What do you guys recommend for a backlit keyboard?

[coltyhuxx]

Hi,

I visit the various boards a lot but most of you prob haven't met me.. I'm pretty lurked out.

My question today is whether any of you use and your experiences with a back lit keyboard. I've been looking at the Saitek blue one on Amazon and more recently the red one on gogamer.com..:-k Both are about $50. They sure do look nice though and these are the full sized deals

I mostly want one for World of Warcraft. Sometimes I drop in on my keyboard at night and end up typing out sentences such as "lfggjt gjk tom oeeorl" just one darn key off.. I think the light will help a lot.

Any suggestions or experiences you might want to share?

Thanks!

[Scorch]

I've had something this (Or something close to it, made by 'Sondyo'):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Connectland-Luminous-Keyboard-Blue-Glow_W0QQitemZ5821706908QQcategoryZ33965QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(copy and paste or just search for 'Luminous Keyboard' on ebay) for two years or so. Works great. The only thing that sucks is that the spacebar is smaller and the backspace key is the size of a normal key, but you will quickly adjust. I even have a "€" key!

[Number83]

I just got the Saitek gamer keyboard from gogamer.com. There was a $10 off online coupon that I used that dropped the price to 39.99...can't remember what it was but if you do a google search on gogamer.com and coupon, you'll find it. I honestly can't recommend it though. The blue light actually hurts my eyes, and it does nothing to light up the individual keys. In other words, I can't really use it in the pitch dark. And the additional 9 key (total 18 programmable) is a good idea, but I haven't had the opportunity to program it.

But Civ IV just showed up at my door, so here's my chance. Good Luck!

[Noodle Pirate!]

I use the EluminX one. The company makes the backlit keyboards for the military and it is the smoothest most perfect keyboard I have ever felt in my life. I actually value it more then my computer.
The feel of it is just indescribable. Solid,smooth,quiet. Once you try it you will never want another one. You can order them from the company or from places like newegg or outpost.
It's expensive but its well worth it.
I haven't tried any of the knockoff eluminx ones yet, so I can't tell you if they are just as nice as the original or not.

http://www.eluminx.com/

[CYRiX]

I've heard that eluminix's wear out over time (like a year or two).

[Noodle Pirate!]

Mine hasn't. The only time I need to replace it is when I spill something on it :( which has happened twice, but I love it so much that I end up buying a new one. My first one I had for well over 3 years before I managed to spill something on it and it never gave me any trouble.

The only downside is that crappy keyboards you can usually save them and turn them upside down and pop off the keys to dry it out and it works again. This thing is so high tech that if the liquid gets in the right(wrong) places that it messes with the backlite color and will block out the light leading to a replacement.
If you can keep the liquid well away from it, it works great :P

[CaseyRyback]

if you are getting a saitek keyboard get the eclipse over the gamer keyboard. The LED's are supposed to be a lot better on the eclipse than on a gamer keyboard.

and I don't know if it still works, but ECLIPSE10 was a coupon to knock 10 bucks off the price at gogamer.com

[GreenMonkey]

Saitek Eclipse

It owns

Fullsize keyboard, no min-keyboard layout like many of the others.

Actual backlit letters (unlike the old Saitek Gamer Keyboard)

Best $50 I've spent in ages.

[coltyhuxx]

Thanks guys for your input! :D Very helpful! I looked around and think I'm gonna check out the Saitek Eclipse.. Now I need to figure out blue or red. Is it weird that I got bummed out by the red keyboard because they made a Sith reference and more into the blue one because of a TRON reference... pop culture influence

Way too Sith'ed out...

[Nogib]

How about something like the new Logitech G15?
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2166,CONTENTID=10717

[headpiece747]

Hands down the
Saitek Eclipse

The keys are perfect for
night time fragging on CS:S
The keys feel comfortable and quiet

Here are some shots in the dark
most websites don't show it well:
The Whole Keyboard Set...
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/3205/saitekeclipse15tg.th.jpg (http://img457.imageshack.us/my.php?image=saitekeclipse15tg.jpg)

The Most Important Keys (WASD)
For Cheap Ass Gamers...
http://img499.imageshack.us/img499/5554/saitekeclipse26al.th.jpg (http://img499.imageshack.us/my.php?image=saitekeclipse26al.jpg)

[Kayden]

Touch type? I can play in pitch black. I just feel for F and I'm set.

[JDMxB]

Another nod for the Saitek Eclipse--i've been using mine for about 6 months and haven't looked back!

[lordwow]

I love the one on my powerbook... but that probably doesn't help

[CaseyRyback]

I just spent 40 dollars about 30 minutes ago and got the saitek eclipse, and it is definately awesome. I definately recommend it

[GreenMonkey]

How about something like the new Logitech G15?
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2166,CONTENTID=10717

That looks pretty awesome, I must say.

But at $60 MSRP and $80 MSRP...hmmm...

The Saitek has been out since mid-year and so you can get your hands on it for about $40.

You can get the G15 at Amazon for $60

Extremetech review of the G15:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1870601,00.asp

Looks like a good keyboard with potential if there are ever some decent programs written for the LCD.

Sheesh. I felt like spending $45 on the Saitek was too much :D

[strebor]

I'll recommend the Saitek Eclipse, too. I got it for my boyfriend and he loves that thing. There's also one that is supposed to be better (I can't remember the name offhand) that is around $80... since I don't have a lot of money I went for the $40-$45 Eclipse. It's very bright in the dark and it's pretty sweet looking too.

I noticed Xoxide has quite selection of illuminated keyboard as well.

http://xoxide.com/keyboards.html

Go for the Saitek Eclipse (make sure it's the Eclipse, the old series wasn't as bright) if it's within your budget.

[Kayden]

That Logitec G15 is pretty sexy looking... Its MSRP is 80, but I found it at buy.com for 58...

[2poor]

That Logitec G15 is pretty sexy looking... Its MSRP is 80, but I found it at buy.com for 58...

:cry:
its sold out


edit: is there any difference between the pc gamers keyboard and the eclipse? they look exactly the same except the pc gamers keyboard comes with this extra pad.

[coltyhuxx]

I haven't bought one yet :) buuut... my thinking is that with monitors and keyboard (and heck, mice) you shouldn't <<rationalization warning>> worry about buying something nice because it is a peripheral you will be keeping, possibly, through several systems. I've been using the same CRT monitor (pretty nice one) through three computers now and it still looks great. Next time I upgrade I will get something really nice, monitor wise.

[CaseyRyback]

:cry:
its sold out


edit: is there any difference between the pc gamers keyboard and the eclipse? they look exactly the same except the pc gamers keyboard comes with this extra pad.

the pc gamers keyboard is the predecessor to the eclipse. It does not come with the extra pad, but the LED's much much better. If you go to Tom's hardware, they have a review of the eclipse and mention the differences between the two.

[Kayden]

I haven't bought one yet :) buuut... my thinking is that with monitors and keyboard (and heck, mice) you shouldn't <<rationalization warning>> worry about buying something nice because it is a peripheral you will be keeping, possibly, through several systems. I've been using the same CRT monitor (pretty nice one) through three computers now and it still looks great. Next time I upgrade I will get something really nice, monitor wise.
Shit, if I spend $80 on a keyboard, not only will I use it on all my PCs, but I'll take it to work and use it there. Hell, I'd probably put it in a backpack incase there was a computer I had to use between home and work.