As
a review website, we have quite a bit of hardware go through our
hands for examination. Motherboards are common, as are graphics
cards. Cases and Cooling are usual items as well. But one item
that rarely shows up is the keyboard.
A
few weeks ago I had the pleasure of reviewing the Flexiglow
FX GamePad which I found to be of high quality, so I instantly
jumped at the chance to check out another Flexiglow product in
that hopes that this quality would follow their entire lineup.
Like their FX GamePad, the FlexiGlow
Illuminated Multimedia keyboard brings illumination to the
original design premise but this will be for naught if the keyboard
itself can't function in its primary purpose.
Features
Translucent
keys
Electro-Luminescent lighting panel that illuminates the translucent
keyboard keys.
PS/2 Interface
Key numbers 105/106
18 Multimedia keys
Soft tactile feedback
Luminescence power switch: On/Off
Compatible with all Windows operating systems
Specifications
Input
power - 5V +/- 5% 250mA.
Keyboard cable - 180cm long.
Keyboard Weight - 570 grams
Keyboard dimensions - 150(L) x 390(W) x 30(H) mm
EL life span - 60 000 hours
Fully compatible with Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/NT.
FCC and CE compliant.
The
box for the FlexiGlow Illuminated Keyboard is a simple and to
the point, photo quality image affair. On the front you have
the company logo, the item name and of course a picture of what
you are getting. Speaking of what you are getting, I received
the black version but a white version is available if you prefer.
The rear of the box shows off the specifications and other pertinent
information.
Inside
the box you instantly see the keyboard inside its clear plastic
bag. Below the keyboard itself you find the only extras included;
a driver disk for the multimedia buttons and a single sided
instruction sheet. If we were the kind of site to use a points
based system to judge items, I'd have to knock this keyboard
down a few for supplying the drivers on a floppy. I personally
don't use a floppy drive, and infact it's been almost a year
since I bothered installing one.
These
days a CD-ROM, whilst perhaps a waste of digital space, wouldn't
have cost much more and would be a better option. The other
thing that bothered me was that I had to use the floppy as I
couldn't find an online download location. Easily corrected
and not so much a flaw as a personal irritation I know others
will share.
The
keyboard itself gives a nice quality feel to its construction,
which is always a good first impression. The keys of the FlexiGlow
Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard are translucent to allow the
blue EL mat below them to provide a pastel blue glow to the
keyboard.
Keyboard
layout is for the most part standard, and although reminiscent
of a laptop keyboard there are a few differences. To the right
of the main keys we find keys such as the PGUP and HOME, which
are usually found in a separate group just before the keypad.
Having these keys as part of the main key interface obviously
saves room, but I personally found it very difficult to get
to grips with touch typing (yes call me a woman but I touch
type).
The
main problems for me personally were the backspace key and the
enter key. On a standard keyboard one expects the backspace
key to be in the top right but on this keyboard it's the WAKE
UP key. The Enter key is usually a large L shaped key and again
at the edge of the interface, but on this keyboard I often found
myself hitting PGUP or PGDN. I have to admit that is a probably
a subjective thing, some folks will get used to it and others
won't, but I can't help but feel that if the keyboard layout
was standard I would have had a better time with it. Perhaps
those extra keys could be migrated to around the less often
used keypad?
The
multimedia functions are found across the top of the keyboard
and are split into 2 groups. On the left we have (from left
to right) - Internet Home, Email, Back, Forward, Search, Refresh,
Favorites, Stop, Webcam/Mediaplayer.
On
the right we find - Vol Up, Vol Down, Mute, Stop, Rewind, Play,
Fast forward, My Computer, Sleep. One thing you expect to be
missing on light up items is of course the On/Off button for
the light, but just right of the previous multimedia keys is
a push button switch.
With
its black plastic surround base, white translucent keys and
EL Blue light mat for that pastel blue glow, I was surprised
to see simple green LED's for the Lock indicators (Num Lock,
Scroll Lock, Caps Lock). The rear of the keyboard is shaped
with a curving lift to the rear to elevate the back of the keyboard
in the same manner as a regular keyboard would use the pull
out feet. I personally don't know anyone who types on a keyboard
without the feet being used, but I guess that since they are
still included on so many keyboards some folks must use them
flat. The FlexiGlow keyboard removes this choice and gives you
the elevated feel only.
The
feel of the keys is very nice. It's almost the same as using a
laptop keyboard (which this is obviously designed from) but I
thought the keys were a little larger. Not having a laptop to
compare I can't say that for sure and it could be just an impression,
but either way I found the key spacing and layout to be just right
in comparison with standard keyboards. Key travel is minimal and
the overall effect in use is a keyboard that is pleasant to the
touch and extremely quiet. The only true downside is the adjustment
period due to the nonstandard key layout for the non-alphanumeric
keys.
Final
Words
To
say that the FlexiGlow
Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard is perfect would be a lie
as it isn't without its issues, many subjective. It is however
of a very high quality and very pleasing to hold and look upon.
In use the standard layout only extends to the alphanumeric keys;
the extras you would normally find grouped separately are integrated
as part of the main key interface which can be very confusing.
Subjective as that may be it is certainly something to be well
aware of before buying. Key travel is minimal and very much akin
with a laptop
The
Multimedia functions work as stated, with each performing as it
should for standard windows programs although I had no luck with
Mozilla over Internet Explorer.
The
blue EL glow is a very pleasant pastel blue that doesn't "get
in your eyes" but lights up in the dark just enough to be
able to type or game easily from without distraction. You can
also turn the EL Glow on and off which is an obvious must but
something I've come to expect manufacturers to overlook; FlexiGlow
didn't.
I
think the most surprising thing and one I really didn't expect
is the fact that this keyboard is a PS/2 keyboard. I really thought,
and would have personally preferred it to be, a USB keyboard.
I'm also not a fan of floppy disks for supplying drivers. These
are all minor gripes really, but they do however all add up. Its
not to say that this is a bad keyboard, because that would be
far from the truth, there are just differences from standard you
should be aware and accept before buying.
Knowing
that FlexiGlow
are quick to improve their products, it wouldn't surprise me to
find that this keyboard has already been updated, but as it stands
as long as you are aware of the differences and are looking for
a blue EL keyboard this one should do you fine. What I would like
to see from FlexiGlow is a natural shaped EL keyboard.
With their construction quality and the fact they update their
products in response to feedback, I think they could do a good
job of it.
Pros:
Lovely pastel blue EL glow, Light feel to the keys, Multimedia
functions, On/off for EL light, Quality construction, All keys
accounted for - No missing keys to cut corners, Not USB?
Cons:
Non standard key layout for non-alphanumeric keys, Touch typists
will need an adjustment period, No retractable feet, Floppy disk
for drivers and no online download location, Not USB?
Bottom
Line: As long as you understand the keyboard layout differences
and are prepared for a slight adjustment period, this EL keyboard
should serve you well.
Questions
and Comments can be voiced in our Forums.
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