Many thanks to Dominic Raad at Skatter Tech. He’s been using the Model S for a few weeks and wrote an honest and fair review of the Das Keyboard Model S Professional; he even addresses the recall and the errors that caused it.
What are your thoughts on his review? Would you agree? Have you had a different experience?
How fast can you type? Do you think you’re fast enough to be the Ultimate Typing Champion?
Now you can prove it.
If the title isn’t enough for you, perhaps $2,000, a free trip to South by Southwest in Austin, TX, a free keyboard, or a few other prizes will entice you to compete.
Today we launched the Ultimate Typing Championship. At its core is TyprX, a multi-player typing game that allows players to race in real time over the internet. The idea is to help you show off your mad typing skills and/or to increase your typing speed. TyprX will keep track of all your scores when you’re signed in and enter you in the Championship.
Check it out at www.UltimateTypingChampionship.com. Good luck to everyone!
Hello Das Keyboard Fans!
As you may have heard, several of the just-released Model S keyboards were exhibiting defects that are inconsistent with our dedication to high quality and a great Das Keyboard experience. As a result, we’ve decided to issue a full recall for all versions of the Das Keyboard Model S. Please note that this recall only applies to the Model S and only affects those who already received a Model S or have ordered one. We’ve prepared the following set of questions and answers to help our customers and fans better understand the situation.
What is the issue?
Das Keyboard is immediately recalling all Model S keyboards and is offering customers who have purchased the new Model S either a replacement keyboard or a full refund.
Why is Das Keyboard recalling the Model S?
Shortly after the new Das Keyboard Model S had been introduced to the market we began receiving reports of issues that affect the Das Keyboard experience. Further investigation revealed an internal defect was causing random keys to malfunction and not register when pressed. Additionally, in some cases, keys were “sticking,” and the keyboard’s n-key rollover capability also was diminished.
Given Das Keyboard’s commitment to our customers, high quality and remarkable Das Keyboard experience, we have decided to issue a full recall of all models of the Das Keyboard Model S.
Who is affected by the recall?
The recall applies to any individual who has purchased and received the new Das Keyboard Model S. This recall does not affect the thousands of Das Keyboard fans who own a previous model of our keyboard.
How does this affect me?
If you have already received your Das Keyboard Model S you have three choices. You can:
Potential workaround: When using your Model S keyboard while waiting for your replacement, if you encounter the problem of random keys not registering when pressed, unplugging the keyboard and plugging it back in should temporarily correct the issue in most cases.
If you have already ordered a Model S but haven’t received it yet:
When will the new, updated Model S keyboards be available?
Das Keyboard currently anticipates that the new Model S units will be available by mid-December. We will provide updates on the expected timeframe for receiving new units as more information becomes available.
Can I pre-order the new, updated Model S so that I receive the keyboard immediately once it’s available?
Yes, if you’ve not yet ordered a Model S but would like to, you can pre-order your keyboard through the company’s U.S. web store and it will ship as soon as updated units become available. Please note that your credit card will not be charged until your new Model S keyboard has been shipped.
What do I need to do?
If you want to keep your Model S you don’t need to do anything.
If you want to return your Model S for a full refund or a replacement, please follow these steps:
If you want to continue using your Model S keyboard until your new unit arrives, please follow these steps:
Potential workaround: When using your Model S keyboard while waiting for your replacement, if you encounter the problem of random keys not registering when pressed, unplugging the keyboard and plugging it back in should temporarily correct the issue in most cases.
If you already ordered a Model S but haven’t receive it yet and still want it:
Your new Model S keyboard will ship as soon as new, updated units become available. You don’t need to do anything. (Your credit card will not be charged until your new keyboard is shipped.)
If you would like to cancel your order, please follow these steps:
Who can I contact if I have additional questions regarding this recall?
Das Keyboard is happy to address any additional questions that you may have regarding the recall of the Model S keyboard. Please forward any additional questions to recall@daskeyboard.com and a company representative will be back in touch with you as soon as possible.
