I don't understand Das Keyboard

[apastuszak]

I'm looking at Das Keyboard's website and they have the new Das Keyboard 6 Professional, which they claim is the "ultimate typing experience."

But I feel like there is nothing here that makes it worth the price tag:

Pros:

1. Shine through keycaps that actually look nice, if you're into that sort of thing.
2. 2 USB-C ports in the keyboard.

Cons:

1. Only choices are Cherry MX Brown or Cherry MX Blue.
2. They soldered the switches, so you can't even easily swap them out.
3. No wireless, no Bluetooth
4. Keyboard starts as $200
5. Not programmable

Neutral:

1. Volume knob
2. Media control keys
3. Sleep key

I can get a pretty good mechanical keyboard from some Chinese manufacturer (Keychron, Nuphy, etc.) that have hot swappable switches, switch choices that include really good tactile switches, 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, multi-device support, QMK/VIA programmability, and a knob for under $100 from some places.

The volume knob, media keys and sleep key I am kind of iffy on. With programmability, I can make other keys do those functions for me. The one key I would love is a global mute key for my mic for when I am on conference calls.

Is there someone out there that owns a Das Keyboard and loves it? What makes it worth the price tag to you?

I feel like, as you climb up the keyboard ladder in price, you lose features on keyboards, which is odd.

[vvp]

Expensive and not ergonomic.

There is an advantage to soldered switches. The connection between a switch and its receptacle will not fail.

[apastuszak]

Expensive and not ergonomic.

There is an advantage to soldered switches. The connection between a switch and its receptacle will not fail.

I'm not big into switch swapping. If I am going to use a Cherry MX style keyboard, I will usually go for either Glorious Panda or Boba U4T. If I buy a Keychron I just get the Keychron Banana switch and call it a day. So, I'm not horribly worried about the connection failing. If I was swapping switches all the time, then I would worry about it.

With assembly, I would think soldering a bunch of switches in would be cheaper than putting a bunch of hot swap sockets in. So, I don't understand why soldered keyboards cost more than ones with hot swap sockets.

[vvp]

I don't understand why soldered keyboards cost more than ones with hot swap sockets.

You cannot compare products targeted to Germany with products targeted to China (which possibly may also be sold to G7 countries). There is very likely a difference in the level of support / warranty. But one also must realize that sales of prolonged warranties is the best business for the sellers. They cost a lot and are very rarely used. Very good profit.

Price is not related to the production costs. Well, it must be higher than the production costs in the long term but that is it. Price is all about what the market can bear.

Just look at luxuries Moreover, sometimes increasing item price can lead to higher number of items sold: people buy it as a status symbol, high price can lead to an illusion of scarcity.

[Findecanor]

With assembly, I would think soldering a bunch of switches in would be cheaper than putting a bunch of hot swap sockets in.

I don't think it is the cost of components but the cost of skilled labour that is dominant factor.
All types of hot-swap sockets I've seen have been surface-mounted, and I think the process of soldering them can be completely automated on standard equipment.

But I think the real issue here is that Das Keyboard has fallen behind the competition and recent trends. Like so many other brands.

[vvp]

All types of hot-swap sockets I've seen have been surface-mounted, and I think the process of soldering them can be completely automated on standard equipment.

Well, the switches still need to be inserted to the sockets. But yes, in general, surface mount is cheaper.

But I'm responding because of other thing: do not buy a keyboard which has surface mount switches (whether directly or indirectly through a socket) if the switches/sockets are not extremely well fixed to a strong mount plate. Surface mount parts like to tear off when mechanically stressed. The stress on switches will happen in a keyboard.

[apastuszak]

All types of hot-swap sockets I've seen have been surface-mounted, and I think the process of soldering them can be completely automated on standard equipment.

Well, the switches still need to be inserted to the sockets. But yes, in general, surface mount is cheaper.

But I'm responding because of other thing: do not buy a keyboard which has surface mount switches (whether directly or indirectly through a socket) if the switches/sockets are not extremely well fixed to a strong mount plate. Surface mount parts like to tear off when mechanically stressed. The stress on switches will happen in a keyboard.

And I assume that any hot swap sockets are surface mount?

I guess the other question is, does Das Keyboard expect their keyboards to still be around in 10 years, that they require soldered switches.

I know they have a new line of gaming keyboards that use their own proprietary switches and stems. And that requires proprietary keycaps. I don't think Das Keyboard is a name gamers look to.

[apastuszak]

I don't understand why soldered keyboards cost more than ones with hot swap sockets.

You cannot compare products targeted to Germany with products targeted to China (which possibly may also be sold to G7 countries). There is very likely a difference in the level of support / warranty. But one also must realize that sales of prolonged warranties is the best business for the sellers. They cost a lot and are very rarely used. Very good profit.

Price is not related to the production costs. Well, it must be higher than the production costs in the long term but that is it. Price is all about what the market can bear.

Just look at luxuries Moreover, sometimes increasing item price can lead to higher number of items sold: people buy it as a status symbol, high price can lead to an illusion of scarcity.

I do not believe Das Keyboard is targeted to Germany. Das Keyboard is a Texas company that does all their manufacturing in China. The phrase "Das Keyboard: in Germans means "The Musical Keyboard." So a guy in a band would use das Keyboard, and not some guy sitting at his desk.

[vvp]

Well, if it is a Texan company then it is likely targeted to USA which has almost 2 times higher GDP per capita than Germany. People have more money, keyboards can be even more expensive and still sell.