Saitek's Eclipse Keyboard Works Great in Ubuntu Linux

When my wireless keyboard died on me early last week, I had to scramble to find a nice replacement for a minimal amount of cash. My requirements were simple: the keyboard must be nice looking, cheap, work well, and play nice with Linux, particularly Ubuntu. I think found everything I was looking for in the Saitek Eclipse keyboard.

Looks

As soon as I saw the clean, curved lines on Saitek Eclipse keyboard, I wanted one. And I once I realized that the Saitek Eclipse keyboard also came with either blue or red backlights for all the keys, I was sold.

Once I actually received by keyboard, I was even more impressed with how it looked in person. The unique shape of the Saitek Eclipse is perfectly complemented by the slick silver finish on the keys. I opted for the blue LED backlight, and once I plugged it in, I have to say it looked stunning.

Ergonomics

Fantastic looks aside, how does the Saitek Eclipse keyboard actually perform ergonomically? Well, the Eclipse comes with an adjustable wrist/hand rest, as well as fold out feet on bottom, allowing several tilt positions to make sure you're nice and comfortable while typing. I easily found a configuration that suited me. After spending several hours typing articles on Saitek Eclipse, I didn't experience any discomfort at all. The typing action is nice, with enough click to give some nice audio feedback without being extremely loud.

Features

One of things that I like about the Saitek Eclipse keyboard is the fact that it doesn't pack in a lot extraneous, mostly useless buttons. It has a standard 104 key US layout, with just a few extra buttons to control system volume and adjust the backlight. The simple (one might say minimalistic) design has a few indicator lights for num/caps lock, and that's it! Other reviewers have lamented the lack of dedicated multimedia keys and other shortcut buttons on the Saitek Eclipse, and I while I think a play/pause button would have been nice, I'd rather do without than have a keyboard littered with clutter.

Of course, the lights on the Saitek Eclipse count as more than eyecandy. Even in bright light conditions, the LEDs make the keyboard much easier to use. In low light or dark environments, it's just super handy to be able to glance down and easily find the key you're looking for.

Compatibility

The Saitek Eclipse keyboard will work with Windows 98, ME, & XP. All reports say that the Saitek Eclipse is not compatible with Vista, though, so beware!

The good news is that this keyboard is plug-and-play compatible with latest Ubuntu Linux, so as a Linux user, I was thrilled. I willing to bet that the Saitek Eclipse will work pretty well with any recent Linux distribution.

Conclusion

The Saitek Eclipse is a great looking, easy-to-type-on keyboard that really amps the cool factor with its adjustable LED backlighting. The lights aren't all for show, though...gaming or typing in dim or or no light is now a snap. Plug and play compatibility for Ubuntu Linux users, along with a $35 price tag at Amazon.com is the icing on the cake for this product.