Eluminx Keyboard
 

"We take a look at the latest product from Auravision, the EluminX. It comes equipped with a set of transparent keys and a backlight for those who work on their PCs during the graveyard shift."
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=70

:super:

110€ voor keyboard

OMG

the flashiest keyboard you'll ever own!

still got an old cherry here, superb quality. let's see this extended weekend what I can do with that :D

study.

I dont really like the compact layout, its a disadvantage in my opinion. Keys like insert etc are placed on the most strange places etc... I'll stick to my logitech&m$ for now... :) But I have to admit it looks mighty flashy :) Once there is a fullsize keyboard of this brand, it shall be mine :grin:

good point, I'll catch up maths
keyb modding in the evening/breaks then :)

by the way, how long is there warranty on that keyb? it's so expensive, I'd better be quality!

me thinks that this is the ultimate LAN-keyboard :-)
small-sized, illuminates so you can see what you're doing in the middle of the night.
and in contradiction to what Magnum said, the placement of the Insert/PgUp/PgDn/Del-keys is actually pretty good :) (Yes, I'm used to work with a laptop keyboard all the time, so that works perfectly for me) another great advantadge over the laptop keyboard is the fact that the numeric-keypad is separated from the alpha-numeric part of the keyboard, making it accessible without having to turn numlock on and off all the bloody time.

and what is said in the review about the placement of the arrowkeys while playing a game, well I can be brief about that.
Use the ZQSD (WASD for americans) instead of the arrow keys you bloody n00b :p

I play with a full sized keyboard for the last 10 years, laptop keyboards are crap for typing.. always use an external one when I have a laptop.

Well, I must say, I find it easier to type on my laptop than a regular keyboard.
of course, it also depends on the keyboard. for example, the board I'm using right now ( at work) is a compaq keyoard and it feels really clumsy, It really reduces my typing rate and increases the chance of making a typo.
however, when using my very own laptopkeyb, I can type pretty fast, even faster than I can using my Logitech wireless keyboard.

Well, If you really dislike the Eluminx's layout that much, feel free to send it over, I'll put it to good use ;-)


*edit* I should mention that I have fairly small hands, so the smaller size of laptopkeyboards is acutally easier for me to type simply because the keys are a bit closer together. when It comes to gaming though, nothing beats a good old-fashioned normal-sized keyboard. (but I can manage gaming on a laptopkeyboard :))

it's already put to very good use! :)

:'(
Life's not fair
:'(

I know you've done this review a while ago, but I've started to look after this keyboard for almost half a year or more.... Do you know where I can buy it at a rather cheapy price? I've contacted the 'to be'-reseller in Belgium, but he has lost contact with Auravision since several months.... :(

try to contact Eluminx directly, they know which resellers in .BE have this keyboard!

I've done this and I've contacted the guy, but he hasn't got any lifesigns from them since several months....... :( Not very professional, Auravision :puke:

well this one could be an alternative for the eluminx keyboard: the "Sharkoon luminous keyboard" ... if i had the choice between the two of those, i'd definately go for the Sharkoon specimen

- Sharkoon already has a bit of a reputation when it comes to pc gear, but did you ever hear of eluminx/auravision before?
- the eluminx thingie is just utter crap imo :)
- a rather affordable pricetag of €39 at www.cosh.ag
(http://shop.erfrier.net/shop.php3?dir=430#KMKB11, scroll down)

+ it can be acquired quite easily now, just head over here! =)

always had quick responses with them .. I already asked the question on where to get them in .BE some time ago, this was the reponse:

asked them yesterday got an answer today... fast service I must say

I just got this keyboard today, hooked it up and i hear a low "hum" to the light. Is this normal or did i get a bad keyboard. I know for the DIY glow keyboards, there was talk of a hum, depending on which route you took.

I didn't notice any humming sound when I hooked up the keyboard here.. try europe@auravisionllc.com for a definite answer on wether this is normal or not

Roger, just sent an email off to that address. Copy/paste their reply?

would be gratefull if you could do that
that way everyone knows the answer! :)

thanks

Not from THAT email address but rather info@auravision.com, i got this reply __
Dear Customer,
*
Thank you for purchasing the EluminX keyboard! The slight hum is generated
by the electroluminescent panel that makes the keyboard glow. This is an
issue that we will be addressing in future releases.
*
Best regards,
Meadow Gibbons
Customer Service, Auravision
__
Future releases??? I guess this is a slight "doh"? Argh!

Hum isnt too bad, mine is the aquarimine version, even though sapphire was checked on the box. Atleast i know i didnt get a bum version now.

I still like the keyboard i designed that had its clear letters (not entire keys) backlit by individual LEDs. I even sketched a "christmas" version where the LEDs cycled through 3 colors :)

Since LEDs take up less electricity, my version could be wireless too.
Sadly i dont have the goods to make my wonder board. And the patents for glow keyboards have been snatched up. Apple came close with their 17" laptop.

I decided to register since i was posting so much. My name is quite fitting since i took apart the glowboard and found the source of the hum. It is a tiny transformer with "700" written on it. It is located up behind the "esc-f4" keys. There is ample room in the back of the keyboard to put in foam padding or even that nifty PC padding used to quiet down the case. I'm still exploring my options. Uhh, soon as i find the "attach file" button i will post an image of the innards.

Got the photos.
 

Heres the photos.
first one is the nside, second is close up on the hummer source (please no puns about the SUV)

It was either zip em or post twice.
:mad:

In that picture i posted of the transformer, i found out "why" it hums.
http://www.psaudio.com/articles/hum.asp

Basically its a mechanical hum generated from the darn thing vibrating at 60 shakes a second. The vibrating isnt necessary, just a side effect of the technology. Hmm, maybe by addressing this problem in future releases, Eluminx will perhaps build the transformer into the PS2 cable, or even better, have it at the beginning of the cable near the computer I/O connector. I'm no electrical eng, but i'm thinking that the 700 on the front of the transformer is the marker of current flow. Hmm, lower number = lower hum but dimmer light. Any thoughts forum readers?

Update. Hum, although low, was enough to annoy me into doing this
Inside the keyboard there are two mini boards, one controlling what you type with 3 extra wires leading over to the other board which controls the light. I installed an electrical switch i got from my local supply store (for 2.50) and hey, no more hum. No light either. A switch kinda made sense. Now the light/hum isnt active when i dont need it and by turning off the light when i dont needed increases life span. The keyboard can still type with the light off btw. When darkness falls, i can now just flip a switch and get illumination.

Makes me wonder why they didnt install a switch in the first place.

higher production costs? don't know really, the light is not noticable during the day..

great mod you did there!

Availability
 

Dear all,

Here is your Eluminx keyboard importer.
At last, Belgian lay out keyboards have arrived.
You can find them at some specialized stores and at Cotubex(Brussels) between others.

Have fun !

C. Konstantinidis
ITeK Works
ckonstantinidis@belgacom.net

Thanks for the great news Costa :super: !

K, Costa, can we know the normal price of such a keyboard, cos Cotubex is a bit far from my home... Are there other shops going to sell this keyboard in Brussels? Will there be the silver model?

Regards

in my local shop the have that keyboard at 50% off ( now 25 € )

greetz

that's a great deal!

OMG :drool: :-> pm :D

it's not the silver version but it is the normall blue version

i just walked fast when i passed it and saw it lying with the other stuff with 50% off

i'll send an mail tonight

greetz

OMFG i tought you guy's where talking about the foldable keyboard

soz my mistake

greetz

read the threadtitle before answering ;p
and dont give us false hopes!

:( :rod: :puke: