Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ideazon ZBoard Customizable Gaming Keyboard Review

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the now-thats-just-strange dept.

An anonymous user submitted a review of the ZBoard Gaming Keyboard. You really ought to check this one out just to see how nuts it is. It has custom plates with keys that are movable and... well just look at it. I can't decide if its pure genius or just ridiculous.

8 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Doesn't look too comfortable to me. by Cave+Dweller · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Took for a while for TFA to load, but it looks really awkward to me. Besides, how many keys and configuration options do you *really* need to play CS/BF2/Whatever it is? LMB, RMB, Space, Ctrl are pretty much sufficient, at least IMHO.

    1. Re:Doesn't look too comfortable to me. by HTL2001 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      gestures with the mouse would be more problematic - ever played Black and White (I did get good at the gestures but still, they are hard to use in heat-of-battle situations)

      The MMO I play (Ragnarok online) has somewhat of a solution for this - it has 3 rows of 10 hotkeys, and a mode in which the letter rows corrospond to all of the spells on all of the hotkey rows. Its quite easy to put everything (for a wizard, even with different spell levels) on the first 5 keys of each row, and then everything is very accessable without moving your hand around much.

      --
      By reading this, you have given me brief control of your mind.
  2. genius or ridiculous? by engagebot · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This thing has been around for a while, and as for your question... the latter is true. Its ridiculous.

    People keep trying this custom keyboard stuff, and it never takes hold.

    --
    Han shot first.
  3. Cost by xXBondsXx · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Things like this just add to the cost of being a hardcore gamer. Lets say you get:
    (all prices from amazon)
    Zboard: 40.84
    COD2 keyset: 18.99
    BF2 keyset: (unavailable price but probably around 18.99)
    COD2 directors edition: 59.99
    BF2: 44.99
    Fatal1ty mouse: 49.99

    total price: $233.79. And that's JUST for mouse + keyboard and games, not to mention new graphics card etc etc.

    This is why I think more hardcore gamers will go over to systems like the xbox 360. Get the system, xbox live, and a microphone and you're set - everything else is skill. Back in the days where you could program your own buyscripts for counter-strike, advantages were at no addition cost. Now it's getting expensive... hard to imagine a teen blowing all that money just to play at the top level.

    The keyboard itself would be very usefull for games like Warcraft 3 or Battlefield 2 (playing as the commander) where you have many different key combinations. I imagine it would be hard to switch from typing to gaming on the fly though. For games like COD2 though, I can't see how this keyboard would offer an advantage.
    Nice to show off at LANS, but unless you a big wallet, I'd stick with your 10 year old IBM keyboard.

    Zboard at amazon.com... link appears to be broken
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002H7F3G/sr=1-1 /qid=1137519621/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5603418-8999209?_ encoding=UTF8/

    --
    The voice of the next generation. "In this tower, in my mind..." Babble - Tower
  4. Life Saver by Sabot98 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If you have not used this keyboard you don't know what you are missing. I got sick and tired of pressing the tilda or caps lock key while I was trying to gun down some dude in BF2 or Call of Duty. This keyboard removes those keys from under your fingers giving you just the keys you need. It is a great gaming keyboard. I have had no problems using the keyboard, and I did not even have to use the software that came with the keyboard. I just plugged it in and off I went. If you are tilda and caps lock challenged, this keyboard is a life saver.

  5. There are MUCH better options, like... by wernst · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So you want a programmable keyboard for gaming? One that's ergonomically shaped for your left hand? One that works on PCs and Macs via USB? One that also comes with a mouse-wheel-like device that's also programmable? And has a d-pad positioned correctly (under your thumb), which is itself also programmable?

    And costs around $30? And lets you keep your existing keyboard for, you know, typing text?

    Then you want a Nostromo N52 from Belkin. Pure gaming heaven.

    Between it and my Logitech MX510 mouse, a Mouse Bungee, and LogiGamer, I'm in gaming heaven, and I get to keep my 15-year old IBM Model M keyboard and 15-year old Apple Extended I keyboard for thumping out articles.

  6. Re:Eh, if you need something nifty by clueboy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Ditto. I have used the Nostromo for years, and I cannot imagine a more useful device for gaming. Not only is it great for games, but that fact that it has a launcher that detects the application/game and loads a custom profile for that application makes it extremely useful for things like Photoshop, or any other program where custom keymaps would benefit.

  7. Genius-- by scott_karana · · Score: 2, Interesting

    These things truly would be pure genius if only there were keyboard layouts for typists: a keyboard that could swap QWERTY for Dvorak or AZERTY would be a god-send in my household.