Backlit Gaming Keyboard

Hi everyone

I like to game in the dark. I have been trying to use a desk lamp, but it's annoying. Does anybody have a gaming keyboard they would recomend? It has to have a backlight.

 

For desktop, you're looking at either the Logitech G11, or G15 version 1 or 2, the Saitek Eclipse, Eclipse II, Razer Lycosa and Microsoft Reclusa. Saitek is supposed to come out with a product called the Cyborg keyboard sometime, but I haven't heard anyplace that sells one yet.

 

Saitek Eclipse is the best when u are not sponsored...its not very expensive...
& very popular among non-sponsored Gamers.

Razer Keyboards are way too expensive

Microsoft Razer Reclusa is also good...not VERY expensive..

 

As much as I like Razer's mice, I am not a fan of their Tarantula keyboard (I have not tried the newer one). It is extremely expensive for starters, and on top of that it feels cheap and the tactile feedback is subpar.

I'd recommend a Saitek Eclipse II keyboard for an all-around solid keyboard with good value and great tactile feedback.

 

Good call...it's probably the best "bang for the buck" backlit keyboard out there. I have the G15 version 2, but it's considerably more expensive than the Eclipse II, and if you don't need the LCD bit, I'd advise going with the Saitek.

 

I have the G11, its a great keyboard, the extra USB ports and the media buttons are awesome to have. I got it for $40 on sale a year ago. I've tried the Saitek one, it was decent, but without extended use, I can't comment on it unbiasedly

 

^^G11 user here as well, i love it. its pretty comfortable. the display would be handy in some games i think.

 

got the logitech g15 new version last week, its absoloutly fantastic, one of the reasons was the back lighting as i could just have a lamp on rather than the main room light or even play in the dark, i have not tried others but always found saitek stuff to be ok but a little cheap feeling, this g15 is just superb to use ,the screen is brilliant and can displaya wide range of stuff and auto detects what games you have thta it works with to display server info and ping and tells you what servers friends are on, programs like ventrillo,tream speak,fraps, and all sorts work well with it, aswell as always displaying cpu and ram use, date time, alarm, stop clock and all sorts of stuff aswell as make your own and download custom stuf othe g15 owners have made, you cant go wrong

 

isn't playing in the dark bad for your eyes?

 

Hey enter 260,
No. At least I don't think so. I always herd that was just a myth.

To everybody elese,
Thank you for being so helpful! The Logitech G15 and Saitek Eclipse both look pretty good. I will have to do some more research before I can make a decision though. Maybe I will write a quick review after I make a decision and get one.

anybody know of any good review sites for this kind of stuff? Am I best off going to google and putting in "Logitech G15 reviews"?

 

yep, google FTW.

and looking at anything in the dark will strain your eyes. (nothing permanant) but the muscles will get sore because they have to work harder. so its not exactly bad, but for ease of viewing and for comfort, you may as well turn the light on.

 

G15 V.1 and works wonders. And like poster said above me it does strain your eye's slightly.

 

just google "logitech g15 review" also search logitech g15 on here, youl find lots of stuff about it all over the place, i recently did my homework on it last week for a couple of days before buying, also check my mini review of it, basicly every review and all the talk about them pointed towards this being the best choice ,plus its really popular amongst gamers, and logitech support it too with updates and profiles and theres a big following

 

My parents don't game but my mom has the Saitek Eclipse and my dad has a Creative Fatality. I personally prefer the Saitek for lighting, but I like the feel of laptop keys on the Fatality. Both are cheap too.

 

You are right.. thats why i didnt buy it... doesnt feel worth it ...even the Backlit is not bright enough..

How about REclusa??

 

You should tell your mom that the keyboard is bad & causes arthritis in middle-aged people.. & buy a new normal one for her... & u ll get to have Eclipse then

 

reclusa is nice. but pretty expewnsive in comparison (in australia anyway, not sure about US though)

 

Saitek Eclipse is the answer when u are not sponsored...In the end the Mouse is what really matters among Accesories

 

a g15/11 is not that expensive...............you don't need to be sponsered (99.99% arent) to get a logitech gaming keyboard.

 

I think the same

 

I was talking about Razer keyboards... Logitech is not very expensive & Saitek is budget but packed with enough punch

 

I have the Tarantula keyboard and its ok. I've found that I don't even use the macro features (which is probably one of the main buying points). Looks very cool though and matches the theme I have going on with my gaming setup. Definitely not worth $100 or whatever it is these days, but I got mine through a deal for $35 new. If you can get it for $50 or under, it's a great buy.

 

I have the G15 keyboard. The version 1 without the USB2.0. I love it. The keyboard is very nice, and you can easily use it in pitch black. The thing actually keeps me up at night if I leave the light on its so bright. I only use the high function though...

 

I have a Logitech G11 and it looks pretty cool in the dark or very dim-lighting. Easy to read too.

Unfortunately I don't game so I'm not sure how well it does in that field. :/

 

The Saitek Eclipse II Keyboard is not a bad choice.

 

It does effect your eye sight, say for example the reason why you don't look into the sun is because it's too bright, much brighter than the surroundings that you are accustomed too. If you're in a pitch black room and your main focus is at a computer monitor with full brightness this will cause your retinas to strain and cause your eye sight to wear away in the future.

Turning on a desk lamp (if you still want to play games in near darkness) should help the situation. If you want a full in depth explanation about it I'll wait till my wife wakes up (she's an optometrist)

 

I'm also a G11 user.
I've had it for nearly 3 months now. I absolutely LOVE it. The biggest selling point for me other than the backlighting was the inclusion of the 18 "G" buttons. There is also 3 modes for the buttons, giving an option of 54 macros.
They are buttons arranged along the left side of the keyboard that can be programmed to do virtually anything. I'm hopelessly addicted to World of Warcraft, and I use all of the buttons for various Raiding and PvP encounters. For any kind of gaming, 54 extra dedicated buttons is a phenomenal thing, especially in a sleek, backlit package.

 

i love my saitek eclipse II

 

well... I already wear contacts and it's a pain in the !@#$%^. My vision is about 20/200 when I'm not wearing them. I don't want to lose any more of my vision so yea I think I'll take your wife up on that offer. Am I doing something dangerous?

 

Not so much dangerous but could be pretty detrimental to the future of your sight, try to only stare at your monitor/notebook when you're in a well lit room and even if your room is too dark, adjust the brightness so it isn't so bright that it's nearly blinding you in contrast to the room surroundings.