Saitek PC Gamer's Keyboard Reviews

• "I like the pretty lights..."

  
  By A1N2D7LLBAY25B on 2004-12-05
  Great keyboard(so far) nice moody lights that make the keys stand out even during the day.(great for rainy afternoons in a dimly lit house). Not so great for night if you don't have an overhead light(or dim lamp). The ambient blue light isn't enough to see the letters. The letters should have been machine cut into the buttons for a blueness that could be seen. Works perfect in DOS, however because of the dark screen. Windows has a bright screen anyway. Am "((hoping))" to get a corner office Hutch with florescent lighting but this keyboard lighting will still help as it isolates each and every key and gaming pad button in blue light easing eye fatigue as others have said. Gamepad says it works without software, it does not. You need to install the software and set up a profile to get it to work at all. But it is a great addition. Works in XP SP2 for me, but not for everyone. Be prepaired for a driver hunt across your hard drive and the system32 directory for the .inf files. That is the Saitek way.(didn't have that problem myself).
  The keyboard "is" or SEEMS pretty robust(knock-on-wood) and the keys are firm and don't give a flaky click or a loose feel, they are pretty sturdy. The game pad is a bit less firm and the keys do give a click and are not quite as stable as the keyboard but the GP seems some-what durable anyway. Other than the pretty lights and the GP this is just a keyboard, not a specialty gaming device as posted on many review sites like Tom's Hardware or Gamer's Depot or Computer Gaming World Magazine.
  
  

• What's the probelm?

  
  By A2WPQUDZSARBG3 on 2005-01-15
  I bought this keyboard despite some of the less than enthusiastic reviews I had read, and I couldn't be happier with it. I have no idea what those other reviewers are complaining about. The keyboard is nice and heavy with a detachable wrist rest, and of course the ever popular blue, backlit keys. The board is very stylish, but more importantly, it works flawlessly. Despite what you may have read in another review, the board DOES allow you to use the delete key to access the bios menu at boot up. It is no different than any other keyboard in that respect. It is also completely compatible with Windows XP SP2. Someone else mentioned that you couldn't use the separate command pad and the main keyboard at the same time. I don't know what their problem is, I use both the keyboard and command pad at the same time wihtout the slightest problem. The combination makes this the ideal keyboard for playing games such as first person shooters, as you can programme the keypad with up to 27 commands (9 buttons with three shift modes). Programming using the Saitek software is practically a no brainer (despite what others might have you believe) you simply open the profiler, click on the key you want to assign a function to, and then click on the key on the keyboard which corresponds to that function. It's no different that any other key mapping system. The one drawback is that, as mentioned elsewhere, there is no LED or any other indicator to show what shift mode you are in. It would have been useful had Saitek put the same blue LEDs around the shift mode keys and made it so that they would light up when that shift mode is selected. To me that is not a big enough of a problem to deduct a star for. I used a Logitech Elite keyboard prior to this, and the Saitek is far superior; if for no other reason than that with the Logitech you have to take an extra step to push a button to turn the I touch function on or off, and you have to push yet another button to lock or unlock the function keys. It was a real pain to be using a propgramme that made use of the function keys, and go to use the function buttons only to find that you forgot to unlock them first. No such problem with the Saitek. If you need special functions, you simply assign them to the command pad; so you have your special functions and your regular function keys work as they always have as well. All in all, the Saitek Gamer's Keyboard is a good, solid, fully functional keyboard that looks every bit as good as it works.
  
  

• Keyboard extravaganza

  
  By A24WSD48Z3WUZS on 2005-01-09
  Saitek's PZ08A keyboard with additional Command Pad is for the PC enthusiast who has just about everything. The keyboard is more fun to look at than to use. That's not to say it isn't useful because it makes a viable replacement with a few reservations.
  
  The prominent reservation in mind stands out because the PZ08A is a USB device and at least on my PC, the PZ08A is not immediately activated like my $11 PS2 keyboard. For instance; if you must access your System Bios, you may need to use your old keyboard to do it. *UPDATE ON THIS ISSUE*. In my BIOS is an option to detect USB on start-up. This was turned off by default. Turning it on allows access to this keyboard immediately.
  
  I have a multi boot system managed by Partition Magic. Key presses are not accepted from the PZ08A whilst the PC is displaying boot options. I have kept my PS2 keyboard connected and must use it to access my system BIOS and the Partition Magic menu items before Windows takes over the operating system.
  
