Sir_ReeL
01-05-2007, 03:39 AM
Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control(redundancy? I don’t think so…) I recently needed a new keyboard. The “M” quit working and I was tired of typing in code: – “the letter between “L” and “N” – like it was F-ing Prince. I work/play a lot at night and wanted backlit keys.
My previous victim was an “eluminX” brand board which had served me ok for a couple of years, so it owed me nothing. The eluminX has transparent keys with opaque letters/digits, which is just plain wrong. This Saitek unit is properly built with opaque keys with, I guess, translucent digits you’d call ‘em.
The Eclipse II is a nicely weighted piece with large non-slip pads situated on four protubances situated at the corners. Four corners. Funny how that worked out… I could have done without the added size the aforementioned protrubances added to the keyboard.
It also comes with four rocker type switches and a rheostat situated in the upper right corner to control multimedia and the lighting. Top left switch is forward/backward in a playlist; top right is for volume. Bottom left is play/pause and stop. Bottom right controls mute and cycles through the backlighting. Brightness rheostat is nestled in the center.
The lighting seems adequate without being perfect. But what is?(now that was rhetorical!) The choices are: none, blue, red and purple. I was surprised that purple gave me the best night-sight. Was expecting red to be best. Then I realized that red + blue = purple; so there is twice as many l.e.d.s lit in purple! A d’oh moment. Blue is pretty, but useless for my purposes.
The action is average with no real “clickety”, which I happen to like; but with a rather long throw. Which I don’t. It surprised me, pleasantly, I might add, that no added software is needed for the multi-media controls. Never had a keyboard with this feature. Mostly I like it. Strangely, though, using the forward/backward playlist controls also activates scroll. Hmmm…
Scoring: I apologize for not having the proper test equipment…(that was facetiousness)
The good – I can type in total darkness with no Mavis Beacon skills; Added media functionality with no added software; Letters, numbers and such appear on the monitor when I push the correct and corresponding key.
The bad – Scroll weirdness using the fore/back media control.
The mediocre – Key “feel”…Meh…
In my personal scoring system the Saitek Eclipse II keyboard gets One middle-finger up. Pretty good, more good than bad. My system is backwards from the other boys’. No fingers is perfect; does what the marketing dweebs sat it will with no fuss, no muss. Five fingers and one shouldn’t let it out of its shipping container in your home. If you have any questions just ask. Sir_ReeL
My previous victim was an “eluminX” brand board which had served me ok for a couple of years, so it owed me nothing. The eluminX has transparent keys with opaque letters/digits, which is just plain wrong. This Saitek unit is properly built with opaque keys with, I guess, translucent digits you’d call ‘em.
The Eclipse II is a nicely weighted piece with large non-slip pads situated on four protubances situated at the corners. Four corners. Funny how that worked out… I could have done without the added size the aforementioned protrubances added to the keyboard.
It also comes with four rocker type switches and a rheostat situated in the upper right corner to control multimedia and the lighting. Top left switch is forward/backward in a playlist; top right is for volume. Bottom left is play/pause and stop. Bottom right controls mute and cycles through the backlighting. Brightness rheostat is nestled in the center.
The lighting seems adequate without being perfect. But what is?(now that was rhetorical!) The choices are: none, blue, red and purple. I was surprised that purple gave me the best night-sight. Was expecting red to be best. Then I realized that red + blue = purple; so there is twice as many l.e.d.s lit in purple! A d’oh moment. Blue is pretty, but useless for my purposes.
The action is average with no real “clickety”, which I happen to like; but with a rather long throw. Which I don’t. It surprised me, pleasantly, I might add, that no added software is needed for the multi-media controls. Never had a keyboard with this feature. Mostly I like it. Strangely, though, using the forward/backward playlist controls also activates scroll. Hmmm…
Scoring: I apologize for not having the proper test equipment…(that was facetiousness)
The good – I can type in total darkness with no Mavis Beacon skills; Added media functionality with no added software; Letters, numbers and such appear on the monitor when I push the correct and corresponding key.
The bad – Scroll weirdness using the fore/back media control.
The mediocre – Key “feel”…Meh…
In my personal scoring system the Saitek Eclipse II keyboard gets One middle-finger up. Pretty good, more good than bad. My system is backwards from the other boys’. No fingers is perfect; does what the marketing dweebs sat it will with no fuss, no muss. Five fingers and one shouldn’t let it out of its shipping container in your home. If you have any questions just ask. Sir_ReeL