Good backlit keyboard?

[Prisoner416]

It would be great if I could actually test these switches...

 

[Cut Chem!st]

The backlit blackwidow is however worth it because the ink wears off on the keys like crazy on the normal so if you look at your keys then that's important. The backlit one shouldn't have that problem, so yeah. Blue's are kinda loud so if you don't like them then use browns. Blue's are the best generally for typing, black is good for gaming (though I wouldn't recommend them) and brown are good for gaming if you want something to press easy and quickly.

Mechanical keyboards are high quality, the printing on the keys is different than normal cheap keyboards. This printing won't wipe off, its embedded in the key.

 

[Ducttape]

Have you looked at the Microsoft Sidewinder X4? It's a much more non-gamer-centric version of their X6, small footprint, back-lighting is red (not blue), typical media control keys along the top, and anti-ghosting is this keyboards specialty.

$52 on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109191&Tpk=X4

 

[Prisoner416]

I'm going to pull apart the Saitek Eclipse later. I'm sure it's a short related to the backlight, because the keyboard is fine when it's off. With it on, the keys go insane.

 

[Ph?bus]

Mechanical keyboards are high quality, the printing on the keys is different than normal cheap keyboards. This printing won't wipe off, its embedded in the key.

Actually, it depends on who makes the keyboard. My keys are starting to wear, sadly. I think I'll eventually get a Real Force board, as I've heard Topre switches are the best.

Have you looked at the Microsoft Sidewinder X4? It's a much more non-gamer-centric version of their X6, small footprint, back-lighting is red (not blue), typical media control keys along the top, and anti-ghosting is this keyboards specialty.

$52 on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109191&Tpk=X4

Not mechanical. :thumbdown:




@Prisoner:
The only drawback of a mechanical keyboard is that usually you can't try one out until you've already purchased one. But most of the companies have pretty good return policies, so if you don't like it you can sell it and try a different switch.

I think a good switch to start on is either Blue or Brown, as the actuation for both are 50g and 45g respectively. That means it only takes 50/45g of force for the keystroke to register, and it takes ~70g for the key to bottom out (which is the loudest part of pressing the key). Blacks are said to be good for gaming, but the actuation is something like 60g, and has linear action, so it is 60g the whole time. If you're not used to them, your fingers will hurt after using it for a long period of time.

Another drawback is of course the price, and the lack of cheap(ish) backlit keyboards. But the price can be justified that you won't have to replace the keyboard for a good long while. Until XArmor, Deck had the only mechanical backlit keyboards, and while they may be nice keyboards, the font on the keys and the branding on the spacebar make it very unattractive in my opinion.

tl;dr Go for Blue/Black, if you don't like it don't give up hope, and try a different keyboard.