The software continued:

    Running the install leads you to something like you see below. Nothing out of the ordinary, really...

(s3) Just an installer

    After the software installs, it asks you to reboot your computer. I'm thinking, yeah, c'mon, this is XP we're talking about here. I click on the icon to launch the keyboard software, and get what you see below... So I guess, I really do need to restart. After the restart, a new icon on the task bar, and can start to mess around with the keyboard. Of course, the keyboard will work without installing the drivers, but you won't get any of that multimedia functioning little buttons on the top to work. Once again, I don't use that kind of stuff, but maybe you do...

(s4) Tried to sneak in running it

    You'll have access to the help file (in the start menu) in case you forget what the keys do, or lost your informational sheet. The help file is a bit more in-depth. It's worth a quick look I suppose. But if you think you were going to reprogram the multimedia keys, think again. You can't change them. :(

(s5) Help file, and how'd that picture get on there?

    Right clicking on your keyboard icon will provide you with the what you see. The OnScreen Display is how you can tweak, well, how the on screen display looks. Change the font, color, the timeout for it to display, or disable the on screen display all together.

(s6) Tray icon and choices

(s7) Testing...

    Hitting the about on the tray icon shows you that. Uh, yeah...Ok then...

(s8) About

Setup:

    Below you'll find various shots of the keyboard. 12 is lights on, 13 is low light, EL lighting on. 14 is no lights, EL lighting on. And finally, 15, A close up of the EL lighting on in the dark. I must point out that the EL keyboard presents a easy on the eye glow. It is adequate to type in the dark. Even if you are a "hunt and peck" typist.

(12) Yes, that is a chipmunk in a tree	(13) Low light

(14) No light	(15) Close up

Summary:

    Enter a new competitor in the EL keyboard market! Although some of you will undoubtedly be turned off by the smaller size of this keyboard, LAN goers should love it. Come to think of it, I think a heck of a lot more people are going to dig this keyboard. No, it doesn't have 5,000 configurable special buttons on it, but this thing lights up pleasingly to the eyes in a darkened environment. That alone justifies the cost over some cheap keyboard you can buy at your local office supply store. The FlexiGlow EL keyboard has "hey, come check me out" written all over it. I mean even my girlfriend likes it. How cool is that? I do have some Cons, and that will drop the score a bit. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but I hope it gives some incentive to improve a few simple things. If I weren't so picky, the review score would be higher of course...


Pros:

    • Pleasing EL light
    • Good value at ~$50 USD
    • Portable, due to its 'mini' design
    • On/Off button for EL to increase lifespan
    • ~6 foot cable for the keyboard
    • On screen display for multimedia keys


Cons:

    • May be too small for some to type comfortably
    • Hard to find in the USA
    • Bad engrish on the information sheet
    • No software, or updated software download
    • Multimedia buttons not configurable for the most part
    • Only comes in blue EL :(
   

"An excellent EL keyboard to show off your rig in style!"

Closing:

    I'd like to thank FlexiGlow for sponsoring the keyboard for review. As an attempted journalist, as much as I hate to be associated on the web like that. Ok, as an unbiased product review writer, I think FlexiGlow is right on track, or better, with quality compared to the other big mod companies. The products I have seen from them have been excellent. I wish them the best in getting their products, which maybe hard to find for us in the USA. Thanks for coming by. Until next time...