  The keyboard is attractive with quality. It doesn't have a sleep or power button like my old keyboard but has a backlight intensity level button and three sound buttons. Of the sound buttons, only one of them applies to me (the mute) because I use headphones and not external speakers. I would imagine the other two are for speakers and perhaps another output sound device of sorts. The rest of the keyboard is standard QWERTY and Windows menu keys. The additional keypad is attached with a two foot cord that plugs into the back of the keyboard.
  
  The PZ08A lies quite flat, even with the fold down lift brackets extended on the bottom surface. The rest of the keyboard is supported with good quality rubber feet. It may seem silly to comment on the quality of the rubber pads but cheap keyboards have tiny hard, round rubber buttons which quickly lose grip. The Saitek has substantial rectangular medium soft pads that resist sliding. This speaks of the overall quality design which the PZ08A exudes. It's all plastic but Saitek is apparently committed to selling something that not only works well but looks the part.
  
  The backlighting is purely ascetics in my humble opinion. What you will see in a darkened room is a cool blue outline of your keys. In other words, don't expect to see any silk screening on the keys because the back lighting doesn't come through them. On the topic of looks, in order to make the PZ08A different from just any old keyboard, the Saitek design is a customary rectangle with four ears, one for each corner. They protrude out and down a little less than an inch. Granted, those great rectangular rubber feet are positioned diagonally along the bottom of these ears but the keyboard is slightly larger than it needs to be because of them. I have to say that the front and bottom aren't particularly affected by the protrusion because the Scroll, Caps and Num Lock LEDs are positioned on a small extension in line with the extended "ears". The width of the PZ08A is increased by more than an inch because of those stylish "ears". Saitek has also supplied a removable, contoured wrist support extension for the front of the keyboard. The wrist support adds another two inches or so to the overall front to back dimension. The keyboard isn't huge but it takes up more desktop real estate than many standard keyboards and a tight desktop will be over grown with the PZ08A ensemble.
  
  Finally we come to the touted programmability of the PZ08A: You get the same modern motif of silver and black for the "Command Pad". Please understand that the Command Pad is the only programmable part of the PZ08A. It is physically separate from the main keyboard. Measuring approximately three inches by seven, with those same ears in the back and a contoured black wrist support up front, the Command Pad is a bit of a miniature of the keyboard. The difference is that this wrist support isn't readily removable. There are nine digit buttons which have the same back lighting as the keyboard. Which means; you can see the silhouette of those nine keys but you won't see the numbers on them in the dark. There are two more small silver buttons (like the light and sound buttons on the keyboard) that are designated "Mode A" and "Mode B". These buttons effectively triple the function of the standard pad's nine buttons when it comes time to program the pad.
  
  Programming the Command Pad uses the same software and interface as programming the X52 / 45 Flight System. In other words, if you like Saitek's SST programming interface you will be right at home programming the Command Pad. I have more than one complaint regarding the Mode buttons. There is no way to know if the Mode is active. There are no LEDs to signify that Mode A or Mode B shift states have been achieved. The worst part of this all is that the buttons have scan time limits. You may press the Mode key but if you hold it too long or not long enough, the Mode will either toggle back to OFF or not have come on at all. There is no sure way to know if one of the modes has become active other than test the function in a game or application. Not good! You can watch this anomaly through the SST Command Key Control Panel applet. If you don't use the Mode "Shift" states, you won't have anything to worry about. Having nine programmable keys isn't all bad. Having 27 programmed keys that can be reliably called upon would be much better. One more important item that is a little disturbing: If you want a real manual for the keyboard and command pad, you may end up feeling slighted. The little paper leaflet is extensively under written and the CD manual, which puts you on the web, takes you to a strange place which provides no useful information that I could see. Granted I didn't spend a long time looking. The one tab that looked promising connected to nothing on my end. Never the less, the function and features of the PZ08A are nearly self explanatory and I have survived without a "real" manual.
  
  Conclusion: The Saitek PZ08A and inclusive companion Command Pad are relatively inexpensive and you actually get quite a bit for your money. The whole outfit takes up significant space on your desk but it does it attractively. The PZ08A isn't exactly earth shaking, must have hardware for your PC and gaming experience and I have to say that the Command Pad has a way to go before it is remarkably useful. Adding two LEDs to the pad would change everything regarding the shift state awareness factor.
  
