Review: Keysonic Keyboards
Ian Waugh investigates some nocturnal keyboards from Keysonic
| Product | KeySonic keyboards |
|---|---|
| Company | NanoPoint |
| Web | www.nanopoint.co.uk |
| Prices | KSK-8001UEL £29.49 KSK-3200RF £44.69 KSK-6001UELX £29.99 |
| We like | The 8001 and 6001 are backlit |
| We don't like | 3200 not so good for typing, wrist rest on 8001 |
| Rating | KSK-8001UEL 7/10 KSK-3200RF 7/10 KSK-6001UELX 9/10 |
| Requirements |
You know what it's like. You're working away on your computer in the afternoon. Night creeps up on you and the keyboard becomes harder to read, even by the light of your TFT. You could get up and put the light on but that requires effort and - hey - it's not particularly cool.
KSK-8001UEL
For just such occasions, NanoPoint has released the KeySonic KSK-8001UEL, a backlit multimedia keyboard. It's a full-size keyboard with a keypad and 15 integrated multifunction keys.
The key action uses a SoftTouch membrane enabling the keyboard to be quite thin. The keys have a short travel like many laptops. They are slightly tapered so the tops are separate from each other like traditional keyboards rather than the closeness of the flat keys typical of laptops. Touch is a person matter but if you're happy with laptop keys this will suit you fine.
The multifunction keys offer control over media playback and there are a couple of buttons to control the computer's volume. Another set of buttons offers quick access to browser functions such as search, favourites and moving backwards and forwards. There's also a Home button and one to open your email client.
Colour Me Red
On the top left is a button to switch between red and blue backlighting. The intensity is controlled by a circular wheel on top right. On our model it seemed a little stiff but it's difficult to imagine anyone setting it to anything less that full. The choice of red or blue backlighting will be up to you and your eyes.
To be a little picky, even brighter lighting would not go amiss. Possibly the intensity is limited by the LEDs and power derived via USB but that doesn't seem to be the case with the KSK-6001UELX. While in picky mode, parts of the lettering could have been better defined, a little as if some of the lettering had worn off. Again, possibly a limitation of the construction but if you're imagining beams of lettered light streaming from the keyboard you'll be disappointed.
The KSK-8001UEL also has a wrist rest. You probably love 'em or hate 'em. However, it's not padded and while you can put your wrists on the surface of this rest, if they slip back a little the edge of the rest can dig in. It's a part of the keyboard case and can't be removed.
KSK-3200RF
This is a real neat and dinky little keyboard. It has miniature keys, though not backlit, and a trackball on the top right corner with two 'mouse' buttons. And it's wireless. It's intended for use with a Home Video or Theatre system or perhaps for business presentations.
The feel of the keyboard is actually fine. However, it's not really intended for fast typing but for program, file, music and video selection and so on. The trackball needs a small amount of pressure in order to roll, doubtless because of its small size.
In all, it works very well for its intended purpose and although you could, you probably wouldn't want to do much writing on it. It certainly would not look out of place on a coffee table next to the TV remote control.
KSK-6001UELX
This is designed for gamers and has 20 keys with Anti Ghosting functionality which allows eight different combinations to be held down at the same time so you can perform multiple simultaneous actions. Nice. The keys can be programmed through a driver although you have to download it from the company's site.
It also sports blue LED backlighting although this also runs around the edges of the keys which, er, throws more light on the subject! It looks cooler and, in darkness, we found the keys easier to read than those on the KSK-8001UEL, with none of the 'worn' appearance.
The keys use a SoftTouch membrane like the KSK-8001UEL and have a similar response. It's not quite a full layout, however, like the KSK-8001UEL, but more like a laptop layout. However, it does have a numeric keypad.
If you're an avid gamer and use the keyboard (as opposed to other controllers), you'll find the programmable keys and Anti Ghosting features very useful. The lighting is better than the KSK-8001UEL and although we would have preferred the full layout of the KSK-8001UEL, the KSK-6001UELX was our favourite keyboard.
The keyboards are all USB and reasonably priced. The main attraction for night owls is those with backlighting. They certainly make working in the reduced light easier and, somehow, more interesting.
