RSSA Keyboard for Uber-Geeks
By Ed Oswald | Published August 11, 2005, 2:51 PM
Looking for a way to profess your uber-geekness to friends, family, or even your co-workers? Then the "Das Keyboard" may be for you. There's only one catch to this sleek-looking black keyboard: the keys are blank.
While some may see such a device as strange, inventor Daniel Guermeur considers it a stroke of genius. "Das Keyboard places me at the pinnacle of the geekness. The nice perk is that it improved my typing speed and accuracy," Guermeur said about his invention.
The name means "The Keyboard" in German, an allegory to the term "uber geek."
Das Keyboard claims that the brain uses the markings on the keys as a crutch, which causes the typist to slow down and look at what keys are being hit. With this keyboard, the brain is forced to memorize the key positions, thus increasing typing speed and improving accuracy since there are no markings to guide the user along.
The keyboard also features individually mounted key weights, which means different keys must be pressed with different force to type, from 35 grams up to 80 grams. The company says this results in greater comfort when typing since the weight is more evenly matched to the strength of the finger hitting it.
According to Das Keyboard's test, the keys are built to withstand over 30 million keystrokes, which it says rivals or surpasses many of the best keyboards available on the market today.
Das Keyboard works with Windows, Linux and Mac OS X through a USB connection. Retailing USD $79.95 USD, the keyboard can be ordered through the company's Web site.
Cheaper option:
Undo a generic keyboard and change the letters around. Just as confusing, just as good for improving your touch typing (perhaps even more confusing actually).
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|80 Bucks???? For 99 cents I can black out the white key markings on my $9.99 Black Labtec. I can adjust the key weight by how drunk I am when I type.
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|You guys want a REAL Uber keyboard?
Check this one out:
http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/
Blank keys, that you can make be whatever you desire!
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|lol.
See the post by LRN @ Aug 11, 2005 - 11:52 PM about 10 comments down.
Props for knowing about it though ++
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|Who the hell would buy a keyboard that isn't ergonomic? Adesso makes the only ergonomic keyboard where they haven't perverted the layout (stupid Microsoft, always trying to lead the way even when they're lost). Now they use lame a** touchpads, but they used to have trackpoints (which eneded around 1997).
Cheers,
Christian Blackburn
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|You just had to mention Microsoft in this somehow didn't you? Didn't you?
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|lol yeah... it's in every one of his/her posts. Some people are just like that.
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|What the f*ck man! This is so stupid! Blank keyboards have been around for a long and I mean long time. I used them when I was in the 5th grade for god sakes. (im 18) Seriously, who in there right mind to throw out thier keyboard just to get this one? Its a rip.
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|anyone who spends 80 bucks for this... got OWNED!
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|What a f*cking rip off. This is the same keyboard we had in the early 90's that looks ugly as hell, only that they ripped off the labels and dyed it in black.
Should be rebranded to "Das s***".
A keyboard for Uber-Suckers who buy this s*** for 80$
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|As useful as a chocklate fireguard
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|That is so weird, I was just looking at this thing yesterday. I got a keyboard that says "All Your Base Are Belong To Us Zig" that is the end-result of about 5 other keyboards.
I use it on my personal at work, anyone that normally comes in there cannot even use it. If there is a name for that kind of protection then I like it because it keeps the n00bs away.
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|One of our "geeks" at work got one of these. It was simply to add to his already inflated ego. Were all technical here, but since hes a coding monkey he just HAS to be elitist. Damn bas****...lol
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|Looks like a Keytronic keyboard rebranded.
They were the first ones to do variable weighting on the keys.
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|I think, Optimus keyboard is more cool ;) http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/
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|niiice...
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|That is really nice!
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|Ultimate coolness.
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|Looking at their website, is it just me or is it just a plain black IBM AT keyboard?
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|If you read into it, the geekiness comes in the key switches.. they are set up in groups that require differnt pressure to press. so there is a bit more to it then missing letters
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|Actually, if you think about it, this really is a good idea. I mean maybe it's not worth $80 for a normal keyboard with the letters missing, but the concept is brilliant.
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|Looks like you would get a discount on this keyboard because it's missing the letters?? Hell, I got about 10 old keyboards in the basement. I will scratch the letters off and sell them on E-Bay for $50.00. Any takers? You save $30.00 and I will even throw in free shipping. Isn't that nice....uh...isn't it.
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|Steep price!! Bit of nail polish remover and a normal keyboard!!
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|Awesome... if nothing else, it would discourage friends who can't type from trying to use your computer... *lol* that alone would be worth the extra money.
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|Agreed!
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|Ha! Ha!
Well, but if you think about it - a piano has nothing written on the keys and there are a load more keys on a piano than on a computer keyboard.
Ho! Ho!
Yeah, maybe someone should sell even a handle to throw it away .....
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|Actually the computer keyboard has more keys. 105 to be exact. Pianos have 88 keys.
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|You're right, of course! Sorry.
Maybye it's just the impression of the large piano and the small computer keyboard....
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|hey beta*NEWS*, it's N0T nEwS!...
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|ummm.... ?
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|Maybe something is wrong with his CAPS? Or maybe he is just l33t...
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|I work at a school and although this is very expensive it seems like a good tool for helping kids learn to keyboard without hunt and peck. Although a better alternative that i've never seen is a keyboard that is blank and the push of a button would light the letter from underneath. Like those good old electronic organs.
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|how's about a book without the typography ? or a music cd without the music ? you just hum along as the blanc plays.....
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|Your completely missing the point of this keyboard, aren't you?
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|Why not just refrain from looking at the keyboard...it will save you some cash.
Lame
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|Old news. This keyboard was blogged to death almost two months ago.
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|Blogged to death? What does that mean? Everyone said hurtful things in the direction of Das Keyboard?
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|I'm pretty sure thats not what they meant.. Blogged to death meaning promoted and talked about. Picture you talking to an old realative about war stories youve heard 1000 times before that don't interest you anymore. ;]
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|I believe you can also remap each key individually. Which, when done behind the users back, so to speak, would play havoc the next time the user sits down to type anything.
Entertainment, for sure, but doubtfully worth the cost.
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|Wouldn't going to Walmart and buying a $10 keyboard and scratching off the letters do that same thing? You save $70!
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|And ruin a perfectly good keyboard in the process. New stuff, and breaking new stuff. best of both worlds.
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|You do not scratch the letters on the keycaps. With the use of mostly "water-based" inks nowadays, any good household cream cleaner can "safely" remove these for you. And do it quite faster.
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|--- not worth the post---
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|Awwww, did you complain about it and change your mind?
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|I can see where this might have potential. I myself rarely look at the keys. However, there are times when I get tired that I really have to look at the keyboard, especially on keys that I seldom use.
There is another keyboard that may be coming out eventually that I find very interesting. It uses a backlight to illuminate the individual keys. It can be programmed to show ONLY the keys that the program requires. If it takes off at all though, I suspect it will be a relatively expensive gaming novelty.
Even though I mentioned that a blank keyboard may have potential (perhaps not ALL the keys need be blank?) I find that a keyboard with slightly illuminated keys more interesting, especially for those late-night sessions with the room barely lit.
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|Anyone know when the Optimus Keyboard is going to be released, as it is STILL patent pending?
I would pay over 100 USD for that!!!
Also, a side note, if you were building a revolutionary keyboard, why would you go for a design that is roughly more than a decade old, im pretty sure i saw some of those style keyboards hooked up to a 486DX2 ahahhaha :P
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