The simple black design looks good until you try to find the Command—aka “Apple”—key.

Input devices aren’t glamorous, but they’re integral to your Mac experience—so if you’re still using the mouse or keyboard that came with your machine, take a look at third-party options for faster, more rewarding computing.

Advanced typists often prefer mechanical-switch keyboards, for example. These retro-feeling devices use springs and micro-switches inside each key for a tight, tactile response (as opposed to the squishy nothingness you get from the rubber membranes of most other keyboards). Besides letting you know you just executed a keystroke in an unequivocal way, mechanical keys also emit a distinct clack when pushed.

And therein lies the joy of typing on Das Keyboard, which demands a lighter touch than other mechanical keyboards. It took us day to adjust, but we got used to the minimal pressure required. Each key press felt distinct, and we never had to guess if we pushed far enough to register a letter, as sometimes happens with rubber-membrane devices. The nubs on “J” and “F” even felt smaller than other keyboards, making typing a subtle, even elegant, pleasure.

Two USB 2.0 ports worked great with our peripherals. We connected a trackpad to one, and swapped iPhones and iPods on the other without any trouble. But while the Mac works with Das Keyboard, it never feels like a true Mac device. We had to swap the order of the Windows and Alt keys within the Keyboard System Preference to remap them to the correct Option and Command functionality. And then we Mac-heads are still left with an “Option” key adorned with a Windows logo. While F12 works as Eject, and two other Windows-centric keys control brightness, they feel like workarounds, and there’s no volume control. A blank Das Keyboard with no key labels on any of the keys is available, but that seems like an extreme, ineffective solution.

Das Keyboard feels great to type on, but it’s still a Windows keyboard elbowing its way into our Mac life.

COMPANY: Metadot
CONTACT: www.daskeyboard.com
PRICE: $129
REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS X, USB port
Mechanical keys yield to deliberate, light pressure. Plinking key sounds give audible feedback. Two USB 2.0 ports. Glossy case and clean design.
Key sounds might annoy some typists or coworkers. Windows keyboard layout lacks Mac-centric keys. Our spacebar occasionally squeaked.