  Would I buy the PZ08A again? Probably not, but I'm determined to have some fun with it for the time being.
  
  

• substandard support

  
  By A2LW23ICNNNUQO on 2004-11-10
  No support for XP SP2 at this late date? Fiddling with drivers, you can use either, but not both: keyboard OR command pad.
  
  

• Linux Compatible

  
  By AZMJZYVCOYCOX on 2005-10-04
  Just wanted to say that I bought this keyboard and hoped that it wouldn't give me problems in Linux. I am currently using Suse Linux 9.2 with apt4rpm updates. The keyboard detected automatically, as well as the onboard ethernet(RJ-45) plugin keypad mechanism. I don't need the keypad, but it works nevertheless. I don't have it plugged into onboard usb, but to an external NEC chipset PCI usb 2.0 card. I get some oddities going on with motherboard chipset usb ports so I opted for the well supported cheapo NEC usb2 pci card.
  
  So, in short, I just plugged it in and it worked. Very nice to see from a cool looking keyboard. The blue lighted background it pretty neat looking, but not really useful since the characters themselves aren't lighted. But the keyboard is very heavy and sturdy feeling. It's about 2X heavier than my Microsoft intelliwhatever keyboard. Also, there is no clicking sound. The keystrokes are completely silent, which I'm kind of liking.
  
  Anyhow, here is the keyboard hardware detection log, just for posterity:
  
  UniqueID=FKGF.mT5+4Yhxx3E
  ParentID=pBe4.poAKaYeVr00
  HWClass=keyboard
  Model=Saitek PLC USB Gaming Keyboard Pro
  Configured=no
  Available=yes
  Needed=no
  Active=unknown
  Bus=0x86
  BaseClass=0x108
  VendorID=u06a3
  DeviceID=8000
  DeviceName=USB Gaming Keyboard Pro
  VendorName=Saitek PLC
  RevisionName=1.20
  UnixDevice=/dev/input/event4
  UnixDeviceList=/dev/input/event4
  Drivers=usbhid
  SysfsID=/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.0/0000:01:06.1/usb2/2-1/2-1:1.0
  SysfsBusID=2-1:1.0
  Hotplug=4
  HWClassList=08000008000000
  Res.Baud=12000000,0,0,0x00,0x00
  UniqueID=T2Fp.GSopYcFr9cF
  HWClass=network interface
  Model=Network Interface
  Configured=no
  Available=yes
  Needed=no
  Active=unknown
  BaseClass=0x107
  SubClass=0x80
  UnixDevice=/dev/cipsec0
  UnixDeviceList=/dev/cipsec0
  SysfsID=/class/net/cipsec0
  HWClassList=00001000000000
  
  USB 00.0: 10800 Keyboard
  [Created at usb.118]
  Unique ID: FKGF.mT5+4Yhxx3E
  Parent ID: pBe4.poAKaYeVr00
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.0/0000:01:06.1/usb2/2-1/2-1:1.0
  SysFS BusID: 2-1:1.0
  Hardware Class: keyboard
  Model: "Saitek PLC USB Gaming Keyboard Pro"
  Hotplug: USB
  Vendor: usb 0x06a3 "Saitek PLC"
  Device: usb 0x8000 "USB Gaming Keyboard Pro"
  Revision: "1.20"
  Driver: "usbhid"
  Device File: /dev/input/event4
  Device Number: char 13:68
  Speed: 12 Mbps
  Driver Info #0:
  XkbRules: xfree86
  XkbModel: pc104
  Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #43 (Hub)
  
  USB 00.1: 0000 Unclassified device
  [Created at usb.118]
  Unique ID: iVWJ.VaA9S4VXs68
  Parent ID: pBe4.poAKaYeVr00
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.0/0000:01:06.1/usb2/2-1/2-1:1.1
  SysFS BusID: 2-1:1.1
  Hardware Class: unknown
  Model: "Saitek PLC USB Gaming Keyboard Pro"
  Hotplug: USB
  Vendor: usb 0x06a3 "Saitek PLC"
  Device: usb 0x8000 "USB Gaming Keyboard Pro"
  Revision: "1.20"
  Driver: "usbhid"
  Device File: /dev/input/event5
  Device Number: char 13:69
  Speed: 12 Mbps
  Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #43 (Hub)
  
  
• Good Investment
  By A2OZJUFV4RORHY on 2006-08-03
  Let me just preface this review by mentioning that I read many customer reviews(here and elsewhere) on this product before purchasing it. I focused on the negative reviews as to develop a good idea of any potential design flaws. After using this keyboard for almost 6 months I believe that Saitek delivers an attractive design with solid quality.
  
