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CNET editors' rating:
3.0 stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 8 reviews
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Product summary
The good: Lower price compared to that of other backlit keyboards; three LED color options; easy setup.
The bad: No additional keys or customization software; keys feel cramped and mushy; not as fully featured as the competition.
The bottom line: If all you want is a backlit keyboard, Saitek's Eclipse II does that very well. We wish that Saitek had also refined the key feel and added a few other features. Aside from lighting up, it doesn't offer gamers much to get excited about.
Specifications: Form factor: External; Compatibility: PC; Interface required: USB; See full specs
Price range: $49.99 - $85.98
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 12/11/2006
- Released on: 05/10/2006
The Eclipse II has many pros going for it. Its no-driver setup means that you can simply plug it in and go, its full backlighting lets you type with the lights off, and the different color options (red, blue, purple, or "off") let you make the Eclipse II your own. Ergonomically, you're better off typing with your keyboard lying completely flat on your desk, but if you must prop it up, Saitek added two different feet on the underside of the Eclipse II, giving you a couple of options for typing at an angle.
For all of its useful features, our biggest problems with the Eclipse II lie in the parts that should be the most refined: the keys. We have two major concerns here. The first is that the keys feel too bunched up. We fell in love with the Razer Tarantula recently, partly because its wide key tray gives your fingers plenty of space and allow each key room to breathe. The Eclipse II's keys feel cramped in comparison. And considering that the Tarantula is only about half an inch wider than the Eclipse II (counting the Eclipse II's feet), it's not like the Tarantula is a bigger desk hog.
Our second gripe with the Eclipse II is that the keys feel mushy compared to the Tarantula's crisp response. The low profile keys on the Tarantula have the quickness of the best laptop keyboards, where the Eclipse II's have a swimmier feeling. This is not to say that it's a bad keyboard. Most people won't mind it, especially if you prefer to work in the dark (Saitek claims that the submarine community is especially fond of the red light option). But for gamers who demand performance first, the Tarantula is the board to beat.
To be fair, you have to pay extra for the Tarantula. At $99, it's even more of an indulgence than the Eclipse II. We should also note that only some of the Tarantula's keys light up, not all of them like the Eclipse II's. But Razer's gaming board outshines Saitek's board in other ways. It has 10 additional customizable function keys which, along with the media-control and image-zoom keys, line the side of the Tarantula, making them easy to reach. The Eclipse II has its own media-control keys, but they sit above the number pad and are crowded by the backlight dimmer knob. The Tarantula grabs your desk more firmly than the Eclipse II, and in a heated gaming session, it's conceivable that the Eclipse II could lose its grip more easily. We should also point out that the Tarantula has USB inputs on it, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. The Eclipse II has none of those amenities. Saitek's keyboard delivers on the backlighting, but that and the slightly lower price are its only advantages.
User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 8 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 8 user reviewsSee all 8 user reviews
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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"Good Key Feel, Quality Built, and a good backlight make this the best keyboard buy on the market"
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Saitek Eclipse II Illumintated Keyboard:
