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Product:
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Xenix Black Lighted PS/2 Keyboard |
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Price:
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$48 (CAN) / $35 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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The Cutting Edge
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Author:
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Shennon
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Date:
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April 29th, 2004
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Rating:
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Standard keyboards break up the keys using the basic alphabet set styled after the old typewriter format. Newer keys such as
Page Up and Home would sit below the arrow keys and the number pad on the far right. With the Xenix Black Lighted PS/2 Keyboard,
however, the Page Up, Down, Home and End have been moved right beside the Enter and Backspace keys with the arrows located below.
Once the keyboard is powered; the Number Lock, Caps Lock as well as the Scroll Lock LEDs are lit up using blue LEDs. Adjacent to
those keys is the On/Off switch that will activate the blue backlight.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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On the rear of the Xenix Black Lighted PS/2 Keyboard is white sticker that advises that this product
complies with Part 15 of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission, based in Washington, DC) rules, which concerns radio
frequency devices. More information on Part 15
can be found on the Federal Communications Commission website. On the bottom of the keyboard there are two fold out feet
which will put the keyboard on a slight incline. If the feet are not required, the keyboard will rest on all five rubber pads
designed to keep the keyboard from sliding around while in use, two on top, and three across the bottom.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Ultimately, the Xenix Black Lighted PS/2 Keyboard is all about the glow. Once the On/Off switch is pressed, the keyboard will
glow with a soft blue illumination. The blue illumination is not too bright to be distracting and all letters were distinguishable
during my testing. I did note that the 18 Hot Keys do not light up at all which would have been more suitable for this
type of product. In order to test the Xenix Black Lighted PS/2 Keyboard, I used standard desktop applications as well as gaming
programs. While testing the Pain Killer demo, I was able to move around freely without any difficulty, but using the arrow keys as
well as the Space bar for jumping was a bit of a challenge. Over time I should get proficient with the Xenix Black Lighted PS/2
Keyboard and use it with my main system.
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Conclusion:
The Xenix Black Lighted PS/2 Keyboard is a stylish looking component and during my evaluation it drew many positive comments
from friends and family. The location of the Enter key is frustrating at first until you get used to the new keyboard layout.
Once I got used to the keyboard, midnight surfing or online chatting was good and easy to use. The arrow keys are cramped and
too small for my liking but it all comes down to personal preference. Gaming on the Black Lighted PS/2 Keyboard was tough since
I am used to a wider more spacious layout. The keyboard connects directly to the back of any PC via a PS/2 port. I would have
liked to see a USB version in order to use this product with any USB based hub, KVM or front port extender. While the product
works as advertised I would have liked to see a better keyboard layout around the location of the arrow keys, Page keys and
Space Bar. Overall, I’m rating this product a 6.5 out of 10
and would recommend it to users looking for a budget multi-function keyboard with illumination capabilities. If you have any
questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Cutting Edge
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Electroluminescent Technology
- Quality construction
- Glowing keys
- Innovative design
- Able to turn off the backlight
- Blue LEDs
- Price
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Cons:
- Quick Access keys do not light up
- No USB support
- Not Gamer friendly due to cramped keyboard layout
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