  Command Pad: Many reviews bash this feature. It is quite a basic pad as compared to some, but it gets the job done. My only main gripe with the pad was how it failed to deliver some windows macros such as ctrl-alt-delete. During games such as WoW and CoD2 I had no problems whatsoever. The rumor about the horrible software and it being buggy was nonexistent for me. The customers who claimed it to be "impossible" and "buggy" seem to be computer illiterate at best, and judging from the frequency of grammatical errors in their reviews, possible English illiterate as well. If you are familiar with computer hardware then you will be fine with this software and pad.
  
  Keyboard: The quietness, response, and overall feel of the keys rival any Logitech design. I am a huge fan/customer of Logitech equipment, and thus can confidently state that this board is of equal material quality. Saitek took a more simple route with this design(no LCD screen etc...) and the price shows it.
  
  *I almost laughed out loud after recently reading some of the passionate and disgruntled reviews concerning the lack of key-symbol illumination. It is obvious that these reviewers did not know much about the product they purchased. Unfortunately failing to be informed about a product one buys totally demerits any kind of negative opinion resulting from that lack of knowledge. I would guess that 90% of the negative reviews about this board capitalize on this point resulting in a much lower overall rating than deserved.
  
  Last and probably least comes the aesthetics, of course the most subjective part of any review. I found this setup to be very sharp looking. In the dark, the vivid key definition from the backlights allows any experienced typist to quickly find whatever he/she is looking for. This eliminates the need for symbol illumination. Although symbol illumination might be a nice touch, especially for the keyboard deficient, I feel that Saitek sacrificed this option to provide very durable lettering. I have lost some lettering on Logitech keyboards sooner than the 6 months I've been using this one(Although frequency of gaming has fluctuated). Saitek Engineers probably figured that most gamers would know the keyboard well enough to not need both key definition and symbol illumination, apparently an oversight on their part.
  
  I will recap this lengthy review by recommending this keyboard to any capable computer enthusiast who desires a good value.
  
  
  
• Choose the Logitech G15 instead!
  By A1ESDZND3GOZY on 2006-03-25
  I compared both the Saitek PC Gamer's Keyboard and the Logitech G15. The Logitech keyboard is FAR superior - it is truly backlit THROUGH the letters on the keyboard (blue backlighting). It looks totally awesome in a darkened room - isn't this why you are buying a backlit keyboard!? It has a dimmer switch to choose the brightness (high, low, off), 12 fully programmable macro keys with three profile buttons (36 key combinations total - programable on the fly), and a LCD screen that can interact with some programs (not a lot I've found so far, but it will display a day/date clock and number of emails waiting). This Logitech keyboard is a little more expensive, sells for around $90, but is well worth the difference!
  
  
• Futurekeyboard.com
  By A14PNTTH3V5EZM on 2004-09-07
  This keyboard is the hottest thing going....Saitek has once again proven to have their product unique with a style of all their own. The Backlighting is absolutely awesome. Why dont other companies do it???????? ...what an effect. Good job guys...
  
  
• Near perfect
  By A1SE8NEJKDID1Q on 2005-05-15
  My only gripe's that the letters on the keys (or the tops of the keys themselves) aren't translucent, such that they are visible in the dark when the backlight is on. Sure, you can see the layout of the keyboard clearly, but seeing the letters however faintly would be much better.
  
  
• Worst keyboard ever, forget about "gaming."
  By A3D89TEXZZLEBZ on 2006-03-28
  Good:
  *Looks neat in the picture
  *Has a cool shape to it, and has a nice weight to it
  *The extra programmable keypad is a cool idea
  
  Bad:
  *The backlighting only lights up behind the keys so there is no indication which key is which (The other Saitek that is backlit has laser-etched keys so each number/letter is visible)
  *The keys don't return quickly, they have a mushy feel to them when pushing down on them
  
  Overall, this keyboard is terrible. I thought my laptop keyboard was bad... I'd rather type on that (or play games on it) any day over this abomination. I sent mine back after owning it for less than 4 hours - it was that bad.
  
