The Eclipse II is Saitek’s latest entry into the illuminated keyboard market. Well, market segment. I wasn’t aware of how big of a demand there is for keyboards that light up until I did some research into the Eclipse I. Speaking of which, those who held off on the original Eclipse due to its gaudy design, the new iteration addresses many of the design issues of its predecessor. For those interested in getting a keyboard with a little more to offer, then you are in luck: the Eclipse II is fantastic.

Just looking at the Eclipse II, it doesn’t seem all that different from most other keyboards on the market. The layout is fairly standard, save for a small area above the numeric pad for multimedia functions (play/pause, stop, forward and backward), volume control, and the light controls (off/on, a dimmer switch, and a color selector); and there are two separate pieces on the bottom side of the keyboard, one inside the other, which are used to adjust the height. The size is slightly larger than most due to rubber grips that stick out from the four corners and the weight is heavier as well, both of which provide for great foundation. I’m not the calmest of gamers, and every now and then my hands can get a bit pushy, so I appreciate not having to reorient myself every time I pounce a sniper or slay a peasant. I also used it for work, which involves more typing than I’d like to think about, and the Eclipse II was a delight.

Beyond the hefty weight and gripped corners, the keyboard just feels good: the keys can take a pounding while remaining quiet; the bulky space bar meant my thumbs never had far to go; and having the illumination function a key press away means anytime’s a good time for a light show. I can see how this will be too big for some, though. Even without the additional plastic rest the keyboard is still a beast, with the perturbing corner grips just waiting to wreak havoc on someone’s confined workspace.

To be sure, I put this puppy through the ringer. Despite milk, cereal, water, ketchup, and whatever else that could possibly spill on the keyboard spilling on the keyboard, the Eclipse II performed like a champ and still works like new. So it doesn’t just look sturdy, it is sturdy.

Be brighter!

The Eclipse II’s biggest draw is also its biggest disappointment. The illuminated keypad is a great idea and has been executed well enough, but there is just one small problem: the keys barely light up. The backlight underneath the keyboard shines through everything, but while the space in-between the keys brightens the desk – in purple, blue, or red, no less! – the keys themselves are content to hide in the darkness. Even though I know a keyboard’s layout I still get thrown off from time to time and need to readjust, and besides that it just makes sense for the keys to be clearly visible in the dark when using a $70 keyboard that is selling itself on its ability to light up.

The odd thing about all of this is that it’s as if I need the light now. The keys may not be bright enough, but working in the dark without the light on just doesn’t happen these days. Similar to, though not as dramatic as, satellite radio, the illumination is just one of those things that grows on you and becomes part of your routine so much that its absence is unsettling. As much as you disappoint me, Light, I need you - and with this handy volume button I can crank up Baby Come Back and woo you to brightness again. I also ended up tossing the plastic wrist rest in favor of my gel one, and for as much money as this goes for I would have expected a rest a bit more ergonomic.

I’m a fairly frugal fellow, so it’s hard for me to say a keyboard – any keyboard – is worth $70, but Saitek’s Eclipse II is worth $70. Even if the backlight isn’t appealing whatsoever, the solid design and build still makes this one worth spending the extra scratch for. At the moment, I don’t see myself using another keyboard for the foreseeable future. This really is a great unit.

Requirement(s):

USB 2.0
Windows XP, XP64 and Windows Vista (all versions)