gaming keyboard

[SirPoonga]

Any of you use this?
http://www.zboard.com/us/products/products_main.htm

I like the idea.  Playing FPS games my left wrist gets sore because of the keyboard layout.  This would solve that.

[Sephroth57]

i saw it in the store with presets for everquest, if i saw a FPS one like that i would probably buy it though, looks cool

[Dartful Dodger]

That looks good.  I wonder if they make an overlay for left handed people.

[SirPoonga]

i saw it in the store with presets for everquest, if i saw a FPS one like that i would probably buy it though, looks cool

The normal one comes with a normal qwert keyboard and a generic FPS.
Current mappings presets available with the generic board
http://www.zboard.com/us/downloads/keysets.php

Click products and getting started to take a tour.

Amazon has a rebate for the bf2 keyset for free if you by the normal zboard.  I am thinking aobut that.

Also if you read the faqs apparently they have a better matrix   Can handle 7-8 keypresses at once.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Personally, I'd like to get my hands on one of these (Infinium Phantom Lapboard). It raises up and the mouse goes underneath as the keyboard angles for better positioning. Perfect for FPS gaming on consoles in front of the television...



But I don't think it's out to market yet unless you buy the entire Phantom Gaming System?! Anyone?

mrC

[SirPoonga]

That's a nifty idea.  However I can see that won't work for me.  For me it's the slight offset the keyboard rows have that cause the cramping.

My usual setup, especially now with bf1942, is from left to right keyboard, joystick, mouse.
I'm a flight sim junkie, I will eventually get an Saitek X45, the the throttle will be to the left of the keyboard. 
For BF this is the perfect layout for me.  I need the joystick as close to in front of me as possible when flying planes (in any game).  Hence it's position.  Actually, it is more behind the keyboard and the mouse a little bit in front of hte joystick.  This is because in some games i mapped the -, +, numpadEnter for to something and reach over with my right hand thumb to hit them.  But I usually have those mapped because it is uncomfortable to have them mapped anywhere near the rdfg heys (which is what I map my fps controls to).  I map my fps controls to that so my pinky has access to qwaszx.  Usual layout is s stand or crouch, x for crouch or prone, w for zoom, a for favorite weapon (or next weapon in some games that don;t support mouse wheel), q and z for inventory in inventory games.  Or reload if the game has leaning, otherwise t is reload and e is use.
But this gets akward.  But I haven't found a layout that is comfortable yet you can have all those options available without moving your hand around too much.
In fact, in UT I map hjnm to bot controls.  hj are usually mapped to devensive commands, nm to offensive.  For UT v is probably the only default key I use, it brings up the bot menu
But it's annoying to play, have to turn the keyboard at an angle to be somewhat comfortable.

Looking at the zboard it appears I can do most of what I am use to yet be comfortable

[Arcadiac]

I have a zboard, love it for fps gaming, haven't used it for awhile though.  I only have one main PC for gaming and internet and the regular keys are offset in a way that made it difficult for me to type comfortably.  If you aren't going to have to switch back and forth or if you don't mind swapping it out it's definitely worth the price.  Try to find a store that has a good refund policy and try it out, maybe you'll like it too!

ARCADIAC!

[SirPoonga]

I'm thinking of getting it from amazon, if you get one now there is a rebate to get the bf2 keyset for free.

[Arcadiac]

Looks like mine, must be second-gen tho', mine didn't come with a standard keyboard insert, my only complaint!  Either that or I got f'ked out of it at CompUSA! 
I think you'll like it, I wanna find mine now and dust it off. 
Damn you SirPoonga! 
ARCADIAC!

[SOAPboy]

1 word about the zboard


"MEH"


That is all\

[SirPoonga]

Looks like mine, must be second-gen tho', mine didn't come with a standard keyboard insert, my only complaint!  Either that or I got f'ked out of it at CompUSA! 
I think you'll like it, I wanna find mine now and dust it off. 
Damn you SirPoonga! 
ARCADIAC!

You have the ps/2 version?

[GGKoul]

1 word about the zboard


"MEH"


That is all\

Is that a good or bad review??

[SOAPboy]

1 word about the zboard


"MEH"


That is all\

Is that a good or bad review??

Bad

I had 3 paragraphs wrote out.. and went to find a picture for an example, and got hit by a autorefresh page that crashed my browser, so im retyping this half assed..


1) Its cheap, And wears out quick. I thrashed one in 2 months.. thats unacceptable for a 50$ board
2) Its NOT an advantage, it GIMPS you more than anything
3) Its a gimmick

Think about it..



Here we have the standard layout.. by no means is that terrible.. tho keys do feel a bit small..



Standard FPS layout..