  
• Best Gaming keyboard
  By A2DFTVME10EYMJ on 2005-04-22
  Pros:
  -Looks awesome, especially at night, very sleek and uncluttered
  -It feels very sturdy
  -Keys are very quiet
  -Buttons feel very good, they aren't mushy like the Logitech Elite
  -Backlight can be turned off if you don't want it on, plus it has 2 brightnesses
  -Command pad is VERY useful and easy to program
  -Very comfortable with removeable/adjustable wrist pad
  -Full sized keyboard, unlike some other lighted keyboards
  -Extra large space bar
  
  Cons:
  -Takes up a lot of desk space with the Command pad
  -No media keys besides mute/volume, but that might not be a bad thing for some people
  -Letters on the keys don't light up (Saitek has a new board out sans Command pad that has solves this)
  -USB only, but that's probably because they need to power the LEDs
  
  
• The good, the bad, and the ugly....
  By A1IBR244NV6DJP on 2005-05-10
  The good:
  
  --Solid. Doesn't move easily and has a good feeling keypress (if you're a fan of the 'click' type keyboards this isn't for you - it requires a bit more effort to press the keys and is fairly quiet).
  
  --Blue. Not dark blue, more aquamarine, but a nice soothing color nonetheless.
  
  The bad:
  
  --Not good in the dark. As mentioned by others, the keys are not transparent at all. The LED's actually hinder identifying the keys in low light situations.
  
  --Software. I've encountered a few issues with the drivers included with the keyboard. Not show stoppers, but annoying. If you're not using the keypad, don't install the drivers.
  
  The UGLY:
  
  --Keyboard not recognized in CMOS or during boot. I'm running an MSI Athlon 64 motherboard with a BIOS password. I have to plug in my old USB keyboard to work in CMOS or enter a the CMOS password. Yes, I have legacy USB support turned on in CMOS (otherwise my "old" USB keyboard wouldn't work). It appears others in the Saitek forums have experienced this issue too. Really annoying having two keyboards kicking around....
  
  
• This keyboard rocks for gaming!
  By A3VCC5B0OMP8ET on 2005-10-08
  I ordered this with a pang of guilt; thinking what a waste of money for something that probably won't improve my gaming skills or experience by one jot.
  
  Well, I feel guilty no more. I also bought a laser mouse, but the solid, responsive Saitek gamer's keyboard is MUCH more helpful than the new mouse. And YES, I am totally having more fun and doing better at gaming now. The feel of the keyboard is totally solid, even a bit heavy - so you can mash and pound to your heart's content. It's also very responsive. When I need to shift to a new weapon or something (I am playing Battlefield 2 these days), BOOM - it's there.
  
  Highly recommend.
  
  Oh yeah, it's also great for typing!!
  
  
• I bought it for the program keypad, love the blue glow!
  By A329HX1QR5C4HN on 2005-10-10
  Best keyboard ever. Hands down. Has a very nice touch and responds when you type on it. The blue glow has a nice "kewl" factor. The MAIN reason I bought it was because of the programmability. You can program the function keypad to do commands or type sentences at the touch of a button. Bottom line? It works. rather nicely at that. It runs a program running in the background so you can use it in games. I use it in Word typing documents, cut-n-pasting things VERY quickly (one button) if you copy or paste a lot, this is perfect. I use it for database programming when I type the same few words over, and over. I even have one key to 'flip' windows (instead of alt-tabbing all the time, just hit the function button). I would highly recommend this keyboard over any other if you are looking for the BEST.
  
  
• Pretty good keyboard!
  By A2HMT3570ZSAFO on 2006-07-18
  I was really excited by this keyboard when it came out. This keyboard is EXACTLY how I wanted it, not the keys glowing itself, but the outside of the keys in the inside glowing. The keyboard and the command pad have great shapes. The command pad is a nice addition too. The click and clack of the keys aren't too loud, so it somewhat discreet. I would highly recommend this keyboard to any gamer looking for a good keyboard for gaming.
  
  
• Awesome board
  By A2GLO8RNOJO4VT on 2005-02-03
  Just an all around good board. The keys are very fluid, response rate is excellent. Side command pad is programmed similiar to old sidewinder controllers using profiles which work well. This board increased my response rate in WOW making me even more lethal using the command pad.
  
