We get pretty tired of keyboards that don't completely rule. The Eclipse III from Saitek probably isn't one of them -- it's backlit, after all, and that backlighting is totally multi-color, which is pretty important. At least to us. If that wasn't enough, this USB plug and play beast boasts a "two stage height" adjustor system, keys which are "laser-etched," headphone and microphone audio ports -- oh! and "time-saving Windows and internet shortcut keys." We have yet to see any indication of price, nor do we know when it will drop. Can we make a suggestion? ASAP would be for the best.
Update: It appears to be available for pre-order on Amazon for $79.99, and claims to be shipping within 2-5 weeks.
[Thanks, Calvin]
posted November 4th 2008 11:23PM
It looks pretty slick... and expensive too.
It looks over-sized and there's no mention of Full n-key rollover functionality.
I'm telling you, the first company to release a USB keyboard that looks exactly like the Dell Slimline keyboard but has backlit keys and most importantly Full n-key rollover functionality will become a very fast growing company indeed.
P.S. Congrats to Obama. \m/
CHANGE JUST CAME TO WASHINGTON.
Forget this keyboard bitches!!! bc OBAMA is here......yea BABY!
Yeah - As much as I love the back lit keyboard, and the great functionality, $20 or so has remained my limit for quite a while. Money just seems better spent on say, increasing my ram than buying a keyboard with non-esential functiosn.
and E71, I voted you up just for the mention of obama.
I love my saitek, it is simple and only has the keys that are utterly necessary - why they are putting out the same bulky junk everyone else has out i do not know...
I own the eclipse and eclipse II versions. They are great keyboards for gaming. My only gripe is that the feet on the eclipse II break very easily. Thank god for newegg rma.
I feel like this is a major step back as far as design is concerned. It's pretty ugly.
Anyone have any comment on how the macro/key assigning software works with the Saitek keyboards? I'm at the end of my rope with my Ideazon Z-Board. Great keyboard, ridiculously horrible software. The keyboard is just one part of the equation when it comes to a good gaming keyboard.
Just saw the update with the price. 80 dollars for a keyboard? Hell no. HELL no.
I prefer watching USS Enterprise on DVD
Ive had the Logitech G15 for 3 years, back lit (blue is all that matters) and through grueling gaming including 2 years of WoW play as well as 100s of hours HL:S. and it still blows this out of the water. Let me know where there's a real keyboard innovation
I Have a logitec G15 also, but its the newer/orange one.
I'm actually a little jealous of my friend's eclipse II, and it's purple setting.
The post is worded a little awkwardly, it makes me think they're going to announce a price drop right after announcing it's pricing.
I also have a G15, the blue back lit. This baby went thru a lot, and still kicking, and i have to say that i am addicted to the macro keys.
I had a G15 until I spilled water over it and half the keys short-circuited. Now I can't find one for the life of me, let me know when Logitech comes to their senses and starts making rev. 1 again which was better IMHO.
wooh! G15 club!
I have had the Rev 1 for 2 years now, best keyboard ever!
The Eclipse series are very nice keyboards, but you wont get me to surrender my G15 :p
Another G15 (rev 1) user here. The Rev 2 sucks. I so would love to see a Rev 1, with a newer, better LCD screen! My GF is using my old Saitek gaming keyboard (MK 1) and it is ok, but she would also love to get a G15 rev 1. I think logitech really screwed the pooch with their innovation, there.
Anything decker owns is the best. lol. (Have you even tried this keyboard?)
I like.
Congrats to obama and good luck for the future.
What an odd post..
Explain
Because an extremely important milestone in Americas - and the worlds - history just happened, and Engadget is blogging about a backlit keyboard...
@Greg
Uh, this is a tech blog. Are you saying they shouldn't be blogging about technology?
and who cares about us president, anyway ?
@o29
Nah, I just thought they'd be more preocupied with current events at that time, especially because most of the Engadget writers are located in the U.S., and the rest of the posts were election-centric anyways (albeit about election technology aka Wolf Blitzers hologram interviews)
keyboards are ghey
Then what do you use to type?
I just realised that now Obama has won Oprah Winfrey is going to be all over the British TV. I can stand her , she drives up the frigging wall. It's a good time to have engadget and gizmodo to deter me from seeing her fat arse on tv. Thank god for the internet.
I prefer typing by torchlight
like on the thinkpad
Obama 2008-Fo-EVA.
Wow, that is one ugly keyboard.
Yep, very nice. I hope this one will be as good as the eclipse II. I love that thing! I'll picking one up for myself if it's not too expensive and the reviews are good.
+1 Saitek.
OBAMA OBAMA!!!!!
First of all... I HATE THE COLOR BLUE
Second ... I already have a G15 Second Gen
Third... I hate Only having one Color Option
Four... I hate paying
"that backlighting is totally multi-color"
Read, my friend. I hear it helps sometimes.
let me know when there is an ergonomic version :(
my wrists will thank you
and fail came to flashpoint.
My only complaint about the first-version of the Logitech G15 was that the blue backlit keys are HARDER to see than a non-backlit keyboard...even in the dark!
Politics and Technology don't mix.
Obviously. Thats why those voting machines don't work.
ive got a saitek keyboard and i just love it. I pound the hell out of my keys and they really stand up to a beating, and the different backlighting options are pretty cool. Mine was only like 50 bucks too, it was bought with giftcards so it was kind of like free for me.
ENGADGET IS NOT THE PLACE FOR POLITICS.
Do not say Obama, McCain, election or White House. Here is not the place. Go somewhere else if you want to mention politics.
That said, looks to be a nice keyboard, though I hardly see how it qualifies for a dream, given the lack of macro keys. Once you get used to using them, they do save a lot of time. I can't imagine my G11 without my macros.
The 6 keys you seen on either side are macro keys.
ENGADGET IS NOT THE PLACE FOR POLITICS.
Do not say Obama, McCain, election or White House. Here is not the place. Go somewhere else if you want to mention politics.
Funny because you just mentioned all those things.
Low rank me if you want (low ranks have never bothered me) but its true.
LET'S ARGUE ABOUT THIS
Yes! Finally something worthy of replacing my aging Eclipse I; I hope it won't turn out to be too expensive.
Disclaimer: I am by no means saying the Eclipse II is bad, I've seen it and it is quite awesome, but I didn't feel like paying that much for a keyboard again. This old Eclipse I is pretty battered though, so I'll probably get this Eclipse III when it comes out if it's not too expensive and has good reviews.
I heartily agree. I've been using my Eclipse 1 for over two years now, and it has served me well, however, the only new thing in the Eclipse II is the different colors, the keys and everything else is almost the exact same. This is a real "revolution" in a series of products. Apple should learn something from them.
Last time I checked, Obama was not a gadget, unless there is something that I missed.
Au contraire! There's always this: http://obama.livegadgets.net/
He's a Vista Sidebar Gadget, in point of fact!
(yes, har har... and yeah, that Eclipse III looks pretty nifty in a decidedly ST:TNG kinda way)
Obama is not really a gadget so much as he is a tool.