eTeknix » keyboard

QPad MK-80 Mechanical Keyboard Review

Tim Mammatt — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:12:51 +0000

QPad is a relatively small gaming brand when it comes to peripherals, however this hasn’t effected the quality of any of the products they have released, whose range include; mouse pads, gaming mice, headsets and keyboards. QPad’s commitments lie with the gaming community so as such, they sponsor several events and even run their own “Q Tour”. They say the knowledge they have gained from these events have enabled them to create great gaming peripherals, which give the users the winning edge.

What we have in for review today is the QPad MK-80 Mechanical Keyboard. The difference between a ‘normal’ keyboard and a mechanical one, is the type of switch that the keyboard uses for the keys. The different types of switches include membrane switches – the most popular type found in most keyboards, Scissor switches – found in laptops and then mechanical switches, which are the switch type we are looking at today. The MK-80 retail version has MX Cherry Blue switches, but QPad do also give you the option of, red, brown or.
black (The MK-85 has Cherry Red switches).

The keyboard is well presented when in the box, with a fancy graphic of the keyboard on the front – showing the keyboard in all of its backlit glory. The rest of the box is covered with the features, accessories and various translations. Taking the sleeve off, you are presented a black box, which when opened displays the keyboard and the wrist-rest, supported at each end by some foam packaging. Underneath the keyboard is the manual and and some accessorises that will be focused on in more detail later.

The MK-80 is aimed at gamers, however with the retail boards featuring Cherry MX Blue switches throughout, it makes it a slightly unusual area of the market to aim it at. The Cherry MX Blue switches have an audible click during the key press, which results in a fairly loud but very satisfying click. The keys also require slightly more pressure to activate, which again, makes it an odd choice. As you can see from the photo above, each key has it’s own blue LED, who’s brightness can altered.

Also in the box are some orange keys, which can be used to replace certain others, like the WASD keys. To aid in swapping the keys, a clever little tool is provided that helps pull off the keys without damaging them. There is also a PS2 to USB adaptor, incase your motherboard doesn’t have a PS2 port.

Here the WASD keys have been replaced with the blank orange keys, which makes it easier to locate these keys in your peripheral vision during those intense gaming sessions. They also have a slightly different texture (smoother), than the standard keys. Each individual key is also backlit by one LED,who’s brightness levels can be controlled using the function key (Fn) and the up or down keys on the numpad.

The keyboard has both a PS2 connector and a USB one, which also powers the USB port (seen later on). You also get a 3.5mm mic and headphone jack that means you can plug your headset directly into the keyboard, saving you from rummaging around the back of your PC.

The MK-80 also has two USB 2.0 ports on the top side, as well as the headphone and mic ports mentioned above. This makes it a lot easier to connect devices such as pen drives. The keyboard also sports a pair of height adjusters that raise the back of the keyboard, which some people might find more comfortable.

Another feature this keyboard has, is multimedia keys, which are present on the F keys along the top of the keyboard. This have to be pressed in conjunction with the Fn key that is located down by the right Shift key. This function button also needs to be pressed along with the keys that control the brightness.

The keyboard also features a wrist rest that is coated with the increasingly popular soft touch material. This simply clicks into place under the front edge. It’s not fixed so it does allow for some flexibility if one decides to increase the height of the keyboard. The wrist rest makes it more comfortable to type and helps alleviate RSI. The wrist rest features some small detailing in the centre, that adds to the quality characteristic of the keyboard.

Using the keyboard for both gaming and typing was a thrilling experience. Not only has it made writing this review easier by guarantying that each key has been pressed firmly, but it has improved all typing abilities, even when it comes to gaming. The orange keys may seem like a gimmick , but do actually help with locating the right keys without even looking at the keyboard.

Overall the keyboard has a very simple appearance, with subtle detailing that has set it’s self apart from the other mechanical keyboards on the market. The dark colour scheme, with blue individually backlit keys, positions the keyboard right at the top of many people’s wishlists. Not only does it look the part, but it performs like a dream also. Compared to many other keyboards that have been reviewed, this one stands clearly at the top.

Despite the high praise so far, there are a few little niggles that should be mentioned, and some of which are mearly down to the users preference. The first one is the price, the RRP for this keyboard stands at appromately 110 Euros, which is fairly competitively priced in for the mechanical keyboard market, but is still a lot of money to spend on a keyboard.

The next niggle is the type of switch used, however this is all down to preference. The Cherry MX Blue switches, whilst good for typing and gaming, seem an odd choice due to the noise they produce, and the movement of the switch, although, QPad are offering your choice of switch.