  
• For the price - think about it.
  By ATCB0YN7VQG8C on 2005-04-03
  I got this kb to replace a generic lighted (with transparent keys) kb that was the size of a laptop kb. Now when I got it and first plugged it in I noticed that it's only backlit. So the convenience I had with my other lighted kb in seeing the keys in the dark was gone.
  
  For the price I think the features are kinda barren. There is only controls for volume +/-, mute, and a backlit level toggle. No internet key, shutdown, sleep, etc. that you would expect from a similarly priced kb. For the price of this one you can get a wireless kb and optical mouse combo. The fact that I already own a Logitech MX700 also contributed in my decision to try this kb.
  
  The real draw for some is the breakout keypad that comes with it. Now it's really nice because Windows XP detects it as a gaming device so you don't really need to install the software that came with the disc. But I play World of Warcraft which does not recognize it. I had to install the software so that I could create some macros. And in that capacity it works really well.
  
  So basically, I would recommend this as a purely gaming keyboard and only recommend it if you are going to use the keypad. For more general use and better value (imo) you can get much better with more features with a wireless kb/mouse combo. Or if you simply want a cool backlit keyboard and can live without the keypad the Saitek Eclipse keyboard has backlighting and is similarly priced. The Eclipse has laser etched letters that allow light to shine through and actually helps typing in the dark.
  
  
• great keyboard
  By A1LSYRKK8E2K6X on 2005-07-20
  its pretty much like a standard keyboard except it has the game pad with it, the saitek eclipse does not have the game pad but has laser cut lettering so the light goes through the lettering, whereas this keyboard is just on the outside of the keys, it looks cool but dont depend on seeing the keys with just that light
  needless to say the game pad is pretty easy to figure out , one can put together a simple to medium game setup, it can do more complex things , and it has a software manual, but i'm not that motivated.
  but it does help in games like world of warcraft or everquest.
  the keys are light to the touch and not real loud, but not super silent either . the keyboard is definetley worth the price, amazon was cheaper than anywhere else i looked,
  the only thing with the game pad is it should of had a indicater of what mode was on, but again thats for more advanced gamers
  its a good buy
  
  
• I got this keyboard as a gift and have mixed feelings about it
  By A3S2ALMQA335GI on 2005-12-26
  Backlight CON: The backlight is obviously just for people who are easily impressed by shiny objects because it's actually more difficult to see the keys in the dark with the backlight on (the light makes the letters less visible) and the actual letters on the keys aren't backlit.
  Backlight PRO: It does look cool, but you get over that pretty quick. I'd rather be able to see the keys better in the dark AND have it look cool.
  
  Key Status LEDs CON: I find it a little distracting to have the num/caps/scroll lock LEDs three times brighter than the rest of the backlight.
  Key Status LEDs PRO: You notice the status of your num/caps/scroll lock instantly because it's the brightest thing in the room.
  
  Wrist Rest CON: I was also looking forward to having a built in wrist rest so I could get rid of my soft rubber memorex wrist rest that I used with my old keyboard. The one that comes with the Saitek I found very uncomfortable...it doesn't seem deep enough and the angle feels wrong. To make matters worse it has an adjustment where you can pull it out about an inch from the keyboard to increase the depth, but it moves in and out so easy I was constantly having to adjust it whenever I moved the keyboard. I finally just removed the built in wrist rest and went back to my comfortable memorex, only to find out that because of the Saitek's uneven shape around the edges, my memorex doesn't butt up against it.
  Wrist Rest PRO: None...it's definitely the worst wrist rest I've ever used.
  
  Key Feel CON: If you are used to decent keyboards with a nice tactile feedback, the Saitek isn't for you. There's absolutely no feedback on the keys. They're soft and spongy.
  Key Feel PRO: They're almost silent, so you can type on the phone or with someone sleeping nearby without them hearing you.
  
  Command Pad CON: The separate 9 key "command pad" sounds like a good idea, but I can't imagine any time I'd take my left hand off the keyboard in the middle of a game to use it. The shift buttons are really hard to use with one hand. You have to hold one of the shift keys down then hit a key on the pad to invoke any of the extra keys.
  Command Pad PRO: It can be disconnected and put in a closet for almost all people who buy this keyboard. For those with 6 fingers on their left hand who play games that require more than 130 keys, it might come in handy.
  
