Chesapeake, Virginia and Das Keyboard: Difference between pages
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The '''Das Keyboard''' is a high-end computer [[keyboard]] with no inscriptions on the keys, that is, the keys themselves are both completely [[black]] and completely [[blank]]. |
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'''Chesapeake''' is an [[independent city]] located in the [[South Hampton Roads]] region of eastern [[Virginia]] in the [[United States]]. As of the [[2000]] census, the city had a total population of 199,184. But a recent [[2004]] cencus shows the city's population is 214,735. |
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[[Image:Das_Keyboard_resized.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Publicity photo of the Das Keyboard.]] |
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The city was created in [[1963]], when the former independent city of [[South Norfolk, Virginia|South Norfolk]] was consolidated with [[Norfolk County, Virginia|Norfolk County]] and reincorporated as the new City of Chesapeake. Chesapeake's history goes far back into Virginia's colonial roots however. The Intercostal Waterway passes through Chesapeake. At Great Bridge where the locks transition you from the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River to the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal lies the site of the [[Battle of Great Bridge]]. This battle is responsible for removing Lord Dunmore and any other vestige of English Government for the Colony of Virginia during the early days of the American Revolution on December 9, 1775. The Dismal Swamp Canal runs through Chesapeake as well. The site of this canal was surveyed by George Washington, among others, and is know as "Washington's Ditch." It is the oldest continously used man made canal in the United States today. It has been in service for over 230 years. This canal begins in the Deep Creek section of the city branching off from the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River. The canal runs through Chesapeake paralleling US-17 in to North Carolinia and will take you to Elizabeth City, NC. |
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The manufacturers claim three major [[Unique selling proposition|selling-points]]:- |
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Until the late 1980s and early 1990s, much of Chespeake was suburban or rural -- a bedroom community of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, with residents commuting to these locations. Beginning in the late 1980s and accelerating in the 1990s, however, Chesapeake saw significant growth, attracting numerous and significant industries and businesses of its own. This explosive growth quickly led to strains on the municipal infrastructure, ranging from intrusion of saltwater into the city's water supply to congested roads and schools. |
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* '''Typing Speed''' - it is claimed that Das Keyboard can allow the user to "type up to 100% faster in a few weeks" [http://www.daskeyboard.com]. |
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* '''"Geek factor"''' - the keyboard's blank inscriptions "reflect your status as one of the elite", according to the manufacturers. In other words, the board demonstrates one's '[[leet|elite]]' skills because they are able to type without using key inscriptions. |
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* '''Weighted keyswitches''' - similar to many other high-end keyboards, the board features individually-weighted [[keyswitches]], which are set such that keys designed to be pressed with weaker fingers such as the [[pinky]] require less force to push down. |
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Chesapeake is one of the largest cities in Virginia and the nation in terms of land, a fact that poses challenges to city leaders in supporting a large infrastructure. The presence of many historically and geographically distinct communities also poses challenges to city leaders. |
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Das Keyboard has received criticism from some who feel that it is essentially just a moderate-to-good quality [[Keyboard_technology#Dome_switch_keyboard|dome-switch]] ("membrane") keyboard sold at a grossly-inflated price. The 'spongy' feel of the keys has also been unfavourably compared with keyboards using [[Keyboard_technology#Dome_switch_keyboard|mechanical]] keyswitches; in addition, some feel the advantage of the weighted keys has been overstated. The latter two points are to some extent subjective, however. |
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Chesapeake made national headlines in [[2003]] when it hosted the first trial of convicted murderer [[Beltway sniper attacks|Beltway sniper]] [[Lee Boyd Malvo]]. |
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== |
==External links== |
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[http://www.daskeyboard.com/ Official Das Keyboard homepage] |
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[[Image:VAMap-doton-Chesapeake.PNG|right|Location of Chesapeake, Virginia]] |
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Chesapeake is located at 36°46'2" North, 76°17'14" West (36.767398, -76.287405){{GR|1}}. |
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[http://www.maximumpc.com/2005/08/metadot_das_key.html Das Keyboard review on Extreme PC |
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According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 908.8 [[square kilometer|km²]] (350.9 [[square mile|mi²]]). 882.5 km² (340.7 mi²) of it is land and 26.4 km² (10.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.90% water. |
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] |
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[http://features.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/08/1725252&tid=227&tid=9 Coverage of Das Keyboard on Slashdot] |
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The northeastern part of the [[Great Dismal Swamp]] is located in Chesapeake. |
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=== Adjacent counties and cities === |
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*[[Portsmouth, Virginia]] (north) |
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*[[Norfolk, Virginia]] (north) |
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*[[Virginia Beach, Virginia]] (east) |
