Virtual-Hideout.Net | Reviews | Saitek Eclipse Illuminated Keyboard Review

Saitek Eclipse Illuminated Keyboard Review

Date Published:
05-17-2005

Written By:
Joel Hughey

Sponsored By:
Saitek

Discuss Article:
VH Forum link

Pages: 1 2 3

Commentary:

        The Eclipse is an excellent product - one of the cleanest keyboards I've seen with looks, functionality, and simple extras to boot. Instead of trying to re-invent the keyboard Saitek obviously focused on providing a very utilitarian product. The Eclipse has an absolutely unbeatable price point which only sweetens the deal. The key response of the unit is very nice - obviously impossible to describe but as an experienced skilled typist I found it quite comfortable.

        In future models, I would hope to see a split ergonomic "wave" design. Personally, I only use Microsoft Natural Elite keyboards because they are a comfortable, ergonomically designed, functional keyboard. Unfortunately, they are not available in black and are lately getting hard to find at all. Wrist and muscular injuries are a brutal reality for those who type for long periods, and ergonomic usability features are no longer a perk; they are a necessity. Saitek is targeting moderate to advanced computer consumers with their products and should provide features best suited to those individuals. Lastly, I recommend improving the lighting to be more consistent. Saitek would undoubtedly bring a revolutionary innovative product to market in the next generation of this product line and I cannot wait to see what Saitek does with their obvious knack for engineering and elegance.

     Too many keyboard manufacturers have tried to re-invent the keyboard and add half-baked features to them instead of actually improving upon a traditional but valuable concept. I am all in favor of innovation and improvements - but I just think the keyboard sector of the industry is highly un-responsive to consumer requests. Perhaps I am just in the minority of people who does not launch every application known to man through special buttons, control my music playback and play list selections, and shut down my computer all via specialty keys. Some of these add-on features are quite useful - for example I would love to see a convenient scroll wheel or touchpad on the left side of more keyboards.

Even better, I'd like a model with a Dvorak layout which for those of you who don't know, is an alternative key layout which is arguably the most efficient known design. The QWERTY layout, which you are most likely familiar with, is actually the most inefficient layout contrived during the days of mechanical typewriters to purposefully slow the operators and avoid jams and breaks of the mechanical components.

If you want an attractive stable keyboard with a standard design - lights or no - go get a Saitek Eclipse today at CrazyPC! You will not be disappointed.

Editors Note:

I recently received an email from a reader by the name of Mark Parrish stating that he had some issues with this Saitek Eclipse Keyboard while connected to a KVM switch. After reading said email from Mark, I thought it was very interesting and knew it needed to be shared with our readers.

So here is the email in it's entirety:

Dear Virtual-Hideout:

Recently I purchased the Saitek Eclipse keyboard Joel Hughey nicely reviewed on May 17, 2005: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/saitek_eclipse/index.shtml

I *loved* the illumination of each key (although - as Mr. Hughey said - the "view" of each key wasn't very consistent: "Is that the comma or the period?"- but a very, very, minor irritant ). The keyboard has a very nice feel (yet the keys seem somewhat smallish). Overall, a high quality product. A "10". :-)

But...my *main* concern which ultimately led me to return the Eclipse was that it was not recognized in use as the Master Keyboard with USB KVM switches.

I tried many brands (all 2-Port USB 2.0, except one 4-Port), and plugged the Eclipse into the switcher(s). It was not recognized by either port (computer) using the switcher(s).

The primary symptom was the "Num Lock" light would not illuminate, and there would be no response from any keypresses or light-dimming buttons. Hot-Key Switching - out of the question. However, the light under the keys would glow, but rather faintly.

I have various USB optical and fancy lighted mice, and there has never been a problem with KVM switchers and optical/illuminated USB mice I have used.

Also proven to be true when using three other manufacturers' USB keyboards on all of the switchers tested (see below), all three USB keyboards were recognized, and performed as good Master Keyboard/Controllers should.

Some of the switchers I tested the Eclipse on:

Aten 2-Port USB
- Model# CS-1732A

Belkin 2-Port USB KVM w/Audio Support and Built-In Cables
- Model #: F1DL102U

Belkin OmniView SOHO 2-Port USB KVM Switch w/Audio Support
- Model #: F1DS102U

Belkin OmniView SOHO 2-Port PS2/USB KVM Switch w/Audio Support
- Model #: F1DS102T

Belkin OmniView SOHO 2-Port USB Dual Head (two monitors) KVM Switch w/Audio Support -Model #: F1DH102U

IOGEAR MiniView Extreme USB 2-Port PS2/USB KVM Switch KVM Switch with Audio Support - Model #: GCS1732

IOGEAR MiniView III USB 2-Port USB KVM Switch with peripheral sharing & OSD
-Model #: GCS1712

Raritan SwitchMan 2-Port USB KVM Switch w/Audio Support
- Model# SW2-USB

Tripp Lite *4*-Port USB KVM Switch
- Model# B006-004-R (the only 4-Port KVM I tested with the Eclipse)

There were two other USB KVM switchers I tried using with the Eclipse - a Fijitsu and a KeySonic but borrowed those and do not have the Model numbers. They were basically the same as the above - 2-Port USB KVMs with Audio Support.

I called Saitek, and there are currently no patches, downloads, or flash firmware upgrade plans for this product. I also called a few of the switch manufacturers listed above, and a couple of them mentioned something about, "It's the keyboard, not our switcher. Maybe something can be done in BIOS."

Please bear in mind the Eclipse worked flawlessly when plugged directly into my circa 1999 Compaq P350, Windows 98, USB 1.0 input and equally as well when plugged directly into my new(est) computer; a Windows XP Intel Pentium 4 3.4 GHz with USB 2.0.

Thank you for listening, and maybe someone can offer me some help (or perhaps being of use to others). I really love the Eclipse - I almost cried when I returned it - but if I cannot use it with switchers, it is of no use to me.

A copy of this email is being sent to Saitek. They were very nice on the phone, but had no technical explanation for the failure of the Eclipse when used with KVMs or other switching devices when it is used as the Master keyboard controller.

Sincerely,
Mark Parrish

I'd like to thank Mark for sharing his experience with the Saitek Eclipse Keyboard with me, and also allowing me to share that knowledge with our readers. This is certainly something to be aware of if you're thinking about using this keyboard with a KVM switch and could save somebody a ton of headaches.

Update: 6/26/05

Hi Dice,

The KVM switch that I have it working with is the IOGear GCS102U. I think the problem comes from emulation - the IOGear GCS102U does not use emulation or hot keys-just push button switching.

cheers,
Blaine

For questions or suggestions about anything in this review or the concluding email, feel free to shoot me an email here.

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