  Quality: The keyboard and command pad seem to be pretty high quality, except for the wrist rest of course which is just the usual cheap plastic that connects to the keyboard with the same old toothpick-thin plastic prongs that break off very easily.
  
  In conclusion, you could do much worse than this keyboard. If all you do is play games it's no better or worse than most keyboards (I'm not counting the command pad as a plus since I don't think even gamers will be using this thing). If you like keyboards that are comfortable, have nice feedback, or have a backlight that actually light the keys, skip this one.
  
  
• Great Gaming Keyboard
  By AXXWXM6K66YMZ on 2006-02-28
  I bought this keyboard about a month ago and I love it. I wanted a backlit keyboard, and was looking at the other Saitek (eclipse I believe), but people said the paint wore off the keys so that they didn't even have letters on them anymore. I found out about this keyboard, and decided to give it a try.
  
  The backlighting is even and bright (or not too bright, depending on your settings), and the added numerical pad is awesome. 2 shift keys give you 3 times as much assignment than a normal number pad. I play everything from guild wars to first person shooters and having certain weapons/skills mapped out to those keys really helps. You can even assign entire sequences to each key (great for multiplayer games when you need to say sentences quickly).
  
  This keyboard plus my Razor Diamondback (in blue, also bought from here) make an awesome combo, and blend with my blue-light computer.
  
  And anyone who complains that you can't see the keys...I haven't had a problem. Especially when its in front of my monitor. I definately recommend this keyboard, esp for the price on here (I've seen it in stores for TWICE as much!)
  
  
• Gamer's Saisuck Keyboard
  By AKLYKDMNRVLBC on 2006-03-18
  This keyboard makes you think that you will be able to read the keys in the dark? WRONG!!! It lights up underneath the actual keys but you can not read them. Why they made the eclipse like that and not this one totally baffles me! Huge mistake on Saitek's part there. The disk that comes with it to download the drivers doesnt work. It constantly messes with your operating software. And what makes it the ironic keyboard you ask? It crashes most games!!!!!! On MMO's they actually have a thread on their forums for this actual keyboard! ( on how to disable it so as to not crash the game anymore ) So in my opinion, DO NOT BUY THIS KEYBOARD!! IT IS A HUGE WASTE OF MONEY! IF YOU PLAN ON IT, ASK YOUR FRIENDS IF THEY HAVE ONE! (something I should have done before purchasing) SO NOW IM STUCK WITH JUNK BECAUSE IT COST ME 50+ USD AND I FEEL THAT SINCE I PAID THAT MUCH I HAVE TO USE IT!
  
  
• Blue Thunder!
  By A22OCQBTDD0YRK on 2004-10-22
  It's so cool to play this keyboard... there I am... blue lights glowing all around me, and I'm just let'n 'er rip! This keyboard is great for first person shooter games. 27 programmable macros! It takes on the competition, like a bully in a school yard. Awesome stuff!!
  
  
• 5 stars for gaming
  By A1JZTQPPPNOYLX on 2004-12-17
  This keyboard is good. The macro pad is great!
  
  good:
  create macro for frequent commands in your game can take your game to the next level.
  the lights are pretty fun when you play late night (watch your eyes though)
  comfortable to use, wrist doesn't hurt bad.
  
  bad:
  wired. I really don't like wired since I have logitech mx duo also.
  where is the mouse to go with this baby?
  
  The price is good for someone really into game, for everyday use I don't think you need all the fancy stuff. Good Price on amazon, referred by http://www.whosave.com. happy gaming. I eagerly wait for world of warcraft.
  
  
• A useful advertising tool
  By A3MZ8Q6TE7TA5L on 2005-08-21
  This keyboard becomes very useful while playing an MMORPG such as RuneScape, Maple Story, WoW, and anything where you are selling, buying, or asking for quest help. You can just set a shortcut, so perhaps, you tell the keyboard if you press a certain button, it will auto-type in "Selling 2 diamond ores 10k each".
  But this will be recommended for World of WarCraft.
  
  
• A nice keyboard, but...
  By A1M6O7KX8N96YY on 2005-10-26
  I'm pretty disappointed. I bought this keyboard to play games in the dark, but when the room is dark I can't see the keys at all. I liked the idea of the macro pad and assumed it was the same as the Saitek Eclipse. I was quite wrong. If you want a keyboard for use in a darkened room this ISN'T the one. :(
  
  Otherwise, it was an alright keyboard. The design was nice and it typed well.
  
