 Greatest keyboard in the world - Worth every penny - Highly recommended |
| Review Date: December 31, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Montgomery Scott, Philadelphia, PA USA |
I needed a new keyboard for my laptop computer docking station when the old one died. I use an HP laptop, and I really don't like mushy laptop keys, even though they are "full size". I used to often buy OEM style large keyboards. However, the quality of the simplest keyboards (no gadgets) has decreased in recent years. To get quality, you have to buy the more expensive keyboards. But having issues with my laptop keyboard, I was very skeptical about buying a keyboard advertised as being like a laptop. However, when I looked at top of the line keyboards at BestBuy, a few things struck me.
First, many keyboards are wireless today. I have owned wireless keyboards for my other PC's, and I never find them as responsive as I would like. Wireless mice are fine and quite an improvement, but what's the point of a wireless keyboard? It's supposed to sit on your desk and not move. A mouse moves, so no wire is good. For the keyboard, I found wireless models tend to lose keys in my RF interference heavy office environment.
Second, the best keyboards (best key action) are tricked out gaming keyboards or multimedia keyboards. Gaming keyboards have so many special keys that I have no use for, and also have LCD displays to show you your hitpoints. These would be cool if I could customize the LCD with stock quotes or the weather, but no such thing exists. Multimedia keyboards give me hotkeys for e-mail, volume control, etc. You have to install all these new drivers, get everything working, and I never end up using them. I want a simple keyboard like a $10 OEM, but I want the key action of an expensive gaming keyboard.
Third, many top keyboards are just odd "ergonomic" shapes. I just want a normal keyboard, designed for the pure joy of typing.
Fourth, illuminated sounded intriguing, but the ones I saw before were uneven, were weird colors, and mostly were gaming keyboards (see above).
Logitech got it 100% right with this keyboard.
Why do I like it?
1) Keys are literally a joy to push. They are not big chunky keys like old style keyboards, but are also not mushy like my laptop. I find they have a perfect travel and really satisfying click to make me type really fast, but still be able to tell the difference between keys with touch. I can't exactly explain it, but you will be able to tell as soon as you sit down and start to type. I've never felt like a keyboard manufacturer got it quite so right until I tried this keyboard.
2) Wrist pad is perfect. Not one of those big cushions that gets gross with wrist sweat and is too soft. This is what I've been wanting---soft surface (not hard plastic), but not "stuffed".
3) It's wired! Thank you for making a high end keyboard that is not wireless!
4) It looks cool on my desk.....
5) Illuminated was not a requirement, but I have noticed that the letters have worn off my old keyboards, and since I have had an illuminated keyboard, I have appreciated it for quickly finding my bearings (although I do touch type). My only nitpick is that the illumination is not 100% smooth (and the F keys are not illuminated). However, it's the best illuminated keyboard I have seen. Plus, it's white, which is exactly what I wanted.
All in all, I'd say it's worth every penny if you spend any appreciable amount of time at your computer. I type faster, more comfortably, and more accurately. What else could I want from a keyboard? Amazing that with the dozens of keyboards available, this is the only one I've found that finally got it right. |
Awesome, Sexy Keyboard
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| Review Date: November 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: S. D. Jones, |
I can't rave enough about this keyboard. From the moment I took it out of the package, this keyboard screamed "quality." The keyboard I replaced was the Logitech G15. I originally bought that keyboard for WoW, but since I don't play that anymore, I wanted something smaller and not so LOUD. I HATE loud, noisy keyboards. When I first bought the G15 it wasn't like that, but after years of use, it got really bad. The sound just irked me beyond belief. So, when I went looking for a new keyboard, I decided to get a keyboard with laptop-style keys. Not only can I type faster on those, but they are super quiet.
The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is very stylish. There is a clear plastic trim that goes around the sides and top of the keyboard to give it a classy look. The font used on the keys is very clean and the white light makes it look modern. The keys have a very smooth stroke and make typing fun. The thickness is insanely thin and if laid flat, is sort of weird to type on at first. There are two riser feet on the bottom of the keyboard to elevate it at an angle instead of laying it flat. I have not installed the Logitech software yet, and I'm not sure I will.
Overall, I am EXTREMELY satisfied with this keyboard. It would have been nice if the price was a little less, but I can see why it costs as much as it does. Highly recommended for people who want a quiet, high-quality, laptop-style keyboard. |
Another great product by Logitech
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| Review Date: November 24, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Ed, Summerville, SC |
Being a medical transcriptionist, I'm always looking for the "ultimate keyboard," (with, at last count, 37 keyboards stacked up in my office) and this does come close. I've had it now for just over one month and have typed approximately 9 million keystrokes.
Pros:
Very nice touch to the keys.
Definitely like the wrist pad.
Best backlit keyboard I've used.
Always like the large DEL key
It looks good.
Cons:
The price.
The F keys and enter key could light up better.
I personally would like the back legs to be a bit more substantial and a bit higher (Logitech "ergonomic" keyboard has two choices 4 or 8 degree legs.
All in all, though, I still give it a 5. I really do like
it.
Ed in Summerville, SC |
I've been looking for this for SOOOO long...
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| Review Date: September 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Meridius, LA |
Here is my story:
*** Okay...I have wasted so much money in my quest to find even just a 'good' illuminated keyboard. Usually you cannot find an illuminated keyboard that contains the normal keyboard setup...you get a scrunched version where the delete key is combined with the number pad....or in some wild location elsewhere....home, page up, page down, end.....gone.
