Evergreen's Colorful Keyboard

Evergreen has released the "Colorful Keyboard" in Japan for around $45 USD. We don't really need to explain why they call it that, but we're already liking its design, given the keys sort of look like Lego blocks. And you probably already know about our relationship with Lego. The keyboard does away with dedicated function keys, the number pad, and the outcast Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break keys. Does anyone out there even like a split spacebar? Don't answer, we know there's someone who does.

[delerious @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

If anyone has had a broken space bar, it's a bitch to use. A split space bar is a great idea.
See, my brother started spazz'n out on my keyboard for some reason that I will never know and the left side broke off of of the left switch. Now I can only hit it with my right thumb on the right side.
It's a bitch when playing FPS's.

[Eagle117 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

That seems like it would be really weird to type on since all the keys are lined up and not in the usual places.

Plus I use Print Screen all the time for work and the Break key for diagnosing bootup issues.

[DJ @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

My feeling is that they are targeting younger people / kids with this.

In my opinion it is ugly and lacks important keys. And like #2 said - it would be hard to type on since all the keys are lined up.

[reign @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

A buddy of mine used to have a keyboard with a split space bar except that the right half of the spacebar was a backspace key. Talk about a bitch to type on.

[NekoTsukimi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

Yep, it's totally designed with children in mind (they say it themselves). The only way I'd buy that is if they slapped Hello Kitty on it.

[Kris @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

If you read the Japanese this keyboard is aimed at the young and elderly. The keys are lined up and larger than normal in order to make them easier to hit and are not necessarily targeting an audience that knows how to type properly (hence the color coding. which also assists in JP input). They also stand up higher off of the keyboard and have been given a "mechanical" feel, so that they have a pronounced click when pressed.

They say the other (seldom used...?) keys were removed to reduce confusion. Also, it does have a print screen key. Reference the pic..
http://image.rakuten.co.jp/donya/cabinet/45728-2.jpg

[Thomas @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

Is it just me or does it look sort of like a periodic table?

[Spyvie @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

The �mechanical feel� might be a problem, likewise the lack of function keys, but the lined up W A S D keys might work great for FPSs

I want a high-end, full function colorful keyboard for adults

[SoopahMan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

It would actually be bad to make this for kids, since they'd experience no trouble with the strange key alignment, then learn how to type on this thing, get out into the real world and ask if they can use their Pre-Skool keyboard at work. Denying them an opportunity to learn an important skill by accident, if you ask me.

[HaDAk @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

split spacebar isn't a bad idea, except i tend to hit mine in the exact center. the lined up keys? comon, if it's designed for kids...what kid knows how to touch type?

[vieng @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

i hace ine pf rhese ketbiards abd tgey syxk.

[boohoo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

God, why would you folks that want to complain about this product that isn't even targeted at you even waste a key stroke to complain in a commment?
This is actually an awsome product for the target user. I am hopeing you can order extra keys though that just have the letter on it, instead of the extras, making it easier for people with site limitations to use.
Going to have to google it and see if any american companies are carrying it.

[Qubit @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

It looks like a great keyboard for a child's first computer, as long as they don't try to eat the keys. As for the layout, I can adapt quickly to most keyboards; I own a English and Japanese layout keyboard. Too bad I make use of Print Screen, Scroll Lock, Pause/Break, F#, num pad, etc...

Plus, the colors make me hungry >_<

[pucklermuskau @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

i look at this and jump with joy at the thought of using this as an input device for triggering musical samples. Pre colour coded, highly visible buttons? Sounds great for a live gig somewhere...

[hobgoblin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:28AM]

hmm, it kinda reminds me of how keys used to be color coded on older computers. like say black for the letters and number. green for the function keys and red for the esc key :P