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B A C K G R O U N D I N F O
Bought the Illuminated Keyboard on 12/21/2010 to replace a Saitek Eclipse III (5/9/2010) on my GA-P55A-UD4P based Windows 7 Professional 64-bit desktop. As a result, I will compare the two as of my experiences from both.
It was more of an impulse buy than anything. I had seen the model at my friend's house and at the local Best Buy. I liked the look, but was worried about not adjusting to the laptop-like key action. However, it was available for $55 with a $20 mail-in-rebate* (which I recently filed) and I felt for $35 dollars it was a worthy risk to take.
* SIDENOTE ON REBATES *
I have gotten every one of mail-in rebates, about 3/3 (TRENDnet, Logitech, SAPPHIRE). Just make sure to read the instructions twice and understand that you really only have 1 chance to make it happen (they want original UPCs and not copies). Most importantly be patient because it always takes a while (over 1 month).
I M P R E S S I O N
- The keyboard is surprisingly heavy and feels solid. It is sleek and elegant and should be an attractive complement to any desk. The palm rest is very soft and has a nice texture. It is not ergonomic by any means but is comfortable to rest on even for long periods of time. It is not detachable (like the Saitek) and it does seem to get dirty easily, see the MAINTENENACE section below for more about this.
- The backlighting is excellent. It is not as flashy as gaming keyboards and uses a bright white backlight in lieu of colored LEDs (the Saitek had 4 colors). During the day, the lighting is subtle and the keys have a glow that is very easy to read. At night, the effect of the lighting becomes more apparent and the keyboard really stands out in a modest manner. There is very little light bleed and the keys are, for the most part, evenly lit. When I say "for the most part", I mean that while every letter and number is illuminated nicely, some of the longer keys such as "Enter" or "Shift" are not lit completely and have light falloff to either end. Furthermore because Logitech chose to share the Fn (like a laptop) buttons with the F keys and print the Fn keys labels above the F keys labels, the Fn keys (Pause, Eject Home, etc.) are backlit while the F keys are not as visable. This is also why both the "Print Screen" and the "Pause/Break" key labels are impossible to see in the dark. This is a minor annoyance that could have been easily avoided, but luckily isn't enough to detract from the otherwise impressive job Logitech did here.
- The plastic feet underneath the keyboard do not seem very sturdy. While I usually use the feet to prop the keyboard up, I have decided to forgo this tradition for the Illuminated Keyboard in the event that the feet will snap. However in all honesty I doubt the feet will break even with heavy usage.
- There is also a clear plastic trim around the edge of the keyboard. Reviews are mixed and I have split thoughts, but overall I think the trim makes the keyboard seem more cheap. Nothing more to really say here, other than it is definitely a matter of personal preference.
- The USB cord is typical and I would estimate it to be about 6 feet long. The cord comes out of the right side of the keyboard and went behind my desk and into my tower without too much effort. I wanted to mention the cord coming out of the right because it was something thats different than most keyboards. In my case it was insignificant but there are those rare exceptions where something like this can be a deal-breaker.
All in all, the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is a real looker. Its thin, stylish and has a much better backlighting system than any keyboard I have seen (including the Macbook Pro Unibody, Saitek Eclipse II, III, and the G15). There is no doubt that this keyboard will catch the attention of onlookers. Funnily enough my girlfriend, who owns a 13'' Macbook Pro, says she likes the design of the Saitek Eclipse III better than the Logitech Illuminated even though I think the Illuminated is more elegant: which goes to show that in the end, people have different tastes.
E X P E R I E N C E
- Now we're getting into the meat of the review and I hope everyone's still on board here. As you may know, keyboards are mechanical devices that use physical switches. These switches either break or complete electrical circuits and transmit data accordingly. There are a few different types of switches that affect things such as the key response, travel distance, noise production, price, etc., essentially defining the keyboard. Logitech calls the system employed by the Illuminated Keyboard the PerfectStroke key system, which is a scissor-switch system. This instantly puts the Illuminated Keyboard in the laptop ballpark in terms of usage. Scissor-switches are generally used in low-profile devices and because of the design, have a much shorter travel distance when compared to rubber dome keyboards (the typical desktop keyboard). They also have quiet operation and the keys don't require much force to press. The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is no exception here and it possesses all the traits of a scissor-switch keyboard (including price). I can say with confidence that the switches in the Illuminated Keyboard are better than the ones found in most laptops keyboards, if not all of them. The strokes are natural and fluid and the operation is pretty silent, although I do have to say that some of bigger keys squeak if moved side to side, just play around with it and you'll know what I mean. Overall to someone like me, who both uses rubber-dome keyboards extensively and has a certain distaste for laptops in general, I find this keyboard a joy to use. For those wondering about how this stacks up to a mechanical keyboard, I can only offer a few things: First, the operation is not substantially inferior to a Model M, but is a hell lot quieter. Second, if you're looking for a mechanical keyboard, then you probably already know what to look for and a redesigned scissor-switch keyboard is not on that list.
