Flexiglow Illuminated Keyboard

Extra features by titaniam · 2004-05-02 07:37 · Score: 5, Funny

Comes with a bottle of spf 45 sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses as well.

Re:Extra features by emplynx · 2004-05-02 07:38 · Score: 2, Funny

Yeah, I bet that would be hard to use in the dark because it's so bright.

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-Tim
Re:Extra features by x0n · 2004-05-02 07:53 · Score: 4, Funny

At least I can get an all-over "CRT tan" now; this will get to those hard to reach spots under the chin.

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PGP KeyId: 0x08D63965

How often do you look at you keyboard? by DAldredge · 2004-05-02 07:39 · Score: 5, Insightful

How often do you look at your keyboard? I rarely look down at my keyboard when I am typing. I mean, it isn't that hard to learn to type.

Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by NotAnotherReboot · 2004-05-02 07:42 · Score: 4, Interesting

I concur...on top of that, do you really want your keyboard distracting you if you don't ever look at it? On top of that, even if you did need to look down from time to time, the only time you wouldn't be able to see it is at night (and even then, your monitor would probably illuminate it enough).

You shouldn't be using a computer in the dark anyways, the contrast between the sceen and the wall is far too high. It hurts your vision.
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by P-Nuts · 2004-05-02 07:47 · Score: 5, Interesting

You shouldn't be using a computer in the dark anyways, the contrast between the sceen and the wall is far too high. It hurts your vision.

You're clearly not a true geek.
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by bob_jordan · 2004-05-02 07:48 · Score: 5, Funny

Its not about usability, its about getting an all round tan. My three monitor setup works well but I've been looking a little pale under the chin. This is just what I've been looking for.

Bob.
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by Meneudo · 2004-05-02 07:51 · Score: 2, Insightful

True, you don't need to look down at your keyboard when you are typing. But there are times when you just need to press a couple of buttons and it isn't worth it to sit down and/or orient yourself.

Sometimes, during the night, when I am typing, its kind of nice to be able to hit Command-Open without having to figure out where you are on the keyboard. Apply this to multimedia keys and Fkeys as well.

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Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by Bozdune · 2004-05-02 08:03 · Score: 4, Insightful

On my desktop? Never. On my laptop? A lot, everything is ctrl-meta-mumbled due to lack of space. But this product doesn't help me, because the whole point of the laptop is not to have to carry around a keyboard (or anything else, for that matter, with the possible exception of a mouse).

But if somebody shipped a LAPTOP with an illuminated keyboard -- now you're talking. As long as battery life doesn't go to hell, that is. I know, the light could be turned on with a keystroke... shit, never mind.
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by toasted_calamari · 2004-05-02 08:11 · Score: 4, Informative

Apple ships their 15" and 17" laptops with illuminated keyboards. I've used them, and they work really well. Only the print on the keys light up, rather than the entire key like the flexiglow. It doesn't appear to kill the batteries to badly, and the light and screen intensity are controlled automatically by light sensors.

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Let's make a difference
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by silverfuck · 2004-05-02 08:19 · Score: 2, Informative

If you read the article (okay, okay, I know this is slashdot), then you would find that there is a switch for turning off the illumination when you want to get a (rare) couple of hours kip at night.

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You know you've been IMing too long when you almost say 'lol' out loud to a non-geeky friend...
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by linzeal · 2004-05-02 08:32 · Score: 3, Informative

I use a USB light when I am computing in dimly lit bars or on trains at night with my laptop. I actually use it oddly enough when working on my server as well because it makes reading the steel imprinted letters on PCI cards easy as it sticks in one place as opposed to a flashlight where I have to hold it in my teeth like a metal dildo or nestle it between my shoulder and neck uncomfortably. Nevr thought you would use those USB ports on your server, think again.

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An Education is the Font of All Liberty
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by localhost00 · 2004-05-02 08:35 · Score: 2, Funny

I have to look at my keyboard every 5 to 10 seconds bevause I make sutoif tyuopes idf I fom;r.

