As you can see here, for space saving they have moved the PgUp, PgDn, End, Home e.t.c keys into non standard positions. This takes quite a bit of getting used to, but it's not impossible. I was worried that after learning to use them in this configuration, I wouldn't be able to go back to a normal keyboard. But I can alternate between both types without a problem. You may also notice how small the arrow keys are. At first I kept fumbling on them when playing games, but once again, you do get used to it. Surprisingly, this keyboard is only about 2cm thinner than a standard keyboard layout.

There is no adjustment for angle on this keyboard. Some people may not like this, but I personally found the angle already perfect for typing on. The action is lovely, it feels just like most good laptop keyboards do. There is enough sound for me to know I've pressed the key, without there being too much sound to be annoying. Here is an 82k sound clip of me typing some of this article, to give you an idea of how it sounds. It may sound like I'm randomly hitting keys on the keyboard, but scarily, I'm not!

If you have your computer in your bedroom, you may find the glow annoying. If you are like me, you turn your monitor off and leave your machine on over night. The glow is enough to keep your room fairly well lit and consequently keep you awake. Turning the keyboard over cuts out a lot of the light, but you get a UFO sort of effect on your desk. Putting a cloth over the keyboard cuts out all the light, and stops dust collecting in the keyboard.

If you are feeling adventurous, a nice mod would perhaps be to cut open the PS/2 cable and add a switch to power down the keyboard at night. Unplugging it of course, would be far too easy a solution....

Conclusion

The EluminX keyboard is very well made and if you find you can't see the keys when you are gaming in the dark, it should be right up your street. I don't particularly need a glowing keyboard, but it is generally so stylish that I have fallen in love with it. I have always found that keyboards and mice are overlooked when people build machines. Considering it's the keyboard you will be typing on most of the day, don't cheap out on a nasty keyboard.

At just under $80 this is quite a bit more expensive than an ordinary $20 keyboard. Only you can be the judge of whether it is worth the money.

Pro's

• Glows in the dark.
• Lovely to type on.
• Stylish.

Con's

• No ability to turn glow off.
• Quite expensive.
• No adjustment angle.
• Non standard key positions.

Spode

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