I have this keyboard and hate it. The keys themselves are clunking as all get out, and the keys aren't very readable, not like my powerbook's illuminated keyboard. I'll sell you mine for $20 including shipping if you really want it.
I too own the Saitek Eclipse keyboard. But, I love mine. Not so much for the illumination. Souldaddy is right about the readability. But really, all you need to know is where the keys are in the first place and not necessarily be able to read them as I don't look down at my keyboard as I write. (which may explain some of my more worthless posts
To be fair, I am comparing this keyboard to the factory Dell keyboard that came with my computer. So it's not like I was hard to impress. But I enjoy the feel of the keys and the action. Slightly heavy but not too much so.
The only improvement I can think of is I wish it were wireless. But otherwise, I see it staying on my desk for a long time.
Now, if you don't mind, I'm off to go collect my "forum plant" check from Saitek.
I have one as well and I find it a bit middling. The keys and response are fine the lighting just doesn't work as advertised. When it is off the keys are easy to read, turn it on and the area between the keys lights up brighter than they key itself making them difficult to see.
I have one as well, and love it. The backlit keys are really more for show than any real functionality. Most of us know which keys are where anyway, so I don't find the readability of the key's label an issue. My fondness for it is the 'feel' of the keypress. Like most things it's really subjective towards the user, but I love how smooth and easy the keys feel when you type. Some like to have feedback with keypresses, and if you're one of those don't get this keyboard. I've probably gone through a dozen keyboards in the past couple of years and this one has been my favorite.
My biggest gripe with it is no extended function keys (media, quickstarts or the like). You can adjust the computer volume and the keyboard's LED brightness, but that's it. I also wish they'd have a natural keyboard model.
In my opinion it's definitely worth 20 bones (or 15 if you can get it from souldaddy).
I too have this keyboard. While the LED isn't really too bright, I say you can still make out some keys. From what I see around the web, G15 should be the gamer keyboard that handles the LED back light pretty well.
For 20 bucks though, it is pretty good deal. There is also a version with red LED back light, I am not sure if that one is better illuminated for typing in darkness.
My biggest gripe with it is no extended function keys (media, quickstarts or the like). You can adjust the computer volume and the keyboard's LED brightness, but that's it. I also wish they'd have a natural keyboard model.
I actually preffered their minimalist take on the function keys. Too often once a vendor starts adding in a large set, you see things like the dreaded "Shopping" or "Home Page" which are completely superfilous in my opinion. My Eclipse was the first rev model which meant that the back lighting did not show through the keys. They "fixed" that issue with this revision but the keys feel cheaper to my touch.
All things considered, I really liked it... At least I did until a friend purchased the G15. It's about 3-4x more expensive, but the backlighting is perfect and the LCD is a neat tool.
Huh. As a creature who rarely ever sees natural light, I can appreciate this. Might be time.
[size=9]If I didn't drink, Crom would laugh and cast me out of Valhalla when I die. Peer pressure I can handle, but not when it comes from Crom. -Lobo[/size]
I have this keyboard and hate it. The keys themselves are clunking as all get out, and the keys aren't very readable, not like my powerbook's illuminated keyboard. I'll sell you mine for $20 including shipping if you really want it.
"Once you can accept the universe is matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy." -- Albert Einstein
err, sorry, $15
"Once you can accept the universe is matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy." -- Albert Einstein
I too own the Saitek Eclipse keyboard. But, I love mine. Not so much for the illumination. Souldaddy is right about the readability. But really, all you need to know is where the keys are in the first place and not necessarily be able to read them as I don't look down at my keyboard as I write. (which may explain some of my more worthless posts
To be fair, I am comparing this keyboard to the factory Dell keyboard that came with my computer. So it's not like I was hard to impress. But I enjoy the feel of the keys and the action. Slightly heavy but not too much so.
The only improvement I can think of is I wish it were wireless. But otherwise, I see it staying on my desk for a long time.
Now, if you don't mind, I'm off to go collect my "forum plant" check from Saitek.
"Jaggermeister, for those special occasions when you desire to snuggle with a baby walrus." -tuffalobuffalo
I have one as well and I find it a bit middling. The keys and response are fine the lighting just doesn't work as advertised. When it is off the keys are easy to read, turn it on and the area between the keys lights up brighter than they key itself making them difficult to see.
I have one as well, and love it. The backlit keys are really more for show than any real functionality. Most of us know which keys are where anyway, so I don't find the readability of the key's label an issue. My fondness for it is the 'feel' of the keypress. Like most things it's really subjective towards the user, but I love how smooth and easy the keys feel when you type. Some like to have feedback with keypresses, and if you're one of those don't get this keyboard. I've probably gone through a dozen keyboards in the past couple of years and this one has been my favorite.
My biggest gripe with it is no extended function keys (media, quickstarts or the like). You can adjust the computer volume and the keyboard's LED brightness, but that's it. I also wish they'd have a natural keyboard model.
In my opinion it's definitely worth 20 bones (or 15 if you can get it from souldaddy).
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
-- Arthur C. Clarke
I too have this keyboard. While the LED isn't really too bright, I say you can still make out some keys. From what I see around the web, G15 should be the gamer keyboard that handles the LED back light pretty well.
For 20 bucks though, it is pretty good deal. There is also a version with red LED back light, I am not sure if that one is better illuminated for typing in darkness.
Decisions are just decisions, there are neither "good" or "bad"
[quote=LobsterMobster] *In response to being rewarded with a in-game shack for NOT nuking FO3 city Megaton*
Yeah, but if you set off the bomb in Megaton you are rewarded with a parking lot!
I actually preffered their minimalist take on the function keys. Too often once a vendor starts adding in a large set, you see things like the dreaded "Shopping" or "Home Page" which are completely superfilous in my opinion. My Eclipse was the first rev model which meant that the back lighting did not show through the keys. They "fixed" that issue with this revision but the keys feel cheaper to my touch.
All things considered, I really liked it... At least I did until a friend purchased the G15. It's about 3-4x more expensive, but the backlighting is perfect and the LCD is a neat tool.
Chum
Xbox Live: Chumtastic
hmmm.... G15....
"Once you can accept the universe is matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy." -- Albert Einstein