Solved/Found: Recommendations for a Backlit Wired Keyboard

Russ on 16/03/2019 - 10:22
Last edited 16/03/2019 - 14:49

I am looking for a new keyboard. Requirements are:

  • Backlit in white or yellow, with a mode where the lights are constantly on (no patterns or "breathing")
  • Does not need a driver to set the backlight mode (I use Linux, drivers require MS Windows)
  • Wired keyboard with keypad (104 keys)
  • Good to type on (will not be used for gaming)
  • Not too loud
  • Not more than AU$80 delivered

Nice to have:

  • Default backlight mode is on, not flashing or breathing, in yellow or white.
  • Maybe mechanical? I haven't owned one before.
  • I think keyboards which are aluminium with the keys standing proud will be easier to clean, if a staple or paperclip drops between the keys.

This is for typing at home in the wee small hours. I want backlit so I can turn off the room lights, and I'm not a skilled touch-typist, so illuminated keys are a requirement.

I already have a cheap illuminated keyboard, which taught me that I like backlit keys. But it only has options of blue, pink or red backlighting, which I find hard to see. It also has poor keys, if I press on the side of the longer keys (shift, enter) the key sometimes jams and won't press down.

This is the closest I've found so far, but the price with shipping is too high:
https://www.fasttech.com/product/7903501-lofree-619-usb-wire…

The main reason that I'm asking for help is because I keep turning up gaming keyboards in my search, which talk all about their fancy multicolour flashing breathing backlight modes, but they don't say what the default backlight mode is, nor do they say if there is a "solid on" backlight mode.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

Computing Computer Peripheral Keyboard

closed Comments

  • tabz on 16/03/2019 - 10:46
    +1
    • Backlit in white or yellow, with a mode where the lights are constantly on (no patterns or "breathing")
    • Does not need a driver to set the backlight mode (I use Linux, drivers require MS Windows)
    • Wired keyboard with keypad (104 keys)
    • Good to type on (will not be used for gaming)
    • Not too loud
    • Not more than AU$80 delivered

    Logitech G610

    The only point it doesn't meet in your criteria is the under $80 price. I got mine for about $120ish on sale.

    It's a white backlit keyboard. It does use a driver, but you can also just hold the brightness button on the keyboard and press the '0' key which changes the light mode to constant (default when plugged in without a driver is either 'breathing' or 'wave' - can't remember).

    It's a mechanical keyboard, so great for typing. It uses Cherry MX switches, so get the "Brown" switches instead of the "Blue" ones and it will be a bit quieter, but still has a good tactile feedback when pressing a key down.

  • Diji1 on 16/03/2019 - 11:05

    fancy multicolour flashing breathing backlight modes, but they don't say what the default backlight mode is, nor do they say if there is a "solid on" backlight mode

    If a keyboard has RGB it almost certainly allows you to set whatever colour you want without breathing etc. However usually RGB comes at a premium compared to one colour/set colour backlighting.

    I think keyboards which are aluminium with the keys standing proud will be easier to clean, if a staple or paperclip drops between the keys.

    Correct. This is called a floating switch design. It's great to be able to remove all keys and clean between them rather than having to open up the keyboard and deal with dirty PCB. I currently use Corsair keyboards with this design which I can recommend.

  • scrimshaw on 16/03/2019 - 12:03
    +1

    Kogan Mechanical keyboard?
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/kogan-rgb-mechanical-ga…

    according to the rep it's full RGB, individually addressable.
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/428548#comment-6782176

    The specifications mention '3 onboard customisable profiles' which probably means you can 'burn' the custom settings onto onboard memory and it will retain that even if used on a computer without the accompanying software.

  • altomic on 16/03/2019 - 13:04
    +1

    aliexpress has a lot of options.

    if you have never shopped it them then there is a US$3 off new user coupon (min order US$20)

    round key keyboard ~AU$31 delivered
    this one for ~$AU27 delivered

    These are just a couple of examples for you to ponder.
    They may be sourced cheaper from other sellers. and there are definitely cheaper options.

  • Russ on 16/03/2019 - 14:48

    Thanks everyone, I looked at all the keyboards you listed, and searched for reviews and youtube video of them. That took quite a while, and many of the reviews mentioned other keyboards, which I also looked up.

    In the end, I found another keyboard altogether, which I found following links in the reviews. It meets all of my specs, and all my "nice to have" categories as well. It took me more than three hours of digging through the internet, which would have been much longer without your recommendations.

    Here's the one I settled on: AZIO MK Hue:
    https://aziocorp.com/products/mk-hue-1

    It has:

    • White backlight (only white, no option for other colours). Solid white appears to be the default, from Youtube reviews.
    • Mechanical keys - Outemu Brown switches
    • Floating keys (Thanks Diji1 for the definition)
    • About AU$65 at the moment

    Thanks everyone!

  • HardlyCharly on 16/03/2019 - 14:49
    +1

    Ducky RGB Brown Switch Mechanical. Boom, done for the next decade or two.

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