looking for backlight keyboards that are not machinical

I have been getting more into computer gaming lately and will be moving from my 2 bedroom apartment into a studio in a few months to be close to work so I can spend more time working on my game. I like to see my keys and turning on the light would keep my girlfriend up so I am thinking about getting a backlit keyboard.

For the most part I am finding mechanical keyboards. One notable exception is the Razer Deathstalker Ultimate but the perfect keyboard would have a keypad instead of the lcd screen and less grip area.

Are there any other high quality non mechanical keyboards that you can recommend?

 

Logitech's line up of gaming keyboards, aside from the G710+, are non-mechanical. I'd start there.

 

How is Logitech?

I hear good things about their gaming products but every logitech mouse I owned that cost over $50 broke in a year.

There were not gaming mice so maybe their products for gaming are higher quality than their business products?

 

I haven't used one of their mice in quite a while, but I've pretty much stuck completely with Logitech keyboards. I've yet to have one that didn't last at least as long as the warranty. I've had both cheap models, costing $20, and expensive models like the G510. I've been very satisfied with them.

I recently picked up their G710+ as my first experience with mechanical keyboards. Haven't had it long enough to really form much of an opinion aside from I like the feel of the Cherry MX Brown keys.

 

I took a look at them and g510 looks nice but between that and Deathstalker I think I would like the Deathstalker more.

I came across the steelseries apex gaming keyboard which looks really nice. Any opinions on stellseries?

 

Aside from generic OEMs, and an ancient IBM Model M keyboard, I've never used anything but Logitech.

 

I've had a couple of Logitech keyboards. A G15 that's still around which, from memory, is backlit but not especially evenly. I think the newer version(s) of it have improved in this regard.

I now have a pair (a work and a home) of 710+s, which are easily my favorite keyboards now. For what it's worth, after a bit of practice and wearing in it's not that loud, and I was genuinely surprised at how nice it is to type on. And the backlight is nice.

On the topic of longevity, aside from wireless stuff the three Logitech keyboards and many mice I've had have all lasted ages. The wireless mice have lasted the least at around 3 years, where it's still quite usable but the battery life is shorter than my longest gaming/dev sessions. I've got a wired mouse at work which is probably more than 5 years old now and still going strong. I can't remember how long I used the G15 for, but it would also have been three or more years... probably quite a bit more.

For a keyboard, anyway, my advice would be to find a shop where you can try them out, see what's comfortable for your hands. That's by far the most important thing. (In the long run a backlight becomes a useless gimmick, as you'll not have to look at the board anyway! It was useful for me a few years ago, too, though.)

Before backlit keyboards I used a well positioned gentle table lamp, which is also an option I recommend if you can't find a comfy keyboard that's lit up.

 

All my logitech mice have been wireless. Do wireless mice not last as long? Maybe I should stop buying wireless mice.

I had cheaper Logitech and Microsoft wireless keyboards and preferred the Microsoft ones but it was more because of the model and price. The Microsoft ones usually were cheaper and had lower keys. Never had issues with keyboards.

I decided to try out the steelseries keyboard and will get it tomorrow.

 

Well, what's been happening to them that you're replacing them so often?

Wireless mice require batteries, which degrade over time. I find that the battery degradation is the first thing to impact the usability of the mouse, though that of course applies mostly to long usage sessions.

A recent trend for wireless mice is to have optional cables. That's pretty awesome because it means when the battery wears out it's still a perfectly usable wired mouse. Also, you can charge it while still using it. With those two things in mind I expect my current one to last ages.

 

I've got an alienware tactx. It's a nice keyboard, but I don't know if you can actually buy it. I won mine at a conference a few years back.

I guess you can buy it:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...T&cid=262077&lid=4742363&acd=1230980731501410

 

Saitek's are pretty awesome. I have the predecessor to this one: http://www.amazon.com/Mad-Catz-PZ30AU-Eclipse-Keyboard/dp/B0007TJ7TE/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1423112904&sr=1-2&keywords=saitek keyboard

Mine's held up for 2 years so far, no problems. It can backlight in 3 different colors. I had a Logitech that died after about 18 months. Staying with Saitek now. Very comfortable to type on too.

 

they all used batteries. My issues with them is they would either stop sending the click signals, or randomly click etc.

 

I didnt know they made just keyboards

Never heard of them looks cool. Ill look at some more of there models.

 

Preferable tri color, white, or a cool color like blue or purple.

 

I got the apex gaming keyboard today and really like it so far. The keys are not as low as a laptop but they are easy to press and are not too noisy.