| Lighted Keyboard |
|
Features Overview
To get the obvious out of the way, the key feature of these products is that they illuminate. The other striking quality is that they are smaller, both in breadth and in vertical height. The change that allows the vertical height to be diminished to the extent that it is is the use of laptop-type keys, diminishing the height of the keys and the keystroke length.To be sure, neither of these keyboards are ergonomic advances; in fact, they are quite regressive in that respect. However they are significantly different from your average keyboard and will draw major attention to your 'rig,' as indicated by the dozen or so (completely non-tech) people who came by my room simply to see the 'glowing wonders.'
| Model Name: | eluminX | EL-610 |
| Manufacturer: | auravision | Zippy |
| Dimensions: (LxWxH)mm | 420 x 156 x 16 | 290 x 135.5 x 21.4 |
| Weight: | 800g | 460g |
| Cable: | 1.35m | 1.5m |
| Interface: | PS/2 | USB |
| Keystroke Life: | 10 million | 10 million |
| Key operating force: | 30 +/- 8g | 55 +/- 20g |
| Number of Keys: | 104 | 91 |
| Total Key Travel: | 4.0 +/- 0.5mm | n/a |
Subjective Analysis
Frankly, I am at a loss for the reasoning behind the redesign of the standard keyboard to the newer layout that comes standard with several major OEM's, such as Sony and which shows up on the eluminX. The benefits of the smaller keyboard size are slim, you only get about two inches (and don't most people have keyboard drawers anyway?) for a terrible layout. Sure, the basic QWERTY functionality is the same, but if you ever have to use arrow keys, or insert, delete, etc. say goodbye to the days where the placement of the keys are well placed. They are lined up along the right edge of the standard keys, in an attempt to make them quickly accessible to the right pinky finger.
The laptop-like keys make standard typing a breeze. Touch typing literally becomes that, a mere touch. I remember moving from an IBM model-M 'clicky' keyboard to a soft keyboard, with a slightly shorter stroke than the standard Dell keyboard and much quieter. I was amazed then by how much easier and faster (at least apparently, I didn't do any tests) typing became. This transformation was similar but much greater.
Unlike laptops, where the keys are smaller and the height of the base is a
signficant restraint to comfortable typing, the Eluminx is like typing on air
and is surprisingly more comfortable to type on than a standard keyboard. However,
after a week of use I was still unable to get accustomed to the moved and missing
keys. However, the reach is much too great for standard sized keys and mortal
hands, and one is still forced to lift one's hands to strike these keys, defeating
the supposed purpose of moving them closer to the main part of the keyboard.
On the other hand, if you are not as accustomed to the standard keyboard layout and enjoy the newer design, the EL-610 has small enough keys to make the insert, etc. keys accessible with a flick of the pinky. Although the EL-610 is reduced in size, it still manages to offer a few hot keys, unlike the eluminX. Granted the hotkey list isn't long, but it does have power, sleep, and light toggle buttons. The latter is particularly important. These keyboards emit a significant amount of light, and if the eluminX is connected to a computer that does not rest in a bedroom, the resident will quickly move to the couch. Zippy's foresight with the inclusion of the keyboard light toggle switch is much appreciated by those who sleep with their computers.
To compensate for the lack of a number pad, the EL-610 incorporates a function (Fn) key number pad like the ones found on many laptop keyboards. It enables the Num Lock, which turns the right side of the keyboard into a number pad, just like most laptops. For those who prefer an inclined keyboard, the EL-610 has two approximately half-inch kick stands on it.