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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: CX23882 on Sat, 14 March 2009, 16:21:12

Title: Backlighting
Post by: CX23882 on Sat, 14 March 2009, 16:21:12

I'm not usually one to buy into keyboard backlighting but I can see the times when backlit keys can be quite useful even if you're a touch-typer.

The thing that concerns me (other than the fact that most backlit keyboards except the Déck(*) are rubber dome) is the way in which the keys are manufactured.  I know that in cars, the buttons are often clear plastic and then have black "paint".  I had an Audi on which one of the electric window switches wore clear over time.

Do backlit keyboards use a similar method?  I can't imagine light-pipes being feasible due to the shape and fine-ness of the shape, which I suppose leaves either clear plastic with black paint, or that with some kind of clear overlay to protect the paint.


* what is the accent for on the é in Déck?

Title: Backlighting
Post by: tamasrepus on Sat, 14 March 2009, 18:03:54

AFAIK the Logitech Illuminated keyboard has "laser-etched" writing on the keys, it's not paint.

The keyboard also uses scissor switches, though not classical mechanical switches, feel a lot better to type on than rubber membrane boards.

Title: Backlighting
Post by: cchan on Sat, 14 March 2009, 19:56:39

Quote from: CX23882;24479

* what is the accent for on the é in Déck?

F!ck knows. And I would imagine that at least some backlit keyboards have double-molded keycaps with one black and one clear layer.

Title: Backlighting
Post by: itlnstln on Sun, 15 March 2009, 08:27:13

Quote

* what is the accent for on the é in Déck?

It looks pretty pointless to me.  It's a one syllable word; the accent falls on the e by default.

Title: Backlighting
Post by: D-EJ915 on Sun, 15 March 2009, 20:14:00

it's there to make it look fancy

Title: Backlighting
Post by: Xuan on Sat, 21 March 2009, 15:17:15

Quote

9. Key Caps: Characters can't chip off the key caps or wear down to oblivion. Period. Deck™ uses a sublimated negative printing process which drives the ink into the plastic keycaps at 525°f. This means permanent printing from the inside out, not on.

http://www.deckkeyboards.com/techspecs.php

Title: Backlighting
Post by: lam47 on Sat, 21 March 2009, 16:49:03

Why only blacks in the deck? Would they not sell more if they offered the whole cherry range?

Title: Backlighting
Post by: eugenius on Sun, 22 March 2009, 09:32:04

they don't care and are generally useless :)

I asked them a while ago if they can sell me a mini keyboard with browns and black matte case not that fugly clear case theu have ...  no response.