With these points aside, this mechanical keyboard is probably one of the best that we’ve had in to review, so because of this, we are proud to award the QPad MK-80 Keyboard with the prestigious:

New Kagemusha 3 keyboard from Scythe

Ryan Martin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:34:51 +0000

Although better known for their expertise in cooling Scythe do produce peripherals from time to time. The Kagemusha 3 is the latest addition to Scythe’s keyboard range, which will initially start selling in Japan as of August so still quite a wait ahead. The keyboard will come in at an introductory price of about $32 which is certainly not too bad for a quality Scythe product. Some of the features can be seen below:

The keyboard connects to the system over USB, and packs a USB hub. It is a common-membrane type keyboard, with LED illumination for the keys. This particular model features orange and blue color LEDs, which can be switched between, brightness adjusted, or turned off altogether. It features a standard QWERTY+Japanese layout with 109 keys in all. Its key pitch is 19 mm, and stroke (travel) is 4 mm ±0.5 mm. The keyboard measures 467 x 174 x 24 mm (WxDxH), its height can be raised to 37 mm with its stand. It weighs about 775 g.

Source: Hermitage Akihabara

Weekly Giveaway #20: ROCCAT Isku and Kone[+]

Andy Ruffell — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:35:54 +0000

Roccat are one of the leading manufacturers in the UK when it comes to peripherals, with a lot of consumers longing for their latest products.

With this high demand for their products, we have teamed up with them for our latest competition to give you the fantastic opportunity to win a Roccat Isku keyboard and Roccat Kone[+] mouse.

To win these great prizes, all you have to do is the following:

Become an Roccat Facebook Fan
Become an eTeknix Facebook fan
Post on this status update saying “I Want to win some Roccat goodies with Roccat and eTeknix.com“
Share this status update
Post on this eTeknix thread in 100 words or less telling us why you should win these great prizes!

Rules and regulations:

The competition is open WORLDWIDE!
The competition ends at midnight GMT on 3rd February 2012
In the event of a dispute, eTeknix staff hold the final say and no discussions will be entered into
Delivery is not in the hands of eTeknix and can take some time to arrive
No personal details will be distributed without prior consent from yourself

Xebec Tech X-Line Multimedia Keyboard Review

Chris Hadley — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:30:42 +0000

Being a gamer can be expensive, you need the hardware components that are capable, including processor, graphics card, motherboard and the rest of that jazz, but you also need a decent monitor that is suited to your needs and of course peripherals and the games themselves.

Peripherals come in thick and fast in to the market, with literally hundreds upon thousands of keyboards, mice and headsets that can be purchased. Some of these range from the insanely cheap, to the even more insanely expensive.

Obviously they all have their purpose and unique selling points, with some being aimed at office work, some being aimed at budding multimedia designers, and some being orientated towards gamers.

The X-Line keyboard that we are looking at today is aimed at the home and office user, with style and simplicity in mind.

The front of the X-Line box is concise with a clear image of the product with its key features noted in the bottom left and right hand corners

The rear of the box further highlights the keyboards features along with a brief specification to the left.

With the keyboard out of the box, its hard to put your finger right on it but there is something about the board that says to me yes. Its sleek yet stylish and would fit into whatever working environment you want without looking out of place. Each of the three line keyboards that Xebec do feature a unique design point and the X-Line is in a rough sense shaped like an X with a cut-out on each side and one on the top, the palm rest at the bottom moulds into the lower cut-out.

As highlighted on the box, the X-Line has a slim design and is a mere 15mm thick.

Its always the little things that stand out and even by having the X key on the board in the ‘Xebec Tech’ font and different colour sets it apart.

Along the top of the board are the 15 multimedia keys of which the seven on the right are for multimedia use and the other 8 to the left are internet orientated.

The incorporated palm rest along the foot of the keyboard has a soft rubberised feel to it over the standard plastic rest that we generally see on the market.

Each of the keys has a soft feel to its stroke and this for those that would be using it for extended periods, and would assist in relieving the strain on your hands and fingers, something I’ve had and I’m sure many others have had before.

The silent keys also divert from any distraction or irritation that can be had from using a budget keyboard with a heavy tapping noise.

Everyone out there has their own minds as to what keyboard is best for them, after all no two people are the same and with that there are a number of keyboards that I like to work on.

For me the board has to ‘feel’ right and this is from a culmination of the feel you get when you touch the keys and the amount of pressure you have to exert on the keys – this shouldn’t be too light that you cannot register each stroke yet you don’t want to be hitting each and every single one with a hammer during use.

In a nutshell a well built product with thought put into its design and attention to detail will always feel and work better in the long run than one that was built with the ‘that will do’ analogy.

