Illuminated Keyboards- A Gamer's Dream

Most hard-core gamers know that lights provide a perfect and necessary upgrade to your computer. Most of the time the tower is lit up by a variety of neon lights. Keyboards are no exception to this rule. Illuminated keyboards can instill the same awe as a lighted computer tower, and provide benefits to the user as well. By using a thin EL sheet (Electro-Luminescent), the keys on the keyboard are pleasantly lit, providing relaxation and less strain on the eyes from staring at a LCD or CRT monitor constantly at night. Of course, they also provide ease of typing in low light rooms, giving you more visual clarity and less typing errors, sparing you from embarrassing spelling mistakes or losing that veteran unit that was three-starred. Illuminated keyboards can be a very nice addition to your gaming rig and are sure to impress your friends and family. But gamers aren't the only ones who benefit from illuminated keyboards. Business men, novice typers, computer cave dwellers, and other people can also appreciate the light and application of illuminated keyboards.

Some Great Illuminated Keyboards

If you've shopped around for illuminated keyboards, you've probably notices that there is a lot of choices for you. So, below is a discussion of some high quality illuminated keyboards that will do the job nicely for you. In general, the more you pay for a computer keyboard, the better the quality. Higher priced illuminated keyboards wil have more specialized keys (such as internet hot keys and various command keys), will have a more egonomic fell to them that fits your hand better, and will also have a more solid and high quality feel to the keys when you're typing. Here are some illuminated keyboards that you may want to check out:

• Saitek Eclipse Illuminated Keyboard- This one has had great reviews from various customers and have a plethora of options and additions to it, such as a extendible hand rest, extra large space bar, high quality and precise background lighting, and solid key strokes. You can check it out here. Oh, did I mention it comes with THREE lighting options: high/low/off.
• Xoxide Illuminated Keyboards- This company makes good illuminated keyboards at a good price, starting at $17. Not bad. This type of keyboard will do for a variety of applications. They also sell other high quality brand names, such as the keyboard above. Go check it out here.
• XPC Gear- not a brand name, but a website that sells numerous illuminated keyboards. Worth checking out if you didn't like the famed Saitek Eclipse. Go check it out here.
  

Uses of Illuminated Keyboards

Illuminated keyboards have many advantageous uses. The most obvious is that the glow from the back light provides well lit keys, but too bright as to cause strain on the eyes. Illuminated keyboards are optimized in a low light or no light areas. If you find yourself working (or playing) late at night often and like to turn on your house lights for fear of waking or disturbing others, then an illuminated keyboard is a great solution to your problem. If you travel a lot on business or give presentations in darkened auditoriums and other presentation rooms, then a portable illuminated keyboard can provide you with the necessary light so you don't find yourself making embarrassing typing errors and mis-strokes. Illuminated keyboards are also very helpful to those who are older or who have poorer vision. The light behind the keys enhances each individual letter, making finding the keys a lot less painful for newbies or old-schoolers. Some light up keyboards even have laser precise lighting so letters on the keys are brightly lit, making each key an easy to find beacon. If you would like to purchase illuminated keyboards, then go and visit one of the many stores online.

Are Illuminated Keyboards the same as Regular Ones?

The short answer is yes. Illuminated computer keyboards are just the same as any other keyboard. The only addition obviously is the back light on the keys. Otherwise, you can buy illuminated keys with full size desktop keyboards or mini-keyboards, like in laptops. They also can be connected to your computer via a USB port or the regular hook-up. You will also get all the normal additions to the keyboard including hotkeys, shortcuts, specialized keys, etc. Like normal OEM computer keyboards, it depends on the type and brand of the illuminated keyboard. You may also be thinking if illuminated keyboards have the same feel to them when typing as other computer keyboards. The answer is yes. The illumination provide behind the keys originates from a thin sheet of EL (electro-luminescent) material. This provides the glow and does not effect typing in any way.

Illuminated Keyboard Light Up Colors

By far the most popular color for back lit keyboards is blue. This color is the easiest on the eyes, and it provides a stunning head-turning addition to your computer desk. Of course, there are different shades of blue that illuminated keyboards ship with, but most are a dark, street glow blue. Other colors that you may find on illuminated keyboards include white (which is a standard color on many apple computers and therefore a good chunk of illuminated keyboards) and red, another stunning color but a little harder on the eyes, as it affords more glare. Just about any color can be used as back light for an illuminated keyboard, and you are able to customize whatever you want for your keyboard if you find the right company or you're technically savvy enough to install the back lights yourself. If you're struggling as to which color you want your illuminated keyboard to give off, then it's always a safe bet to go with the common spacey blue lights of most light up keyboards.

Why Choose Illuminated Keyboards?

Illuminated keyboards are becoming more and more popular for several reasons. Just look at the trend for the average computer user. Many people are using the computer more and more during the dark hours of the day, and many of them like to use their desktop or laptop in the dark. It creates a more enjoyable atmosphere, you see. So, for those of us who are novie typers, we like to look down at the keyboard every once and while and see where we are. However, it does get annoying when you look down and can't see anything! That's where illuminated keyboards come into play- they enhance the typing experience, even during broad daylight! Illuminated keyboards are especially useful for the stay-up-late hardcore computer gamer and the all-nighter college student. They not only provide increased functionality, but an unmistakable air of dominant visual uniqueness. Why have a normal keyboard when you can get an illuminated one at the same price?