your computer.  Asides from that, I can see few appealing reasons to house a computer in the living room.

Starting at $499 USD and $529 CDN (reasonable dollar matching, I suppose), the Dell Studio Hybrid is an affordable and interesting product.  It’s extensible, but only through Dell - after all, you’re taking a huge risk if you’re going to personally try fitting something in such a tiny and unique machine.  And although I don’t guarantee its commercial success, I’m certain that it’s a step in an interesting direction.

Press Release: http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topic…&s=corp

It’s been said - repeatedly - that Windows Vista is a step down from Windows XP.  I’ve already taken my own stance on this - and as a user of Windows Vista, I think it’d be great if people stopped listening to what others did for a second and tried it on their own.  You know, independent thinking.  Apparently, Microsoft’s been thinking along the same lines, and launched the Mojave Experiment.

Users that have never tried Windows Vista were introduced to it under the disguise of Windows’ next operating system, codenamed Mojave.  Surprisingly enough, the users trying Vista for the first time actually liked it - and were then told it was Windows Vista.  They still liked it.

I think this was a great idea on Microsoft’s part, but I don’t want to come off as a Microsoft fanboy.  So I’ll stop endorsing Vista, and just leave you with a link and a few words: stop letting other people decide what you think, and decide for yourself.

Enjoy:

http://www.mojaveexperiment.com/#

There’s been huge buzz about Canonical and Ubuntu as of late, and I must say that I’m pretty impressed.  Mark Shuttleworth is emerging as a charismatic leader worthy to lead Ubuntu to battle, the blogosphere is going crazy, and Ubuntu is well on its way to hitting retail shelves.  I think that even though Ubuntu is a great product and operating system, it’s still not going to be enough as of yet - namely because of the lack of mainstream awareness.

Source: http://upload.wikimedia…_NASA.jpg

I realize that Canonical might not have the financial resources that Apple or Microsoft does, so I guess we can count the example of iPod ads out of the picture (I still feel that those iPod ads with dancing silhouettes are a huge factor in how they sold so well).  Still, if Ubuntu somehow manages to find their way to the front page of a huge mainstream newspaper or the main story on CNN, I’m sure that they would have reached many consumers that otherwise would never have heard of it.  Now, I’m not saying that Canonical has to work out a publicity stunt, but perhaps Shuttleworth could do a presentation or press conference that finds its way to G4 or something (start small, think big, right?).

Ubuntu is ready for mainstream, but we have to ask ourselves, is mainstream ready for Ubuntu?  Have a look at the success of Apple, the lack of general dissatisfaction and consumer reaction with Vista (not to say I personally don’t like Vista - I think it’s fine), and I think you’ll know the answer.