Even though this keyboard would function during gaming and still be comfortable to use, its design and quick access keys are more geared towards the office or multimedia user and with its keys that are fairly quiet during use, it certainly compliments that environment very well.

If I had to pick a feature on the board that I personally would change, it would be the orientation of the six keys that include the page up, page down and end keys etc.

Only reason for this is that I’m very used to the 3×2 layout that is the standard on other keyboards whereas this is 2 keys wide and 3 high; as with the other reviews I do, this is a mere personal overlook and should not be put against the keyboard in any way, after all as I have said before, every one is different.

At a fantastic price of around £13.00, the X-Line is the best value keyboard that I have seen for a long while and for that reason it ticks all the boxes for me and has added itself to the short-list of keyboards that I would be able to pick up, plug in and work on for any period of time with a sense of comfort that is generally found on higher priced boards.

Corsair announce the retail availability of Vengeance gaming peripherals

Ryan Martin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:32:57 +0000

Corsair has announced immediate retail availability of their new line of Vengeance PC gaming peripherals.Corsair’s new PC gaming peripherals line includes four new HID products: The Vengeance K60 and Vengeance K90 gaming keyboards and the Vengeance M60 and Vengeance M90 laser gaming mice. A key feature of all four of these new Vengeance Series products is the use of an aluminum structure to provide strength and durability, as well as a stunning industrial design.

“We’re hardcore gamers ourselves, and with the new Corsair Vengeance line, we’ve developed precisely the products we always wanted.” said Ruben Mookerjee, VP and General Manager of the Components Business Unit at Corsair. “They’re carefully designed to give you the competitive edge you need to win.”

Vengeance K60 and M60: Designed For First-Person Shooters

The Vengeance K60 gaming keyboard and the Vengeance M60 laser gaming mouse are designed for PC Gamers who specialize in First-Person Shooters. The Vengeance K60 keyboard features the predictable linear response and light touch of Cherry MX Red mechanical key switches for more agile movement and faster multi-taps. The contoured left-wrist rest plus shaped and textured WASD key caps increase comfort, even during extended gaming sessions. The K60 uses an advanced key matrix design that delivers complete anti-ghosting so no keystrokes are missed. Unlike other USB gaming keyboards that are limited to the USB-standard 6-key rollover, the K60 features a 20-key rollover and a fast 1ms reporting rate.

The Vengeance M60 mouse features an enthusiast-grade 5700 DPI Avago Technologies LaserStream gaming sensor with on-the-fly resolution switching, an aluminum unibody design with adjustable center of gravity, programmable lift detection, a high-mass scroll wheel, and PTFE glide pads. A key innovation of the M60 mouse is the Sniper button, allowing an instant toggle from fast movement, high DPI-resolution mode down to a high-precision mode for more accurate aiming.

Vengeance K90 and Vengeance M90: Designed For MMO and RTS Gaming

The Vengeance K90 gaming keyboard and M90 laser gaming mouse are optimized to meet the unique needs of MMO and RTS gaming. The Vengeance K90 keyboard also features Cherry MX Red key switches, full anti-ghosting, 20-key rollover, 1ms reporting rate, and each key is individually backlit with a cool blue LED that can be adjusted to three different levels of intensity. The K90 also includes 18 dedicated macro keys that can be programmed either through software or on the fly, and with three user-selectable banks of macros you have a total of 54 independent macros available at any time. Your macros are stored in flash memory on the keyboard.

The Vengeance M90 gaming mouse features 15 fully programmable buttons, arranged and tuned for intuitive operation without compromising your grip, and on-board flash memory lets you save your macros in up to six profiles that can be switched on-the-fly. The Avago Technologies 5700 DPI LaserStream gaming sensor allows on-the-fly resolution adjustment and the programmable lift detection, high-mass scroll wheel, and PTFE glide pads ensure swift, precise movement. The intuitive Windows-based Vengeance software utility lets you manage your macro keys, on-board profiles, and sensor settings so you can customize your M90 to match your gaming style.

Pricing and Availability
The Vengeance K90 gaming keyboard has an MSRP in the United States of $129 and the K60 has an MSRP of $109. The Vengeance M90 gaming mouse has an MSRP of $79 and the M60 has an MSRP of $69.

For more information, visit this page.

Source: Press Release

Verbatim Ultra-Slim Bluetooth keyboard now available, retails $5 less than expected

Ryan Martin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:15:52 +0000

Verbatim, the global leader in data storage technology, has just announced its new Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is now shipping to retailers nationwide. Designed to work with iPads, iPhones and other Bluetooth-enabled tablets with HID keyboard support, this thin, portable keyboard delivers a more familiar typing method to touchscreen users. By offering a quick and easy way to compose e-mails and other important documents on-the-go, the Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard enhances productivity and efficiency anywhere.

