This large, chunky keyboard with an ugly wire sticking out of it is perfect for those who don't like Apple's recent keyboards

The Das keyboard for Macs comes with almost all the keys you'd expect on Apple's own keyboards, including the "Cmd" key, the "option" key, media controls, volume control, screen brightness control, and even a CD eject button.

It also has a few nifty features that you wouldn't find on Apple's keyboards today, like a couple USB 3.0 ports, a large volume control knob, and a sleep button that immediately puts your Mac to sleep. The USB ports, in particular, are incredibly useful to have on the Das keyboard. I can plug in the wireless dongle for my wireless mouse there, as well as quickly plug in any USB accessory. It's just nice to have a couple extra USB ports.

Mechanical keyboards are often associated with a loud typing noise, but the Das I've been using uses a specific type of switch that's actually relatively quiet.

For anyone who's curious as to which switches the Das comes with, the model I'm using now has the Cherry MX Brown switches, which aren't that noisy, but they're still noisier than Apple's keyboards. Still, no one in BI's open office setting has complained about the keyboard so far, and I've been asking around to make sure.

You can also get the Das for Macs with Cherry MX Blue switches, which make a significantly noisy, high-pitched "click" noise every time you press a key, and it'll likely bother everyone around you. I wouldn't recommend the Blues for an open office environment.

You've probably noticed that the Das doesn't exactly look very Apple-like. It's large and chunky, the keys are incredibly tall compared to Apple's flat key design, and it has some red accents that clash with Apple's aesthetic. Further, the Das is not wireless and uses a rather generic-looking — ugly, even — cable to connect to your Mac.

But this thing is incredibly solid and feels positively premium with its aluminum top. The ugly cable is necessary to give you those extra USB ports. And there's even a ruler underneath the Das that acts like a stand to angle the keyboard a little more toward you. Yes, a ruler. Look:

Indeed, the Das for Mac is a bit of an investment with its $170 price tag. You can get cheaper non-mechanical keyboards with similar key travel and better comfort than Apple's keyboards for significantly cheaper.

With that price tag in mind, it's tough to fully and outright recommend the Das for Mac. But if you type a lot for work or play, a little investment into a keyboard as good as the Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac could be worthwhile.