Saitek Eclipse II - Anyone using one ?

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I've been using a Saitek Eclipse for 12 months+.

Nice feel to it , but the back lighting is not bright enough combined with silver keys.

Anyone using the Eclipse II ?

Is it brighter than the original ( with the adjustable lighting ) ?

And does having black keys make an improvement ( I would imagine it would ) ?

Anyone have an experience of both.

Cheers,

Mark
 
No experience of a Eclipse 1, I have an eclipse 2 though.

By far one of the nicest keybaords ive used to type on, isnt too big so your fingers can sit around the keys, yet the keys etc are well spaced and weighted.

The lighting is probably a moot point for me. I dont use it much in the dark (I bought it more for the keyboard itself) but when I do I can only use the red as the other colours are too distracting. Certainly at highest illumination is allows you to see the keys themselves but if illumination is your only concern id either a) do it yourself to a decent keybaord or b) buy a Logitech G. My mate has the Logitech and the backlight is so much better due to the fact each key has its own source. Its too big and bulky for me though :) I find my fingers resting and wanting to press the surrounding keys that i simply wouldnt use.
 
Thks manic_man.

Illumination is the main problem i have.

So you are saying that a Logi G11 ( dont want the G15 lcd screen ) is brighter than the Saitek II .

Mark
 
brighter overall? Probably not but the fact each key has its own source means a) little leakage around the keys and b) each is a uniform, bright colour whereas with the eclipse boards they have used far fewer illumination sources so some keys are brighter than others.

Your limited to blue with the G though, which i couldnt hack :) I just cant get on with blue backlit keys (and epsecially not the purple option I also have on this 2!)

When i bought the eclipse I thought it would be blue all the way but red is just sooo much easier to live with.

For the record, I have never turned my eclipses backlight down, ever, off when watching a film etc sure but down? no, its about right at max.

Oh, also the logitechs built in USB hub is very useful, nicked from Apple of course, but v useful nonetheless.
 
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I think i'll give the G11 a go :)

The Saitek is a good keyboard, feels good but the illumination is "patchy".

Thanks for the replies manic_man.

Mark
 
I doubt you'll be dissapointed with either, the Saitek 2 is certainly a big improvement over the 1, but given the choice again i'd be buying a G11 myself :) (the G15 was just too pricey and bulky with its LCD that I didnt want, and the G11 didnt exist at the time)
 
feelintherage said:
got one its pr0 ;)

honestly tho it feels really nice when your typing and the backlighting is really nice, my gf likes the purple think it makes it more girly :confused:
na just makes you camp...
lol
 
I'm using a Saitek II however I think I'm probably one of the few people who didn't buy it for the "glow".
I'm extremely picky about my keyboard - it's one of two bits you constantly use day in and day out so it just has to feel right.
It's the main reason I don't chop & change a keyboard very often, even when every other item is brand new you'll still find me using a 3-4 year old keyboard despite how relatively cheap they are to replace.

The Saitek II just feels nice.
They appear to have managed to build it so it doesn't take so much of an effort to press the keys that you arms ache but at the same time you do have to put some effort in so you can't accidentally press keys.
I purchased one soon after they appeared in the UK - went into a store and typed away on one before purchase which was really important.
The "glow" was just a feature that is quite nice, but second to overall feel for me.
 
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