“The Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is all about giving our customers the freedom to be mobile,” said Ron Hanafin, Verbatim Product Manager, Accessories & Peripherals. “For on-the-go business professionals, for students working on a late-night term paper at the local coffee shop or for the everyday lifestyle blogger, this portable accessory is the perfect travel companion.

Plus, users can play, pause and control iTunes music directly from the keyboard’s media console, and the Enhanced Smart Keys offer a simpler way to cut, copy, paste and undo. The low profile, soft-touch keys provide a crisp, responsive feel when typing, while remaining virtually silent.

Additionally, the Ultra-Slim Keyboard’s built-in rechargeable power source eliminates the need for constant battery charging and replacement, and is easily replenished via a USB-to-computer or wall-charger connection.

The Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard comes with a sleek case for greater freedom and mobility, making it the ideal carrying and travel companion.

Features:

Compatible with iPad, iPad 2, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Motorola Xoom and any tablet with HID keyboard support and Bluetooth connectivity
Ultra-compact design for maximum portability
Media console- Includes enhanced volume and digital music controls
Enhanced Function Keys- New, easy-to-use function keys for cut, copy, paste and undo and more
Built-in rechargeable battery
Low profile, soft-touch keys

Verbatim’s Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is available now at NewEgg for just $49.99.

Source: Press Release

Enermax releases the Briskie Keyboard and Mouse combo

Gaetan Longree — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:36:00 +0000

Enermax, a world leading PC component manufacturer, has recently announced the release of the Briskie, a robust wireless keyboard and mouse combo with an excellent price-performance ratio.

This combo will appeal a lot for mobile usage such as people with HTPCs or multimedia servers. Notebook owners looking for more comfortable typing and more mouse control will also find the Briskie to be a convenient product.

Connection is established by a tiny receiver with the powerful 2.5 GHz RF technology and supporting automatic wireless synchronization in order to provide simple plug-and-play setup. Being wireless, batteries will be needed, but since changing them can become a hassle, the Briskie integrates an effective power saving management.

The Briskie keyboard comes with durable membrane key stroke technology in order to provide a 10 million key strokes lifetime. It ensure a smooth and comfortable typing experience that remains so even over a longer period of time. To maximize comfort two adjustable height levels are provided. Furthermore, a spill-resistant structure has been applied to avoid damage from accidental liquid spills as well as to ease the cleaning.

On the other hand, literally, the mouse offers great comfort thanks to the ambidextrous design made for prolonged use. The ergonomic shape offers an excellent grip and best possible control, including four adjustable resolutions for the user to customize (800, 1000, 1200 and 1600 dpi). To make portability easier, the wireless receiver can be stored into the bottom of the mouse.

To celebrate the launch Enermax’s first keyboard and mouse combo, Briskie includes a 3-in-1 mouse pad offering the known mouse pad feature, but doubling as a cleaning cloth and a screen protection for notebooks. The mouse pad itself is made of a cleanable anti-bacterial micro fibre with a slip-proof natural rubber base.

Available now in the US key layout, the Briskie is priced at £17.90.

For more information, please refer to the official product page.

Source: Press Release

KickStarter project looking into developing multi-touch peripherals

Gaetan Longree — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:31:35 +0000

An engineer named Jason Giddings has launched a project named KickStater, which, if succesful, should bring a little piece of Sci-Fi to your desk.

The goal of this project is to create transparent multi-touch keyboard and mouse. This is achieved through LEDs at the base of the keyboard projected at such a low angle that the infrared reflects on the inside of the tempered glass. When a key is touched on the glass, it will create a reflection which will be captured by a camera and, through the use of a software, will be ‘translated’ into a key stroke.

As you can see from the image above, this is a rather interesting project. Moreover, Giddings says he plans on using open source software to give the option to completely customize the functions.

While it certainly looks tempting on the outside, when you think about it for a second, using such a keyboard really is like using a touch-screen keyboard, and while some of us may like this idea, most will agree that for more intensive uses, they can become rather difficult.

As for the mouse, it looks at the same track pad technology seen on many laptops, which doesn’t really fit into a desktop setup for most.

While today’s touch mice aren’t going so well, this project could see itself a rather popular crowd. The financing of this project is entirely based on donations, which seems to have worked rather well so far. Giddings is putting a bit of a competition into raising the money by offering opportunities to win a productions unit, or even getting one of the first prototypes depending on the amount being given.

