Keyboard- Eclipse...a few worries...*NEW* Why can't all keyboards macro like G15?

[Kinslayer777]

Hopefully my use of fancy words *word has attracted crowds of intelligent admirers who want to tell me a few things...:
Note: I realize there are a lot of threads about keyboards. I've looked at them and see the Eclipse II and G15 coming out as top reasonable contenders but haven't found a defining answer to my issue. On to my issue:

Ello! I'm looking to buy a new keyboard. I love my current keyboards strong feedback. However, i hate the loud LOUD noise and well I stay up late often and people don't appreciate the drip-drip sort of effect... also Looks so terribly ugly with my scribbles notes, and cookie crumbs etched into it.


From what I see/?hear?, the most recommendations are for the Eclipse (One or two? Is there any advantage to Two except color?)

I have no/little use for an array of snazzy special keys, but if there are other advantages to the keyboard (Enter G15) then I'd take that into consideration.

I'm hoping not to pay much more then 50-60 Dollars (S/H Not included)


So can anyone tell me more about the Eclipse II? I hear people love it, but I'm afraid of crappy cheap^laptop like keys. The nice design, raving users, small size w/o being squished (a plus but not necessary), and a good good part: Quiet- are really making me like it.




And. May i note this comes at a perfect time considering my official 'N' key broke. Lol. Ok, actually, it's not so perfect. I have a spare though of course like a good amateur geek But then, like a stupid Kinnishian, It also happens to be crap and driving me nuts

 

[Kinslayer777]

Nite: Thanks for any posts while I'm gone sorry I'll try to respond asap if needed

 

[benplaut]

Hey, look! You over there!
I can't believe there's another person in the world who cares about how a keyboard feels as well as how it looks

 

[Eureka]

For the Saitek Eclipse (and I'm assuming the II would have the same feeling), it has very good keys and a very tactile response. It's about as far from a laptop keyboard as you can get. However, I don't think it's the quietest keyboard out there... for quiet I'd say laptop keyboards are much quieter. Overall, I'd get the Eclipse (the original at least). I've yet to try out the II, but I'd say it's just as good as the original.

Norm

 

[Kinslayer777]

Ahhh...That's good. I had in the...general forum? Sec. K. http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1936724&enterthread=y. It seems people suggest Eclipse two is a quietish.


I'm not looking for a deathly silent keyboard, just something more reasonable. For instance, my keys are going through into my blaring headphones. . I'm really glad other people share the concept that keyboards need to 'feel' good too . I was hopeing it wasn't like many labtop keyboards, i can't function on them well heh.


Good to hear the information. Maybe i can find more about difference between 1 and 2.

 

[Kinslayer777]

Goo-Nite-Bump

 

[Kinslayer777]

Bump, thanks.

 

[Kinslayer777]

Bump

 

[Kinslayer777]

Doesn't anyone have an eclipse! ^_^?

 

[Kinslayer777]

.

 

[cr0ssfire]

I've got an Eclipse. Just picked it up on Black Friday from CompUSSR for $20 AR, as a matter of fact, and I couldn't be happier. Its silver keys and blue backlight look absolutely stunning and are a joy to type on - they're spaced very nicely and quieter than many other keyboards, including the much-hyped G15, by a significant margin. The included wrist rest does take some getting used to, but I find its design to be remarkable comfortable and I haven't felt uncomfortable yet typing on it. At this point, I'm used to typing on a keyboard like this; before the Eclipse, I used Saitek's Gaming Keyboard which is the same thing as the Eclipse but it has the option for a "Command Pad" and the backlight doesn't shine through the keys.

I had the option of going with the Eclipse II, but I really couldn't find any justification for the higher pricetag. It's a good keyboard, to be sure, but it isn't worth the extra price at all. The Eclipse I's lighting is brighter, its keys are just as quiet, and it's still quite comfortable to type on. The only real advantage in going with the Eclipse II that I could see is if you plan on using its goofy media control buttons or if you're a serious fan of far-out lighting, but that's about it. The Eclipse II is blinged-out, while the Eclipse I has a quiet sophistication to it.

