$150 Best Buy Gift Card, and wanting a new keyboard

[Venkman]

Things I'd like to have:

• Wired connection. Wireless does nothing for me. And if it ever does I'll just pull my current Logitech MX3000 out of soon-to-be mothballs.
• Illuminated keys. If I'm going crazy, why not all the way?
• Volume control. That's about all I need in the multimedia realm.

I'll also want a good mouse since my old Intellimouse is acting up. The mouse will be wired too. But I figure I'd make that call once I get there and price out the keyboard.

I'm thinking the Saitek Cyborg:


Or the Logitech G15


I'm leaning towards the Saitek because it more heavily strokes the geek aesthetic. But I'd be swayed if the G15 (or another) has better performance or the keys feel better for typing. That G15 LCD screen doesn't really do anything for me, but I'm surrounded by semi-useless LCD screens all day so it doesn't bother me either.

Thoughts?

[Morfiend]

I have heard the performance of the Cyborg is pretty good, but I could never bring myself to put it on my desk as the "geek factor" is just way way to high.

I have the original g15 and its a nice keyboard, a little big, but very nice. The newer one you linked is a decent bit smaller I believe, really the only way to know is to go find display models and feel them both.

[stray]

For real, that thing looks pretty ridiculous.


I say buy a Yahama 61 key musical keyboard. Heh. Best Buy sells them too. Fuck spending that kind of money on a computer keyboard.

[IainC]

That Saitek beast is hideous. It looks like 1980s era Amstrad kit.

[Venkman]

Actually, I got vibes of ST:First Contact if they didn't go all MS Surface with the UI on the set in general. It kinda reminds me of a cross between ST:Enterprise and something from the type of sci-fi I used to draw as a kid. Which is why I like it. Fake retro ftw!

I say buy a Yahama 61 key musical keyboard. Heh. Best Buy sells them too. Fuck spending that kind of money on a computer keyboard.

I already have a Yamaha keyboard which I just pulled out of the basement to teach my kids to play. Still works well something like 15 years later or so.

[Salamok]

The new g15 only has 6 macro keys? 

Also, if you don't want the LCD get the g11 it is the same keyboard sans lcd.  As i've said before that LCD has way too many processes clogging up the task manager for my tastes.

I have had some pretty crappy luck with cordless keyboards but I am not sure i can ever go back to a corded mouse.

[rattran]

My housemate has that Saitek, he hates it. Hitting one key will occasionally also press the key next to it.

I tried a G15, just felt wrong to me. I have the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard. Super-thin, good response, 4 levels of illumination. Also has volume controls, and a bunch of multimedia keys that are by default function keys, with a modifier key. They're also reassignable. And most important to me, you can disable keys you want inactive (windows key, caps-lock) Only thing I'm having to adjust to is a weird ins/del/home block. Delete is double sized, and insert is where I expect print scrn to be. But it types nicely, looks good, and doesn't 'lose' keys like the Lycosa did.
Oh, and ~$70 at BestBuy.

[Venkman]

Oh I like that Logitech Illuminated thing, particularly deactivating keys. I'd very much like to evolve beyond pulling keys off the board. Because not spazzing out in a firefight is apparently beyond me.

[Salamok]

oh sweet logitech came out with an mx1100 that looks to be more like my beloved mx1000, i won't have to go with that ridiculouse mx revolution mouse that I was dreading.

[MisterNoisy]

There's also the Saitek Eclipse, Razer Lycosa and Microsoft Sidewinder in addition to the ones mentioned.  Of the lot, I really prefer the Sidewinder or G15/G11.

[JWIV]

Gah.  Screw six macro keys.   I've got an old style G15.  It is huge, but the 18 macro keys on the side are awesome for complete slacking in WoW or any other game that demands stupid push button repetition.

[Rasix]

I have a G15 and it's fine for me. I like typing on it, but I suppose I could have gotten just a regular keyboard.  I don't really get any use out of the function keys or the LCD display. I'm more of a clicker. 

I had a Lycosa for a while until my cat knocked over a glass of orange juice on it.  I did not like typing on it.  Keys felt wrong and set too low against the keyboard.

[Venkman]

So I ended up with the Razer Lycosa (and a DeathAdder). The Saitek style I liked but the quality didn't look right (bad masking on the oversprays). Also, the tapering of the keys made the keyboard feel smaller to my hand for some reason. The Lycosa meanwhile has the sort of bells & whistles I like (ie, minimal), and the no-skid rubberized keys are fantastic. That'll probably rub off in time but eh, I'll love it until then. The only thing I'm missing is the ability to color the WASD keys independently of the other keys, but I suspect they'll patch that ability in at some point if they think they need to. Won't be able to change the color, but those keys are independently controlled (you can turn off all lights except those four) which means the software can at least control the luminosity.

The mouse I'm still getting used to. Same rubberized coating which I like, plus the same minimalist buttons (and I already turned off the two ones by the thumb). The thing is freakin sensitive though (well duh, better be) and I'm really not used to that at all. I'm used to gaming with whatever is kicking around one of five wires-and-shit boxes. Firing up COD4 to see just what kinda difference that makes.

[Big Gulp]

I just ordered this keyboard and this mouse.

I wanted programmability with a certain amount of understated blue glowy bling.  This ought to fit the bill.

[SnakeCharmer]

I'm currently using the 6 button G15 after my older model met the unfortunate demise at the hands of a 1 1/2 year old with juice and animal crackers after stealthing into my office.  I like it, but not in love with it.  Only reason I bought the original one was for the illuminated keys.  To this day, I think the only thing I've used the LCD screen for is using it to keep up with vent/teamspeak.  And I've used the macro keys for one game (weapon hotswitching in AoC).  I also have the DeathAdder which is a sweet sweet piece of machinery.  Took some getting used to.  Ended up buying one for use at the office because I liked it so much (and the fact I was just using a smallish wireless mouse to travel with my laptop).