So far so good, the $50,000 goal has been largely passed with over $70,000 raised, the project will be funded on the 1st of January. As for the time of possible release, that’s a good question, but one that can’t be answered yet.

For more information, as well as to follow the project more closely, please refer to the official website.

Source

Verbatim launches an Ultra-Slim Bluetooth keyboard for tablets

Gaetan Longree — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:31:59 +0000

Verbatim, a company manufacturing principally storage media and flash memory, has today announced the launch of peripheral aimed at tablets with the Ultra-Slim Bluetooth keyboard.

This 8.7″ by 4.7″ keyboard if only 0.2″ thick and has been designed to deliver a familiar typing method to the touchscreen users. It will work with any Bluetooth-enabled tablets with HID keyboard support and will also work with any version of Android 3.0 and higher as well as iOS devices.

Light and compact, the keyboard is as easy to carry as it is to use, with smart function keys as well as volume control, power off and device locking, it allows for easy composition of mail or various documents without having to bring an entire notebook or fight your way through the touchscreen keyboard.

Another feature is the rechargeable built-in battery which allows you to recharge through a USB port, eliminating the need to have batteries at hand continueously.

In addition to the keyboard, you’re provided with a USB recharging cable as well as a carrying case to make mobility even easier.

“The Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is all about giving our customers the freedom to be mobile,” said Ron Hanafin, Verbatim Product Manager, Accessories & Peripherals. “For on-the-go business professionals, for students working on a late-night term paper at the local coffee shop or for the everyday lifestyle blogger, this portable accessory is the perfect travel companion.”

Verbatim’s Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is now available at Newegg for the price of $54.99.

For more information, please refer to the official product page.

Source

Qpad offers new MX-85 and MX-50 gaming keyboards

Ryan Martin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:28:38 +0000

World renowned eSports and gaming gear company QPAD widens their product range with two brand new keyboards: the QPAD MK-85 and MK-50. Although sharing some common features, the boards still differ greatly. One offers world’s first groundbreaking technology with no expenses spared, and the other attempts a break at the so sought after “Best bang for the buck” award.

QPAD has made quite a name for themselves over the years, as provider of top of the line gaming gear, targeted at pro gamers and demanding enthusiasts. Their new premium keyboard, the QPAD MK-85 is designed to be the gamers dream. Featuring all the qualities customers expect from any QPAD product, such as superior build quality, unsurpassed durability and a well thought out design and layout, the MK-85 offers one truly unique feature, making it one of a kind in the world of keyboards.

Full N-key roll over with USB!

The QPAD MK-85 is the world’s first mechanical keyboard offering full N-key roll over via USB. Since the PS/2 connector is being phased out and several manufacturers of computers and motherboards do not offer this option, many gamers are left with no way of utilizing the benefit of the full roll over feature, because their gaming rig does not support that type of connection. With the MK-85, this will not be a problem. No more need for dual cables or a PS/2 to USB adapter. The groundbreaking technology of the MK-85 allows all the functionality of the board, such as USB hub, the red back light and the full N-key roll over, through the use of just one single USB cable.

Cherry MX Red mechanical switches

QPAD has decided to use the Cherry MX Red switches for both the MK-85 and the MK-50. The Cherry MX Red switch is basically a lighter version of the MX Black switch. It operates with an actuation point of 2mm and requires a pressure of 45g for the key to register a stroke. Furthermore, the actuation point and release point of the switch are identical, which will facilitate precision and control in games that require multi tapping. Unlike the Cherry MX Blue switches of the MK-80, the Cherry MX Red switches are not tactile and do not offer any audible feedback. Some gamers prefer audible and tactile feedback, and some prefer none. The important thing here is that QPAD now offers a keyboard for both groups.

The red back light of the MK-85 is produced through individual LED:s for every key. The MK-85 also comes with programmable keys, audio connectors, and exclusive software for setting up gaming profiles. In short: Anything a serious gamer would ever want, is to be found in the MK-85.

MK-50

The other board of the family might not, like its bigger brother, sport world’s first, cutting edge technology, but breaks new ground in its own right. Never before has quality, feel and precision been so affordable. The MK-50 is essentially a stripped down MK-85. Without the back light, programmable keys or extra audio and USB connectors, the board still offers the same outstanding performance and feel of a top of the line mechanical keyboard, but with an affordable price tag!

Although old news for existing QPAD customers, some common features of all the QPAD keyboards still deserve to be mentioned, such as key switches built to last 50 million strokes, full N-key roll over, gold plated connectors for ultra low latency, and media keys for easy control of playback, pause, skip track etc.

