(SNIP) Keyboard ordered, received, tested and returned defective, and new keyboard ordered BEFORE THE CHARGE EVEN CLEARED MY ACCOUNT.
mnem
"Electrolytic caps are the devils's footsoldiers!" ~ me
I wanted a KBD backlit with plain white and never could find one.
In other news... My new keyboard arrived, and it's effing awesome. The complete opposite of the last one; maybe even the inverse function of it. In short, it appears to be pretty much made of
"WIN!", especially for US$27 shipped.
The top deck is made of 1.5mm thick epoxy or powder-coated steel, so the feel is VERY solid with no flex whatsoever. While the bottom is the usual molded plastic with plastic flip-up feet, they're pretty stout with thick rubber pads opposite large grippy pads on the main body. It weighs approx 1.1kg, so it stays put. It has 3 rows of black-chrome plated Philips screws visible spaced approx 100mm apart, which complements the overall moderately industrial look of the keyboard. Those of you with a modding fetish could certainly replace them with hex socket flat or button head screws in whatever color you like.
It has what might be the best membrane key board I've ever owned; firm, yet positive detent action and while it does have a distinct tap if you are typing quickly, it is nearly silent compared to my old IBM/Lexmark keyboard.
The
backlighting isn't perfect, but it's very good considering the LEDs appear to be spaced approx 30mm apart and light-piped, instead of one under every key. I guess they had to bring the price down somehow.
It does the rainbow effect I showed you before, plus solid colors in 9 brightness levels in Red, Purple, Yellow, Cyan, White, Blue and a rich Emerald Green the pictures above just don't do justice to; it's my current fave and the mouse can be set to match everything EXCEPT White.
The brightness is plenty for typing in a home setting; however it may not be bright enough for a well-lit office or direct sunlight, even on the highest setting. It has various blinking and color-cycling lighting effects, including "breathing" and rainbow shift all with variable speed.
I find myself wanting it to do the "breathing" effect whenever the computer is in "Sleep" mode; I haven't found a setting for it, but I gotta imagine there's SOME way...
mnem
I love the smell of angry pixies in the morning! ~ me