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Calling atheism and agnosticism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by Martin+Kallisti · 2004-05-02 08:55 · Score: 4, Informative

IBM's X31 laptops, and probably most others in the same series, come with a little light installed at the top of the screen, which can be switched on to illuminate the keyboard if in darkness. It is not nearly as pretty as Apple's Powerbook solution, but it works well enough.
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-02 09:15 · Score: 2, Funny

Wouldn't it be cool if a few well known keys just had some kind of mark on them you could just feel for. That way you wouldn't have to see the keyboard to know which keys your fingers were over.

Quick, Microsoft patent this!
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by Lumpy · 2004-05-02 12:35 · Score: 2, Insightful

I've tried the kinds of lighted keyboards and they completely suck compared to the Apple and IBM versions in the laptops which only light the type like you are talking about..

Why cant they make a REAL keyboard with quality keys and lit key cap markings??

these "rubber" keyboards suck to type on. they dont feel right and get really grubby looking quickly.

for a really expensive keyboard they are crap.... although I use a Macintosh USB keyboard with all my systems, as the Intel keyboards are utter crap compared to it.

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Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by los+furtive · 2004-05-02 13:39 · Score: 3, Funny

... as opposed to a flashlight where I have to hold it in my teeth like a metal dildo...

Where I come from a) flashlights don't vibrate b) dildos don't go in the mouth.
Sorry, couldn't resist replying to a post like that ;-)

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I'm a writer, a poet, a genius, I know it. I don't buy software, I grow it.
Re:How often do you look at you keyboard? by superyooser · 2004-05-02 15:07 · Score: 2, Interesting

If you have an optical mouse, you can lift it up and use it as a flashlight to see something. Of course, it's not nearly as nifty as that USB light.

nice! by Sophrosyne · 2004-05-02 07:40 · Score: 3, Insightful

Anything with the word Flexi in it must be good!
I wonder how much the guy had to pay Slashdot for the blatant ad?

What are you relaly lighting up? by pierced2x · 2004-05-02 07:41 · Score: 5, Funny

Just what I need, something to light up all my chip crumbs and small bits of Hot Pocket on the keyboard...

Thank you Flexiglow for making this review possibl by DAldredge · 2004-05-02 07:41 · Score: 5, Interesting

"Thank you Flexiglow for making this review possible" is at the bottom of the first page, is there any wonder they gave the unit a 5 out of 5?

Dunno about you guys... by jacobhoupt · 2004-05-02 07:43 · Score: 3, Insightful

but I have issues with articles which are sponsored by the item being reviewed. Oh, and if you need an illuminated keyboard, you should probably really start thinking about small flourescent investments.

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-- the only good thing the French ever did was two chicks at one time

Re:Dunno about you guys... by SuperBanana · 2004-05-02 08:48 · Score: 2, Interesting

but I have issues with articles which are sponsored by the item being reviewed
You just described 99.5% of the "hardware review" sites. If it's not freebies, it's "we'd like it back but we won't ever call to find out why you never returned it". If not that, it's "if you don't say something nice about product X, you won't get to review anything from us again".
My favorite are the sites which claim they "return everything they review". Says who? Like they wouldn't lie about it. Like the manufacturers wouldn't lie about it. Maybe they're just getting paid cash instead. Every single site also sells advertisements for everything they review; why, look at these guys...there's an ad for the keyboard from one of the billion useless-PC-mods stores right there on the same page.
Magazines aren't any different. I once spoke to a gent who makes automotive software, and a certain car magazine said they'd put him in the "editor's gadgets pick", if he bought 10,000 reprints (and they turned out to be hideously expensive per-page) AND he had to take out a 6 issue advertisement contract. They got him coming, staying, and going.

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Please help metamoderate.