Following the block busting success with the award winning MK-80, competition in the upper segments of gaming gear increases with the birth of these new members of the QPAD keyboard family. Not only do they offer versatility and choice regarding the gamers’ personal preferences of switches, but also broadens the assortment offered by QPAD. For the picky gamer that wants extra everything, the MK-85 is the natural choice. The MK-50 on the other hand, offers supreme build quality and durability, along with unmatched control and feel at a very competitive price.

As an extra treat for the holidays, QPAD also offers a unique opportunity for customers to order a limited supply of any of the company’s three boards (MK-50, MK-80 & MK-85) with the Cherry MX switches of their choice, be it blue, black, brown or red. That means you could get your hands on a MK-85 with Cherry MX Blue, or Black switches, if that is your desire.

More information here.

QPAD will present the MK-85 and the MK-50 to fans, gamers, the industry, and the world, for the very first time at the world’s biggest gaming festival: Dreamhack, held in Jönköping, Sweden 24-27 November.

Availability MK-50: November 2011, Rec. price 79.90€ Availability MK-85: December 2011 Rec. price 149.90€

Source: Press Release

Enermax launches the Briskie mouse and keyboard combo

Ryan Martin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:23:21 +0000

ENERMAX is proud to announce the launch of its first wireless keyboard and mouse combo “Briskie”. True to traditional ENERMAX style, Briskie adopts a simple and sleek design. The 2.4GHz wireless keyboard and mouse combo uses the world’s smallest*1 nano receiver and offers plug-and-play automatic wireless synchronization. The user-friendly design features LED battery status indicators and a built-in power saving system.

The Briskie keyboard compares favorably with the scissor key designs of high-end keyboards and has a 10 million keystroke life span. With a smooth palm rest and two-level height adjustment, it remains comfortable after long hours of use. Briskie’s spill-resistant structure avoids damage caused by accidental spills and makes cleaning very easy.

With excellent grip and control, the ambidextrous design of the Briskie mouse fits comfortably in either hand over prolonged use. The wireless receiver can be snapped into the bottom of the mouse for easy storage and portability. As a special feature, the mouse provides four adjustable resolutions (800/1000/1200/1600 dpi), that allows users to customize it to match their needs.

The MSRP of Briskie is USD $24. Celebrating the launch of ENERMAX first keyboard and mouse combo set, Briskie includes a “3 in 1″ mouse pad as a gift, which has the functions of cleaning cloth and screen protector, valued at USD $16. This eco-friendly mouse pad is made of a washable anti-bacterial microfiber cloth with a non-skid natural rubber base.

*1 According to market research done on Nov 1st 2011.

Source: Press Release

Gigabyte Aivia M8600 Wireless Macro Gaming Mouse Review

Chris Hadley — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:47:06 +0000

Back towards the start of the year, we took a look at Gigabytes Aivia Gaming Keyboard which took us by surprise as to how well it performed in comparison to its other rivals on the market. Gigabyte have now paired up this keyboard with the Aivia M6800 macro gaming mouse to penetrate into both sides of the gamers needs – a high performance keyboard and mouse.

When it comes to mice, I’ve always been a Logitech man through and through, however I was the same with keyboards and the Aivia keyboard won a spot in my eyes so much so that I still use it today on my workstation so I’m wondering if this mouse can do the same.

From the go we do have to say that the packaging choice for this mouse is a little different from the norm to say the least. Rather than using a bog standard box, Gigabyte have gone against the grain and packed everything into a tube.

As with any product of this type, we do find the usual instruction leaflet and installation CD, but also included we find two USB cables, a spare set of teflon feet, a wireless receiver & battery charger, and also a spare battery. All this is packed inside a tube like bag for when you’re on the move keeping everything together.

Looking at the mouse we can certainly say that its clearly aimed at the gamer market and would certainly fit in well when paired with the Aivia gaming keyboard. Even though the design has its striking lines its very comfortable in the hand and glides well across the desktop.

I would have said that for those with smaller hands that being able to comfortably grasp the mouse yet still be able to use the left and right click would have been a problem, but you can still easily use the buttons from back towards the middle of the mouse next to the sensitivity adjustment buttons.

The base of the mouse holds no surprises from what we would expect to find, but we do see three different switches for either turning the wireless on/off, unlocking the battery & unlocking the USB cable when connected. Next to the on/off switch is also a wireless association button to pair it up with the receiver.

Like nearly all other mice this mouse uses laser technology, and the sensitivity can be adjusted from a mere 100 dpi right up to 6600 dpi and using the GHOST software that is included, you can set 4 sensitivity presets that you can change on the fly with the buttons on the mouse.

