If you are a PC gamer, you’re probably acquainted with the likes of Razer, Corsair, and Logitech who provide gaming keyboards and different associated solutions. But if you're a true laptop enthusiast, not to mention a mechanical keyboard enthusiast, you then enter into a exceptional territory of excessive best niche players. Das Keyboard is arguably the maximum famend logo within this group.
We reviewed the primary revision of the Das Keyboard lower back in 2008 and we nonetheless have that same device operating flawlessly in one of our workplace's computer systems. With that type of reputation, Das built a following and lots of different gamers started to observe. However as opposition has cropped up and the playing field has leveled with authentic producers counting on trusty switches from the likes of Cherry MX, the industry feels a chunk stagnant.
Case in point, we reviewed the final generation of the Das Keyboard (4 Professional) in 2014 and that stays the employer's go-to providing for maximum fanatic customers. Over the years Das has added us some different services, like the Prime 13 or the gaming-orientated X40, although for a while we've got additionally been waiting for their "next large factor." They introduced it on mid 2016, with a Kickstarter to build the primary "cloud-linked" keyboard. They also said they might work with Japan-based Omron to build the great possible and most long lasting switches, that could differentiate them similarly. Finally, the claimed the ones keyboards would be prepared to ship through January 2017, however evidently that did now not appear.
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You may don't forget a pair months back I reviewed the Wooting one, the primary of its type analog mechanical keyboard. Despite some flaws, I cherished the device, and I became curious about the era in the back of it. I bring this up, due to the fact a Box sea of accurate, bad, and first rate keyboard services, claiming yours is specific is becoming subsequent to impossible. So we see this "cloud-connected" functionality as Das' try to offer some thing particular that appeals to its following of PC energy customers.
The new Das Keyboard 5Q and the X50Q, each promise a similar stage of innovatia Chip:s the "global’s first clever keyboards." The organisation claims the keyboards had been designed to enhance productiveness and “[stream] records from the Internet” immediately to a user’s fingertips. But what does that suggest precisely? Those are simply a few lofty objectives, but do the keyboards supply? We'll cowl that rapidly.
Design and Feel
Before stepping into the actual meat of this piece, I ought to speak the build fine of the keyboards. If you’ve ever bought equipment from Das Keyboard inside the past, you in all likelihood already recognize what to anticipate with the 5Q and X50Q. Both keyboards experience very well-built, courtesy of what I presume to be an all-aluminum pinnacle plate, a organization plastic backside, and a heavy-obligation braided cable.
When I tried to bend and twist the keyboards, they have been each surprisingly resistant to my manipulations. To that cease, whilst I don’t endorse trying out this for yourself (the oldsters over at Das are likely shaking their heads as I write this) it does seem like each the 5Q and X50Q may want to face up to a honest amount of abuse before their functionality would be dwindled. Naturally, it’s high-quality to keep away from dropping or in any other case destructive your keyboards within the first place, but accidents do appear.
Moving on from fashionable construct first-rate, how do the keyboards themselves sense? In a word, outstanding.
The 5Q and X50Q each characteristic Das Keyboard’s Gamma Zulu key switches made by using Omron. Das says those switches function 1.5mm tour instances, quicker spring lower back, and 100 milliChip: AMDctuation lifespans (two times as a good deal as Cherry's). They're also obvious as a way to work pleasant with RGB lights. Though the switches are commonly equal among the 5Q and the X50Q, Das claims the 5Q has a "Real Time One" (RTO) ms response time, which the agency says is faster than the X50Q. I can’t touch upon that myself, but, as the distinction between the 2 wasn’t important for gaming or writing.
In trying to pinpoint an industry equivalent -- say, certainly one of Cherry’s MX switches -- for the Gamma Zulus, they honestly feel awesome to type with. When given a choice, I move for a corporation, loud, and clicky key switch, like Cherry’s MX Blue, however the Gamma Zulus are softer and plenty towards the MX Brown's. If you want to geek out on switches, actuations and other such information, this contrast chart ought to come up with a entire answer on in which the Gamma Zulus stand.
