|
Written by [t0rc]
|
The keyboard is a common peripheral to mod. Ranging from replacing the Num/Scroll/Caps lock LED's to creating a completely new circuit for a touch sensitive keyboard. That's all from the modding arena but past wireless usage we used to not see much from keyboard manufacturers. Now manufacturers are producing backlit keyboards usually illuminated by a few strands of EL wire or a few LEDs which more often than not aren't bright enough to light all the keys, they only light the frame, and don't have any more than an I/O switch. Keyboard producer TG3 Electronics is changing that with their impressive Déck line of backlit keyboards.
A quote on the Déck Keyboard:
"Déck is the first LED backlit keyboard designed exclusively for gamers who Mod.
Déck is a product of TG3, an internationally-known manufacturer of specialty and backlit keyboards. A rugged, splash-proof, version of the board is the standard in squad cars, fire trucks and rescue vehicles throughout the world.
The Déck board is the brainchild of owner Tom Giles, a 30-year keyboard design veteran who has developed some of the most awesome boards on the planet. Tom and his team of engineers set out to do two things with Déck: design a board for serious gamers AND create a place for Moders to show their keyboard work.
We encourage you to Mod your Déck, then make sure to share your work with other Moders by submitting a photo to this site [DeckKeyboards.com].
Most of all, enjoy your Déck. It was engineered for pleasure!"
*Quote found at the Deck Keyboards About page.
Arriving just fine, the keyboard has a strong casing which can withstand a pretty brutal user. Rated to withstand around 20 years of use, we'd like to test this theory but relative to the rest of the keyboards durability, we believe it. Through multiple slams, drops, and even a tumble down some stairs, the Déck performed nicely. Not to mention that it can withstand temperatures from -40°C to 70°C. So the next time you head to Antarctica you'll have a great keyboard to tag along. The back of the board is diamond plate metal that has a very nice mirror finish. The rest of the casing is made from translucent plastic with a stucci-resembling pattern to give it some texture. The semi-transparent plastic gives the keyboard an admirable "UFO" effect around the edges. We received a "Fire" Déck keyboard; there are two other LED colors available: "Gold" and "Ice". A new no-name green version will be released in late March '05. TG3 is looking to find a name for this new green Déck; you can post any suggestions for names in the Déck Keyboard Review thread and maybe one of you will have the lucky name!
After first reading about the Déck, I figured the "individual LED for each key" proclamation was just some marketing ploy. My assumption was that it had to be another loop-hole that a company had found; manipulating their vocabulary in order to promote their lacking product. Boy was I wrong.
No strings attached, there is in fact one (or more) LED behind each and every key. Even the USB 1.1 connector has an LED inside. That high amount of LED's provides better lighting than any EL wire backlit keyboard I've ever seen or used. Rated at 200,000 hours (nearly 22 years without shutdown), the 5.25mA LED's have seven levels of brightness, along with an OFF mode. With backlit keyboards sometimes the brightness in the middle of the night gets to be hard on the eyes and/or interferes with gaming. Having recognized this TG3 integrated a brightness control system on to the keyboard specifically for that purpose. There are two methods to changing the brightness on the keyboard; both use the FN key which registers only for the lights, no function for the computer. One method is to hold FN-KEY and then press 0-7 (0=off, 7=brightest) to adjust the brightness as you see fit. The other maneuver is to hold FN-KEY and press the UP and DOWN arrows. The Déck uses the USB 1.1 5v line to power the LEDs; a nice feature that keeps another cable out of the picture.
One of the few problems found with the Déck is with the caps lock key. When the brightness is 1-7 tapping the Caps Lock key results in a lit up blue LED under the key. When the brightness mode is OFF and you hit the Caps Lock key, no blue light comes on; slightly annoying when going from gaming to typing.
 Brightness Level: 7  Brightness Level: 1 
If you take a look at the keyboard, it's rather small. The layout takes a while to get used to, especially if you're coming from most other full-size keyboards. Some of the keys have been made smaller, the Home, End, Del, Ins, Pg.Up, Pg. Dwn., and Windows keys have also been moved around along with a few others. The absence of the numpad really got to me when I was trying to calculate some FSB/Multiplier relations; but even more so when I was trying to create some 3D renders. The numpad is commonly used for Camera angles in 3D rendering programs and without it I had to resort to using the mouse to switch views. Most users rarely touch the numpad so we don't feel it's extensively detrimental to this keyboard. With that said, the Déck is aimed at the late night gamer/modder who wants a nice looking compact keyboard. Fragging throughout the night, after about 15-20 minutes of gaming I was used to the keyboard and posting scores just as good as with my full sized keyboard.
The Déck ships with a skull key that you can replace most keys with but for nearly $100 we'd like to see a plethora of these keys with different designs or at least some more bonuses. The keys also don't seem to have wearing off labels, another precaution against the gaming lifestyle. Repair and disassembly of most things on the Déck are easy. The site includes guides for common issues needing repair and one for assembly/disassembly, not to mention suggestions for painting, removing keycaps, and adding more LEDs (around the edging of the keyboard). The site is a highly helpful resource and if you purchase this keyboard I strongly suggest taking a look at it.
All things considered, the Déck Keyboard is the best backlit keyboard I've used to date. Strong, solid construction, superb key lighting and visibility, brightness controls, 3 light choices, additional LED mounts, easy to disassemble, great documentation, and easy installation are the key points to this keyboard. Naturally, it does have it's flaws, but very few. The price is rather high, the Caps Lock key LED issue, and the absence of a NumPad if you're trying to do something else other than gaming. There is a 21 key backlit keypad scheduled for release near the end of March '05. Hopefully Déck will be able to get some more retailers on board sometime soon as we'd more than likely see a price drop. If you're looking for a unique and modded keyboard but don't want to do it yourself, or just want to change the paint job, buy the Déck. You won't be disappointed. The Déck receives a rating of 92%, the Gold Award, and Editors Choice Award. Well done TG3.
Thanks to TG3 Electronics for making this review possible.
| LED: | DED: | - Nice Colors
- LED under EVERY key!
- Sturdy Construction
- Easy Installation
- Brightness Controls
|
|
|
|
Reviews 
