SteelSeries Zboard Gaming Keyboard
by SteelSeries
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List Price: Our Price: $44.99 You Save: $5.00 (10%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $40.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of SteelSeries Zboard Gaming Keyboard
Customer Review: Problem Product
Summary: 1 Stars
I wanted the WOW specific keyset, but I couldn't get one for the current version of WOW so I had to pre-order the Burning Crusade key set. They shipped the base with the inter-changeable generic gaming key set. I thought I was getting a simple plug and play device, but I couldn't get it to work. I tried to contact Ideazon. I finally found a phone number, but I had to leave a voice mail. Also, I left an email on their website. The next day I was contacted and spent about 40 minutes on the phone doing very complicated installation procedures (no idea what I did or how to undo it).
Apparently, there is a problem interfacing to an HP system. After it was instaled, I tried to use the gaming keyset but it was incorrectly mapped (the H key would type and F). The interface for customizing the keyset was very difficult to use. I'm a computer programmer with 10+ years experience and I couldn't figure out how fix the mapping on the gaming keyset. Also, when I was trying to resolve this mapping issue, I kept getting error messages that disabled the keyboard.
I spent over 3 hours trying to use this stupid keyboard before getting frustrated and going back to my HP wireless keyboard. Then I realized my HP wasn't working correctly anymore either. I had to unplug the Ideazon and reboot. Also, it's made of cheap plastic. I don't think it would hold up well to wear. I'm going to send a copy of this review to Ideazon and return the product to Amazon. Very disappointing.
Customer Review: Never got it to work
Summary: 1 Stars
Ideazon Zboard Gaming Keyboard
Do not try to register this product; the site doesn't exist. Don't go to their forums; the forums don't exist. Good luck in getting live support ... it doesn't exist.
This item is supposed to support media players (vs 6.4+). I never got mine to work (media player 11). Their troubleshooting tells you to uninstall and reinstall the program. If that doesn't work, then download it from the Internet, and uninstall the program and reinstall it from the file you downloaded. When I did this, the file I downloaded was deleted during the uninstall.
I spent over 3 hours installing and uninstalling, climbing behind my desk to plug and unplug the keyboard. I decided to check how the hot keys were set up to see if I could/should make the changes there. They don't include a paper manual, and when you click the hot key set up, it doesn't take you anywhere, just keeps displaying the same page. The information provided in there help menu is so thin, and doesn't explain how to do anything, that they shouldn't have wasted their time creating what little they had.
Went to their website. 15-20 minutes to try and find the how to get help. Submitted ticket for live support ... nothing happened. Finally returned it to Amazon. Don't waste your money, much less your time.
Customer Review: Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had this keyboard for several months now and really like it. I use the gaming keyset for playing FPS games and the standard keyset for everything else. I got tired of using a regular keyboard for games because I would occasionally fat-finger the keys or lose my finger position - usually during really fast-paced (multiplayer) action.
With the zboard, this is not a problem. The size, shape and position of the keys feel very natural. I never hit the wrong key from trying to react too quickly. Also, my hand doesn't get fatigued.
Both keysets feel solid and sturdy.
The standard keyset has some minor deviations from a normal keyboard layout. There is about .5cm of extra distance between the cursor keys and the main keys because there is a hinge between them. Also, the print-scrn/insert/del group of keys are 1 row lower than they normally would be because an extra row of buttons is added (Bar Lock, Key Tips, and Pad Lock). The differences were a little bothersome at first, but I got use to it pretty quickly. No problems typing 80wpm.
The gaming keyset is simply perfect. What else can I say? It's definitely hard to type with it though. But if you need to, you can.
I bought a Nostromo n52 before I got this product. I don't particularly like the angle of the d-pad on the Nostromo. The Nostromo was my favorite game controller until I got this.
Customer Review: Great Idea, poor execution, NO MAC SUPPORT
Summary: 2 Stars
First and Foremost *NO Macintosh Drivers!!!*
It is bad enough not having Mac drivers, but then to omit that information so unsuspecting buyers, get caught... Disgraceful!
On a PC... System hangs at boot. I keep two keyboards on this system (waste of valuable desk space). I usually end up unplugging the zboard when I boot and use the other board. Once I log into system I can then connect zboard. I am always checking for updated drivers, but this issue never goes away. I've had boot hang on multiple systems and OS versions including... Dell Optiplex, Lenovo laptop T60p laptop as well as Asus based homebuilt system running XP, Vista and Vista-64.
USB power issue, I don't seem to be able to use USB ports on zboard as I get out of power errors in OS. Not an issue with my Dell USB keyboard.
I do like the key layout, especially with WoW insert.
Key touch is good. It runs fine when in-game. Something actually worked in Vista-64 :-)
Conclusion, this wasn't my worst PC experience, but it was very disappointing. It has some potential, but buyer be ware. I like it well enough to keep it on my desktop and do swap out.
Ideazon, if you are reading... You would get 5 star, If you fix the Boot and USB with board running on my Macintosh!!!
Customer Review: Ideazon Zboard Gaming Keyboard
Summary: 4 Stars
The gaming keyboard is great for in-game play. I love being able to use the ergonomically placed keys when I'm enthralled in an intense battle. The original key boards are ok, but zboard provides the gamer with the perfect finger/key placement for every move, weapon selection, or communications with fellow troops. Two thumbs up for game play.
There is one nuisance that you have to be whiling to put up with though. Switching the gaming keyset out to play a game works fine the first time, but not for the next switch. When switching back to the original keyset, it is a 50/50 chance that it will work right. So, a reboot is required to make life normal again.
As long as you are playing the game, you will have the advantage. It took me about eight hours of straight game play to get really comfortable with the new keyset. The time can be shorter or longer depending on the person playing.
I found it very easy to locate and download the new keyboard drivers. The keyset drivers were very easy to update too with all the most common games listed.
I would recommend the keyboard, but don't get frustrated after one hour of dying because you will see a decrease in your scoring for a little bit and then it will sky rocket afterwards.