Illuminated Keyboards

[RSLancastr]

Do to the recent untimely untimely death of my desk lamp (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=2805280#post2805280), I am considering getting an illuminated keyboard.

The main reason I would use my desk lamp was so that I could see the keys on the keyboard with the overhead lights out, allowing my wife to sleep during my late-night PC work (due to space constraints, my PC is in our bedroom).

I've often thought it would be cool if someone made a keyboard where the letters on the keys were lit from below, and a quick web search tells me that there are a bunch of them, primarily aimed at gamers.

I do very little gaming, and am only interested in this because I don't touch-type, and my eyes don't see so great in lowlight conditions, especially going from staring at a bright monitor down the the darkness around my keboard.

Does anyone have any experience with illuminated keyboards?

The one I am looking at is the Saitek Eclipse II (http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/eclispekeyii.htm).

I would rather it not light up the area below the keys, but other than that, it seems well-built. The main problem is, I can't really test these out in the store, since the store is always lit up like high noon.

Enough rambling. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

[TheDoLittle]

I just did an informal survey with all the Gaming and Simulation Department here at school and they all endorse the Eclipse II.

...though several say if you're on a budget, the Logisys Office (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=233&products_id=4563) is pretty good.

[Zax63]

Do you know newegg.com? Even if you don't want to buy from them their customer reviews are worth reading. There are 178 reviews on the Saitek. 66% gave it 5 out of 5 and 19% rated it 4 out of 5. I suggest you go there and check out the details.

I've got the Logitech G15 keyboard and I'm very pleased with it. I also wanted something I could use in a dim/dark room with just the light from the monitors and the keyboard. It may not be the best for the eyes but it is definitely workable. The G15 is pretty expensive as keyboards go but it has lots of extras.

[tygirwulf]

I have the older Saitek Eclipse (not II) keyboard. It's decently built for a modern keyboard I guess, though I much prefer my IBM Model M. It has two levels of brightness for the backlight; I find with the brighter setting, I can read the white lettering on the keys. The button that turns on/adjusts the backlight is easily found by touch. Not sure what else to say about it.

[Beanbag]

I've got an Eclipse (guess it's a 1, cause there's no II on the nameplate) on my editing console so I can work on my videos in reduced light. Staring non-stop at a monitor for eight hours in a bright room gives me a headache, but I couldn't read a regular keyboard in the darkened room. The local store had the Eclipses for what I considered a reasonable price, so I grabbed one. The only complaint I have is that it's hard to read the keys in regular light with the illumination off.

That, and one of the rubber feet keeps falling off when I have the keyboard angled. Maybe a dab of superglue would fix that.

Beanbag

[skoob]

If you're not in a hurry and you have about 44,000 roubles to spare, you could get one of these (http://store.artlebedev.com/catalog/computer_add-ons/optimus/).

(Just kidding)

[illogical]

no! real men type in the dark on a Das Keyboard. http://images.moditory.com/reviews/DAS/keyboard2.jpg

[Beleth]

I have a Logitech G11 -- a lot like Zax63's G15 but without the flip-up LCD screen at the top -- and I love it. When I got it, it was $30 cheaper than the G15, but if you go here (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=233) it looks like they have G15's for $5 less than a G11.

[Bikewer]

Back when I was playing WWII online, I wished for an illuminated keyboard. The game changes from day to night, and the only way to see anything at night is to turn off all the room lights....

[RSLancastr]

Thanks all, for the opinions and advice.

I will most likely be purchasing a Saitek Eclipse II out of my next paycheck.

Illogical: that DAS kepyboard would definitely force me to learn to touch-type, thus (eventually) resolving the problem! :)

[bug_girl]

Gee, and I was imagining monks hunched over keyboards, painting in gold leaf. Oh well.

[RSLancastr]

:D

[Ducky]

This one (http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193/) always looked so cool to me.

If your desktop has bluetooth, I'd suggest that one just for coolness factor.

[RSLancastr]

I am typing this in the dark, on my new Saitek Eclipse II keyboard.

The illumination is a bit uneven, but other than that, nice!!

Thanks again for all the input.

[CFLarsen]

...tsk, tsk... (http://www.laptopdesk.net/access-usblightf.html) :)

[CFLarsen]

...tsk, tsk, tsk... (http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/gadgets-gizmos/projector-keyboard/index.html) :)