A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

DAS keyboard? - SAM

Posted: Sep 03, 2013

Thinking about taking the plunge and investing in a DAS tactile keyboard. It's a bigger investment than I've ever made in a keyboard.

Does anyone here use a DAS keyboard or have used one? If so, any feedback about it would be greatly appreciated.

TIA!!!

Not a DAS, but I have 2 mechanical keyboards, and I'll never type - on anything but mechanical ever again.

[ In Reply To ..]

Long story, but I use one tenkeyless Leopold keyboard for each hand, separated by about 18" (I got used to a totally separated ergo keyboard that isn't made anymore, so this is my improved makeshift take on that). Not sure what the choices are for DAS, but I have blue Cherry switches, which are fairly loud but provide the tactile, clicky feedback I crave, having cut my teeth on Model M keyboards back in the day. DAS has a good reputation, and whenever I have to eventually replace these, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a DAS or a maybe a Cooler Master or some other Cherry keyswitches keyboard in the future.

If you do get a mechanical keyboard (which I highly recommend, regardless of brand), I'd recommend doing an O-ring modification on your keys, as we MTs tend to type fairly hard and bottom out. Nice cheap little upgrade that really improves the feel and sound. I got my first ones (black Buna) at some online hardware-type parts store, but they started cracking and breaking after about a year, so my current set, which is a little more expensive, came from WASD Keyboards. So far so good, and I think they're going to hold up longer.

Mechanical keyboard - SAM

[ In Reply To ..]
It would appear we are of like minds, because I, too, became absolutely spoiled by the industrial-strength M model keyboards. Those are what I learned transcription on and, even though it probably makes me sound like an old dog who can't learn a new trick, I crave that particular type of keyboard. I'm sure I'm at least 25% faster on a tactile/mechanical keyboard.

I think I'm going to go for the DAS. I believe it comes with a pretty impressive warranty as well and, heck, I can write it off on taxes anyway, so I shouldn't have a spasm over the price. The darned thing will probably pay for itself in the first week with the increased productivity, LOL!

Thanks for your input and glad I'm not a lone wolf in loving those Model M's!

There we go, how about resolute old she-wolves instead of old dogs - unable to learn new tricks? ;)

[ In Reply To ..]

It amazes and saddens me to think of all the MTs and typists in general who have no idea the difference in feel of a good clicky keyboard compared to the mushy rubber membrane keyboards that are so standard now. Yeah, it's a little more expensive to go mechanical, but it helps make typing more of a genuine pleasure rather than a chore.

Best of luck with your new keyboard. I'm sure you'll enjoy it much, much more than anything non-mechanical you've been working on. :)

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