[schild]

The last keyboard you'll ever need. Anything else is superfluous and prone to breaking.

[ahoythematey]

Mmmmm, model-M.  I should grab a couple my dad has stored away, it would be nice to go back to the old clickety click and always-working keys.

[schild]

Mmmmm, model-M.  I should grab a couple my dad has stored away, it would be nice to go back to the old clickety click and always-working keys.

Grab me one too, mine's getting pretty worn down, kthx.

[Salamok]

The last keyboard you'll ever need. Anything else is superfluous and prone to breaking.

Grab me one too, mine's getting pretty worn down, kthx.

 

[schild]

The last keyboard you'll ever need. Anything else is superfluous and prone to breaking.

Grab me one too, mine's getting pretty worn down, kthx.

 

I uhmmm, eat food over mind. The keyboard itself is fine. By worn down I mean environmental hazard.

[Strazos]

What do you do now that most MBs don't have the legacy ps/2 ports? Do they make ps/2 to USB dongles?

[Big Gulp]

What do you do now that most MBs don't have the legacy ps/2 ports? Do they make ps/2 to USB dongles?

Yep.

[Merusk]

What do you do now that most MBs don't have the legacy ps/2 ports? Do they make ps/2 to USB dongles?

Yes.


Beaten by Gulp.  Dammit Gulp, if you're going to do his googling for him show him the expensive ones, not useful ones.

[squirrel]

If you don't go for the IBM (which *are* awesome) I've had a good experience with my G15. The macro keys are kinda meh for me, but the LCD is surprisingly useful and the keys feel good, although a little smaller than my last keyboard which took some adjusting.

[Rasix]

Good call on the DeathAdder.  I love mine.  It helped a lot in TF2, although anything would have been an upgrade from my shitty wireless mouse.

[stu]

If you're looking for a Saitek that isn't quite as bold as those in the OP, this is the one I use: Saitek Eclipse II

[rattran]

I had a problem with my Lycosa in having keys just 'turn off' occasionally, requiring replugging the usb cable. Fucking annoying after a while, as it tended to happen at times of frantic hitting of many keys, like in pvp, or TF2. It seems like the Tarantula and Lycosa are both prone to it. And the rubbery stuff does wear off after a while, and the non-skid hold fingerprints and cat hair like there's no tomorrow.

And, Fuck old IBM click-clack keyboards. I didn't like them back when they were state of the art. Like trying to use a typewriter.

[ahoythematey]

You must be operating under the assumption that they still aren't state of the art.  Model-M keyboards are the eden of keyboards before somebody ate the apple and fucked it up for the rest of us.

[apocrypha]

I've got a G15 anad an Eclipse II. The G15 is great, especially the LCD pop-up thing, particularly useful for using Ventrillo at the same time as gaming (EVE in particular). However the paint is starting to wear off on the commonly used keys (WASD etc) after about a year, which is very annoying.

The Eclipse II is *vastly* inferior to the G15 in terms of feel & build quality. It's shit frankly.

[Strazos]

What do you do now that most MBs don't have the legacy ps/2 ports? Do they make ps/2 to USB dongles?

Yes.


Beaten by Gulp.  Dammit Gulp, if you're going to do his googling for him show him the expensive ones, not useful ones.

Heh, I actually use USB to PS/2 for my stuff. My USB ports like to act up sometimes, while I don't normally have a problem with my PS2 ports.

[Venkman]

I had a problem with my Lycosa in having keys just 'turn off' occasionally, requiring replugging the usb cable. Fucking annoying after a while, as it tended to happen at times of frantic hitting of many keys, like in pvp, or TF2. It seems like the Tarantula and Lycosa are both prone to it.

Good to know. Dumb question though: you sure in your frenzy you didn't hit some macro to turn off all the lights, or that instead of hitting the "-" key on the numpad you hit the * (light mode) button on that pseudo-touchscreen area? I want to know what I need to turn off so I don't do the same.

Yea, and nothing to be done about the rubber overcoat. I suppose you could replace the affected keys, but that'd require buying a new keyboard to pull them from anyway.

[Lantyssa]

I have a bunch of Dell keyboards that are modeled on the IBM stashed.  The awesome thing is I haven't had to break any of them out as my Acer branded one from the '90s still works fine.

[schild]

I have a bunch of Dell keyboards that are modeled on the IBM stashed.  The awesome thing is I haven't had to break any of them out as my Acer branded one from the '90s still works fine.

Can I politely ask what "a bunch" means? And do you know what color the dell labeling is? Or is it the black ones they used before moving to membranes and cherry switches? Also, are they the later models modeled after the new IBM design or the proper buckling springs?

[Venkman]

Good call on the DeathAdder.  I love mine.  It helped a lot in TF2, although anything would have been an upgrade from my shitty wireless mouse.

I'm not sure how much it's because I went from wireless to wired vs the DPI of the sensor, but damned if every single game I played last night didn't move a lot smoother with a lot more nuance in the control. Particularly COD4, but even WoW and Fallout 3 felt like I had much finer control. It's going to suck when these break, but that'll be next year's gift card purchase probably

[Salamok]

I have a bunch of Dell keyboards that are modeled on the IBM stashed.  The awesome thing is I haven't had to break any of them out as my Acer branded one from the '90s still works fine.

Can I politely ask what "a bunch" means? And do you know what color the dell labeling is? Or is it the black ones they used before moving to membranes and cherry switches? Also, are they the later models modeled after the new IBM design or the proper buckling springs?

I actually thought the Dell ones were better than the model M.  You almost had my stash but i was unaware of your fetish until it was about 2 weeks too late.