Surprisingly decent illuminated keyboard on a budget
Pros: Compact layout, VERY low priced, quiet and tactile keys, LED backlight isn't overbearingly bright, orange light feels much easier on the eyes
Cons: Compact layout has some faults (see below)
Purchased in August 2011 from Newegg during a promo, paid $19.99 + Free Shipping for this and it has been one of the best purchases I've made. Arrived without any dead keys, setup was simply plug-and-play. For $20, it's hard to find anything that can compare in this price segment.
While this keyboard is not perfect, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. This is my first illuminated keyboard and after having it a few months, I can't imagine not having an illuminated keyboard! They are great to have if your room isn't always well-lit. The keys feel great, much quieter than the aging keyboard it replaced. The light isn't blindingly bright, nor is it too dim; I feel it is a good compromise. The orange was a bit strange at first, but it has grown on me. It's much easier on the eyes than traditional LED colors, much more of a "soft" orange. There is a button on the upper-right corner of the keyboard that toggles on/off the light, convenient! Feels much more expensive than it really was.
While the compact layout of the keyboard makes it look nice and forces the keyboard to be quite small compared to its larger counterparts, it does make some sacrifices to do so. For example, the function (F1-F12) keys are all squeezed together, whereas a larger keyboard usually has a separation between F1-F4, F5-F8, F9-F12. This could prove to be troublesome if you are accustomed to assigning macros to these keys. Staying on the subject of keys, the arrow keys between right-Ctrl and the numpad are also squeezed together so there are no spaces between the arrow keys and others. While this isn't a problem for me as I never use them, it does create another issue for me in particular. Since all the arrow keys are pressed up alongside other keys, the right arrow key intrudes into the 0 (zero) button of the numpad slightly, reducing the zero key to roughly 2/3 normal size. I utilize a decent amount of 10-key and this can throw me off on occasion.
The downsides of this keyboard may not necessarily be downsides to certain people as many gamers who tend to frequent this site probably don't use 10-key, the arrow keys, or the function keys overly often. I was fully aware of the cramped layout of the keys prior to purchase, however the $20 price tag was too good to pass up. Overall, very pleased with my purchase, despite its shortcomings.
While this keyboard is not perfect, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. This is my first illuminated keyboard and after having it a few months, I can't imagine not having an illuminated keyboard! They are great to have if your room isn't always well-lit. The keys feel great, much quieter than the aging keyboard it replaced. The light isn't blindingly bright, nor is it too dim; I feel it is a good compromise. The orange was a bit strange at first, but it has grown on me. It's much easier on the eyes than traditional LED colors, much more of a "soft" orange. There is a button on the upper-right corner of the keyboard that toggles on/off the light, convenient! Feels much more expensive than it really was.
While the compact layout of the keyboard makes it look nice and forces the keyboard to be quite small compared to its larger counterparts, it does make some sacrifices to do so. For example, the function (F1-F12) keys are all squeezed together, whereas a larger keyboard usually has a separation between F1-F4, F5-F8, F9-F12. This could prove to be troublesome if you are accustomed to assigning macros to these keys. Staying on the subject of keys, the arrow keys between right-Ctrl and the numpad are also squeezed together so there are no spaces between the arrow keys and others. While this isn't a problem for me as I never use them, it does create another issue for me in particular. Since all the arrow keys are pressed up alongside other keys, the right arrow key intrudes into the 0 (zero) button of the numpad slightly, reducing the zero key to roughly 2/3 normal size. I utilize a decent amount of 10-key and this can throw me off on occasion.
The downsides of this keyboard may not necessarily be downsides to certain people as many gamers who tend to frequent this site probably don't use 10-key, the arrow keys, or the function keys overly often. I was fully aware of the cramped layout of the keys prior to purchase, however the $20 price tag was too good to pass up. Overall, very pleased with my purchase, despite its shortcomings.