The 5Q and X50Q switches are remarkably quiet, which I'm no longer too used to coming from clickier switches. Even when I took off my headphones, the sound they made quick diminished into the background, and with them on, keystrokes have been nearly inaudible.
Despite my complaints, my typing accuracy did growth considerably in comparison to what I turned into capable of with the Wooting one, which turned into my every day driving force for many months. Whether or now not that’s a end result of shifting far from the one’s analog transfer generation, I can not say.
From a layout attitude, the Das 5Q and the X50Q are quite similar to each other. The 5Q is the more critical of the 2, whilst the X50Q is greater gamer oriented and comes with an extra set of WASD textured keycaps (silver with pink highlights). Otherwise, the most terrific differences among the 2 are the wrist rests and the volume wheels -- those double as “Signal” menu hotkeys, extra on that later.
The Das 5Q has an ultra-cushty, rubberized magnetic wrist rest but a cumbersome, hard-to-use extent dial. By assessment, the X50Q has a smaller, grippier extent wheel that I found tons less complicated to address, but it additionally has an underwhelming plastic wrist relaxation. There’s one closing design element I must point out: the X50Q has several peculiar plastic rivets jutting out from around the keyboard. I do not see a purpose for them other than to appearance extra "gamer," however they’re a chunk ugly to observe and disrupt the classy of what is in any other case a quite appealing piece of tech.
Cloud Connectivity: Innovative or Gimmicky?
With my thoughts at the keyboards’ design, durability, and switches out of the way, we can get to the primary promoting point of these keyboards - the internet streaming features Das boasts approximately. These functions work a lot the equal across both keyboards - customers are capable of attach custom signals to their tool’s various keys with the aid of integrating their keyboard with IFTTT and Zapier via the “Das Keyboard Q” customization software program.
I gained’t go into information about IFTTT or Zapier on this evaluation, however the gist is that they allow you to create custom “if this, do this”-kind instructions that cause an movement -- in this case, a keyboard alert -- based totally AMD Ryzen pre-decided criteria.
For instance, the keyboards can provide you with a warning whilst you’ve left the garage door open (I didn’t check that one myself), when your preferred streamer is going live on Twitch, or whilst one of your colleagues mentions you Box + Slack message. You may even set your keyboard to tell you whilst a bundle has been added or whilst the president sends out a Tweet. Think OS notifications meet RGB keycaps.
With the electricity of IFTTT and Zapier, customers can effortlessly create their own custom "Signals" that combine with a extensive style of services, inclusive of numerous electronic mail customers, Discord, web sites like YouTube, and lots extra.
To create a sign, visit Zapier or IFTTT to choose a cause, connect it to a particular key, and then pick a color and lighting impact to go together with it. Das has useful video tutorials that specify the complete manner inside the “Getting Started” segment of their website. As an instance, though, you can make a blinking blue Signal appear in your “W” key each time someone mentions you on Twitter.
If you appear to miss an alert, or you have several lively right away and you don’t need to check each one personally, the X50Q and the 5Q’s extent wheels double as notification buttons. Just press the button down, and it will open the Signal Center, allowing you to view all energetic and beyond signals. All of these capabilities are neat for a while, and the possibilities are massive, but I'm now not sure how a whole lot use the common person might get out of them.
Is it honestly important for your keyboard to tell you when you've received a new email while you can take two minutes to open Gmail and test for your self?
It's not just constrained use cases that drag the Q-series keyboards' cloud functions down - their implementation may also use some paintings. The issues start with the 1/3-celebration integrations the Das Keyboard Q software suite calls for in order for its particular features to feature.
To set something but the most simple indicators, you’re going to need to visit the dedicated websites for IFTTT and Zapier, create separate bills (+ Coreddition to a Das Keyboard Q Cloud account) for every of them, and then create custom Signal integrations within said money owed. This won't appear to be a massive deal at the start (the web sites are pretty smooth to use), but it starts to sense like a bit of a juggling act the greater you use the functions. Call me old fashioned, but I don’t typically want to make more than one account for a newly-purchased product.
Additionally, while my Slack message notification Signal began performing a chunk buggy and started out triggering even if none of my colleagues had typed whatever, I had to dig my way via Das’ barely-complicated software interface as well as Zapier’s website to figure out what changed into happening. After approximately 20 mins of frustration, I realized the Signal become triggering off of antique messages I’d already been notified about hours before.
