The Das Keyboard 5Q Cloud-Connected Mechanical Keyboard Review: How To Get Noticed
by E. Fylladitakis on February 26, 2019 10:00 AM ESTConclusion
It is obvious that Das Keyboard tried to make the 5Q be as unique as a mechanical keyboard can be nowadays. Aside from it being the first "cloud-connected" mechanical keyboard, the company is also using proprietary mechanical switches that are exclusively available to them. The company’s point was to create a product that has no direct competition and, in a way, they have succeeded.
Generally speaking, the Das Keyboard 5Q is a very well-designed, reliable mechanical keyboard. Its design is deceptively unassuming, masking the advanced electronics and proprietary mechanical switches hidden inside the simple but elegant chassis. In terms of quality, we cannot voice even a single complaint.
The Omron-made Gamma Zulu switches left us with mixed feelings. They are very responsive, quick switches, with strong and quick recovery. These characteristics, along with the shorter travel distance, make the Gamma Zulu an excellent gaming switch. For professional use, however, the Das Keyboard 5Q is a bit more tiring than a keyboard featuring standard switches, tactile or not. Furthermore, the feeling of the Omron-made switches is mushy and the tactile feedback is hardly even noticeable. We would not go as far to say that the feeling resembles membrane-based switches but it may alienate people who were already used to other mechanical switches.
Das Keyboard’s idea of a cloud-connected keyboard certainly is innovative and, for the time being, unique to their top-tier keyboards. Although there is a learning curve for a user to be ready and take full advantage of the keyboard’s capabilities, the possibilities are virtually endless, especially for users with some API programming skills. Casual users can easily take advantage of the pre-programmed applets, which may be but a fraction of the keyboard’s full capabilities, but can be useful nonetheless.
The only problem here is that visual feedback from the keyboard is not really practical. This is especially the case when it comes to important notifications, as any notification can be easily missed if the user is not looking at the keyboard. Which due to the very nature of touch typing is usually going to be the case, and even more so for a high-end product like a Das Keyboard that's aimed at experienced typists (to say nothing of their unlabeled Ultimate boards). So while novel in application, it's not clear that visual notifications on a keyboard are going to be all that useful; at least not for time-sensitive notifications.
The utility of keyboard notifications then is a bit of a compromise: cloud-based feedback can be helpful, but probably only non-sensitive notifications, such as for weather forecasts. Conversely, I can't help but feel that a more traditional high-end keyboard that includes key programming and remapping would probbaly be much more useful for most users; professionals and gamers alike.
In summary, the Das Keyboard 5Q is an excellent quality mechanical keyboard, sporting the unique capability of connecting to the internet and taking advantage of cloud-based services. With a feature set no other keyboard can match, the 5Q stands out as a premium product for users that really want something different and/or find its cloud-based capabilities interesting. However its unique and cutting-edge features come with a $220 price tag, which is high even for a high-end keyboard. Ultimately this makes the Das Keyboard 5Q a niche product: if you like the idea of a keyboard that can provide visual notifications, then the 5Q is going to meet your needs nicely. But for typical professionals and/or gamers who aren't interested in the 5Q's niche features, a more traditional but equally-excellent keyboard can be had for a lot less.
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RSAUser - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
I've converted the entire office.Actually had a lot of people comment on reduced finger fatigue and we had an increase in production (probably as most people can type faster with mech keyboard due to feedback).
Overall worth the $50 investment per keyboard about.
PeachNCream - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Just wait until the office squirrels get distracted by the RGB LEDs.Midwayman - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
I used to have a keyboard with an actual LCD on it that could display far more internet information than this thing can it was almost useless. At least that could display information that might be hidden like teamspeak user currently speaking, track info on your media player without having to pull it up, etc. This is a solution looking for a problem.Lord of the Bored - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
Ah, yes, the Logitech gamepanel.Those were cool, and I was kinda sad support was so limited. Not NECESSARY, by any stretch of the imagination, but... cool.
Azethoth - Tuesday, March 5, 2019 - link
No, they sounded cool but were just useless garbage. I bought one and that was the last time ever. I already have a giant monitor, i dont need a shitthy thing on my keyboard that I will never glance down to.drexnx - Thursday, February 28, 2019 - link
I kept a first gen (blue plus bigger screen) Logitech G15 loooong past when I should have replaced it, simply because that screen was so useful and cool. Finally caved and went RGB mech last yearjvl - Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - link
From the teaser:> This makes it one of the few keyboards that significantly stands out from the crowded market of commodity mechanical keyboards.
Me: what's so wrong about a commodity mechanical keyboard?
Ahmed sells this stuff for 30 €, hard to make a fortune there, and why would it? The wording in the introduction was excellent and highlights the "problem" well
chaos215bar2 - Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - link
“But what is a “cloud-connected” keyboard? Simply put, it is a keyboard that “talks” with the internet – or rather specific cloud-based services and protocols, to be a bit more precise.”Go on…
“This theoretically sounds very interesting…”
Really? Why?
“…as the keyboard can source information from the internet and provide feedback in real time”
Such as?
“but also connect to compatible ‘smart’ devices around your home and display information or control them.”
Ok. How does this work, and why would I want my keyboard to do that?
“For example, the keyboard could theoretically be programmed to flash a key when a smart door sensor triggers…”
Mmkay.
“or to change its backlighting settings depending on the status of the stock market.”
Well, actually that’s kind of cool. But could this just be done with software running on the computer the keyboard’s connected to?
“Aside from that, Das Keyboard is the first company that's implementing Omron’s new Gamma Zulu mechanical switches, making the 5Q a truly unique keyboard.”
Uh… cool? I thought we were talking about cloud connectivity. Why is that interesting, again?
Icehawk - Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - link
Maybe I missed it since I skim these reviews but HOW does it display notifications - I'm assuming it's by flashing lights/changing colors? I don't know about you but I rarely am looking at my keyboard, it is significantly below my sightline. You know what isn't? A secondary monitor.Azethoth - Tuesday, March 5, 2019 - link
Yes, my Corsair Platinum RGB provides the even better functionality of lighting up like a xmass tree when good loot drops in Diablo 3. But its not connected to the internets, its connected to ... my computer.