Question - Saitek PZ30AU Eclipse Illuminated Keyboard

Prophet · 8 Aug 2006 at 16:46

Hi,

I've been thinking about one of the above for some time. I've currently got a standard issue cherry keybaord which I like but want a change as I've had it for years!

I need to know how the keypress feels on the Saitek. The cherry is nice but slightly 'gritty' (difficult to explain) and at work I use one of the older Dell USB keyboards which I like a lot. How does the Saitek compare to other keyboards? I don't want one thats too soft as I like to feel the keys.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help

H3x0rc!st · 8 Aug 2006 at 16:56

I have a saitek backlit gaming keyboard and the keys are nice and soft when you press em

no_1_dave · 8 Aug 2006 at 18:10

They're nice to press.
Soft, but with a good spring back

Imy · 8 Aug 2006 at 19:45

I've got the Saitek Eclipse. The keys are the same as those you get on £5 keyboards - as bog standard as they get. Actually my cheapy genius keyboard had much nicer keys and a better wrist wrest.

Go into a computer parts shop and try it out then buy it online if you like it and want to save ££

Prophet · 8 Aug 2006 at 20:23

Imy said:
I've got the Saitek Eclipse. The keys are the same as those you get on £5 keyboards - as bog standard as they get. Actually my cheapy genius keyboard had much nicer keys and a better wrist wrest.

Go into a computer parts shop and try it out then buy it online if you like it and want to save ££

I've not found a shop that sells them mate, otherwise I'd have done that.

Imy · 8 Aug 2006 at 22:55

Oh well.

All I can say then is try and look past the illumination (its not that great anyway). If the rest of the keyboard seems like what you want then go for it.

A couple annoyances I've found with it though.... Its USB only (USB > PS/2 adaptor won't work). This isn't a problem for most people but those who have old-ish KVM's won't want one. Some key combinations don't work when more than 2 keys are pressed simultaneously e.g. Up Arrow + Right Arrow + Numpad 0.

Hussman · 8 Aug 2006 at 23:13

I have one, and I use a dell keyboard at work.

Both are fine for me.

Best of luck.

Xinn · 8 Aug 2006 at 23:23

My best friend has this keyboard and after playing Q4 on it I can say I think it's a quality keyboard but the keys are a little too soft to press for me, I prefer to know the i've pressed a key when i press it where as eclipse keys feel a little odd to me.

manveruppd · 9 Aug 2006 at 02:34

Imy said:
All I can say then is try and look past the illumination (its not that great anyway).

Can you elaborate a bit please? I almost got this keyboard purely because of the illumination (I just thought it'd be nice to be able to play games in the dark

), so if you think it's inadequate I'd like to know.

Sudden · 9 Aug 2006 at 03:59

It's a nice looking keyboard and everything, but a little bit of the paint has started coming off on my space bar only after a few months. It's not much, but its noticeable at night with the illumination on.

The keys, while I have no problems with them, I didn't find them anything special and similar to my years older Samsung internet keyboard. They're perfectly fine to use, but I didn't find them great or better than most others or anything.

One of the main things I wanted was illumination, so I spent a fair amount of time trying to decide between this and the Logitech G15 so i'd take a look at that as well

pinkacidbootson · 9 Aug 2006 at 04:03

The ilumination feature is quite useless tbh, since the light coming from my screen allows me to see the keys perfectly in the dark. The lights in the keyboard make no difference. This won't be the same for everyone though, depends on where your screen is. Mine is 8 inches behind the keyboard.

Sudden · 9 Aug 2006 at 04:33

Johanson said:
The ilumination feature is quite useless tbh, since the light coming from my screen allows me to see the keys perfectly in the dark. The lights in the keyboard make no difference. This won't be the same for everyone though, depends on where your screen is. Mine is 8 inches behind the keyboard.

Mine is fairly close, and you're right, not the most useful feature, but still a nice one to have

Imy · 9 Aug 2006 at 09:57

manveruppd said:
Can you elaborate a bit please? I almost got this keyboard purely because of the illumination (I just thought it'd be nice to be able to play games in the dark), so if you think it's inadequate I'd like to know.

If that's what you're after then fine

Personally I would not recommend to play games in the dark in front of a bright LCD monitor. My eyes are knackered but save your own!

Also during the day, the illumination makes it harder to make out the lettering on the keys compared to with the illumination off. The 3 settings for illumination is also pointless as usually you'll either want it off or on full.

There's no serious problem with the keyboard, but then again most other keyboards can claim the same. If the illumination is important to you then you should consider getting it.