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A keyboard is no exception as Flexiglow demonstrates with their Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard. Flexiglow claims that the translucent keys provide a soothing background light that prevents eyestrain created when staring at CRT monitors. Therefore, a lighted keyboard might be of interest to those users that like to work in the dark as well. </p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/keyboard/3.jpg"><img src="atruereview/keyboard/3th.jpg" width="250" height="109" alt="Flexiglow Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"><strong>Packaging:</strong></p> <p align="left">Flexiglow actually sent us two products: the Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard and the Fx Game Pad, that will be discussed later in another review. To protect both, Styaform sheets are used in the top and bottom of the box.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/keyboard/1.jpg"><img src="atruereview/keyboard/1th.jpg" width="250" height="214" alt="Flexiglow Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left">The keyboard box is wrapped in bubble wrap for added protection.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/keyboard/2.jpg"><img src="atruereview/keyboard/2th.jpg" width="250" height="118" alt="Flexiglow Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left"><strong>Specifications:</strong></p> <p align="left">Specifications listed below can be found on <a href="http://www.flexiglow.com/">Flexglow's web site</a>.</p> <ul> <li>Input power - 5V +/- 5% 250mA</li> <li> Keyboard cable - 180cm long</li> <li> Keyboard Weight - 570 grams</li> <li> Keyboard dimensions - 150(L) x 390(W) x 30(H) mm </li> <li> EL life span - 60 000 hours</li> <li> Fully compatible with Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/NT.</li> <li> FCC and CE compliant.</li> </ul> <p align="left"><strong>Features:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Translucent keys </li> <li> Electro-Luminescent lighting panel that illuminates the translucent keyboard keys</li> <li>PS/2 Interface </li> <li>Key numbers 105/106 </li> <li> 18 Multimedia keys </li> <li> Soft tactile feedback </li> <li> Luminescence power switch: On/Off </li> <li> Compatible with all Windows operating systems</li> </ul> <p align="left"><b>Description:</b></p> <p align="left">Opening the keyboard box reveals the Illuminated Keyboard Wrapped in plastic. Flexiglow secures their keyboard very well from damage that may occur.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/keyboard/4.jpg"><img src="atruereview/keyboard/4th.jpg" width="250" height="152" alt="Flexiglow Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left">At the top of the keyboard are Windows shortcut buttons. These small, round rubber buttons are used to open the start menu, E-Mail, and web browser. Buttons to control audio, CDs and web browsing functions are also at the top of the keyboard. If you do not have Windows 2000 or XP than a floppy disk is included to add this functionality to Windows 98 and NT 4. Other than those buttons, the rest of the buttons are like your standard keyboard buttons. </p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/keyboard/5.jpg"><img src="atruereview/keyboard/5th.jpg" width="250" height="103" alt="Flexiglow Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left">Naturally, this keyboard has a slant from back to front for an ergonomic feel. There are no tabs to push in to remove the slant. If you are putting the keyboard in a keyboard tray or do not like your keyboard to slant from back to front, then you are out of luck. </p> <p align="left"><strong>Usage:</strong></p> <p align="left">Flexiglow's keyboard is small. I have big hands so it was very hard for me to type on it. The problem areas for me were: a Spacebar that is only 3 inches wide, a small Enter key, and a backspace key that is the same size as a normal key. What can I say, I make typing errors all the time and need a big Backspace key.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/keyboard/6.jpg"><img src="atruereview/keyboard/6th.jpg" width="250" height="159" alt="Flexiglow Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left">Since this keyboard is small, I let my girlfriend type on it for a bit. Her hands are probably half the size of mine. She indicated some of the same problems existed; too small of a backspace key and a small space bar.</p> <p align="left">The keyboard is feels like those you find on a laptop. Its keys feel very soft when typing. Many of us have our favorites between soft or hard style of keys. I like the feed back of a hard key. There is a little curvature to Flexiglow's keys unlike some laptop keyboard's I have seen. The keys are flatter than standard keyboards and do not push down as far as a regular keyboard. If you are a typist who tends to push the keys harder or likes the feel of curved keys, this keyboard could annoy you. There is a guide on the "F" and "J" keys which is always good.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/keyboard/7.jpg"><img src="atruereview/keyboard/7th.jpg" width="250" height="87" alt="Flexiglow Illuminated Multimedia Keyboard" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left">The best thing about the Flexiglow Illuminated Keyboard is how it lights up. The lighting is very dominant between the keys. Each key is semi transparent; therefore just a hint of blue shows through around the edges. It is not an obnoxious neon blue. Instead the lighting is a soft backlit blue. When using this keyboard in the dark, it will reduce eye strain on the monitor because it provides a nice soft light.</p> <p align="left">The blue lighting is controlled by a small rubber button at the top of the keyboard. The keyboard will be lit even if the computer is off. Therefore, this switch is very important, especially if you sleep next to your computer.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p> <p align="left">If you are used to typing on laptop keyboard, than I would highly recommend the Flexiglow Illuminated Keyboard. I hate typing on laptop keyboards; therefore, this is not the keyboard for me. I found the buttons too small and crammed together to aid my typing speed. I do like the lighting and feel it is very beneficial to those who like to game or work in the dark. </p> <p align="left">A side note to my review. Each person has their own typing preference and it is hard to judge a keyboard on my preferences alone. I would recommend that Flexiglow designs a larger model with more spacing for those of us who have big hands or fat fingers. USB would also be another good design choice.</p> <p><strong>Pros: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Windows short cut keys</li> <li>Perfect glow in the dark</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cons:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Too small</li> </ul> <p align="left"><b>Rating:</b><br> Good</p> <p>(Ratings Possible Terrible, Very Bad, Bad, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent)</p> </td> <td background="../Images/sidebackrt.jpg"width="25" height="739"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25" background="../Images/botlftcor.jpg" height="23"></td> <td background="../Images/botback.jpg" height="23" width="490"></td> <td width="25" background="../Images/botrtcor.jpg" height="23"></td> <tr> </p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer">  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>