According to post-CES coverage from Tom’s Hardware, Das Keyboard is in the process of rebranding their gaming line from “Division Zero” to Das Keyboard Gaming. Das Keyboard is known for their productivity-focused keyboards, including their famous models with unlabeled keycaps. I’m guessing they realized that more gamers know of Das Keyboard than Division Zero, which this news is the first I’ve heard of it, although it’s possible that they changed their branding for a completely different reason.
Image Credit: Tom's Hardware.
(Das Keyboard hasn't updated their website yet…)
They are also announcing a new keyboard, the Das Keyboard X50 Gaming Mechanical Keyboard, which uses switches from Omron. If this company name rings a bell, they are the provider of switches for several of Logitech’s mechanical keyboards as well as mechanical switches for several mice, including a few models from Logitech, Razer, Steelseries, and others. This keyboard’s brand of switches is called “Gamma Zulu” and Das Keyboard claims that they are manufactured on a production line that is entirely separate from Logitech's Romer-G. There will be two models, one with a bump and another with a click, both of which will apparently be called “Gamma Zulu”.
As for the keyboard itself, it has three macro keys up in the top right, by the volume knob. Tom’s Hardware points out how odd these two decisions are, and I agree. Still, it might be very good for a left-handed gamer that still uses the arrow keys, despite pressure from game developers to pretend to be a Tyrannosaurus rex / Thriller zombie with our hands crushed up to the left, right elbow in our chest. (Thankfully, I have a big desk, so I can just slide my keyboard to the right.)
Yes, I used to look kind-of stupid playing Battlefield 2.
Especially when I bunny-hopped.
Yes, I bunny-hopped. Stop complaining and use a shotgun or something.
If you were a fan of the Das Keyboard X40 Gaming, formerly called the Division Zero X40 Pro, then you can still buy another one. Das Keyboard expects to produce both models in parallel, targeting the lower-end gaming market with the lower-numbered version and its Alpha-Zulu switches, its lack of a volume knob, and its left-side macro keys.
Tom’s Hardware claims that the X50 will sell for $180 MSRP when it launches in Q2.
Please review the new MADE IN
Please review the new MADE IN JAPAN Topre Realforce RGB electrostatic keyboard!
I’m right handed and still
I’m right handed and still use the arrow keys (and play BF2!!)
Glad DAS keyboard is making a gaming keyboard, but the insane $180 price doesn’t shock me at all knowing them. Still my $100 used DAS ultimate has lasted a long time now.
Scott, have you watched this
Scott, have you watched this video? David Airle talks about Vulkan support on Ivy bridge(last part of video Quest/Ans) and above but he states that Vulkan will work on hardware that supports OpenGl 3.1/OpenGL ES 3.1 (extensions?). Doesn’t Sandy Bridge support OpenGL 3.1(windows)? Also they keep talking about AMD’s “HD 7000” series being GCN but on laptops the 7650M is a rebrand of a Terascale micro-arch. So I wish they would clarify that “HD 7000” info to include rebrands as not all HD 7000 SKUs are GCN based.
It looks like Intel’s Ivy Bridge will have Vulkan support for some sorts but my AMD 7650m may not unless there is some open source driver/API work done without any AMD support. The video is mostly about Radv-Vulkan/Linux and Vulkan’s differences from OpenGL. (1)
What do you make of what this video presents?
(1)
“Watch David Airlie Talk About Vulkan & RADV From LCA2017”
http://phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=LCA2017-Airlied-Vulkan