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*[[Currituck County, North Carolina]] (south) |
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*[[Camden County, North Carolina]] (south) |
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*[[Suffolk, Virginia]] (west) |
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== Demographics == |
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As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of [[2000]], there are 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] is 225.7/km² (584.6/mi²). There are 72,672 housing units at an average density of 82.4/km² (213.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 66.87% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 28.53% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.84% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.70% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.62% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population are [[Hispanic American|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race. |
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There are 69,900 households out of which 41.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% are [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% are non-families. 18.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.79 and the average family size is 3.17. |
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The age distribution is: 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.0 males. |
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The median income for a household in the city is $50,743, and the median income for a family is $56,302. Males have a median income of $39,204 versus $26,391 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city is $20,949. 7.3% of the population and 6.1% of families are below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the total population, 9.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. |
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Along with the rest of the [[Hampton Roads]] metropolitan area (including [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]], [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]], [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]], [[Suffolk, Virginia|Suffolk]], [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]] and [[Poquoson, Virginia]]), Chesapeake is served by [[Norfolk International Airport]]. |
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== Chesapeake in the News == |
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Frightened by the hysterical complaints of a [[sexually repressed]] adult, the Chesapeake Public Library removed a painting by [[Karen Kinser]], "Morning Dreamer," from the walls of its Central Branch. The painting displays a single bare female breast. The decisison sparked [[controversy]] because it was an attack on [[intellectual liberty]] and revealed the [[cowardice]] of public officials when faced with even individual members of the [[puritanical]] [[Christian Right]]. Commentators were quick to note that the [[Virginia State Flag]] also displays a female figure with a [http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=90056&ran=159895 bare breast]. |
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== Communities == |
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*[[Bowers Hill, Virginia|Bowers Hill]] |
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*[[Buell, Virginia|Buell]] |
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*[[Deep Creek, Virginia|Deep Creek]] |
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*[[Fentress, Virginia|Fentress]] |
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*[[Great Bridge, Virginia|Great Bridge]] |
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*[[Hickory, Virginia|Hickory]] |
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*[[Hodges Ferry, Virginia|Hodges Ferry]] |
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*[[South Norfolk, Virginia|South Norfolk]] (formerly incorporated town and city) |
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*[[Wallaceton, Virginia|Wallaceton]] |
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*[[Western Branch, Virginia|Western Branch]] |
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== See Also == |
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*[[List of famous people from Hampton Roads]] |
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*[[Norfolk County, Virginia]] |
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== External links == |
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[http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/ City of Chesapeake] |
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{{Mapit-US-cityscale|36.767398|-76.287405}} |
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{{Virginia}} |
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[[Category:Chesapeake, Virginia]] |
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[[Category:Cities in Virginia]] |
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Revision as of 22:53, 12 September 2005
The Das Keyboard is a high-end computer keyboard with no inscriptions on the keys, that is, the keys themselves are both completely black and completely blank.
The manufacturers claim three major selling-points:-
- Typing Speed - it is claimed that Das Keyboard can allow the user to "type up to 100% faster in a few weeks" [1].
- "Geek factor" - the keyboard's blank inscriptions "reflect your status as one of the elite", according to the manufacturers. In other words, the board demonstrates one's 'elite' skills because they are able to type without using key inscriptions.
- Weighted keyswitches - similar to many other high-end keyboards, the board features individually-weighted keyswitches, which are set such that keys designed to be pressed with weaker fingers such as the pinky require less force to push down.
Das Keyboard has received criticism from some who feel that it is essentially just a moderate-to-good quality dome-switch ("membrane") keyboard sold at a grossly-inflated price. The 'spongy' feel of the keys has also been unfavourably compared with keyboards using mechanical keyswitches; in addition, some feel the advantage of the weighted keys has been overstated. The latter two points are to some extent subjective, however.
External links
Official Das Keyboard homepage
[http://www.maximumpc.com/2005/08/metadot_das_key.html Das Keyboard review on Extreme PC ]