We apologize for the inconvenience that this recall has caused and wish to express our sincere appreciation to our customers, many of whom have already shown tremendous patience and understanding. Our primary goal is to ensure that you, our customers, get the quality keyboard you expect as soon as possible.
If you have any questions relating to this recall, please contact us at recall@daskeyboard.com. You’re also welcome to use the comment field below. I’ll update the questions and answers here as new information becomes available.
What the heck is a “Zazzle” you ask? Good question!
Zazzle is an on-demand retail platform that allows us to create the Das Keyboard Zazzle Store (not to be confused with the Das Keyboard Webstore, the US website for buying your Das Keyboard.)
Simply put, the Das Keyboard Zazzle Store is a place for you to get that Das Keyboard tshirt, coffee mug, or other item you’ve been wanting. We chose Zazzle as the store platform because it also allows you to add the Das Keyboard logo and your own personalized text to just about every item they carry. So if you’ve really been craving that Das Keyboard dog shirt customized with Fido’s name, your wait is finally over.
Admittedly, the store is new and the available variety is small, but this is the fans’ store, your store! I want to know what you’d like to see there, to hear your ideas for cool products or fun phrases to go with Das Keyboard. I’m working on a contest of sorts to come up with some fun tshirt or product designs and the winning submission could win their shirt. We’ll see how that pans out.
So, what do you think about the new store? What products would you like to see, what are some funny or cool phrases to pair with Das Keyboard?
At long last the new Das Keyboard Model S’s have arrived and will start shipping today! We’re starting to fill all of the backorders and pre-orders in the order they were received, so if you’ve been waiting the longest, you’ll get your new keyboard the soonest. That being said, we hope to get through the initial shipping burst quickly, so there shouldn’t be a very long delay if you just ordered your new Model S yesterday. And pretty soon there won’t be any delay at all!
Please note this currently only applies to orders placed in our US webstore for shipment inside the US. I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we have more concrete information on availability in other parts of the world. Right now we’re expecting the Model S to be available in Europe around the end of the month.
What’s the first thing you’re going to do with your new Das Keyboard Model S?
We’ve gotten this question a few times over the past few days, so I thought it would be helpful to all of our fans out there to answer this question in a more official manner.
The Das Keyboard Model S will be available in Europe around the beginning of November through getdigital.de. When that happens, the following key layouts will also be available:
Das Keyboard Model S Professional:
Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate:
Every version of the Model S is designed to work with your PC’s operating system; this means that no matter which physical keyboard you have or which letters may be lasered onto the keys, you can use your operating system to install multiple keyboard layouts that will work.
For Windows Vista, for example, you can get to “Regional and Language Options” through the Control Panel, choose the “Keyboards and Languages” tab, then click “Change Keyboards.” This will give you a window that allows you to add new keyboard layouts.
In this example I added the Hungarian keyboard to my PC; now I can “alt+shift” toggle between the 2 layouts. The letters on my keyboard obviously don’t change, but now it’s easy for me to type the Hungarian-specific letters like ő, ö, ó, ű, ü, ú and others without using the special character insert feature in Word.
So, to our European fans, which layout do you plan on ordering? Do you switch back and forth between different language layouts often?
There’s been a lot of talk in the last few days about the new and improved Model S that is now available for order.
Did you notice the part about the new versions of the Model S? Not only is there the S Ultimate and S Professional just as before, but there is now a third version, the S Professional Silent!
Just Like Before, but Quieter
The Pro Silent is almost exactly like the S Professional; the keys are lettered, it has the media functions, double USB for more power, KVM compatibility, etc. The difference, and the reason this keyboard is very special is the keyswitches inside. Instead of the Blue Cherry keyswitches like the other models, this keyboard sports the Brown Cherry keyswitches. This difference means the Pro Silent is a lot quieter than the other versions. To be clear, even though it’s called “Silent,” there is still a little bit of sound from the sound of your fingers hitting the keys and the keys bottoming out and such just as with any keyboard, but the loud click isn’t there.
