Rich Brown,
Senior Editor
July 17, 2008
No, not QWERTY--quirky. As in, "made entirely out of tiny organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens." Or, "looks like a modern art project."
Each of the the desktop keyboards on this list has a unique feature. The gamer-friendly Logitech G15 comes with a programmable LCD screen. The Das Professional keyboard resurrects a more-or-less abandoned mechanical key design. The Kinesis Contoured Advantage represents the most recent stab at ergonomic design. And the Optimus Maximus (the one with the OLED keys) offers more room for customization than any keyboard we've seen before (it's also the most expensive keyboard we've ever seen).
None of these keyboards will change the world, let alone revolutionize how you use your PC. For most of you, a standard, 101-key hunk of plastic will do the job just fine. But each member of this list shows that even the most seemingly mundane products out there allow plenty of room for innovation.
| Product name | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $74.99 to $100.00 | Check Prices | Check Prices | Check Prices |
| CNET editors' rating |
|
|
|
|
| Average user rating | ||||
| Review date | May 06, 2008 | July 03, 2008 | June 18, 2008 | July 17, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | Logitech's revised version of its already distinctive G15 gaming keyboard adds polish and trims some of the fat. Throw in the now-mature user community that churns out lots of homebrew apps for the built-in LCD screen, and we'd recommend this keyboard to any PC gamer as a unique, useful, and customizable input device. | Typing purists, gamers, and computing old schoolers will love the Das Professional Keyboard and its satisfying mechanical switch design. Most casual users, however, will balk at the $125 price for such an otherwise spare input device. | The Kinesis Advantage Contoured Keyboard requires a significant investment of both money and time, but those who make the investment will be rewarded with a more comfortable typing experience. | As impressive as we find the Optimus Maximus keyboard in concept, the $1,600 price tag overwhelms its real world benefits. We can only recommend this keyboard to those most charmed by this unique keyboard's novelty. |
| Similar Products | Compare more products | Compare more products | Compare more products | Compare more products |
| Features | ||||
| Connectivity Technology | Wired - USB | Wired - USB | Wired - USB | Wired - USB |
| Features | Palm rest LCD display | N-Key rollover 2-port Hi-Speed USB hub | Palm rest , Yes 2-port USB hub | 2-port Hi-Speed USB hub Stand-alone OLED display in every key |
| Product Description | Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard - Keyboard | Metadot Das Keyboard Professional - Keyboard | Keyboard | Art. Lebedev Studio Optimus Maximus - Keyboard |
| Device Type | Keyboard | Keyboard | Keyboard | Keyboard |
| OS Required | Microsoft Windows XP Microsoft Windows Vista | Linux Apple MacOS X Microsoft Windows | Info unavailable | Microsoft Windows Vista / XP Apple MacOS X 10.5.1 or later |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices |
|
|||
