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If you're into playing Roguelikes or spending your days wading through spreadsheets, having a dedicated numeric pad on your keyboard makes sense. For the millions people who don't do those things, it really doesn't.
So when we learned about a new compact version of our favorite mechanical keyboard, the Das Keyboard 4 Professional, our click-addicted fingers and cluttered desktops simultaneously rejoiced.
The 87-key Das Keyboard 4C is basically a 10-key-less version of the 4. You get the same gold-plated mechanical switches, the same rugged anodized aluminum panel, even the same footbar/ruler that doubles as a keyboard stand and measuring device.
As with the 4, the 4C comes in Professional and Ultimate editions, the latter being an inscription-less, all-black version geared toward, as Das Keyboard describes them, "typing badasses."
While the site claims the $143 4C can be purchased with either Blue or Brown Greetech switches. As a reminder, Brown switches are meant to appeal to both gamers and everyday typists (and this is what our demo unit was equipped with). They have a tactile bump near the middle of the key, which means you don't have to press the key all the way down to register a keypress. They're also not as loud as the less game-friendly Blues, which have a much more audible "click" and require slightly more actuation.
Rest assured, whichever version you choose, space will be saved. Eliminating the numpad cuts nearly four inches and about a pound from the keyboard. But there are trade-offs.
Instead of the two-port USB 3.0 hub that comes with the Das Keyboard 4, the 4C's USB hub speed tops out at 2.0. You also lose that wonderful volume knob and a few dedicated media control keys. Still, considering most mechanical keyboards are desk-dominating beasts, we've never been this keyed up for a lesser keyed peripheral.
Update FEB 24, 2015: We erroneously stated the wrong key switch manufacturer. This keyboard comes with Greetech switches.
