Reviewed: April 29, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Manufacturer
Auravision

Type: Illuminated Keyboard
Rating: 6.0

System Requirements

  • PS/2 Keyboard Connection

    MSRP: $99.95

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    Auravision has just released their new line of EluminX keyboards. As you might guess from the clever name, these keyboards are illuminated – no, not glow-in-the-dark, but rather backlit using a patented electro luminescent technology from Twenty First Century Technologies Inc. This technology was first used in ruggedized laptops by the US Military and FBI and is currently being used by U.S. forces in Iraq.

    All EluminX Keyboards Feature:

    • High Quality, Slim ergo curve design
    • 104 keys, 12 function keys
    • Case Color: Bone, Black, Silver
    • Illumination Color: Aqua Marine, Sapphire, Crystal, Amethyst, Citrine, Tourmaline
    • Laser printing keycaps for longer wear
    • Keyboard dimension: 420(L)*156(W)*16(H)mm
    • Works with: Windows 95/98/2000/XP/NT/ME, IBM PC
    I’ll be the first to admit that I keep some strange hours. I play games all day and write reviews all night, which was the main reason I was intrigued enough to actually do this review. I’m a speed typist (70wpm) and I know where all the keys are, so typing in the dark has never been a big deal for me, plus the glow from my monitor does a decent job of casting a soft glow on my existing keyboard.

    I’ve been using the Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro for nearly a year now and have grown very accustomed to the ergonomic wrist support, hot buttons along the top, and the convenient dual USB ports behind the number pad. Needless to say I was more than reluctant to unhook my “baby”. Then I noticed the EluminX used a PS/2 connection and I got the bright idea of having them both plugged in at the same time and simply swapping them back and forth depending on when I was working and what I was doing. No such luck! Windows doesn’t like having two keyboards fighting for control and neither worked.

    I made the swap and sat down to put the EluminX through its paces. The first thing I noticed was that this keyboard has no legs. It lays perfectly flat on your desk, which is not good, especially for me as I spend 12+ hours a day at my computer and am already battling CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and Arthritis. I found a couple of CD jewel cases and propped up the back side of the keyboard to get a suitable angle that was comfortable.

    The next obstacle to overcome is the keyboard layout. Anyone with an extended keyboard who is considering an EluminX should know that the cluster of keys between the num-pad and letters is not included. There are dedicated arrow keys that appear beneath the right Shift and the PGUP, PGDN, HOME, and END keys run down the right side of the alpha cluster. The layout and size is like some sort of hybrid between a normal keyboard and a laptop.

    My next observation was that the keys are thin, about 1/3 the thickness of a normal keyboard, so instead of a smooth travel distance when you type you get a definitive “click”. It’s slightly better than a membrane keyboard and reminded me of the older cash register keypads before they all went to membrane technology.

    The final thing I noticed about the overall design is the clarity of the keys. During the day I found the black letters on the clear keys very difficult to see and when the lights go out the glow is bright enough to make the letters even more difficult to see. It’s such a huge contrast that it is hard to focus on the actually printed letters. Again, I know my way around a keyboard without looking, so this wasn’t as big an issue as it could be for others, but when I did have to actually look at the keyboard it took me an extra second or two to focus and read the letters. If I were to design an illuminated keyboard I think I would start with opaque keys and clear letters so the light only shines through the alphabet.

    Since GCM is a game magazine I naturally decided to put the EluminX through a few late-night gaming sessions. Since most of the PC games I play use a combination of mouse and keyboard I saw no difference in performance. I’ve played so many FPS games my hand instinctively goes to the WADS cluster whenever I sit in front of a computer and those keys worked perfectly fine, although I did have to get used to the shorter travel distance and the clicking. I then tried a few RTS and RPG games. These games typical require more keyboard input at random times so gamers tend not to keep their hands in proper typing positions. This necessitate the need to “hunt and peck” the keyboard, and in the darkness of night the EluminX really shines (pun intended).

    After a few nights of game testing I spent a few more hours just using the keyboard as anyone else might. I surfed the web; I typed a few game reviews, and answered a few hundred emails. I never did get used to the "feel" of the clicking keyboard, and I frequently dropped letters when I didn’t press a key hard enough, and I really missed the wrist support of my previous keyboard.

    The only thing the EluminX really has going for it is the “illuminated keys”, and it’s going to be up to you to decide how often you work (or play) in total darkness and how often you actually need to look at the keyboard. Also keep in mind the compact size, odd placement of some special keys, and the lack of wrist support and tilt-legs that make this keyboard “uncomfortable” to use for extended periods.

    If you have a true need to work in total darkness and your monitor isn't lighting up your keyboard well enough then the EluminX is certainly a fine option, but $99 is a pretty steep price to pay for the luxury of a glowing keyboard. For the same money you can buy an ergonomic keyboard and mouse that use the latest in wireless technology and a nightlight.