When comparing Apple Wired Keyboard with Numeric Keypad vs Das Keyboard 4 Professional, the Slant community recommends Das Keyboard 4 Professional for most people. In the question“What are the best keyboards for programming?” Das Keyboard 4 Professional is ranked 11th while Apple Wired Keyboard with Numeric Keypad is ranked 23rd. The most important reason people chose Das Keyboard 4 Professional is:
Das 4 Pro keyboards feature Cherry MX switches, know for their established reputation. They have excellent durability and outstanding performance. Users can choose between the Cherry MX Blue and Cherry MX Brown switches. The main difference is that the first ones are clicky and the second ones are quiet.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Less typing fatigue
The low profile is comfortable and the traveling distance is short. The keys are light to press, leading to less typing fatigue.
Pro Solid construction
Thanks to its thin aluminum enclosure, this keyboard is sturdy.
Pro Aesthetically impressive
Nothing really comes close to the Apple device's aesthetic flair.
Pro Two USB ports
Handy for device connection
Pro Widely available
Since this keyboard is mainstream, many big companies have it. So, if working at a big company, it is likely it is quickly available and for "free".
Pro Ergonomic and good for fast typing
The low-profile, short-travel construction makes this keyboard more ergonomic than previous Apple keyboards and allows for fast typing because keys have only a small distance to go before registering.
Pro Portable
This keyboard is very light and can be easily carried around.
Pro Reliable and long-lasting mechanical switches
Das 4 Pro keyboards feature Cherry MX switches, know for their established reputation. They have excellent durability and outstanding performance. Users can choose between the Cherry MX Blue and Cherry MX Brown switches. The main difference is that the first ones are clicky and the second ones are quiet.
Pro Conveniently located two-port USB 3.0 hub
The location of the hub, on the top right side, makes adding a mouse very convenient.
Pro Solid, durable construction
The Das uses the best materials available to create a stable, durable board. Some parts are made of aluminum which prevents any flexing and others of resistant textured plastic, making this a keyboard that withstands damage very well. And the switches are genuine Cherry MX switches, which are durable and reliable. The keycaps text is laser etched, meaning it withstands the test of time pretty well.
Pro Beautiful design
The Das 4 Pro keyboard has a beautiful nearly-minimalist design. The volume wheel and slight protrusion on the top right help it stand out from the crowd. The front is covered with a matte aluminium finish that resists fingerprints.
Pro Ultimate version looks very slick
The Ultimate version of the keyboard looks badass with its blank keycaps.
Pro Top panel resists fingerprints and provides rigidness
It has an aluminum top panel which not only feels great, but also resists fingerprints and prevents any flexing.
Pro Comes with dedicated media controls and an oversized volume knob
There are three rectangular media keys: previous, play/pause, and next. Just above the next key there's a circular mute button, and on the right of all the other media keys is a volume knob that can be spun to adjust the volume.
Pro Very thin
Das claims that this keyboard is the thinnest mechanical keyboard available on the market.
Pro Each key has the perfect stabilizer for its size
This keyboard uses an innovative mix of Cherry and Costar stabilizers. Costar stabilizers have many advantages, but they don't work very well on large keys, like spacebars. To get the best of both options, Das uses Costar stabilizers on all keys, except on the space bar, where it uses Cherry stabilizers.
Cons
Con Feels like a laptop keyboard
This keyboard feels like a laptop keyboard, since it's too flat. This isn't ideal for coding and makes this a pointless option for laptop owners who want an external keyboard.
Con Lacks feedback
Compared to other keyboards, it lacks a tactile feel when typing.
Con Easy for fingers to slide off the keys
Due to the keys having no concavity, it's easy for fingers to slide off the keys.
Con Has numeric keypad
If you are an accountant, a numeric keypad might be an advantage. But to those of us who want to use a mouse, it's a definite con. Moving the mouse further right opens the shoulder joint and is just bad ergonomically.
Con Not suitable for use in the dark
The Das 4 Pro keyboard doesn't have any backlighting. This means you will probably find it a bit hard to use on a dark environment.
Con Potentially uncomfortable to use, depending on your wrist placement
The edges of the keyboard are not rounded, so it can be painful if you rest your wrists on them.
Con No calculator button
There's no calculator shortcut button.
Con Not very portable
The Das 4 Pro keyboard has external dimensions of 18'' x 6.8'' x 0.8'' ( 457 x 173 x 20 mm ) and weight of 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg). Hence, it’s not an easy keyboard to carry around. This makes the fact that it’s the slimmest mechanical keyboard on the market loose value.
Con Expensive
This keyboard is quite expensive, especially if compared, in terms of extra features, to similarly priced keyboards made by other brands. It notably misses features like USB passthrough or RGB lighting, which is surprising for a keyboard with a retail price of $169.