  Needless to say I'm returning this and getting the Saitek Eclipse!
  
  
• OK keyboard
  By A1V7QEEB9KCE4J on 2006-08-14
  I am a long time computer user, I started programming on main frames and mini-computers back in the 1960s, FORTRAN 2. I am also a computer gamer. This is a well lit, works fine, easy to use keyboard. I do not use the hand rests, I do not need them. I do not use the remote keypad, cute but not useful. I am a Mac user most of the time and the keyboard only came with PC drivers. Since the programmers who wrote the software do not seem to have the skill set to let them compile for both PC and Mac it is a crippled device. It is trivial to do both and I do it all the time, there is no excuse for a half way job. If it does not work with everything then it can not be given higher than average ratings. However it does follow the standards in that it does work with both PCs and Macs as a standard keyboard, it is the advanced features that the Mac user can not use.
  
  
• Great keyboard,....if it works for your computer
  By AQKPCP25EH659 on 2007-02-21
  I wouldn't disagree with anyone here on that it is a great keyboard. There is however a common issue with the driver using Windows XP to where the keyboard will stop working if it is unplugged from the computer. The keyboard doesn't even half to be unplugged. Occasionally after a few weeks of use, the keyboard will not be "plugged in". For more info, view the common fixes section in the Saitek forum and find any posts saying "Says plug in Saitek controller, IT IS PLUGGED IN!!!"
  
  The fix for this problem is lengthy and complicated, especially if you don't know how to resolve it. It basically involves removing all the drivers, removing the software, going into the Windows INF directory and removing the related Saitek files, searching the hard drive for all Saitek files and removing them (but not the Saitek folder), and then reinstalling driver and programming software. I've had to do this 4 times since purchasing the keyboard.
  
  The keyboard will continue to work after the driver fails as a normal keyboard but your command pad will not. And truely without the command pad, you are shelling cash for the pretty lights. So if you aren't running XP or if you somehow will not be affected by this issue, the keyboard is above all others. But if you are affected by this issue, you will hate your keyboard and wish you had purchased something from a different company.
  
  
• A nice keyboard but one thing about the lights...
  By A2EJOIRC8S7FZC on 2005-04-02
  I'm going to be 100% honest about this keyboard, the good things are a very nice appearance, it's made of a very durable meterial, the pad it's a really cool thing, but also lets get the lights thing clear, those lights do NOT help to see better the keys at night or in the dark, It's even harder to read the keyboard when you are in the dark and the lights under the keys are on, they are strictly decorative not usefull, any way this is a very good keyboard and I recommended to those persons who will enjoy the very usefull pad for games which I consider It's the real hook for this product or also for decorative purposes.
  
  
• Keyboard of Dreams
  By A28NQ7KE2Z8V8C on 2005-12-13
  I just got this today, and I have to say, I'm using it right now and I Love it! Its smooth, sleek, and quiet (all of us midnight gamers know what normal keyboards sound like,) Its plug and play with SP 2 im supposing, cause I'm using it at work right now :D Awesome product!
  
  
• Functional and easy
  By A1F03GQAHBFVGU on 2006-01-05
  I got the keyboard just a while ago and the first thing I noticed was that it's heavy. It feels sturdy and solid as if it's made of metal and not plastic.
  
  Windows XP recognized the new hardware without issue. I don't plan on using the separate keypad just yet but the drivers installed with ease.
  
  The keyboard itself has the only 3 extra functions that I really need: mute, volume up, and volume down. I never used the function keys on my old Logitech keyboard, such as scroll wheels, application launchers, and sleep (a disaster waiting to happen), so this suited me just fine.
  
  I'm typing this review on the Saitek and love the way the keys feel. They push back enough for me to feel them, but they don't have the annoying clatter of my old keyboard. They do feel somewhat too soft but I think I can get used to it.
  
  The adjustable wrist pad it comes with I found useless. It doesn't extend far enough for comfort and rests too low. A standard gel pad does a better job.
  
  The LED lighting is the coolest feature of the keyboard but I am not sure how useful it will be in the dark. Because the black keys are lit from under, there is a contrast of dark on light that might annoy sensitive eyes. If the keys were transparent or if each key's label was illuminated, the feature would have been more useful.
  
  

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