To restoration it, I had to visit Zapier’s website, delete the mixing, after which recreate it. I haven’t had any troubles seeing that, however it become nevertheless an disturbing scenario. Being that Zapier and IFTTT are honestly critical so as for customers to get the total experience from their 5Q or X50Q, how can Das enhance the scenario?
Ideally, I’d want to see a Signal introduction menu in the Das Keyboard Q app itself. If customers need to sign up for Zapier and IFTTT (which many likely won’t take difficulty with), they need to at least not be compelled to visit the tools’ web sites every time they want to make a new Signal. However, I’m not positive if that’s technically or legally feasible for Das to tug off, so I think I won’t hold my breath.
Customization Software
Cloud connectivity capabilities apart, permit’s talk in greater standard terms approximately the Das Keyboard Q software interface. Both the 5Q and the X50Q provide complete RGB backlighting, and it’s a ways easier to customise it within Das Keyboard Q than it's miles to create indicators the usage of IFTTT and Zapier.
All you have to do is create a new RGB profile and adjust each key’s lights in your heart’s content. It’s even feasible to trade the colours of the 2 light bars constructed into either facet of the keyboard. They’re tough to see throughout the day, but at night time, they appearance quite neat.
The coloration customization of the 5Q and X50Q is set as sturdy as you’d anticipate for excessive-stop keyboards, however its held again through its small selection of “Active Effects.” For now, customers most effective have get entry to to respire, ripple, “laser,” shade cycle, and inward ripple outcomes. However, that’s something that may be increased upon down the line as greater customers provide their remarks to Das.
From an aesthetic perspective, the backlighting pleasant for both the X50Q and the 5Q is above-common. The lighting are colourful, and you can toggle via 10 brightness degrees using a dedicated hardware key. Frankly, there isn’t plenty within the manner of feedback I can provide Das approximately its software, possibly adding macro customization down the line, as well as an RGB “portray” function like Wooting’s Wootility software offers.
Closing Thoughts
We’ve covered a variety of floor now, so it’s an amazing time to summarize my mind on the Das 5Q and X50Q.
First, in case you’re thinking why I haven’t made many distinctions between the two keyboards for the duration of this overview, it’s due to the fact there just aren’t that many variations initially.
One of the key selling factors of the devices, the cloud capabilities, were a laugh to test with, but in their cutting-edge country, I don't assume they'll enchantment to all people but the most hardcore customers, due in no small component to the complications associated with setting up Signals. Power customers and hardcore gamers may locate the functions interesting enough to appearance past their faults, while a casual person likely wouldn't use them at all. Ultimately, I sense like the 5Q and the X50Q are trying to solve a trouble that simply doesn't exist at the moment, even though it'll be as much as users to determine out what capability uses you can give to this type of keyboard-primarily based notification.
Looking past this selection, the construct great of the keyboards is nearly sufficient to justify their price tag alone, and in case you are interested in the era Das offers right here, both of the keyboards is probably really worth a purchase. Just to reiterate, I observed the distinction among the two keyboards to be almost indistinguishable. If you may cope with a downgraded wrist relaxation, and slightly distinctive styling you can't move wrong with the X50Q both.
So, in the long run, are the keyboards worth the money? It's difficult to say, due to the fact their fee is largely depending on how a good deal use you think you could get out of the cloud capabilities. On pinnacle of which you have Das' ultra-modern and best hardware yet, new specific switches that aren't just appropriate but must be incredible long lasting, and full RGB lighting (with non-compulsory blank and translucent keycaps) that is sort of particular for a Das product. On the other hand, no USB hub, a downgrade from the two USB three.0 ports determined on the Das Professional four.
The Das Keyboard 5Q is currently priced at $250 and the X50Q is $200. You can pre-order the keyboards proper now.
rating
Pros: Typing experience and construct nice are amazing. Key switches experience first-rate and solid, are specific to this Das series. RGB backlighting is superb.
Cons: Not a large fan of the cloud connectivity features, and the price is a tad high as a result. No USB hub.
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