Why are there NO colored backlit wireless keyboards? Please help me find the right one.

Spitfire7

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Hey guys, I am in need of a new wireless keyboard. I do most of my work and gaming in low lighting situations so I want to upgrade to a back-lit keyboard. I have found maybe one from Logitech https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VAGXWK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=119R8NEM49PXL&coliid=I2DFQEL3ACCVW3&psc=1

This one seems great, but all the competitors look really cool with the changeable lights. I think I would prefer one that I could change the lights to red, blue, white, etc. to fit the game (Flight Sim for red lighting etc.) But I need a wireless. Does this even exist? Can you help me find a wireless keyboard that has several back-lighting color options such as red, blue, white, etc? Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 
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You can absolutely use two keyboards.

I happen to LOVE my Alienware TactX: https://www.amazon.com/Alienware-TactX-Gaming-Keyboard-N16TH/dp/B003V0RRA2 (mind you, it's the power-sucking two usb slot hog mentioned earlier)
It's great for "heavy" typers, it's not so great for light typers. It has a very tactile clicky aspect. It's not mechanical, but it has a good tactile feedback and a nice solid but very firm keypress feel. You must be a heavy typer to love it. I pound my keys. Plus it has survived several quarts of water, coffee, smoothies, and about 30lbs of cat hair over the years. It has a ton of nifty features, the most handy is the windows key lock, it has an actual toggle lock for the windows key, I can effectively turn off the...
Backlighting will drain the batteries faster, so it's not a popular option on wireless keyboards. The Logitech K800 you linked says it will last 10 days between charges (presumably it has a lithium battery included). There's a comparison table of other Logitech keyboards, and some of the other wireless options have significantly longer battery lives: the K250 has an estimated battery life of 15 months on 2 AAA batteries, and the K340 has an estimated battery life of 3 years.
 

Spitfire7

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Thank you guys. Okay, I guess my idea is before its time. Any ideas on some nice $60 range backlit wired keyboards that you would recommend?

Can I run two keyboards at the same time? I would have my wired one on the computer and the wireless one back by the couch. Is that possible before I looking into going that rout?
 

Phaewryn

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You can absolutely use two keyboards.

I happen to LOVE my Alienware TactX: https://www.amazon.com/Alienware-TactX-Gaming-Keyboard-N16TH/dp/B003V0RRA2 (mind you, it's the power-sucking two usb slot hog mentioned earlier)
It's great for "heavy" typers, it's not so great for light typers. It has a very tactile clicky aspect. It's not mechanical, but it has a good tactile feedback and a nice solid but very firm keypress feel. You must be a heavy typer to love it. I pound my keys. Plus it has survived several quarts of water, coffee, smoothies, and about 30lbs of cat hair over the years. It has a ton of nifty features, the most handy is the windows key lock, it has an actual toggle lock for the windows key, I can effectively turn off the windows key function... great for people with cats that like to walk on the desk. It's fully programmable for any function, shortcut, or macros, it has 18 programmable keys functionally, 6 hard keys with three toggle keys to choose the active set of 6. It flawlessly controls the audio on my system, track choosing, volume, pause, and it has a separate mute key that mutes all of windows sounds. The color scheming is simple compared to some of the newer options out there. The keys are all of 1 color, no "rainbow" effect, but it has 2 zones, the keys and the controls for the audio at the top. The only downside I have found to it is that it is a rather large form factor, it consumes a lot of desk space, and if you're short-armed like me, the mouse is kinda far away because of the wide spacing of the qwerty to the arrows, to the number pad, to the edge of the keyboard (there's 6.5 inches from the edge of your enter key to the mouse minimal). I really have loved it though. It's been a solid and totally dependable keyboard for me for the past 6-7 years (I forget exactly when I purchased it), through all the many spills, cat mishaps and hair - tons of cat hair, dropping it, and even spending a year in cold storage in Vermont.
 
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Spitfire7

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I really appreciate your help with this. I am used to the more flat keys with light typing. There are so many to choose from now that I have broaden my horizon. Now its more confusing than when I stared. I need it slim since I use a tiny desk trey, so no large exaggerated keyboards. Any ideas to get my started?
 

Phaewryn

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That first one looks like it will be as bulky as mine. The second one looks like what you're after, slim, with flat keys. I tend to trust 500+ amazon reviewers, if it was awful, you'd be able to read about it in that many reviews. Go for it.



 

Spitfire7

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I think I have opened up to be more flexible now so maybe the bulk won't be so bad. It seems to have a lot of key options, cool keys, and just about everything I would need. So unless someone knows something I don't then this might be the one.

Is there something else out there similar to this just as good for a similar price?

Are there any nice illuminated keyboards with the flat keys? Not completely flat, but like mid range. I have been using the standard flat Microsoft style keyboard for ages and going back to full size is going to possibly feel uncomfortable until I can get used to it again. Let me know if you guys know of a flat key backlit keyboard.
 

Spitfire7

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Okay, I think I have decided. I think I am going to go with the Steelseries M800. This one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SB6DO6M/ref=s9_simh_gw_g147_i1_r?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=AXYTJPJ6Q7PG83NG40XF&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=6aad23bd-3035-4a40-b691-0eefb1a18396&pf_rd_i=desktop

Is there any reason why I shouldn't or I should go with something else? This seems to have just about everything that meets my criteria. Please let me know.

One question. I don't see a calculator on this keyboard. I know I can map any key to what I want, but it seems I can map things from a drop down menu and I am not sure if the windows calculator is an option. Do you or does anyone know if I can map the windows calculator to this keyboard?

Thank you.
 

Phaewryn

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Window's calculator is built into windows, it's not a part of the keyboard. If you mean that your old keyboard had a button to open it specifically, will, that's cute, but not standard on most keyboards. You can ALWAYS access the windows calculator in the Windows start menu, click start, open "all programs" then open "accessories" and you'll see it in there. Once you're on it, hover over it, and right click to open the context menu, and you can "pin it" to your start menu or taskbar so it is easier to find in the future. That's what I do.