SteelSeries Zboard Gaming Keyboard
by SteelSeries
List Price:
Our Price: $44.99
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Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: SteelSeriesPlatform: PlayStation2
Model: PW1USE1-B3ZBD01
Color: Black/Silver
Product features:
- SteelSeries Z Engine allows full customization of each key
- Special gaming key area
- Pre-defined profiles for more than 150 games
- Interchangeable Keysets
- Anti-ghosting capability: Up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes
- 2 port built-in USB hub
- Internal hub with 2 USB ports
- Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)
- Mavis Beacon Typing 17 [OLD VERSION]
- Norton Antivirus 2010 1-User [OLD VERSION]
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard [OLD VERSION]
- Roxio Creator 2010 [OLD VERSION]
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of SteelSeries Zboard Gaming Keyboard
Customer Review: Versatile Keyboard with small learning curve
Summary: 5 Stars
I got the Zboard a few weeks ago after I saw they finally had divers for Vista (It didn't when I got my PC, so had to use the Fang gaming pad before that). I also got the Tabula Rasa & Guild Wars keyboards from Amazon & ordered an out of print gaming keyboard & 2 business keyboards from the Ideazon site.
First, I had no problems with the Ideazon site. Found the Vista driver (not on the CD) and Warrantee info (1 year on keyboards & Gaming Keyboard inserts if you have the receipt & don't peal off the keyboard label.). Their site is well laid out, so I don't know what the complaints are, unless they are old reviews & the Ideazon site has changed since then. I also found they had keyboards for Business programs like DreamWeaver, Excel & Photoshop. I thought I'd try something I knew very well (Excel) and something I knew enough to get by (DreamWeaver) but more on them later.
The keyboard comes with 2 inserts, a "normal" keyboard and a gaming one. The normal keyboard has all the expected keys, but seems like the keys are about 10% closer together, so it takes some minor getting used to. It also has a bunch of functions at the top, like Sound +/- & mute, and instant start programs like calculator, notepad, e-mail, chat, Web browser, Ideazon site & Zboard key changer. After a day my typing speed returned to normal getting used to the compression. The keys have the same top surface area, but are less pyramid like at the base, so may not accumulate as much dust. Even if it does, it's an easy thing to shake off the keyboard.
They gaming keyboard put something like the Fang on the left side, removed the 10 key pad, causing me to purchase an USB 10 key pad to plug into one of 2 USB ports in the keyboard, since I used that for gaming a lot. There is also a weird break in the middle, separating the B from the N by at least 2 key spaces. Also the Tab is tiny and the Cap lock huge, so typing can be an experience. Have not recovered my typing speed on this, and resorted to "hunt & peck" on a few occasions. But I want to game more than type, so it's not a big deal. (I always manage to get myself killed if chatting too much during gaming, and if chatting is my objective, I can swap out the keyboards in less than a minute, even in the middle of a game.) I'm not sure this is better than my old keyboard with a Fang, except Vista has stopped crashing while gaming, which it used to do on occasion with the Fang. So it is at least as good.
Tabula Rasa has a normal keyboard with special keys in the num pad area, plus the letter keys list what they do above the letters. I like this a lot except I used unused keys to turn on the Fang, and the keys in that position have weapon switch listed on them, which is a problem with the game Tabula Rasa, not the keyboard. I hate mouse navigation.
The business keyboards were a delight. Excel has everything I knew how to do, but saved me keystrokes, instead I could type an Alt or Ctrl letter or such for the commands. Very nice & I picked up on it instantly. DreamWeaver had the keys labeled so I knew how to do stuff I was too lazy to research, and just fixed in HTML because it was easier than learning how DreamWeaver did it! Excellent! I am planning to get one on Photoshop, which I know nothing about & use a less featured graphics program instead of buying a manual to teach me how to use this powerful program.
The Guild Wars keyboard I purchased works well. The only problem I had, was one time I snapped it into place without having it lined up correctly (which wasn't easy for me to do. Really had to force that lock.) and the only problem it gave me was a slow response time. Other than that one time, it has faster than normal keyboard response time, lets me easily switch my powers, has a row that can be made into often used emotes, has excellent movement keys including turning, and everything has lables to remind me what it does. The num pad is replaced by movement keys & keys to bring up windows, like your armor, or stuff in your bags.
Not all gaming keyboards have normal keys. Civilization has well over 100 circular keys. I plan to get this one too.
So, changing keyboards take almost no time & pulls up the programming that goes with that keyboard. You can create sets of macros for keyboards & easily save them & the response time is very fast if the keyboard is in correctly. The only problem I see is that I want to get every keyboard they make for every program I have or might get.
I like this a lot.
Description of SteelSeries Zboard Gaming Keyboard
Master applications and games more quickly and easily with the revolutionary Zboard keyboard system. The Zboard Gaming Keyboard works with any of the Zboard keyboard interfaces. USB keyboard with Dual USB Ports. Includes 1 Gaming Keyset and 1 standard keyset with an internet explorer feature set.Digital Cameras and Photo Categories
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