We hope cube-mates and significant others around the world will rejoice at the promise of newly found peace.
Short Supply
The other important thing about the Pro Silent is that for the time being, these are only available in a very short limited edition. With only about 150 or so of these Pro Silent keyboards available, I suggest you order yours as soon as possible. The logic behind a short run is to see how our customers like them and to gather feedback. We’re committed to the best Das Keyboard experience possible, which means sometimes we need to try new things out.
So if you think you or that person next to you might appreciate a Das Keyboard without the “click,” check out the Model S Pro Silent!
So what do you think? Are you interested in the Pro Silent? Do you have a working or personal relationship that could improve with a quieter Das Keyboard?
Hello Das Keyboard fans! As you have no doubt heard or seen, the new Das Keyboard Model S is available now in our US Store and will ship at the end of the month. You can read the official press release here. (It should be available in Europe around the first of November.)
We hear very often how some fans really want a Das Keyboard, but they can’t always afford it. We’ve had many discussions about this; the unfortunate bottom line is the only way to get the cost of Das Keyboard down at this point is to compromise quality, which we won’t do. But since our fans are priority number 1, we’re always thinking of you!
You may have been happy to see that the new, improved Model S is priced at $129, the same cost as its predecessor. Given the added features and functionality, packing more awesome keyboard into the same price is our way of saying “thank you” for being a fan and showing we care and understand.
Also, as another way of showing the love, we’re discounting all the remaining current Professionals to $109. We hope this will allow our fans who couldn’t quite afford a new keyboard the opportunity to get a brand new Das Keyboard Professional. A minor warning though, once the stock runs out on the current model of Professional, that’s it. We’re not making any more!
Remember, every single keyboard sold through the Das Keyboard webstore or by an authorized dealer comes with the full guarantee!
So I’m curious; how many of you have been waiting for the new Model S to come out before getting a Das Keyboard? Any other comments?
UPDATE: picture added!
Hello Das Keyboard fans! Perhaps you’ve seen the flurry of twitter, blog, and other internet activity about the next version of the Das Keyboard, the “Model S,” to finally make an appearance. As Community Manager, it’s my distinct privilege to confirm that the rumors are true; Das Keyboard Model S is on the horizon and available now for pre-sale! You can read the official press release here.
The new Model S will be available in the Professional (lettered) and Ultimate (blank) models, just as with the last version.
To be clear, we’re expecting the new models to be ready for shipment at the end of the month, but until we have them in our hands, we can’t give specific dates.
Update: the Model S is available now to order and will ship at the end of October!
For now, I thought you might like to know a few tidbits about the new model. The new Model S is pretty similar in appearance to its predecessor, with a few upgrades:
I promise to get some photos up as soon as I can. Stay tuned for more details regarding our enhanced product line. We’ve got at least one more very interesting addition that certainly promises to get your attention. Pre-order your Das Keyboard Model S here!
What do you think of the upgrades to this version? How’d we do?
UPDATE: we got some great comments and questions below. I’ve been able to answer some of them; please read through them for the answers and let us know if you have other comments or questions!
What does the top of your desk look like?
Many thanks to @Zanneth for sending this picture of his Das Keyboard Ultimate on his desk!
[updated October 9, 2009]
Many thanks to those who sent in a photo of their Das Keyboard on their desk!
Here’s Alex’s desk:
And here’s Spike’s desk: (and props to Spike for showing us what his desk REALLY looks like :-))
Check out Lance’s setup! It looks like it’s at work; his co-workers must be jealous!
I think MSgtSimon wins the honor of the “most loved” Das Keyboard! He’s got a pretty cool setup too.
Check out Trung’s setup! He wrote to us: “Thanks Das Keyboard, it does save my finger[s] after hours [of] coding. Please find attached the photo of my beloved DK.” Thanks Trung!
If your desk has a Das Keyboard on it, send me a picture and I’ll post it!
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