What makes this keyboard so incredible is it's a mechanical keyboard. A mechanical keyboard means there is a switch with a spring under every single key. Most keyboards use rubber domes under each switch which give the keys a soft mushy feel. The springs in the Das keyboard give it a very crisp and precise feel. Many people remember the IBM keyboards of the 80s which are still sought after (just search on eBay for "IBM Model M"). These keyboards are so coveted because they to are mechanical keyboards. Think of the Das Keyboard as an IBM Model M + 20 years of improvement.
In addition to the mechanical switch, the Das keyboard has what's called n-key rollover (NKRO). This means you can press upwards of 12 keys simultaneously and all keys will be registered and in the correct order. Here's a little test for you to run right now on your current keyboard. Open a text editor like Notepad, then using both hands press QWAS all at the same time. I'll bet no more than 2 keys registered, and as few as zero. What happened? Simple, most keyboards cannot register more than 2 keys at the same time. But why would you ever need to register more than 12 keys? First, really fast typists can exceed the two key limit. (Have you ever typed "teh" instead of "the?" Most likely you typed it correctly but your keyboard failed to detect it in the correct order.) Second, if you're a gamer you often times have to press multiple keys to execute a move.
The Das keyboard also has a host of other features. It comes with a built-in USB hub, no more bending over to the computer to insert a flash drive. The lettering on the keys is laser etched so it can't wear off in time. It also comes with an extra long 2 meter cable. And I just love the styling of the keyboard, the sleek modern design with the high gloss case is very appealing.
As you might have guessed, the Das keyboard isn't cheap (it costs $130). But here's another way of looking at it. I'm guessing the keyboard in front of you says Dell, HP, Gateway, etc. on it. That keyboard, which was effectively free to you, cost the manufacture less than $1 to make! So you're spending all that time typing on something that costs less than a cup of coffee. Don't you think you're worth spending some money to get a professional-grade keyboard? I love it so much I bought two, one for home and one for work.
The Das Keyboard is also available in UK and German layouts at getdigital.de. If you are interested in a mechanical switch keyboard but don't like the Das keyboard, may I suggest Filco which is another high-quality manufacture. Filco uses the exact same German-made gold-plated switches so the typing experience is the same. Filco is available in full-size keyboards as well as without the numberpad (sorry, US orders only). Even though both the Das keyboard and Filco work on a Mac without a special driver or software, the Matias Tactile Pro 3 might appeal more to Mac users.
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