Reviews - SteelSeries Shift Gaming Keyboard

[HEXUS]

Designed with customisation in mind, SteelSeries unleashes its high-end gaming keyboard. The ZBoard has evolved...

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[Molotov]

really struggling to appreciate a keyboard at that price without backlit keys and although I can't judge the quality of the product since I don't have it I think being backlit is a Vital feature for a gaming keyboard simply due to the amount of time nerdy people like myself spent using these things in the dark ... ah well perhaps some people don't see it that way

[sadbuttrue]

A high-end keyboard does not use rubber dome switches.

[Jasp]

really struggling to appreciate a keyboard at that price without backlit keys and although I can't judge the quality of the product since I don't have it I think being backlit is a Vital feature for a gaming keyboard simply due to the amount of time nerdy people like myself spent using these things in the dark ... ah well perhaps some people don't see it that way

Personally I can't remember the last time I looked at a keyboard to type.. so its not a essential feature for myself.

[Molotov]

It's not about typing it's about gaming and typing
I personally prefer playing in complete dark as I said - I would consider myself to be decent at typing with 70+ wpm but when you have your left hand moulded to certain keys for a while it's starting to type that's annoying if it's something on the right side of the keyboard - basically regaining orientation. Therefore even if only wasd is backlit i think it's a useful feature - rest of the keyboard isn't so relevant so long as you can have this initial knowledge of where you are when u glimpse down.

[Steven W]

It's not about typing it's about gaming and typing
I personally prefer playing in complete dark as I said - I would consider myself to be decent at typing with 70+ wpm but when you have your left hand moulded to certain keys for a while it's starting to type that's annoying if it's something on the right side of the keyboard - basically regaining orientation. Therefore even if only wasd is backlit i think it's a useful feature - rest of the keyboard isn't so relevant so long as you can have this initial knowledge of where you are when u glimpse down.

I use the Logitech G110 with backlit keyboard on a daily basis, and for me too it doesn't make that much difference whether I have the keys turned on or not. I'm typing in the dark now, but rarely do I look at the keyboard. With gaming I look at it even less because there's fewer buttons to hit.

I can see how people prefer back-lit keyboards though, and it would have been a nice feature to have.

[Molotov]

Steven I'm typing in the dark now from my unlit wireless from bed - not an issue at all
Not missing wasd and 3-4 more buttons or even 60 odd binds is hardly an issue either - I've played competitively for way too long before

Just don't want to be misunderstood - what I am referring to is e.g. steam chat while on an fps on non-backlit - I for one would be slightly disorientated typing "Kilimanjaro" on the first go simply because left hand is so moulded into wasd and right one has same issue with the mouse - it is of course a silly example but it shows what I mean.

Then again being born in south of Russia ... Chernobyl isn't far - may be I'm just a mutant with weird hands
Shame I don't glow myself ... that would alleviate the issue ...

[Biscuit]

i also dont dont look down at my keyboard a great deal but i have become so accustomed to my macbook pro and my saitek eclipse that there is no way i could buy a keyboard without backlit keys. Those few times when you do look down and you cant see anything its rather frustrating. The main time i have noticed is on my work laptop which isnt backlit. Could possibly be something to do with constantly transferring from one keyboard to to the next?

As nice as this keybaord looks, there is no way i could buy it. No backlight - no buy!

[danroyle]

i Had the original Zboard and after a while the keys became very hit and miss for working, And then after switching the keyboards out for the gaming versions when i wanted to play i found that the sensor that registers which keyboard is in Started playing up and i could only use the one keyboard face in it. Shame as the zboard was a really nice keyboard.

[joel_spencer]

I like the multimedia keys being on the left, if they are at the top and your keyboard tray underhangs the desk then you often can't reach the multimedia keys due to the lack of space for both hand and keyboard. This also means I don't raise up my keyboard on legs anymore, though apparently this is better for you. I don't see a volume wheel though and they are far superior to +/- buttons.

Back lighting is a nice but slightly pointless feature on my board (Saitek Eclipse II) as there are only a few LEDs behind the keys not under each letter (though the keys are laser etched so they would have to be translucent plastic for that idea to work). It's cool if you play in the dark and initially helpful if as stated you've been on the WASD configuration for so long you need the light just to find the first key. I use the mouse so much that when I type with my right hand I only use the first finger, also probably because I sit diagonal to the keyboard usually.

The windows key disable may be customary for boards now (my board doesn't have it) but on the other hand, I have never hit the windows key by accident so it really is a non issue for me.

Nice that the ZBoard sets work too. And looking at it, it looks easy to clean too, just pop off the top layer?

No software disc when you're paying £75, why? I know it's usually easier to download the software as it's more up to date but in that case produce a USB key where you can keep your latest drivers and profiles if you go to a friends?