Ideazon Merc Stealth Illuminated Gaming Keyboard
by Ideazon
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List Price: Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Ideazon Merc Stealth Illuminated Gaming Keyboard
Customer Review: Nice Keyboard, Excelent Customer Service
Summary: 4 Stars
Love the Keyboard. I had a conflict with my Mother board and the Merc Stealth and the Ideazon Customer service was exemplary. Efficient and quick to get get back to me a trouble shoot the problem over the course of several days. I recommend this keyboard.Customer Review: Merc Stealth Gaming Keyboard
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very good keyboard for gaming and m/media work. PNP makes it easy to use. I completely recommend it.Customer Review: Fails as a standard keyboard
Summary: 3 Stars
After having used the Zboard for several years, I decided to give their new gaming keyboard a try. The one problem is that with the Zboard you have to switch the keyset out to have the functionality of a standard keyboard. Not a big deal if you are staying with it for a long period of time, but a pain to do on a regular basis. The Merc was designed to function as a gaming keyboard AND a standard keyboard. A great concept, and at first glance it looked like they had succeeded. Unfortunately, looks can be deceiving.
The keyboard contains a standard (sort of) keyboard with a numpad on the right. On the left is the gaming pad with a butterfly pad that replaces the WASD movement keys used in gaming. Surrounding the butterfly pad are all the standard keys used in gaming. The butterfly pad is slightly smaller than the one on the zboard and all the buttons are crowded closer together, but it gives you easier access to more keys including all the number keys in two rows directly in front of the butterfly pad. It takes some getting use to, but it is a good design.
Now for the bad. The first one is minor. The keyboard is quite a bit larger than a standard keyboard. If you us a keyboard tray or have limited space, it may not fit. I ended up having to turn it at an angle to use it. It was uncomfortable, but obviously something that really couldn't be avoided. The really bad part is unforgivable. They went through the trouble of creating a full size keyboard with a numpad and then put key functions onto keys on the numpad and no where else. There are not separate keys for Delete, Pg Up, Pg Down, Home, Insert, or End. You have to turn the numlock off to use those keys and back on to use the numbers. This may not sound bad at first, but wait until you use it for a while. I use the numpad for number all the time. Most people leave it on 24/7 365 days of the year. Now, if you are typing and need to delete something, you have to turn the numpad off. If it is numbers you have to delete and retype you are constantly having to turn the numlock on and off. If you are a hunter and pecker you may be well into something before you realize that you don't have the numlock set correctly, so instead of typing numbers you cursor is jumping all over the screen and maybe deleting several things along the way. It is frustrating beyond belief. There are also applications that use the plus and minus keys along with the home, End, Pg Up/Down keys, but the Plus/Minus keys need numlock on and the other keys need it off. It is so annoying. Such a stupid little design flaw ruins what would other wise be a great keyboard. For some people it may not be an issue, but if you use your keyboard for thing other than gaming you may become annoyed rather quickly. Maybe get this for gaming and have a second keyboard for your other work.
Customer Review: Good, but not Great
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought my first one of these keyboards, and the gamepad WASD keys would lock every few minutes, so my character would just run forward or sideways until I hit a wall. Not fun. Makes you really look like a noob. I had to bang on it or unplug it to make it work again.
I brought it back and got a new one, which didn't have that problem. Instead after a few days the lighting got screwed up and it won't change blue or violet anymore. I press the color button and I get either red, off, or red again. I don't even like red that much. The weird thing is that sometimes it will change color for a few minutes, and then blink back to red. So it's not completely broken, it just has attitude...
Also as one reviewer said, the paint or whatever lets the light come through the keys does rub off. Not easily though. My WASD keys on the gamepad are starting to blur, probably because of finger sweat, but it's hardly noticeable.
The best thing about this keyboard is the built in gamepad. There are no other keyboards that I have seen with both the gamepad and the backlighting. The built in feature is great, as I have a separate gamepad which is a real pain with some games because you have to export a profile, remap all the keys, etc. I originally got a gaming keyboard to play WoW, which it is GREAT for. Now I play Half Life 2 and Portal which it also works well for with a few minor key remaps (like suit zoom, last weapon, flashlight, etc.)
The USB, headphone and microphone jacks built into the keyboard are convienient too.
So buy this. But be sure to keep your receipt.
Customer Review: Stealth Keyboard...
Summary: 3 Stars
The HW is very nice and easy to use. I am an avid "changer of technology" when something cool comes out that can save on space and still retain a nice look. Yet, the software for this product is something to be desired... And the support for this product is anything but "user friendly". I've had this product for over a year and the potential fixes I received were basic and have not worked. I have not the time and effort to follow up with the manufaturer of this product (they have never followed up with my open case). At least that has been my experience. Overall, I like the look and feel of the product. I just wish the SW would back up the amazing HW, in this case.