The Saitek Eclipse II Keyboard offers excellent soft-touch keys and a decent selection of useful features. Saitek is known more for its gaming peripherals than its input devices, but the Eclipse II keyboard is a bit of both. For gamers and modders, as well as anyone who loves sporting a unique look, the Eclipse II features three different backlighting options that give the keyboard a cool glow.

With the Eclipse II, you can switch between blue, purple and red backlighting at the touch of a button. You can even reduce the backlight thanks to a convenient dimming wheel. This is more than just a gimmick. Sure, the lighting looks nifty when you first enter your darkened den or computer room, but it's a handy tool to have for typing in the dark.

Even with the lights on, the Eclipse II is a well-designed keyboard. The black laser-cut keys stand out nicely on the sturdy silver chassis, and it's very smooth to type on. This is a traditional keyboard with no ergonomic curves, but there's an attachable wrist rest that can be extended for users with large hands. The keyboard can also be elevated for a more comfortable typing angle.

The Eclipse II only has a few programmable hotkeys, but Saitek has included multimedia controls. These let you play and pause audio and video files, change tracks and adjust or mute the volume without your fingers leaving the keyboard. The Eclipse II's novel spacebar is thicker than a traditional spacebar, which makes it easier to hit.

The package doesn't include any software, as this keyboard is a USB device that you just plug in and start using. But it is more than just a glowing novelty. The Saitek Eclipse II is an extremely comfortable keyboard that looks and feels great for all kinds of users.


Pros: Unique look, very comfortable keys
Cons: Pricey

Warranty
2 years