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]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
)ROFL( @ Nov 4th 2008 11:26PM
It looks pretty slick... and expensive too.
E71 @ Nov 4th 2008 11:47PM
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/
Flashpoint @ Nov 4th 2008 11:50PM
CHANGE JUST CAME TO WASHINGTON.
john @ Nov 5th 2008 12:28AM
Forget this keyboard bitches!!! bc OBAMA is here......yea BABY!
Matthew C @ Nov 5th 2008 12:30AM
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.
Josh @ Nov 5th 2008 1:44AM
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...
OneLove @ Nov 5th 2008 11:52AM
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.
BananaBoat @ Nov 5th 2008 7:54PM
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.
BananaBoat @ Nov 5th 2008 7:55PM
Just saw the update with the price. 80 dollars for a keyboard? Hell no. HELL no.
marty k. @ Nov 4th 2008 11:27PM
I prefer watching USS Enterprise on DVD
Decker @ Nov 4th 2008 11:31PM
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
Giroro @ Nov 4th 2008 11:40PM
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.
lman @ Nov 5th 2008 12:15AM
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.
wickedpheonix @ Nov 5th 2008 3:06AM
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.
Jack @ Nov 5th 2008 5:23AM
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
Rifter @ Nov 5th 2008 10:53AM
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.
OneLove @ Nov 5th 2008 11:54AM
Anything decker owns is the best. lol. (Have you even tried this keyboard?)
Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 4th 2008 11:36PM
I like.
Congrats to obama and good luck for the future.
killermojo @ Nov 4th 2008 11:36PM
What an odd post..
Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 4th 2008 11:45PM
Explain
Greg @ Nov 4th 2008 11:57PM
Because an extremely important milestone in Americas - and the worlds - history just happened, and Engadget is blogging about a backlit keyboard...
o29 @ Nov 5th 2008 1:02AM
@Greg
Uh, this is a tech blog. Are you saying they shouldn't be blogging about technology?
marty k. @ Nov 5th 2008 5:19AM
and who cares about us president, anyway ?
Greg @ Nov 5th 2008 6:23PM
@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)
Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 4th 2008 11:51PM
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.
Jhongerkong @ Nov 4th 2008 11:57PM
I prefer typing by torchlight
IK @ Nov 5th 2008 4:59AM
like on the thinkpad
2fast4u2fast4u @ Nov 4th 2008 11:58PM
Obama 2008-Fo-EVA.
m4xn00b @ Nov 5th 2008 12:06AM
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.
wallace @ Nov 5th 2008 12:11AM
OBAMA OBAMA!!!!!
Temo @ Nov 5th 2008 12:14AM
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
Jon Nelson @ Nov 5th 2008 3:34AM
"that backlighting is totally multi-color"
Read, my friend. I hear it helps sometimes.
Misuzu Kamio @ Nov 5th 2008 12:14AM
let me know when there is an ergonomic version :(
my wrists will thank you
Jinto @ Nov 5th 2008 12:14AM
and fail came to flashpoint.
J. Evans Turner @ Nov 5th 2008 12:15AM
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!
Alexei @ Nov 5th 2008 12:20AM
Politics and Technology don't mix.
Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 5th 2008 12:29AM
Obviously. Thats why those voting machines don't work.
Familyguyrokz @ Nov 5th 2008 12:20AM
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.
Sindo @ Nov 5th 2008 12:27AM
The 6 keys you seen on either side are macro keys.
Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 5th 2008 12:34AM
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.
puhsitch @ Nov 5th 2008 1:40AM
LET'S ARGUE ABOUT THIS
RookSeven @ Nov 5th 2008 12:24AM
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.
vvtopkar @ Nov 5th 2008 1:46AM
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.
jbcaro @ Nov 5th 2008 12:28AM
Last time I checked, Obama was not a gadget, unless there is something that I missed.
James D @ Nov 5th 2008 2:15AM
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)
Christian Ritchie @ Nov 5th 2008 7:23AM
Obama is not really a gadget so much as he is a tool.
Ohjeez99 @ Nov 5th 2008 12:33AM
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.
Hunter Hastings @ Nov 5th 2008 12:42AM
I have the Eclipse II and like it for some reasons, and not for others... It's kind of bulky, and I'm on my 2nd (first one randomly stopped working random keys on random days). Also it gets clogged up easily, VERY easily - I can't even tell you how much dried monster & crumbs I have under those keys... Yet again, it's kinda fun to take it all apart. I'll surely invest in the III, as long as it's still quiet.
kjdo @ Nov 5th 2008 12:58AM
Don't be too fast to jump for this Saitek Cheeze ball keyboard just for the backlight.
I just bought the new Logitech Illuminated Keyboard and it is hands down the best keyboard I have ever used. Laptop style key action. Wired for serious gaming, and good looking too.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/4740&cl=us,en
I think it blows the Saitek away in every regard. Unless you have a thing for cheap and cheezy looking star trek computer hardware.
DWells55 @ Nov 5th 2008 3:02AM
How much did Logitech pay you for that post?
Don't bash a product you haven't used and isn't even out yet. I have a Saitek Eclipse and I love the thing. Not only does it look nice, but it's actually nice to type on in terms of noise and key responsiveness, something many other manufacturers seem to be forgetting about. One of the best $30 electronics I've ever purchased.