This is NOT an advantage, its GIMPING YOU.. wow omg my movement keys are bigger.. at the expense of having keys like QERFVCZX all super tiny.. *OH NOES COLT OUT OF AMMO (trys to press last weapon key) Doh, Dead..

and i love how they decided to shift everything to the right


Now if i have to type something quickly, i get to relearn the keyboard..


if the images arnt comming up http://www.ask-corp.jp/guide/zboard-1.html

anyways.. im just against such gimmick stuff.. lighted keyboards, fine, clear keyboards, fine.. just dont mess with my layout..

and if your serious about getting something for "gaming" and are dead set on something "NEW" and fancy, get a Speedpad

[SirPoonga]

The speedpad, NOOOOOOOOOOOO.  It;s just a mini keyboard

Sounds to me you don't like it because of your personal preferences.  Not because it is a bad product.

Froom responses I get from other people it is a great device.  The only bad thing people point out is the text on the buttons wear out.

As for typing, yeah, duh it isn't going to be good for that.  But how often does one type in games these say when most games have voice or use roger wilco?   I don't type in games anymore.

Anyway, I am looking a it because a keyboard is just plain uncomfortable.  Very bad.  You obviously didn't read my earlier complaints on keyboards.

I do see one issue.  They should have put another button on the other side of the butterfly keys in the position of the reload button.  Because that is where I typically put a zoom key.

I'm going to get one to try it.  Anything is better than small square concave buttons in a grid format   Talk about bad ergonomics.  I've tried the sppedpad, same problem as the a normal keyboard for me.  i need something a little more ergonomic.  This looks like it.

[SOAPboy]

The speedpad, NOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[SirPoonga]

If you end up buying the zboard, i DO hope you like it.. id rather put my 2 cents in and give you the heads up from a real gamers point of view.. ^_^

And I am not a real gamer?  One thing I have complained about for the last ten years is the keyboard sucks for gaming.  Amazingly it is still the best thing out there

If you just need a keyboard upgrade.. Saitek makes a hell of a keyboard.. in fact, ill most likely never buy another brand now that ive been using this one.. the addon extra button pad to me is useless, but some people seem to like it.. sure it lights up, but i always have that crap off.. but it HAS to be the smoothest typing board ive ever owned.. and man ive owned alooot of keyboards..

It's still a keyboard with square buttons at a slant.  That's the problem with me.  Is there something else out there?
A keyboard is just not ergonomic for gaming.

As for in game mic, well yeah duh, but A) not everyone uses sound 24/7.. B) Good luck with that whole voice thing on pub servers with games that dont have in game voice.. C) Not everyone on every server is on the same wilco/teamspeak/ventrillo server..

True true, but if I FPS I usualy CTF or some teamplay game.  Deathmatch bores me.
Otherwise the other games I play (race sims, flight combat sims, RTS) there isn't much tlaking going on.  Well, the flight sims if a squadron is created, but then you have to use voice commands to talk to each other.
Unfortunately for the gmaes I like to play there really isn't anything modern that is good.
I'm still playing warcraft II and starcraft.
Still run the older NFS.
Microsoft's flight combat sim is still the best WWII sim.  I don't like modern flight sms, fire and forget missles are boring

And for those games there are still plenty of people playing them because of the fact there isn;t anything new that adds anything to game play.

[DYNAGOD]

if nothing else it would appear makes typing messages to your teamates/players difficult at best. the whole keyboard left hand layout is utterly thrashed..

[SirPoonga]

soapboy, you do know there is a 1 year warranty on them.  Send it in

[SirPoonga]

Anyway, I am going to get one.  Amazon.com had a deal where you cna get the bf2 keyset for free with rebate if you buy a zboard.  And they are $5 cheaper than anywhere else.  I will report my findings.

[AmericanDemon]

I was given a Zboard and a World of Warcraft Keyset.  It was invaluable for WoW.  However, as far as a FPS keyboard....  its alright.  I find myself still using the original keyset when FPS gaming.  I will admit though, I didnt give the FPS keyset a fair trial before sticking it in the drawer of no return.

[JB]

If you end up buying the zboard, i DO hope you like it.. id rather put my 2 cents in and give you the heads up from a real gamers point of view.. ^_^

And I am not a real gamer?  One thing I have complained about for the last ten years is the keyboard sucks for gaming.  Amazingly it is still the best thing out there

Seconded.

I've had many PC gamers threaten to lynch me before I even get to complaining about keyboards, because I dare to prefer trackballs to mice.Once I complain about the keyboard... you'd think I just announced my intention to torture their family to death while forcing them to watch.

[SOAPboy]

soapboy, you do know there is a 1 year warranty on them.

[AmericanDemon]

I used a warrior and got him to level 46, but the custom keyset had quick keys for talking in party, guild, and stuff like that.  It was useful.  Especially since I never set up macros.  Never had the desire to honestly.

[SirPoonga]

soapboy, you do know there is a 1 year warranty on them.  Send it in

Not worth my time.. didnt like the board, so why replace it?

To sell it, reclaim some of the money

Tom's Hardware liked it. 

But I get mixed reviews.  Either people hate it or love it, no in between.  Sounds alot like the M$ natural keyboard.  Either it suits you or not.

I see speedpads go on ebay for $5-$10.  maybe i iwll pick one up and compare it.

[SOAPboy]

soapboy, you do know there is a 1 year warranty on them.