I like these... by Cyno01 · 2004-05-02 07:43 · Score: 4, Interesting

I've been drooling over EL keyboards ever since i saw the EluminX, and will probably get a knockoff for my next system, but when is somone going to make a full keyboard. By full i mean a seperate block for the arrow keys, the 3x2 block of insert/home/delete etc. and a little seperation betweek the main section and the F keys. It sucks for gaming having the arrow keys in with everything else.

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"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."

Re:I like these... by smallfries · 2004-05-02 07:53 · Score: 2, Interesting

These do look nice, but the killer feature on a keyboard for me would be a built in trackball somewhere near the middle of the main key area. The reason that I avoid using the mouse a lot is that the latency of getting my hands from over the main keys to the mouse and back is so high, having a trackball under a thumb would be ideal.

I saw one (can't remember the name or link) once that had an oversized space-bar with a trackball in it but it was ps/2 and only had windows drivers. Ahh to dream of such a beast that would work under linux....

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Re:I like these... by wfberg · 2004-05-02 08:07 · Score: 2, Informative

These do look nice, but the killer feature on a keyboard for me would be a built in trackball somewhere near the middle of the main key area. The reason that I avoid using the mouse a lot is that the latency of getting my hands from over the main keys to the mouse and back is so high, having a trackball under a thumb would be ideal.

Not exactly in the arrow-key area, but it does have "IBM model-M" clickety-click buckling springs.. Available in PS/2 and serial.

Unicomp on the Ball.

Or perhaps you enjoy a keyboard with a clit?

This one has a trackball below the space bar. Or you could get a keyboard without numeric pad and place a trackball where the numeric pad would be. Perhaps buy a separate numeric keypad to go next to the trackball (or on your left, if you're lefthanded).

Or a keyboard with a touchpad?

Or steal a 1U keyboard/trackball drawer from your work's datacenter?

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SCO employee? Check out the bounty

Glowing keyboard by The_Mystic_For_Real · 2004-05-02 07:43 · Score: 2, Insightful

I would imagine that most computer users who read /. can type and not look at the keyboard at the same time. This would make random keyboard lights somewhat unwanted. There also seems to be a possibility of it reflecting from the monitor and just being annoying.

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Thank you.

This is not new. by eagle8635 · 2004-05-02 07:45 · Score: 5, Informative

I think this product is new, but the concept of a lighted keyboard is not new, they have been selling one on Think Geek for years.

Re:Thank you Flexiglow for making this review poss by modder · 2004-05-02 07:45 · Score: 5, Funny

The "1" "2" "3" and "4" keys were not illuminated at the time this was written, due to a "malfunction".

My keyboard is so much cooler by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-02 07:46 · Score: 3, Funny

My keyboard glows in a weird spotty pattern under an ultraviolet light.

I showed my friend, and for some reason he refuses to type on it now. Actually, he refuses to touch anything in my room. Or shake my hand.

Programmable glowing keyboards... by Aphrika · 2004-05-02 07:49 · Score: 3, Interesting

Slightly off topic, but I remember hearing about the Apple TiBook 17" having a keyboard which glowed different colours for various alerts.

Has anyone ever come across any programmables keyboards or USB devices which change colour? Something like the Mathmos Aduki would be cool if you could use it as a pervasive computing device. Do they exist, did I dream about them, or am I going to have to build my own?

Seriously? by wastaz · 2004-05-02 07:50 · Score: 3, Insightful

The guy submitting this was "BigMan". The author of the review is "BigMan". The keyboard type looks exactly the same as the one that you can buy on thinkgeek (www.thinkgeek.com). "Plz click the images". Iono, I want my reviews to at least use real english. Otherwise the review was quite well written, seriously though...if you take the time to write a decent review why destroy it by going "plz click image" and coming off like a script kiddie?

Pron! by MysticalMatt517 · 2004-05-02 07:50 · Score: 2, Funny

Great, now everyone can surf for their porn in the dark!

