If you find yourself working in the dark often, then you have probably run into the issue of not being able to see the keys on your keyboard. This happen to me quite often on my notebook late at night when the wife asleep and I’m too comfortable to leave the bed. However, if you [...]
If you find yourself working in the dark often, then you have probably run into the issue of not being able to see the keys on your keyboard. This happen to me quite often on my notebook late at night when the wife asleep and I’m too comfortable to leave the bed. However, if you work on a desktop, then Logitech has a good solution for you with their new Illuminated keyboard.
The extremely stylish keyboard comes packaged in the traditional green Logitech box. Bundled inside is a drivers CD and a quick start guide along with the keyboard. Like all keyboards, you simply plug it in into a USB port on your computer and start right away. If you need the extra functionality of buttons, which I think some of us do, then its time to install the software.
The Keyboard is certainly beautiful to look at. The black color along with the glass border certainly adds a touch of class. Add to that the 9.3mm thickness and a beautiful backlighting system and you have a product that would even make Apple proud. Logitech claims that the keys are Laser-etched which makes them brighter and sharper. I dont really have anything to compare it at a desktop level but I dont see much of a difference between this and my MacBook Air’s keyboard as far as the backlighting is concerend. Whereas the MBA has a light-sensor that automatically adjusts the light on the keyboard, Logitech has a button that allows you to switch between 3 levels which probably works better in a Desktop environment.
The keys themselves are nicely sized with a soft mushy touch to them making typing very comfortable to type. I’m not sure if I would particularly use the keyboard for playing World of Warcraft but typing reviews like this one certainly feels nice. While all keys are placed where they should be, I dont like the fact that Logitech as moved the right-click key (as I call it) to the top which also requires the Fn key to be pressed. Granted I dont use this key all the time, its nice to have it next to your right ALT and CTRL keys when needed. A nice touch is the notifier for the caps, numeric and scroll lock that lights up in a glossy bar below the keyboard. You wont even know anything is there until the light shows up.
Installing the included Set-Point software allows you to use all the Orange secondary functions on the F keys which includes Media Playback, Quick launch for applications and the Flip 3D interface. Seperatelly, above the numeric keypad, Logitech provides dedicated buttons for volume and brightness level of the keyboard. Unfortunately there is no USB port of the keyboard- I generally use that to connect my Wireless Mouse’s reciever giving it a close range to the mouse.
Priced a bit expensively at AED 399/- (roughly US$110), the Illumanated Keyboard is best for people that like to type in the dark or ones that like their system to just look cool. I do wish that Logitech had a USB port on it but other than that, its a great component to write your long articles on.
