The Das Keyboard 5Q Cloud-Connected Mechanical Keyboard Review: How To Get Noticed
by E. Fylladitakis on February 26, 2019 10:00 AM ESTSoftware
Das Keyboard developed their [Q] software specifically for their newer top-tier keyboards. The software’s layout may initially seem a bit overwhelming but it actually is cleverly designed, requiring a minimal learning curve. Launching the software the first time will bring up an instruction video on the keyboard’s cloud-based capabilities and notification settings.
In the RGB profiles section, users can either choose one of the preprogrammed profiles or program their own. Per-key lighting programming is possible, with the ability to choose from either any RGB solid color or an effect. The list of effects is adequate, but creating keyboard-wide visual effects can be a tedious process. As for the pre-programmed lighting profiles, Das Keyboard is one of the very few companies that includes not only profiles for popular games but for professional applications as well, such as Adobe’s Photoshop and Autodesk’s Autocad. Sadly, the list of the default preprogrammed profiles is rather short, but profiles may be shared and imported, so it will probably grow over time.
Cloud Connectivity & Notifications
There are dozens of available notification-based settings in the Signal Center, ranging from important email and calendar notifications, to smart device and security camera alerts, to simple break and workout reminders. There are actually so many that the gallery below covers only about half of them.
One of the most interesting notification settings is that the keyboard can display a notification when “your BMW is home”. That way your keyboard can let you know when your (compatible) bimmer leaves home without you and when it gets back. It can also notify you if your (compatible) Samsung's refrigerator door is left open. There really is no shortage of notifications – from coffee makers to security cameras – with the utility of each being left as an exercise to the reader.
More advanced users can also program their own notifications. By default, the software suggests to use IFTTT (If This, Then That) for that, but it is also compatible with several open services and APIs, such as Zapier. Note that the Signal Center is marked as depreciated in the latest versions of the [Q] application, suggesting that users should stick to the applets available in Q's marketplace, yet the applets currently are rather few and limiting, which is probably why the software still offers access to the Signal Center anyway.
Despite the very high level of notifications and signaling capabilities, we should note that the Das Keyboard 5Q is not a programmable keyboard in terms of profiling and layout changes. There currently is no option to even perform simple key remaps, let alone advanced commands such as launching external applications and/or running macros.
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boozed - Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - link
WHY?PeachNCream - Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - link
Product differentiation and the appearance of innovation are both necessary to land sales in a market that is saturated by cost-effective substitutes. Media keys, macro capabilities, per-key RGB lighting, mechanical switches...all of those things are already available everywhere. Even derelict bricks and mortar stores like Staples sell such keyboards. Das Keyboard MUST have a feature that isn't available elsewhere or at least is uncommon enough to make their product somewhat unique so the company can justify higher costs than some other company. They reached the conclusion that this "cloud connected" offering uses the right combination of uniqueness, buzzword injection, and low-cost capability to integrate it into the 5Q in order to proposition potential buyers that are in turn looking for a way to stand out from their friends. Das Keyboard is old. They know what they're doing and even if this thing flops, they have other offerings and a loyalist following of people that find branding important.FreckledTrout - Thursday, February 28, 2019 - link
For me they need to remove the cloud bits and make it tenkeyless but keeping the media / volume controls. I would buy one if they did that. This looks very high quality and the volume control is nice.sadsteve - Thursday, February 28, 2019 - link
Heh, after reading the comments the cloud connected keyboard sure sounds like a failure. I know I wouldn't buy it.abufrejoval - Friday, March 1, 2019 - link
Dear God, a keyboard with an 80MHz CPU included?What has the world come to?
I am typing this on an IBM PS/2 keyboard manufactured on March 28th, 1990 which in all likehood was mated to an IBM PS/2 machine sporting a 33MHz 80386 at best, a 24/16-Bit 80286 more likely...
Whilst I'm at it, I still prefer the previous AT-style layout, because those function keys to the left you could actually reach blindly, whereas the top row requires taking your eyes off the screen every now and then. There was also a proper cursor pad uninfested by numbers and an escape key integrated within it, which you needed to navigate the intricate states software required before it got mice infested and all GUI.
It cost a thousand solid £, $, DM whatever(no € yet) at the time and it has remained worth it.
Of course I just picked it out of a pile of discarded computers (couldn't afford the original originally), to gether with a backup (still unused), so I won't ever have to switch to one of those plastic evils that have overwhelmed the world of keyboards since.
Of course it could have been left out there, because of the sound these things are making: To the person driving the keyboard, it's like the engine noise of a sports car you drive.
To any other person in the same office or room, it's like the engine noise of the sports car your neighbour drives.
Well now you know why I have a hard time posting a short comment: Typing is a true pleasure on this keyboard, like playing a Steinway piano.
Azethoth - Tuesday, March 5, 2019 - link
If it ever breaks you can get something with 18 G keys on the left and you can remap them to whatever you want, even F keys.Wahaj - Friday, March 1, 2019 - link
Nice article<a href ="https://mod-apps.ga ">here my website link</a>Dr_b_ - Sunday, March 3, 2019 - link
Did the kickstarter for this, the software is terrible, the keyboard took too long to develop, especially for a dedicated keyboard company.The RGB illumination is decent, but the software is still too basic.
The tilt supports on the back of the keyboard are too cheap and flimsy, one has already broken, and now i cant tilt the keyboard.
Avoid this thing
azrael- - Monday, March 4, 2019 - link
From https://www.daskeyboard.com/p/5q-cloud-connected-r...Double shot keycaps US, and ABS lasered ROW
To the uninitiated that means that the US gets (quite durable) double shot keycaps while the rest of the world needs to make due with simple laser-engraved keycaps (thanks a lot for that). I would imagine it's ABS in both cases. However, this is in contradiction with the review claiming the US version comes with laser-engraved keys.
Pull the "cloud" crap out of the board and it might actually be decent ...especially for US customers.
uberDoward - Tuesday, March 5, 2019 - link
Can I just please get a backlit, mechanically switched, ergonomic keyboard, please?