Why? by 0xC0FFEE · 2004-05-02 07:51 · Score: 2, Insightful

Why go to the trouble and expense of producing an illuminated keyboard (really a specialised item) and not offer other useful features like, oh I don't know, USB connectivity (imagine firewire!), smooth light control (on/off only??), ambiant light auto-detection...

keyboard review by SlashReality · 2004-05-02 07:51 · Score: 5, Insightful

As far as reviews go I'd have to say I found that to be fairly good. It described the size, use, what comes in the package etc. However what was lacking is what the actual Slashdot Article heading describes as "how bright it is". They say "It is really bright!" So...is it distracting? Can you see the keys if you forget where % or ^ is?

"It has 18 multimedia keys squeezed into this tiny keyboard to make your surfing even easier." So are they hard to push? Is it easy to find the correct button and only push that one button? Another gripe I have is that they did not reference the size to something universal such as a quarter or pencil in their picture showing it's size. However I liked their description of how it felt to type on the keys, and that it was quiet instead of making that clicky noise. I think I'm going to invest in one of these sometime soon, but I can't say it will be soley based on this review.

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"/"Reality

Advertising space for sale, err... for free. by saunabad · 2004-05-02 07:52 · Score: 3, Insightful

Excuse me, but what the fuck is the point with this story? Considering there are many illuminated keyboards around, how is this anything else but a free advertisement for this product?

Tips for newbie "reviewers" by SuperBanana · 2004-05-02 07:53 · Score: 5, Insightful

Ok, obviously this is your first (does the Dr. Evil quotes thing) "review", so here's a tip or two.

change first-person pronouns to third person pronouns in the marketing drivel you received from the manufacturer which you have cut+pasted into your "review".
Spell-check your article so you don't do moronic things like mis-spell "bright". Don't forget proper punctuation. Both will help you appear to be more than just the 2 16-year-olds you are.
you don't need to "thank" the manufacturer. They're plenty happy that you wrote a glowing(if badly spelled) review and will let you keep the keyboard.
Invent something, anything, to complain about, no matter how trivial, to give the paper-thin illusion of impartialness.

I would suspect that the only reason this got posted was because ThinkGeek sells the same keyboard, or one very close to it- I know because they heavily advertise it here on slashdot. It is pathetic that this was considered front-page news.

Aside from that- god, these knock-offs suck compared to Apple's. I have a powerbook 17", and the backlit keyboard only glows around through letters/numbers/symbols(a teeny bit leaks from between the keys). From what I recall it's either one or two LEDs with fiber optics to distribute the light evenly. Works perfectly, and it even sets its own brightness level...none of these knock-offs even have a brightness adjustment.

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Please help metamoderate.

Re:Tips for newbie "reviewers" by Osty · 2004-05-02 08:00 · Score: 2, Informative

One more tip: If you're going to submit your own review to Slashdot, try to write a separate blurb than simply the first paragraph of your review. This is doubly important if you're submitting someone else's review and not your own. Also, if it's your own review, it's a good idea to state that in your submission.
Re:Tips for newbie "reviewers" by The+Taco+Prophet · 2004-05-02 08:50 · Score: 2, Insightful

My eyes! The goggles, they do nothing!
Seeing little abbreviations like 'plz' makes baby Jesus cry when I see them used in instant messages... but in a review?
Something like a review strikes me as being at least somewhat formal. You expect people to read it and form opinions based on your experience with the product. Is it so much to ask that you invest a little time to write carefully, spell out entire words, and run a spell-check?

Apple does a much better job of this. by MisterLawyer · 2004-05-02 07:54 · Score: 3, Interesting

Their 15 and 17 inch Powerbooks have fiber optic backlit keyboards.

From the Apple website:
Futuristic Backlit Keyboard:
The 17-inch PowerBook features a fiber optic backlit keyboard that's right out of the future. Built-in light sensors automatically adjust the keyboard illumination and your screen's brightness based on the available ambient light.

