Warning! EluminX lighted keyboards...

Bri · Post by **Bri** » Fri May 09, 2003 1:29 pm

Let me start by saying this is the coolest looking keyboard. Very clean and modern looking. It’s also very easy to use and quite functional. However, It “whines” like a 15k SCSI HD !!! Errr..
After spending many months and many hundreds of dollars to make my PC extremely quiet, this whine from a gorgeous $100 keyboard is quite disappointing.

I’ll give it a day to see if the “whine” dissipates before I attempt to return it.

I purchased it thru Xoxide so wish me luck in RMA’ing it.

Anybody else have any experience with the eluminXkeyboards?

-Bri

GamingGod · Post by **GamingGod** » Fri May 09, 2003 2:29 pm

Id put glow in the dark paint on the keys before I would buy a $100 keyboard.

wussboy · Post by **wussboy** » Fri May 09, 2003 4:21 pm

GamingGod wrote:Id put glow in the dark paint on the keys before I would buy a $100 keyboard.

Just make sure you buy the "non-whining" paint.

Liquidated · Post by **Liquidated** » Fri May 09, 2003 4:36 pm

Yeah honestly if I bought a $100 keyboard I'd be whining louder than the thing I paid for.

hehe what price vanity. =)

Cheers!
-Liq

daba · Post by **daba** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 3:53 pm

This is a little old, but I got an Eluminx today and it does produce a whine that is louder than my whining 2001FP and my computer combined!!! I can't stand the noise. Do all Eluminx's come with this whine?

fraz · Post by **fraz** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 4:16 pm

I've heard EL illuminated things tend to whine in general. Just usually the people that buy them can't hear it over the 6+ fans installed in their case.

fraz

Bluefront · Post by **Bluefront** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 4:37 pm

baaa....I've got an illuminated keyboard...not the one in question. I paid $30 for it at a computer show. It works perfectly well in the dark, allowing me to type without too many errors. Cuts down on the electric bill.

Oh...it's completely silent.

daba · Post by **daba** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:31 pm

Yea, I just called Auravision and they said that they would send me a replacement. The CSR said it was definitely a defect.

Oh, I hope so, for a $100 keyboard.

Talz · Post by **Talz** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:10 am

Thought I already replied to this. But I have a Zippy EL keyboard, it was quiet for a few months then the buzz started. And from what I've read you can expect that from any EL keyboard eventually, which is very disapointing because I really liked the lighted keys.

bugeja · Post by **bugeja** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:05 pm

i have a zippy keybaord and it buzzes to no end. in fact i find myself switching off the lights as i can't stand it.

i am now looking for a replacement. and my ideal would be the following:

1. slim like the zippy keybaord
2. wireless
3. possibly combined with a wireless optical mouse too

any ideas?

teejay · Post by **teejay** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:35 pm

Thank you very much for making me notice this! How am I supposed to un-hear this?!?

Actually, I have a Sharkoon laptop-sized illuminated keyboard and the sound is all but inaudible. I have to put my ear between the keys to hear the difference between lights on and off... lucky me, I guess.

Rusk · Post by **Rusk** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:30 am

Logitech dinNovo cordless desktop is the model that might do the trick for you.

Regards,

Rusk

Schroinx · Post by **Schroinx** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:28 am

teejay: You have mighty small ears then, if they fit between the keys.

teejay · Post by **teejay** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:31 am

Small ears... I wish! You've never seen them obviously

sing along please: "I am sailing; I am sailing!"

but you do get what I mean, right?

Tigr · Post by **Tigr** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:21 pm

Schroinx wrote:teejay: You have mighty small ears then, if they fit between the keys.

No, he actually has pointed ears so he places the tip of the ear inbetween the keys!

Wraith · Post by **Wraith** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:00 pm

Id put glow in the dark paint on the keys before I would buy a $100 keyboard.

Not to steer this thread too far offtrack, but does anyone make a keyboard like that?

bugeja · Post by **bugeja** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:51 am

Rusk wrote:Logitech dinNovo cordless desktop is the model that might do the trick for you.

Regards,

Rusk

they sure look cute...but i ain't buying any keybaord and mouse at that price...

i'm off buying a few lottery tickets

Edwood · Post by **Edwood** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 6:51 pm

The high pitched buzzing comes from the inverter in the EL part's power supply.

-Ed

Solid Snake · Post by **Solid Snake** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 4:34 pm

I have a xenix illuminated keyboard that feels like laptop keys. Anyway this thing is dead quiet. Mine is illuminated using EL wire which requires a high(er) voltage supply so there's a DC to DC converter somewhere in there. You could probably silence yours by sealing it in hot glue. I can't see the PS/2 or USB port putting out enough current to cause any heat problems.

daba · Post by **daba** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 5:56 pm

Back on topic...

After a few hours of use on this brand new RMA'd keyboard, the whining noise came back. Time for another RMA. This time I'm going to ask them to test it before they ship it.