*** I resolved myself to the fact that I would have to settle for an illuminated keyboard that just would not have the normal keyboard layout. Okay...I accept it. Now...let's start looking. Seven keyboards and 4 years later, I decide to give it one more shot. I have been so disgusted by the performance of the only decent illuminated keyboards...sticky keys...loud, obnoxious keys...poor etching in the keys so that they letters and numbers are so poorly illuminated that it makes it worse than if they were just black.
I have tried them all. I have read reviews, bought them first-hand, second hand, well-known brands, obscure brands. Gaming keyboards to professional boards created for IT. None made it past a low-level of mediocrity.
NOW, FINALLY! HERE IT IS!
This is by far, hands-down, thumbs-up, smile-not-a-frown....ABSOLUTE BEST illuminated keyboard out there.
* The keys are fantastic! They are silent, well-padded, and the KEYBOARD LAYOUT IS STANDARD! WHOOOOOOOOOPEEEEEEEE!
* The illumination is by far the clearest and best on the market. The laser-etched letters on the keys glow well at every angle. Whether you type directly over the keys...whether you lean back and type...whether you have the keyboard set low or elevated...the illumination is PERFECT!
This is everything you want in an illuminated keyboard. If you are a game-freak, then maybe you will be less than perfectly satisfied because it utilizes a standard layout...but it does have the new bells and whistles of the 'system' hotkeys. Audio control, illumination control, Email and Home page shortcut keys, etc etc.
Look no further if you want a fantastic illuminated keyboard. Look no further if you are looking for a slim, lightweight, fits-in-your-backpack laptop-style keyboard for your laptop.
Four years I have looked. Many keyboards sold on Ebay or handed to friends or family because they just did not cut it.
This is it, folks. You won't get any better than this. This is the Alpha and the Omega of the illuminated keyboards. Forget your 'Fangs.' Nevermind your 'Saiteks I, II, or III.' Toss them all.
This one puts em all to SHAME...Shame I tell you.
Get one. |
Exactly What I Wanted In a Backlit Keyboard
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| Review Date: March 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Daniel A. Koblosh, Redondo Beach, CA USA |
I often work in the middle of the night in the dark with only the monitors lighting the room. My keyboard is on a pullout shelf/drawer that leaves the keys in the dark. Despite knowing how to touch type, often I still need to find certain keys visually--like the hyphen, numbers and shift/number keys ($, &, @, etc).
I wanted a keyboard that was:
1. quiet
2. backlit
3. comfortable
The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard fills that bill nicely, and more.
As it looks and feels like a laptop keyboard, it is very low profile. The tops of the keys are 1/2" above the surface it's sitting on. It does not require a 1" thick external wrist rest because you do not have to raise you hands to reach the keys.
It's very comfortable to use. I don't usually care for laptop keyboards because I have a hard time finding certain keys. But this is different because it has the number keypad and the navigation keys like a full sized keyboard.
Best feature is, of course, the backlighting. Every key has a white LED behind it and large, nicely readable letters. The upper right key controls the three levels of brightness and "off."
Setpoint Software:
The top row of F-keys (which I formerly rarely used) has a backlit orange icon on each key. The icons correspond to user programmable commands available in the included Logitech Setpoint software. I am glad I installed the software.
With Setpoint, I was able to re-program the F1 key to become "CTRL/shift/+" which enlarges a Firefox page; F2 to "CTRL/shift/-" to reduce a Firefox page; and F3 to "CTRL/0" which sizes a Firefox page to normal. I use these commands on almost every pageview.
The only problem now is that to use the alternate F-key icons, you need to hold down the orange "FN" function key. Who wants to use both hands to do a quick function while holding onto the mouse in the right hand? But there's a fix.
The Setpoint software allows you to click a checkbox that reverses the Function key so that the orange programmable icons are the default F-keys and the actual F-keys are accessed by holding down the FN key. This is great. Now I can size Firefox pages or control Windows Media player directly from the top row with my left hand without letting go of the mouse.
I realize all this could have been avoided by having another set of keys above the normal F-keys like so many "multi-media" giganto keyboards, but this way the keyboard remains compact and the keys I want are closer. Rather clever engineering, I say.
The feel of the keyboard is great. Almost silent, smooth, short key travel with each press and a satisfying but "almost not there" tactile feedback. Not a click, really. Just a bump that says you pressed the key far enough. Very nice.
Again, the best thing about this is the illuminated keys. All keyboards should be like this, especially on laptops which are used in living rooms while watching TV or on the road in various lighting situations. My next laptop will have an illuminated keyboard and this keyboard will travel with me to my next desktop computer for sure.
Worth the bucks? I say yes. For all the money I've wasted trying to find a keyboard like this, it's worth it. I suppose it would be nice to have it wireless, but with all those LEDs to keep lit at full brightness, it'd go dead pretty fast, so I'll put up with the wire.
I also agree with the reviewer who said it has a quality look and feel. Certainly not a five dollar OEM keyboard.
Another small thing I like is the retractable legs that hold it up at a slight angle. Other keyboard legs tended to collapse as my hands naturally pushed the keyboard away from me. Not this one. The little legs fold out left and right, not fore and aft. They are naturally resistant to "auto-foldup." Again, small but excellent engineering.
I really like this keyboard. |
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