The G15, by comparison, clicks and clacks with the best of them. Not only are its keys not quiet, but the keys are spaced very closely together and in my opinion it's not nearly as comfortable to type on. Really, I'm not a big fan of the G15 in general. I think most of its "extra" features are either more trouble than they're worth or just plain silly. The "gaming mode" doesn't really serve a purpose in my mind since I honestly can't remember the last time I accidentally pressed the Windows key. The LCD doesn't seem to display any sort of vital information in any of the programs for it I've looked over, and since I play FPS games almost exclusively the Macro keys serve very little purpose. The USB ports aren't 2.0, and the media controls are useless to me since I have an X-Fi Platinum. There's a fine line where innovation and extraneousness meet, and I think the G15 falls on the side of the latter.

I'd look for a good deal on the Eclipse I - if you go with it, I think you'll be very satisfied.

 

[Kinslayer777]

Thanks, Well, unless you're a secret agent (Fess up) I've got enough I'm definetly buying it as soon as my rebate comes in (It should be withing the next week) Thanks alot ben, cevil, crossfire, all those who've taken the time to check out my thread, and also the various reviews on google/newegg

 

[ShOcKwAvE827]

I've got an eclipse.. the keys are relatively quiet. But some of the keys like the space bar are loose so they are pretty loud. I bought mine in april and it died a few months ago and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. I would get a G11 or G15 personally.

 

[Kinslayer777]

Err, Hmm...Doesn't sound like a good lifespan, I'm guessing you got a dud. I'm almost certainly getting the eclipse (I saw it in reallife recently but it was 80 dollars lol ripped price) but was wondering why you'd prefer the G15? I personally dont need multimedia keys

 

[JknowWhat]

I'm personally considering either the Saitek Eclipse II or the G15 myself. After reading many reviews and messing with them shortly in person, I believe I am slightly more interested in the G15. This is due to the available macro keys on the side (not multimedia) and I found the backlighting on the G15 a bit brighter and even. Although, a few caveats about the G15 is the lettering isn't as visible when the backlight isn't on, the USB ports are only 1.1, and there's no option to change the color of the backlight to something else (like white instead of blue). I do believe that both keyboards are nice and which ever one you choose, you really can't go wrong.

 

[Kinslayer777]

I've been unfortunately busy getting the eclipse. One ***REALLY*** nice thing about the G15 is the programmable keys. That's the one remaining this holding me back...

I'm surprised, however, that any keyboard can't do this. That's make *a lot* of sense. Granted, few would have the ease and spare keys the G15 has, however, why could i replace say the - or + keys on my computer [to this day unclicked], or any key for that matter, which a macro? What's holding manufacturers back ?

 

[Kinslayer777]

Hmm...

 

[potato28]

The G15's key's are just emulations of the F keys and the number keys. The ability to turn off the Windows key is very nice of them, and the LCD is a waste. But the macro keys help me alot.

 

[Kinslayer777]

I imagine they would. It's puzzling to me though why all keyboards can't offer the option to replace some keys with a key stroke macro. What's holding them back?

I'd love to for instance replace the numberpad key o with "Hello my name is freddy" so that everytime i clicked "o", then, "Hello my name freddy" would appear. Is it a hardware holdback that G15 circumvents or something else?

 

[potato28]

No you cant do that unfortunately... but if you play games ypu can put key bindings I really don't use it unless Im playing lots of RTS's...

 

[Kinslayer777]

I'm not sure, what are key bindings?

 

[IndyJaws]

I've got the Eclipse II and have been happy with it so far. The keys are a bit softer than previous keyboards I've used, but it is much quieter.

My only complaint is that the backlight could be brighter. I probably would have gone w/ a G15 but my keyboard drawer was too narrow to fit that monster. All in all, however, the Eclipse II is a very good keyboard.