ILLUMINATED Keyboards: does anyone use one?

[oalvarez]

i play mostly everquest and fps, more times than not in the dark (early morning, late night). does anyone have any experience with these?

thanks in advance!

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

I spend most of my time on the computer at night/early morning too, but I just ... turn on the light in the room.

 

[JimRaynor]

Just learn how to feel your way around. After about a few weeks you shouldn't even need a light.

 

[oalvarez]

i don't believe that was the question. i have been typing/using a keyboard for many a year; the question was does anyone use one. i don't want to turn the lights on as that would defeat the purpose and possibly wake those that are sleeping. i have a good working sense of wear each key is, just wondering if the illuminated boards make using a keyboard in the dark more pleasant or if they are a complete waste of money. somebody thought of manufacturing them for a reason.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

I read a review of one once, they seemed to like it.

found it:
http://www.ownt.com/hardware/reviews/2003/eluminx_keyboard/eluminx_keyboard.shtm

edit: err, i don't think that's the one I read before. there's quite a few review though:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=illuminated+keyboard+review

 

[Auric]

I have been intruged by them before. If there was a black one with a standard layout and good feel and just the characters lit up, "I'd be all over it", as the kids were wont to say in the mid 1990's. Oh, and make it flexible too -you know like roll-up-able and sealed.

 

[Atlantean]

No need for one, I have memorized where all the keys are. but it would be kinda cool, just for looks. I use the keyboard that came with my logitech cordless mx duo.

 

[aceO07]

I'd be interested if they had an illuminated keyboard like on the powerbook. I think only the letters light up, not the entire button.

Staring at a bright monitor in the dark can't be good for you eyes...

 

[screw3d]

I don't care about illuminated keyboard but I'd sure be interested if someone makes a keyboard that doesn't have all those space in between keys! There is no way I can prevent debris from falling between those keys.. argh! :frown:

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: aceO07
I'd be interested if they had an illuminated keyboard like on the powerbook. I think only the letters light up, not the entire button.

Staring at a bright monitor in the dark can't be good for you eyes...

Why not? It only makes your eyes sleepier.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: ndee

Originally posted by: aceO07
I'd be interested if they had an illuminated keyboard like on the powerbook. I think only the letters light up, not the entire button.

Staring at a bright monitor in the dark can't be good for you eyes...

Why not? It only makes your eyes sleepier.

It's bad for your eyes IIRC. In fact, monitors with black casings can't get the highest TCO rating because of their increased eye strain. At least I read so on the internet long ago, could be a myth I suppose

 

[Mem]

oalvarez,just do what I did and buy an Antec Iluminate LED light,link. Comes in 3 colours,I have mine just above my black keyboard,only bad thing is you need a spare USB port to use it but installation is simple enough.

 

[vetteguy]

Since no one has actually answered your question, I have this one and I like it. I use it mostly when I'm out LAN gaming, since the lights are always off and it makes it easier to see. Having all of the keys "memorized" as everyone has been touting is one thing, but when it's pitch black in a room in the middle of the night it's still nice to have the soft glow that this EL keyboard offers. One word of caution, this is a laptop-style keyboard, meaning the keys are all flat and don't have much travel. Personally, I like it better, but some people may not.

 

[littlebitstrouds]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
Since no one has actually answered your question, I have this one and I like it. I use it mostly when I'm out LAN gaming, since the lights are always off and it makes it easier to see. Having all of the keys "memorized" as everyone has been touting is one thing, but when it's pitch black in a room in the middle of the night it's still nice to have the soft glow that this EL keyboard offers. One word of caution, this is a laptop-style keyboard, meaning the keys are all flat and don't have much travel. Personally, I like it better, but some people may not.

Thank you for the first legitimate response. I also would like to know more on this, as I have a roommate that goes to bed at 10pm and I'm up till 2am. I have all the keys memorized but in the pitch black, when I'm in a heated battle in cs and I hit a messege button by accident, it would be nice to be able to see where it is to cancel out before I die.

More legitimate responses would be apreciated.

 

[Fern]

Well, I'm interested in these keyboards also. (If nothing else here's a bump.) But its starting to look like very few are using them at this point. I like playing games in dim light, but am too lazy to memorize all the keys. I've been dreaming of an illuminated keyboard for some time. Hmm, lets see -playing DoomIII in the dark with an illuminated keyboard. Sounds good to me.

 

[beatle]

I like them for their cool factor, but I don't like the nonstandard layout. Maybe when one comes out I'll pick it up.

 

[Auric]

Standard layout is a beeg thing for me 'cause I use the arrow keys and surrounding clusters for FPS games.

Mayhaps photoluminescent paint could be applied to each key?

 

[Fatdog]

I use this for flight sims and fps. It's a non-standard layout, but I'm very happy with it. Nice soft glow without being distracting.

 

[azilaga]

Originally posted by: screw3d
I don't care about illuminated keyboard but I'd sure be interested if someone makes a keyboard that doesn't have all those space in between keys! There is no way I can prevent debris from falling between those keys.. argh! :frown:

You should try the virtually indestructible keyboard. Here's a review i pulled from google.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/_preview.php?articleID=37