illuminated keyboards

[Sir_ReeL]

Hi, everyone!

I'm looking for a new keyboard with illuminated letters.(and numbers...) I have an "eluminX" brand that has transparant keys with painted on designators. Boo!:wall: Doesn't display well in the dark, too much light shines through. I want opaque keys with transpapant lettering. Yay!:p I don't live within 50 miles of a brick-and-morter store where I could see decent equipment. And then they wouldn't let me turn off the lights to experience the, um, experience. Teh bastards...

So, any sugestions? Thanks, _ReeL

[burebista]

Saitek Eclipse (http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/eclipse2.htm) or Eclipse II (http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/eclispekeyii.htm)?

[Sir_ReeL]

Any idea what the differences are? The Eclipse II is $10.00 more...I think maybe the night vision red Eclipse I?

http://saitekusa.stores.yahoo.net/pcgake.html

I found Logitech on my own!(are you proud of me?)

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/productlist/US/EN,crid=2157,categoryid=419 The G15 - G11 line might work for me, also. Wish I could see 'em first though. Oh, well...

BTW, thanks for your time! _ReeL

[Sir_ReeL]

I ended up ordering the Saitek Eclipse II. Good reviews, the features I want, and it ain't huge. _ReeL

[burebista]

Some thoughts after you receive it will be nice.

[Sir_ReeL]

Absolutly, I will "review" it. _ReeL

[Baron]

If it's anything like the Eclipse 1 that I have, I don't think you will be disappointed.
It's a very solid keyboard, and not littered up with loads of fancy keys/buttons.........internet, mail, etc that look pretty, but I find that I never use them. It just has buttons for muting sound and keyboard brightness.
Off, and then 2 levels of brightness for the keys.
The keyboard is not too clunky when typing, and it works well.
The new and improved version 2 may well be better than this original one that I have.

[Sir_ReeL]

It looked right. The other ones I checked out were the Logitech G15, G11; and the one by razer. That is HUGE and pricey. And made foe 1st. person shooters, I think. I like the Logitechs looks o.k. _ReeL

[MI-Tazz]

Personally I prefer the Logitechs over the Saiteks all day. The added buttons that the Logitechs offer are a bonus for those that do want more control at their finger tips. I use the G keys for more than just gaming. They are great for one stroke commands in just about any program.

Being able to set macros for photoshop comes in handy makes image manipulation that much faster. No need to hit 3 keys for one task when you can hit 1.

[Skott]

I have two Eclipse keyboards. Both first versions. Love them! One is red and one is blue. Next build I plan to get a Eclipse II. :)

[Sir_ReeL]

How are they for visibility in the dark? I am not a touch typist. (Mavis Beacon never stoped at my house...)_ReeL

[MI-Tazz]

I can see them fine with my iffy eyesight.

[Skott]

Color preference may vary from person to person. I use the red colored more for at night than the blue one. Others may find blue better. Supposedly some study (if you believe studies) said red is better in darkness for visibility. Personally I think its going to be based on a person's preference and eyesight. I needed two keyboards so got one of each just to see for myself. I prefer the red.

The Eclipse II has better ability to adjust color and glow intensity supposedly. I'm going to get one with my next build and find out. I'm hoping in January but it may have to wait till February.

[Baron]

I've only got the Eclipse 1, and no choice but a blue display :D
I find the main keys are quite well lit on 'full' but not so much the 'F' keys, but this is made worse by using a table lamp..............quite good to read with the lamp 'off' though.
I am not that bothered about the lit keys but I do like the keyboard as it is very solid (heavy too), so it isn't going to move anywhere if given a key bashing....:D
The keys seem to be wearing well too, as I have had mine for about a year or so, and there is only very slight wear on the space bar , where the right thumb hits it.

[uOpt]

I have one of the first generation Saitek. Piece of junk. First of all, the keys don't shine through at all, so you can't read the keys in the dark. That is fixed in the later keyboards. But the feeling of the keys is just not good either, I can't type fast.

I'm back to ugly Keytronics and a desk lamp.

[MI-Tazz]

I have an early version of the Saitek and a G11. I personally prefer the Logitech boards. The key action on the Logitechs feel much better and the Logitech has tones more buttons to play with :D .

[Sir_ReeL]

Soon I'll know, got the shipping confirmation this evening.

[$cooter]

I like my G15 so far. Xmas present from the wife. She is apparently in tune with my newegg wishlist (it was the cheapest thing on it!). So far I really like the night time visibility, it has 3 "brightness" settings, i use the brightest unless im watching video or a movie. The LCD and provided applets is a neat feature, I leave it on CPU and RAM load always. I have yet to program any macros into the macro keys, but I have played with it and it's easy enuff to do (hit record <MR>, select G key, perform keystroke/mouseclick series, end record <MR>). You can also run different key profiles for different games, but i have yet to use this either. I am in the process of building a new system , so my old one really only plays HL2 and not very well either. Hoping to play Wow and BF2412 in near future. And last but not least, you can disable that bleeeping windows key! This will save you many expletives during any fragfest.

$65 at the egg.