Whats the best illuminated keyboard?

[His Divine Shadow]

I've been looking at these because I am not very satisified with my MS keyboard. It's mainly because it's a wireless but it's also ugly.

Looking at pictures of these glowing keyboards most seem very bad, the illumination of the keys is inconsistent and just makes it look shoddy to me.

Flexiglow has two very good looking keyboards, here is one using the EluminX technology, however it works this is what started glowing keyboards and I think can be called the standard. Look at the design, it's utterly beatifull:
http://www.flexiglow.com/products/Illu_ ... yboard.htm

Just a shame that the illumination is as I mentioned, inconsistent and looks shoddy. But lookie here, it has a sister keyboard, it's not as good looking but nearly so:
http://www.flexiglow.com/products/Light ... yboard.htm

This one uses conventional LED technology and the buttons look awesome, a consistent glow throughout all the buttons without any of the variations that otherwise ruins the look of the other keyboard.

Check out this:
http://www.flexiglow.com/images/product ... eed/f6.jpg
Vs. this:
http://www.flexiglow.com/images/product ... ard/f5.jpg

This is the one I think I will buy. But before we go and do anything like that I figured we should have a thread and see what other people have bought or used.

[Starglider]

Looks kinda tacky to me. I'm planning to get at least one of these, which have an LED under each key and light the letters rather than the backgrounds.

[His Divine Shadow]

Well I want the glowy buttons, not just glowy text.

[Executor32]

I'd have to recommend the Logitech G15.



Only the text on the keys lights up, but I think it makes up for that with its plethora of features.

It has 18 programmable 'G' keys, each of which has 3 shift settings, for a total of 54 programmable functions. It's not just limited to single keystrokes; you can enter a practically infinite string of keystrokes and mouse clicks, and you can have it record the delays between the events, too. It also supports profiles for games and other programs, so you can have a different set of 54 macros for each.

It has a programmable LCD display that can be used to display (with the included applets) a clock with the date and a mail notifier, a countdown timer/stopwatch, a CPU/RAM use monitor, and media information from WMP, Winamp, iTunes, and a couple other media players. There are quite a few user-made applets for it, too, one of which is used to control Trillian pro and chat on the LCD, which is quite handy when you're in a game and someone IMs you.

It also has two USB ports, a "gaming switch" that turns off input from both Windows keys, and media keys and a volume wheel. One of the main reasons I got it, though, was for its standard layout, rather than the newer rearrangements of the home cluster and arrow keys that really get on my nerves.

Also, if you want to save some money and don't need the LCD functions, the G11 is identical save for the lack of the LCD and the buttons to control it. It's US$55.99 at Newegg, as opposed to US$71.99 for the G15.

[His Divine Shadow]

Well.... I've already gone that route and I came to the conclusion I never ever use all these keys. The design also don't work with my aesthetics. I am for the simple look with clean, straight lines. Curves are evil.

[Executor32]

Curves are good, in moderation. Excessive curves, like the MS Natural series, are evil.

[Pu-239]

Just get a nice clicky keyboard like a model M or das keyboard, and mod it. Cheap keyboards w/ mushy keys and bling suck.

[Vympel]

I use the G15 myself. I have all Logitech peripherals except for speakers (going to get some new ones soon) so it works for me.

[His Divine Shadow]

Well I got this standard HP keyboard (model KU-0316) at work, it's a simple and classic design, it's really good actually. But I want tacky blue aqua like buttons But not the mushy lap-top esque keys

[Laughing Mechanicus]

I've got the G15 aswell, I prefer it's style of only lighting up the letters instead of whole keys as it doesn't light up the whole room in the dark (although you can turn off the illumination from the keyboard). I've also found loads of cool applets for the LCD.

[His Divine Shadow]

I found a really good looking and slim keyboard without the glowy function too. Macally Ice Key, a macintosh keyboard. But it should work with a PC.

[Executor32]

I just stumbled across SirReal's applet for the G15. IMHO, it's the best applet you can get, due to its versatility. Right now, I've got it displaying the date/time, CPU/RAM usage, network up/down speeds, Winamp information, SpeedFan readings, speaker settings, and a stopwatch, all at the same time.

[Laughing Mechanicus]

I just stumbled across SirReal's applet for the G15. IMHO, it's the best applet you can get, due to its versatility. Right now, I've got it displaying the date/time, CPU/RAM usage, network up/down speeds, Winamp information, SpeedFan readings, speaker settings, and a stopwatch, all at the same time.

Exactly the one I'm using. I found it at these forums which host loads of applets. Another useful one I've found is an alarm clock that lets me set alarms just using the LCD panel (so you can set it during games), lets me remind myself of when things have finished cooking or when Dr Who is about to start.

[Darwin]

I'd go for the Microsoft Reclusa, or if you can get a good deal (I think Amazon's running a huge sale on them right now) The Razer Tarantula. fully programmable, onboard memory, etc.