The other key feature that sets this mouse apart from the rest of the market is its ability to operate as pure wired mouse for those extreme gaming sessions rather than wireless. Switching over to the wired mode is a simple as plugging one of the USB cables into the front of the body and turning the wireless off on the underside – that’s it! As soon as you’re ready to switch back to wireless operation, the internal battery will be charged and ready to go.

Going back to the wireless receiver, this packs in many features like the mouse itself. The rear houses your spare battery keeping it charged and ready to go for when you need to swap over, and then on the top is a dock where you can sit the mouse itself when not in use – also keeping its installed battery charged!

Also included in the tube is a mini-CD containing the GHOST macro software. From here you can completely customise everything on the mouse from the sensitivity of the laser, to custom macros that you can assign to the thumb buttons on the side of the mouse.

The software is a very similar layout to that of the Ghost engine on the Aivia keyboard, everything is clear and easy to navigate through and on the fly adjustments with sensitivity and scroll rate make fine tuning a breeze.

As we would expect from the Aivia line of peripherals, all macros and profiles are stored directly to the mouse on its 32Kb of onboard memory. This saves loads of time and makes switching between pcs much easier rather than having to reinstall the ghost software and reconfigure everything from scratch.

Going back to the saved profiles, you can set upto 5 profiles much like you can with the Aivia keyboard and these can be switched between using the forward thumb button on the right of the mouse body.

The active profile is indicated by a glowing LED on the top, which pulses a different colour depending on the selected profile.

Now that I’ve used the mouse for a while, I can certainly say that its made the same good impression upon me as the Aivia Keyboard did earlier in the year. Its solid and robust feel made it very comfortable to use and the number of features that is packed into it is outstanding.

This is reflected in its price of around £75, which isnt the cheapest on the market, but when you look at it, how many mice are there that pack this number of features and have the same feel of quality to them?

So if you’re after a high performance mouse that gives you the edge and comfort during an intense gaming session, the Aivia M6800 is one to take a good look at.

Chill Innovation updating their Micro Keyboard

Gaetan Longree — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:41:53 +0000

The Danish company Chill Innovation has recently launched a new Micro Keyboard following their already successful Bluetooth based Chill KB-1BT, this time replacing it with a radio frequency based version; the Chill KB-1RF Micro Keyboard.

Right out of the box, the keyboard is paired with its receiver and doesn’t require any kind of driver, making the first step before use a breeze.

Featuring a fully functional keyboard as well as additional media keys it also comes with an integrated touchpad for the mouse, the KB-1RF is compact sized like a remote control, giving what Chill calls a “Wife Acceptance Factor” (or WAF).

Moreover, the keyboard can be rotated and used in any way to ease the use as a remote thanks to the media keys giving you control of your media. Another useful feature is the backlit keyboard, great for HTPCs since mostly used to watch movies in the dark.

While its use is not reserved to HTPCs, it is a leading use, as it also supports Wake-on-USB, allowing you to turn on your PC directly from the keyboard, although it only works on supporting hosts.

The USB dongle is a 2.4G RF and gives up to 10 meters of range and, when not in use, can be stored into the keyboard for easy transport. The keyboard itself is equipped with 256 channel auto coding system, therefore avoiding interferences.

The High-Grade Li-Polymer battery not only gives it a small size but provides a powerful amount of energy for up to 30 days of operation. Not only this, Chill’s Micro Keyboard is also compatible with the Xbox and the Playstation 3.

The Chill KB-1RF Micro Keyboard is now available with the UK and US layout as well as Nordic (Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland).

For more information please refer to the official product page.

Source

Xebec Tech HTPC Wireless Mini Keyboard with Touchpad Review

Andy Ruffell — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:03:50 +0000

Xebec are a brand that not many consumers may have heard of, but that’s not to say they don’t make brilliant products as we found out from looking at their Itouchpad back in September.

They are aiming to make products that are convenient to the market and this includes wireless keyboards for HTPC users.

The HTPC Wireless Mini keyboard breaks the boundaires in design by offering a tiny product that is portable and easily tucked away when not in use and from getting a first glance of this new gadget at Insomnia i43, we were eager to see if it was any good once we returned to the eTeknix headquarters.

From a first glance, you will instantly see a lot of similarities between it and the much loved Sony PSP and some may confuse the touchpad for a screen, which is what we initially thought.

Included is everything to get you going with the keyboard, two AAA batteries, Unifying receiver and a brief instruction guide including system requirements.

The main aspect of the keyboard is the way it’s designed and shaped to comfortably fit into the users hands with the ability for it to be controlled easily with your thumbs.

