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Ever since the Eluminx Keyboard came to
market, more manufacturers have been coming along with supposedly new and
improved versions. Cheaper, Better lighting, Extra buttons, and finally full
size. Logisys was kind enough to send along their interpretation of what the
next generation of illuminated keyboards should be. Their new Office
Keyboard has just about every perk that you could think of, and instead of
going for the small and sleek route is a fully functional full size keyboard
that is fit for cubicles everywhere. Geeks rejoice!
Packaging & Contents
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**click to enlarge** |
The
Office Keyboard got to my place in an unremarkable white box, so I’ll not
bother your bandwidth with a picture of it. The box contained the Office
Keyboard itself, a PS/2 adaptor, and a small driver CD.
**click to enlarge**
This is one loaded keyboard…no doubt about it. Not only does it have a full
sized layout of keys, but it also has more hotkeys than I think I’ve ever
seen on a keyboard. Functions range from shutting the computer down, to
cutting and pasting, to navigating the web, and even a scroll wheel on the
left side.
**click to enlarge**
Illumination is provided by an electroluminescent sheet underneath the keys.
It’s certainly not as bright as the two LED based illuminated keyboards I
have sitting around, but it certainly does the job. It’s on par with the
other two EL illuminated keyboards I’ve reviewed before from Logisys. The
Lock indicators are all green too…you’d think they’d have figured that out
by now.
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**click to enlarge** |
**click to enlarge** |
There’s not a lot to talk about underneath the keyboard, although I did spot
a few things. First, this keyboard has a permanent angle to it…if you like
your keyboards flat this may not be to your liking. The only rubber grips
are on the front feet, although they do a decent job of preventing the
keyboard from skating around on the desk. For one reason or another, the
scroll wheel is also accessible down here.
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**click to enlarge** |
**click to enlarge** |
I
found two items I didn’t like about the keyboard layout right away. First,
Logisys opted for a small backspace key, and a really large return key. I
don’t like this arrangement because to a typist, it’s better to have the
large backspace key to reduce the travel time, and makes for a bigger target
for an important key. The slash could (and often is) located under the
backspace key in the space taken up by the oversized return key. Unless
you’re really “punching” the return button with your whole fist, there’s no
reason for a key that big…it’s just overkill. The second item was the switch
to turn the EL on and off. It’s doubled up with the scroll lock key, and on
a keyboard with so many buttons it seemed to be a rather silly arrangement.
There’s already 33 extra buttons on this keyboard…what’s one more? The
problem is that I couldn’t seem to turn the illumination on or off without
also toggling the scroll lock, so there is an issue there.
Specifications
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Key Number: 133 Keys
• Input Power: 5V+/-5% 120mA
• Keyboard Cable: Extra Long 7.5 Foot Cable
• Weight: 2.9LB
• Compatibility: Compatible with Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/NT
• Safety: FCC. CE .BSMI
• Support Multi Language
• Compact Design:, User Friendly
• Perfectly for use in any Working Environment
• Customized Blue EL film lights up keys
• Full size Keyboard, Volume Control Keys
• Interface: USB & PS2
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