- The actual keys are nicely done. The full size laser-etched keys depress in the middle like most keyboards, but the angle of concavity makes for a more rounded and comfortable feel. While the dip is present in the letter and number keys, the keys on the row closest to you (Space, Ctrl, Alt, Fn, Win) are designed differently. Instead of depressing inwards, the keys portrude out: the inconsistency will be unsettling early on, but I believe you will adjust after some time with the keyboard. Also, if you examine carefully you can feel where the laser left its mark on the key, something that I worried was a defect on my Saitek but is apparently normal.
- There is moderate keyboard flex: considerably more than the Saitek. If you push the keys with a above-average amount of force, the keyboard will noticeably give way. However, this is only something you will see if you are looking intently for keyboard flex and I am not worried in the least that the keyboard will snap in half or be hindered in any way because of it.
- Fortunately, The keyblocking noted by other user does not affect me. For more information about the technicality of keyblocking check Wikipedia or some of the other reviews. What is important to know about keyblocking is that, depending on how you type, some of your input may be blocked. There is a "-ine" and a "-an't" block on the Iluminated Keyboard, among others. This means that if you were to hold "m" "i" and "n", then without letting go of the keys and hitting "e", "e" will not appear and "i" will repeat itself. It is also important to note that in regards to keyblocking, typing speed is largely irrelvant (barring the people with statistically skewed typing speed) when compared to the users typing style and habits. This may not seem important, but like I said, your typing style may conflict fatally with these two dunderhead decisions made by Logitech and handicap this keyboard severely.
Performance was my greatest concern for the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard: and for good reason. For $55 (and $80 retail) the Illuminated Keyboard has very little going for it: it doesn't have any extras like USB ports, headphone/microphone jacks like the Saitek, easy to use shortcut/media keys (Fn keys are not a replacement in my view), or the infamous LCD on the G15. If the Illuminated Keyboard lacked noticeably in the performance department, it would simply be an overpriced keyboard that has a pretty backight and a thin profile: both of which are enough to sell to some people, but not enough for a person who uses the computer extensively for a wide array of things (including DoTA, Starcraft II, typing lab reports, instant messsaging / email). Fortunately, I believe Logitech hit the harmony between the accuracy and feedback consistency of a rubber dome keyboard and the "bouncy" feel of the scissor switch. When considering the popularity of laptops these days, it is highly likely that you will enjoy the experience this keyboard gives, or at the very least adjust quickly to it.
M A I N T E N A N C E A N D M I S C
- Unfortunately, cleanliness is inveresly proportional with use and unless you consistently wash your hands before using your electronics, your peripherals have become a hive for bacteria and other pleasant things. While the mouse is probably the king of filth, your keyboard doesn't slack: when things fall into those crevices, it can be a nightmare to get out and thinking about the keys crushing the crumbs and pushing it deeper into the bowels of the keyboard will be very annoying. On most keyboards (by most I mean nearly all), you can easily pop the key off, soak it in some all-purpose cleaner (it is plastic, after all) and remove all those oils from the top of them. Then using an air duster and cotton swaps with rubbing alcohol, you can clean the switches and blow out some AWOL food. The matte palm rest is also cleaned easily with rubbing alcohol. However, users have reported that removing the keys off the Illuminated Keyboard somehow broke a part of the switch, permanently exiling the key from its rightful place. While you can attempt to be careful about taking the key off, my recommendation would to step up your game: wash your hands, and eat away from your computer because that pretty keyboard will get dirty quick without the help of high fructose corn syrup and vegetable oils. Note that despite whatever precautions you may employ, your devices will eventually get dirty: this is an undisputable fact, and it is better to accept and adapt to it than toil endlessly to fight the unbeatable.
- SetPoint drivers / control suite works fine on my Windows 7 Professional x64: just make sure to download the latest version from Logitech's website. I recommend installing the SetPoint drivers: the keyboard works without them, but using SetPoint allows you to do things like swap the Fn / F keys, disable the Win key, visual notifications for volume change / Caps Lock on-off / etc. etc., overall more control and functionality from your purchase.
- When my desktop starts up, there is a period of ~20 seconds at the login screen in which I am not able to use my keyboard or mouse. This is not the keyboards fault, but probably because I have alot of devices connected through USB and the time to power the motherboard's USB hub is longer than it takes for the SSD to boot up. I just wanted to put this here because it might help ease someone's mind.
W R A P - U P
Time to bring this novel to a conclusion: theres really not much more to say than what I've already said. The Logtiech Illuminated Keyboard is a solid device with both a practical and attractive design. It employs the best in class backlighting I've seen (doesn't mean its perfect), has excellent build quality and performs very well. While all reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, it is no surprise at all that many people consider this the best keyboard they've ever used.
| RAM | 2000000 MB |
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