I picked up an Ideazon Zboard Gaming Keyboard at GameStop today. I had wanted one of these for awhile because I just thought the idea of swappable keysets sounded cool, plus my tried and trusted keyboard of over 12 years finally bit the dust (the Microsoft Natural PS2 Keyboard Elite – not fancy, but I personally LOVE’ed it!).
For this, I also picked up the Age of Conan keyset, which I’ll review next.
Unpacking the Zboard
This was the ZBD101, which is the USB version. The ZBD3xx’s are PS2.
Included in the box are:
- The keyboard base
- The “Standard Keyset”, which is a standard QWERTY keyboard layout
- The “Gaming Keyset”, which is a modified keyboard layout with the left half replaced by a butterfly ASDW layout for FPS movements
- An ergonomic wrist rest
- Software installation CD
- Documentation manual
- An ad insert for customized keysets
Changing the Keysets
Step 1: Flip the clip-thing on the right hand side.
Step 2: Peel off the keyset.
Step 3: Starting on the left hand side, slide the new keyset in and then clamp the clippy-thing.
Review of Additional Features
Wrist rest: This thing felt very flimsy, so after checking it out, I packed it away.
Elevation Feet: kinda standard fare, felt stable.
Adjustable Cord Outlet: Nice idea, you can tunnel your cord through one of three outlets so that it comes out the left, center, or right side of the back the keyboard. Simple, and I suppose it might be appreciated by somebody… somewhere…
USB Hub: Nice addition, but with two slots – given that you are already taking one slot to plug in this keyboard, then this hub really only gives you one additional USB port. [EDIT: I thought of this after having returned the keyboard; I don't recall if these are USB 1.2 or USB 2.0 slots]
Using the keyboard (Trying to actually type).
Good:
- A little more solid than I had expected, but not by much.
- The standard windows special keys are marked (i.e. symbols for cut/copy/paste); although I think anybody who’s under the age of 40 already knows these. Nevertheless, I do like that.
- Hot keys at the top which are customizeable in the Z Engine software. But this is usually standard in any upgraded keyboard.
- All the usual keys are included…
Bad:
- Probably my biggest complaint is that the spacebar is horrible. It is split nearly in the middle due to the spacebar resting over one of the hinges; so there is a ‘left’ and a ‘right’ side to it. The right side is a little smaller (so kinda 60% and 40%) and seems not to lay perfectly flat. I primarily use my right thumb to hit the spacebar and it seems to not register about 10% of the time.
- I find the same problem with all the keys not hitting about 5% of the time.
- When sliding on the keysets, other keys don’t line up correctly as well; I’ve noticed that this varies depending on which keyset I put on.
- Although a little more solid than expected, it does feel a little on the flimsy and cheap side – but I must admit that I consider myself very picky when it comes to that “just right” keyboard feel.
- The keys don’t give a very satisfying click when pressed. For reference, I LOVE the old IBM PS2 keyboards, my current notebook is an IBM thinkpad which I LOVE the keyboard, and my previous gaming keyboard for years was a Microsoft Natural PS2 Keyboard Elite, I also use on my other computer a Dell Enhanced USB keyboard - I find that those IBM keyboards give a very satisfying ‘click’ and the MS & Dell keyboards are quieter though still gives a very satisfying feel that the key registers. For the Zboard; it feels more like those cheap Dell keyboards with a spongy register (the ones we have to use at our county hospital because they were too cheap to spend the extra $5 upgrade). Bottom-line: definitely not a keyboard to sit down and write a 20 page report on.
- Just typing this review is completely wearing out my hands…
- Typos EVERYWHERE …
- It’s kinda loud. This is OK with me if it is a comforting click that each key is hit smoothly (see above). No, for this keyboard, it is just an annoying rattle.
- The hot keys are clear, and look like they ought to light up. But they don’t, such a cruel trick!
- Have I mentioned yet how much the space bar and shift keys are pissing me off? …
BOTTOM LINE:
- Some nice features that can be found on nearly any $50+ keyboard, so nothing special.
- Keyboard is a little on the flimsy side.
- Very crappy keyboard for typing, makes my hands tired and causes me to screw up typing A LOT.
- However, cool factor for plugging in game specific keysets, and
- I do appreciate the additional USB port.
