Saitek Eclipse II Backlit Keyboard (PK02AU)

by Mad Catz

• Key characters and keypad illuminate through laser-etched keys
• Media keys for volume control, play/pause and skip tracks
• Variable backlighting adjusts through dimmer mechanism. Blue, red and violet.
• Angle adjustment and extendable wrist rest for maximum comfort to suit the way you type
• Weighted base with large area rubber feet to keep keyboard securely planted to the desk

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 1.1 x 19.5 inches ; 2.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000H6AY6M
• Item model number: PK02AU
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (569 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #38 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Computer Accessories > Keyboards
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Saitek Eclipse II keyboard builds on the success of the backlit Eclipse and Gaming keyboards, now offering a choice of colors – purple, red and blue – selectable by the user and adjustable via a dimmer mechanism. The key characters and keypad illuminate making the Eclipse II keyboard ideal for use in any lighting environment.

Solidly constructed from high quality materials including a stylish silver casing, the Eclipse II’s weighted base and large area rubber feet keep it firmly planted to the desk, while cushioned, silent keys mean hours of fatigue-free use.

• Key characters and keypad illuminate through laser-etched keys
• Media keys for volume control, play/pause and skip tracks
• Variable backlighting adjusts through dimmer mechanism
• Angle adjustment and extendable wrist rest for maximum comfort to suit the way you type
• Weighted base with large area rubber feet to keep keyboard securely planted to the desk
• Quiet, cushioned keys for hours of stress-free use
• Familiar 104 key layout

Product Description

True-vu key illumination in 3 colors blue red & purple 104-key keyboard features patented blue led key illumination & backlighting zero-slope design & adjustable wrist rest for ergonomic comfort features plug-&-play design with usb connector variable lighting levels compatible with windows 98/se/me/2000/xp silver & black finish features black keys with laser-cut lettering.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

190 of 201 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid Keyboard [UPDATE] September 11, 2006

By Wiggly VINE™ VOICE

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Highly recommended, and the price on Amazon is more reasonable than many brick and mortar stores too. This keyboard has wonderful keys that are neither too springy nor too soft, great for typing, and great for games too. It's a pretty sturdy piece of kit too, and requires no extra drivers.

So, of course its main 'selling factor' is that it offers three different illumination colors - blue, red, and purple - and these can be dimmed or brightened. Worth noting is that the areas around the keys and the keys themselves are lit, so perfect for a darker environment. I like the blue color best, but that's probably the darkest, but I still find it's illuminated adequately. The purple color really shines though, and there's side strips that light up your desktop too.

Very blingin'? Yes, for sure. Overkill? Perhaps, but I don't think this keyboard looks too tacky, in fact I've found it super useful to have a comfortable and durable keyboard for those late night gaming sessions.

---

Nov 2011 update: This keyboard is still serving me well after five years, but here's a couple of things to note. First off, the lettering on the most used keys (W,A,S,D) has started to wear off a bit. This took a long time to happen, with constant use, so that's not so bad. I contacted Saitek (who are now owned by MadKatz I think) and a guy wrote back to me to say he'd send spare keys if he ever came across any. That was a nice thought, but I never heard anything back after that email.

Also, I've noticed the lighting is quite a bit dimmer than it once was, making it harder to see in the dark. However, the keyboard still works really well after all this time and shows no sign of any mechanical wear/problems.

Still recommended thoroughly, and I'm almost tempted to buy another one new just like it.

70 of 71 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Keyboard - Paint wears off the keys! April 18, 2008

By Bob L.

What? Wears well in a little over a month of use? HAHAHAH!

That isn't a sign of wear at all! Try TWO YEARS! I've been using my Eclipse 2 for over two years with games such as BattleField2, Battlefield 2142, Unreal Tournament 2004 and Unreal Tournament3, Quake Wars, etc.

Please don't post that it wears well when you've had the keyboard for less than three months because you've barely used it long enough to even talk about how it wears.

I have seven keys that you can no longer read because the black paint has worn off of them! You can barely read the key letters with the blue light on at the highest setting. Red and "purple" allow for better readability with the "Purple" color being a bit more readable.

Other than the keys wearing out and the poor light transmission through the keys, this has been a great keyboard for me for gaming and other use. It's been over two years and I haven't had a single key malfunction and I use this keyboard a lot. Hours and hours of pretty heavy gaming.

I'll be looking for replacement keys.

I'd recommend this keyboard but I'm a bit disappointed in how the keys paint has worn off.

UPDATE!

I just got off the phone with Saitek customer support. The warranty on this keyboard is 2 years! I called and told them about my seven keys with the paint worn off and they told me as long as I had a receipt they'd completely replace it with a new one! It's an exchange. My receipt says I purchased this keyboard on 1/04/2007 so it's under warranty.

Not only that but they said that when I receive my replacement keyboard the replacement receipt gives me another two years! You can't beat that!

So, just keep your receipt and when something fails or the paint wears off, fill out the form and get a replacement for free! That's what I call good customer service!

83 of 89 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best keyboard I've ever owned. November 17, 2006

By FlamingoNut

I've been typing on various keyboards for 20 years now, and nothing is comparible to the old IBM mainframe keyboards, which had a great feel to them. I've hated every lightweight generic keyboard I've encountered, and this one stays put. On a whim, I purchased this keyboard from another site, at a great price. Well, my only regret is not purchasing another to use at work. The lighting is adequate if you're simply typing to the light of your monitor, like I frequently do at home. I wish it were a little brighter, but overall, I love this keyboard, and when the price is right, I'll get another. I prefer the purple, dislike the red, and can deal with the blue. When the computer is rebooted, it automatically reverts back to blue, which I don't consider an inconvenience whatsoever...