The keyboard followsa QWERTY style design and also has extra functions for some of the number and symbol buttons.

The top-left part of the keyboard has a d-pad style controller which also has extra functions for scrolling on your chosen page.

Application buttons are also situated nearby for easy control of the start button and other secondary functions.

The top-right part of the keyboard looks very similar but has slightly different functions, aimed more at multimedia including volume controls and the ability to play/pause, stop, rewind and fast forward/skip through your media.

These buttons also double up for starting up your internet browser and email applications.

The touchpad sits between these various buttons and provides a simple to use system that laptop users will be familiar with from the start and due to the size and shape of the keyboard, is easily within reach when holding the unit.

Flipping the keyboard over to the other side reveals a very slight rubber type material that provides extra grip and comfort and is ergonomically shaped to provide the best handling.

There are two buttons on the rear for controlling a left and right click motion and are conviently positioned for your index fingers, much like you’d find on a portable gamepad or PSP style device.

There is also a space provided to slot the unifying receiver into when not in use. This is especially handy when transporting the device for use on multiple HTPC devices, although we can’t see this situation arising very often.

Getting down to the nitty gritty, whilst the device is really comfortable and responsive to use, the unifying receiver can be a bit troublesome unless the device has a clear line of sight to it, though with the majority of HTPC users having front panel USB, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

A product like this can only be commented on once you’ve been using it for a few days, and after having an extensive use over the weekend, we found it to be extremely versatile in many ways. The fact that it’s lightweight and small, allows for it to be tucked away in the usual places, including down the side of your sofa.

It also gives a lot of unique features including the ability to use the trackpad and d-pad buttons depending on your preference. The QWERTY keyboard allows for a simple transition from a standard keyboard, to that of a smaller design which people will favour immediately.

As this product isn’t in retailers just yet, we can only comment on the recommended RRP of £26 + VAT GBP, which in our opinion is a little bit on the pricey side, compared to it’s bigger brother, the Itouchpad, but still provides a simple solution to a common problem, and with rival products from the likes of Logitech, coming in at over £100, it does seem to offer good value none the less.

If you are looking to give comfort and style to your home theatre setup, the Xebec HTPC wireless keyboard would be the perfect addition and will certainly leave your friends wondering where they can buy one from.

Logitech Introduces Modern Warfare 3 Peripherals

Ryan Martin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:22:02 +0000

Logitech unveiled the Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105 and the Logitech Laser Mouse G9X, specially made for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Ideal for power gamers, the new accessories make it easy and fun to customize your path to victory.

“The Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105 and the Logitech Laser Mouse G9X are perfect for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 enthusiasts who want the best in precision and customization for their gaming experience,” said Chris Pate, senior product marketing manager for gaming at Logitech. “Both devices let you jump right into the action with the power to perform complex maneuvers with confidence.”

Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105

The Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105 – the official keyboard of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – lets you play long into the night with military-style, night-vision green LED backlighting. Featuring six programmable G-keys, each with three mode states, the Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105 provides up to 18 possible macro combinations per game. These macros let you perform single keystrokes or intricate multi-key combinations complete with mouse events, user-defined delays and repeating. New macros can even be recorded on the fly once you download the Logitech Gaming Software.

Multi-key input allows you to use up to five keys at once. You can perform multiple – and more complex – actions without the interference or ghosting that can occur on other keyboards. Plus, convenient media key controls put instant access to volume and mute, as well as start, stop, pause, forward and back functions, right at your fingertips. For added convenience, a game/desktop mode switch disables the Windows and Context Menu keys, so your game won’t be interrupted if you accidentally press the wrong keys.

Logitech Laser Mouse G9X
The Logitech Laser Mouse G9X’s gaming laser gives you game-changing precision at hand speeds up to 165 inches per second on the most popular gaming mouse pad surfaces. On-the-fly, adjustable dpi takes you from pixel-precise targeting (200 dpi) to lightning-fast maneuvers (up to 5700 dpi) without pausing the action, while full-speed USB delivers performance at up to 1000 reports per second. The MicroGear Precision Scroll wheel is perfect for weapon selection – or switch to frictionless hyper-fast scrolling to fly through long Web pages when you’re not playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

A weight-tuning system allows you to customize your mouse with up to 28 grams of extra weights that you can mix and match for more control. A custom color display also lets you choose the color of your LEDs from a wide color spectrum so you can match your mouse to your PC, your game, or your style.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105 is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in October, for a suggested retail price of $79.99. The Logitech Laser Mouse G9X is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in November, for a suggested retail price of $99.99.

For more information, visit the product pages of G105 and G9X.

Source: Press Release