News? by wan-fu · 2004-05-02 07:57 · Score: 4, Insightful

News for Nerds. Stuff that matters. This article was a product review of a pointless device. Slow news day, editors?

only one color by SuperBanana · 2004-05-02 08:01 · Score: 4, Informative

I remember hearing about the Apple TiBook 17" having a keyboard which glowed different colours for various alerts.

I'm typing on one right now, and the only color it does is white. It's one(or two, I can't remember) LEDs connected to the keyboard via fiber optics. The LEDs are on the right side, either under or next to the keyboard.

Brightness is controlled by software that polls two ambient light sensors under the speaker grilles; it doesn't even come on unless it gets fairly dark. You "train" the display and keyboard backlights over time; it learns what ambient light level equals what adjustment. The backlight actually can make the letters/numbers the same "brightness" as light reflected off the keyboard, making them essentially disappear, which is a little odd.

The keyboard backlighting is great for planes, dark meeting rooms, etc...but beyond that it's a novelty. The automatic screen backlight adjustment is actually much more useful. If you get tired of it you can even set it back to manual...

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Please help metamoderate.

...making very nice modd products. by DrLZRDMN · 2004-05-02 08:02 · Score: 2, Funny

I modddedd my keyboardd to have to dd's.
-DDRLZRDDMN

Compgeeks has these cheap by Jack+William+Bell · 2004-05-02 08:06 · Score: 2, Informative

Compgeeks has these for 22.95. I bought this one several months ago and am quite happy with it.

The only thing is; they don't have the Flexikey logo. Other than that they are exactly the same, right down to the graphics on the special function buttons across the top.

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- -
Are you an SF Fan? Are you a Tru-Fan?

Why blue? by Sarojin · 2004-05-02 08:12 · Score: 3, Interesting

Studies have shown that blue is the colour the human eyes are the least able to focus on. I assume the reason that this keyboard is illuminated is so that you can see the letters (not for touch typists), so choosing pretty much any other colour would have been better. As well, different colours of EL-wire cost no more than blue :/

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HOW'S MY POSTING? CALL 1-800-POSTING

no thanks by frovingslosh · 2004-05-02 08:13 · Score: 2, Insightful

Well, with this keyboard you certainly need it illuminated, they moved all the keys around! No wonder they think you need it lit up to find stuff! Just look at the picture, the normal center cluster of keys has vanished and extra keys have been crammed into the right side of the main keyboard.

I do need to see my keyboard on occasion to find some of the less ferquently used keys. Maybe someday I'll get around to installing a light or two under the desk above the keyboard drawer. Or I'll buy a well done lighted keyboard. But it will have to have the keys in a somewhat standard layout, not be this painfully awkward layout where the enter key isn't even the rightmost key in the third row up.

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I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.

yeah, cute, whatever by jjeffries · 2004-05-02 08:14 · Score: 2, Informative

You could get one of these to sit on your desk and, err, light up, or you might prefer a keyboard that you can actually type on...

in that case, I suggest you acquire a man's keyboard, the IBM model M. Springs hold your fingers up so you don't get carpal-tunnel in 10 minutes like with a mushboard, and you can use it as a very effective weapon, should it come down to it. But I suspect that I am preaching to the choir.

Eluminx Keyboard by jmke · 2004-05-02 08:16 · Score: 3, Insightful

I had an Eluminux keyboard for test one year ago. I you have your keyboard sitting in front of your screen you won't really find any advantages, and it makes it annoying when watching movies in the dark.

But when you have it in a setup where otherwise you are unable to see the keys, these keyboards are magic, LANparties spring to mind, although these keyboards are more compact (like a laptop keyboard) and if you use the arrow keys for gaming, you are out of luck.

Keyblocked by kEnder242 · 2004-05-02 08:26 · Score: 2, Insightful

How well does it stress test with multiple keys pressed?

I've found that every keyboard I've owned, (besides this CHERRY(tm) and an old giveaway) always keyblock me when I use the keypad. Since I heavily use the keypad in my gaming config I'd like to know if I can jump and fire (9 & 0) at the same time.

Does USB fix this?

