DISASSEMBLY (continued)
Below are images of the acrylic plates found underneath the keyboard. There are
two plates (one for the main keyboard and the other for the numeric/arrow keypad
area). There are alignment pegs to ensure the plates do not slide as well.
Acrylic Plates And LED Close-up
In the picture above you can see how small these LEDs are. These are not the
typical 3mm or 5mm bulb style LEDs as these are much smaller. I spent a few
minutes Googling around for these with no luck. While apparently difficult to
find, I'm sure that the more involved modders out there will be able to make
some adjustments.
More LED Lovin'
In total there are 10 LEDs along the bottom edge of the keyboard that provide
all of the illumination. There are also the three larger LEDs across the top for
the (scroll, num, alpha) lock key indicators.
CONCLUSION
I was very impressed with the Saitek PC Gaming Keyboard but not surprised. The
overwhelming consensus holds true; this is an excellent product in every
respect. I found the wrist rest on the Command Pad to be a bit shallow for my
hand. I've also felt the same about the past two Nostromo SpeedPads so maybe
it's just me.
If you like to kick back with a keyboard in your lap
then you should find the Saitek PC Gaming Keyboard to be comfortable to use. The
USB cable is 10' long so you should be able to reach just about anywhere.
The four protruding corners of the keyboard add some
visual interest as well as stability. The Saitek PC Gaming Keyboard is basically
the same depth as the Logitech Elite so it should fit well on all but the most
cramped desk spaces regarding depth. Width, however, is another issue as you'll
need room for the Command Pad somewhere.
I hope that the many pictures I provided help convey
the solid build quality of this keyboard. There are many signs of good design
and attention to detail (especially when you look under the hood). All of this
combined with many features, customizability, and illumination make for a very
complete product.
PROS
High build quality
Cool factor
Controllable illumination
Command Pad features/customizability
Volume control
Good price and great value
Quiet keys but not "squishy"
Adjustable wrist rest
10' USB cable
SST software work perfectly with games
No F-lock key!!!
CONS
Command Pad shift mode buttons do not illuminate
SST software may not record some Windows key combinations
and some Windows shortcuts may have slight delay
