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Auravision EluminX Keyboard

By Miguel Blanco ⋅ April 29, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

The keyboard is one of the most forgettable parts of your computer system. This is ironic, seeing as how it is a necessary and integral interface between man and machine. But it seems as though the mouse has won all the attention over the years and keyboards have been largely ignored. Auravision wants to shatter that trend with its exciting new EluminX keyboard.

The EluminX features Auravision’s patented Electroluminescent technology which is a fancy way of saying that it lights up. EluminX comes in five color combinations, including the Black Case/Saphire Illumination we used for this review. The Sapphire is a dark blue leaning-towards-purple color. The other illumination option is called Aquamarine and is reminiscent of a lighted fish tank in a dark room. Plans are in the works to release several new color combinations, but no dates have been set by Auravision.

The 104-key keyboard sits flat (there are no legs of any kind). Rubber feet keep the keyboard from sliding. The thin 16mm high frame give the keyboard a slick appearance (much like a mac keyboard). There are no specialty keys (internet, email, search), however most people don’t really use these keys anyway so it doesn’t matter much that they are not there. There is a convenient numeric keypad, which competing keyboards like the Zippy EL-610 do not offer.

I found myself captivatated by the EluminX. The light blue glow behind the transparent keys causes the illusion that the keys are floating in mid air. I found that my eyes keep drifting towards the keyboard even when I wasn’t on the computer, and just walking past on my way to the kitchen for a snack. Even though I’ve been using it for over a week, it has not yet lost its appeal. It just looks really cool.

Although, it takes a little getting used to typing on a glowing keyboard, I felt comfortable with it right away. Gamers will love the fact that they can now play in the dark and not have to fumble around to turn on a light when they have to type in a cheat code. This is by far the best reason to justify the keyboards high price tag of $99. The average non-luminescent keyboard will only run you about $15.

Another plus for this keyboard is installation. The EluminX installs in seconds. It simply plugs into your PS2 port. There’s no power cable and no drivers to install. This is truly a plug-and-play device.

Overall the EluminX is a modder’s dream-come-true. If you’re the type of geek that loves packing his computer with glow-in-the-dark fans and cathode tubes, the EluminX is for you. But you can’t have mine. I’m keeping it.

Product SpecificationsInterface PS/2, Plug and Play
Compatibility Windows 95/98/2000/NT/ME/XP
104 keys
12 Function keys
Membrane Switch Technology
Size: 420 (L) x 156 (W) x 16 (H) mm
Cable 1.35 m Straight
Keyboard Weight 0.8 kgs
Total Key Travel 4.0 +/- 0.5mm
Peak Tactile Force 30 +/- 8 Grams
Contact Resistance 500 Ohms Maximum
Switch Reliability 10 Million minimum
MTBF 60,000 Hours
Maximum Ratings Nominal Ratings 5.0 VDC, 114 mA +/- 10%
Approvals FCC Class B, CE
US Patent No. 6,199,996 B1

Environmental Specs

Operating Temp 0 C to 50 C
Storage Temp - 20 C to + 60 C
Humidity (Operating) 80% RH to 95% RH

Warranty / Other Information

Manufacturer Warranty: 1 year

Conclusion

Overall the EluminX is a great high-quality keyboard with lots of eye-catching appeal. Its unique style and captivating glow is sure to turn a few heads in the office. With easy no-hassle installation and compatibility with any PS2 port system, the EluminX is a sure winner. However the high price tag is hard to justify and puts it just out of reach for most computer enthusiasts.

Pros:

Slim, sleek design.
Compatible with most systems.
No additional connectors (powered off your PS2 port).
Great for low light environments.

Cons:

A bit pricey compared to other keyboards.
No folding legs

Quality: 10 out of 10
Features: 8 out of 10
Price: 7 out of 10

Overall: 8 out of 10