Anyone remember starcon2 melee? It had a nice utility that reports the keys pressed so you can find the ones with conflicting scancodes.

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my associative arrays can kick your hash - TCL

Re:it would be cool.. by TeknoHog · 2004-05-02 08:32 · Score: 4, Interesting

make every button programmable, so it could be used as an audio spectrum visualisation or something.

I agree this would be awesome. Also, a program to teach touch typing might use this to illuminate a key you need to find, thus you'd more easily find and learn the positions of keys.

In fact many many programs would benefit if they could illuminate the keys used at any moment. I'm sure this is already done in touchscreen systems. Then again, a programmably illuminated keyboard is a kind of touchscreen in itself. If it were available, I'm sure someone could hack it into a display console of some kind. For example, you could pipe text into it by illuminating letters in succession.

However, as a touch typist and a Discordian I don't want anything of the Illuminati kind on my desk ;-)

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Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.

EluminX pending law suit by adzoox · 2004-05-02 08:40 · Score: 2, Informative

After trying to geta Mac version of the eluminX keyboard (the 1st company to market illuminated keyboards) - I found out that they were granted a patent on the illuminated keyboard - using luminous material.

If you notice, they haven't released a USB version - I have been made aware that they will be seeking an injunction against ALL knockoffs before they release the new version.

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Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny

Re:But is it washable? by lazypenguingirl · 2004-05-02 08:59 · Score: 2, Informative

I have an eluminX which I absolutely adore. My guy friends hate my keyboard because it seems smaller than normal ones, but for my small hands it's perfect. It's a very lightweight keyboard which is very comfortable for me to perch on my knees with my feet kicked up on my desk. (yah, great keyboarding habits, i know). Bright lights really hurt my eyes, so although I don't work at the computer in the dark, my light conditions are generally dim. Dim lighting is good for gaming too (reduces glare off the screen for me), and my hand-position when gaming isn't normal typing position, so being able to periodically glance at the keyboard really helps. About the cleaning.... I am bad about eating at the computer. I've gotten much much crud in my keyboard. For the most part, I just pull out my can of compressed air and that takes care off most of the crumbs. As far as visible spills (dripped ice cream), I can see them and spot clean with a q-tip, and in general I can still just give it a good wipe-down. There was one time I had a crumb under a key that got wedged, and prying the key off and reseating it wasn't a really big deal at all. I've never put a keyboard in the sink, if that's what you're getting at, but these keyboards work just fine with my normal cleaning protocols. :/

Re:How about F-keys with software-controlled LEGEN by BrK · 2004-05-02 09:35 · Score: 2, Informative

You must not've been around much in the DOS days. Print Screen did actually used to do exactly that. Now it is just used (in Windows at least) to grab an image of the screen to the clipboard.

As far as keys with custom text, Preh makes an LCD button switch that has a (IIRC) 64x64 pixel tiny LCD on it. I have looooong wanted to get ahold of some of these keys to build a custom keypad, but never seem to actually find a distributor that returns calls. Online ordering would be great, but I have never found them anywhere.

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All we need now ... by elronxenu · 2004-05-02 11:52 · Score: 2, Funny

... is a Model M that lights up :-)

Re:Mirror , just in case by blincoln · 2004-05-02 12:05 · Score: 4, Insightful

While you may be legitimately trying to provide some help here, I am starting to get the impression that your account was made for karma whoring and/or trying to advertise your business, given that you've done this with every single front page story today as far as I can tell.

Mirroring people's content without their permission is probably not something they would take kindly to. I know that I would rather have the site I run go down than be sitting on a webserver I have no control over.

This is also a site which depends on advertising revenue. It may be a ghetto mod site whose writers have a poor grasp of spelling and grammar, but it is still unethical to deprive them of their ad fees by leeching away their viewers to your mirror.

Finally, the site is holding up just fine. I don't see any reason for a mirror to be necessary at all.

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Flexiglow Illuminated Keyboard

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