Need recommedations on gaming keyboards

[catchnrelease]

My SO has been playing WoW for a couple of months now, and his birthday is coming up. I was thinking of getting him a keyboard that would make playing any of the games easier. Does anyone have any recommendations, warnings, comments? We currently just have a "regular"/standard type keyboard. Are boards that are geared towards gamers really of any benefit or just a gimmick and waste of $$?

Thanks in advance for any input!:hi:

[onyourleft]

1. We, too, have looked into this...

...and have not found anything of interest yet. A couple that my husband saw did not have good ratings (cheaply made and did not stand up well to use). What I'm interested in more than a "game" keyboard is a keyboard with back lighting. Our computers are in an area that is basically dark at night and dim during the daytime. Having back lighting at night would help immensely in hitting the correct keys. :)

[catchnrelease]

2. Ok, thanks!

I hadn't thought about a back lit keyboard as being a benefit in a game. Will check into that. My son-in-law had mentioned keyboards that allow you to put various modules together to suit your specific needs, but that sounds pretty pricey and I wouldn't be able to put that together myself. Without ruining the surprise I mean.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

3. I use the Logitech G15 keyboard.

It's a great keyboard, but somewhat expensive.
The older version I have is backlit in blue with 18 customizable keys. The sets of keys have three groups you can switch between, so you can have up to 54 separate macros bound to keys.
The new version here: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3498&cl=us,en">Logitech G15 Keyboard has only six macro buttons in three groups.
Many computer games, WoW included, include software support for the G15 keyboard, so various stats can be displayed on the built-in LCD panel.

I like the keyboard, but $100 is a bit steep, I'll admit.

[onyourleft]

4. Thanks so much for the information.

We are going to look into this keyboard. However, you're correct, it is a bit pricey, especially since we need two of them. :)

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

5. Funny thing is, I got one and liked it so much I got another one for work.

I figured I might as well be comfortable at work as well as at home. And the media player controls are great.
Best Buy sells them for $85 right now. It's only $15, but still, it's $15 off.

Looking at the newer version, it looks like they fixed a problem the old G15 keyboards had: the media player controls tended to get stuck if you hit them too hard.
I'm not saying I angrily pounded on the key; I just pressed it when I was in a hurry and it got jammed. The new versions don't have the same keys as the old blue keyboard, so you won't have that problem.

Happy gaming.

[catchnrelease]

6. You've been a great help

Thanks a bunch HKC!:toast:

Luckily tomorrow is payday for me, so I think I'll be stopping at Best Buy on the way home from work.:evilgrin: Then I have to try to keep the surprise until his birthday, in mid-April.....I doubt that I'll make it.

[CabalPowered]

7. Another rec for the G15

The lcd monitor is a really nice feature!

[NewHampshireDem]

8. Not to hijack, but has anyone tried either of these

Or anything similar?

I saw a WoW purpose-specced one at EB Games that looked neat ... can't find it on-line, but those caught my eye.

[Betty88]

9. I used the top one

but my small sized girl hand does not fit it well.