Do you feel that gaming keyboards are worth it or are they all marketing?  

Well, you certainly have good taste. The Razer Tarantula is definitely not low end with a price tag of $112.99 CAD locally. It's the second most expensive keyboard being sold in my area behind the Logitech G19. The G19 will run you a cool $244.99 CAD! The Tarantula might glow with its LEDs and it might feel great, but I'm not interested in spending that much on a keyboard. How are the prices in Singapore for these keyboards?

I have never had a keyboard that broke down or became worn out before. I don't game all the time, but I do use my keyboard for typing all the time. I'd say that the keyboards that are used by data entry personnel are the most punished. The loud noises when buttons are pressed on some keyboards is due to the incorporation of stronger/tighter springs. The noise went go away after time. You can also feel the difference when pressing keys as more pressure is required to depress keys. The multi-media buttons on the keyboards of the same name can indeed be quite handy. They are designed with those users in mind as much as the gaming keyboards are designed with gamers in mind.

I would always like to use very affordable keyboards as the letters would often fade away so quickly after using it continuously. It just means that we have gotten use to the keyboard, even without looking at it, we can type. And even when we do look, the letters have already faded out of print so we would rely instinct (^_^ )

Features on new keyboards, well, why not? They're already there, we might as well use them if we can.

Keyboard usage depends after all on how we beat them down. I guess I could consider myself as a angry typist (^_^") since I oddly like the way it sounds when I type so fast..

I think you wrote your thoughts down in reverse. How we beat down our keyboards depends on our usage. Usage depends on need or desire.

The print on some keyboards can survive heavy usage. I have never replaced a keyboard due key identification wearing off. My latest keyboard shows some signs of key identification fade, but this can be easily fixed. Permanent marker for light colored keyboards or white out for black keyboards. Otherwise, use paint/spray paint and stencils.

Hahaha~!

I guess you were right.. sometimes, what I think would often come out differently when I type them out without proof reading my composition (^_^")

I really don't mind the faded prints on the keyboard. I wouldn't bother with a permanent as I really want to be accustomed on looking at the screen while typing instead of looking down every now and then.. hurts my neck most of the time when I try to transfer already printed docutment into soft copies in my computer.. its rather humorous when friends who come by at my place and try to use our computer keyboard and have more difficulty when they realize that the letters that they were looking for are not visible anymore.

Well, if nothing else it provides you with some good typing practice. Typing without looking at the keyboard is faster and it can allow you to multi-task. Perhpas you enjoy watching television while posting on myLot? I guess you can have a laugh at the expense of your friends and impress them with your typing skills at the same time.

Not really laugh at their expense but, they would immediately tell me to have the keyboard fixed whenever they come to visit and have the initial intention of using the computer. (^o^ ) Since they are freely using it to connect to the net and all those other things that they might do, they might as well have some challenge with the initial input device

I don't actually want to watch television while doing myLot as the computer is not really placed at an area wherein TV viewing is possible. Though, I could pretty much multi-task and really fast if I am doing such things on the computer. Knowing the short cuts really makes things a lot easier and faster.

Some people have a TV-Tuner card for their computer and watch TV from their desktop. It can come in real handy. Resize the viewing area for one of the corners and open all your browser windows and other programs around the TV viewer. Or you can use a multiple monitor setup if your graphics card is capable. On monitor for workspace and another for tv.

That is quite a good idea but, as for the moment, the layout at home isn't really that accommodating for a set up like that and the cables just makes things more tedious to do.. call me lazy but, if things are present and ready to go, I might as well do that set up. As of now, I am considering for a wider LCD monitor as I would like to safe some electric usage since we still have a flat screen CRT monitor.

With bigger screen, I guess that TV-tuner would be another thing coming

You can buy widescreen LCD monitors with the TV-Tuner embedded. They can double up as monitor and TV. Samsung has some excellent solutions in multiple sizes and HDTV capability. HDMI connectors and 1080p included! It doesn't solve the cabling problem, but it might add the motivation. Cheers.

Hahaha~!

The only motivation that would really get me going on purchasing such things right now would be its price since things aren't as easy as they use to be, we all need to set aside what we can for more important things. Perhaps another chance would come by and by the time it does, there are already about as much interesting things to grab our attention compared to the single interest that we use to trouble ourselves before (^_^")

Actually, the Samsung HD monitors w/ tv-tuner have all been on sale recently. I have a feeling that all monitors will continue to drop in price though. The 22" HD Widesreen monitor w/ built-in Tv-tuner from Samsung was $40 off over the Easter break.

I hope it steadily goes down.. then again, I might consider second hand units as new ones would be bought by previous owners to dispose their not so old ones. Then again, it is still different when you have something new and you kind'a call it your own. You grow fond of it and could even say that, 'I bought this new..'

Well, buying used is certainly an option. You can save some money and help the environment at the same time. My concern would be that older models don't have all the capabilities that I am interested in. High-definition 1080p capability, HDMI inputs, a high native resolution with fast refresh rate, etc. That's just what I'm looking for though...

It still depends if second hand units are indeed available since, most of the time, they would sell them after a few months or so. Availability of the item that you like is not really certain and if they are indeed available, you have to look at the price if you'd want to buy it or not.

For those capabilities, they can all still be present after all. Second hand doesn't necessarily mean that it is old. You can still find the latest model, just slightly used when you say second hand or so..

You are absolutely correct when you say that second hand/used doesn't necessarily mean old. My experience has been that it's less likely that you will find new models for sale second hand and, if you do, they are usually only reduced by an insignificant amount. Also, it's not always easy to bring back second hand equipment if there are problems. I have nothing against buying used, I do it all the time. When it comes to new models, unless there is a large reduction in price, I don't bother because it is usually more trouble than it is worth.

Oh yeah, you only get that 'personal warranty' from the seller when it comes to purchasing second hand items so it might even give us more hassle than the bargain that we think we'd get.

I happen to have purchased a second hand mobile phone, a Nokia N-Gage. I bought it very cheap as it was already broken but, only its software. It only needed to be reflashed or reformatted when it comes to computers and a new battery so after doing so, it in working condition again. I'm planning to sell it more than what I have invested and with regards to warranty, I could always give the receipt that I got when I had it repaired so, I think that's good.

Whenever I try to sell something, I would always try to maintain that its in working condition unlike others that simply sell items just to get rid of them, I sometimes encounter that with 'packages deals'

Perhaps it's time to deploy some of your myLot earnings? I don't know what type of stores are available in your area, but there are some quality online shops available. Cheers.

Thanks friend. LOL. Yet I have a long way to go. My earnings are not that near to 10 dollars yet. I think a few months later it will reach 10 dollars minimum pay-out.

I can't say that I have ever even seen a Hungarian keyboard let alone used one. I wouldn't know where one would go about getting one other than in Hungary. Placement of hotkeys is incredibly important when it comes to gaming keyboards and it makes or breaks whether one is found to be useful. I think that the gaming keyboards with light up keys are for gaming in the dark if I am not mistaken. I don't believe that many gamers are looking at their keyboards instead of their screens. Unless they really suck at gaming. Cheers.

One of my friends ive met over a game called wc3 = warcraft3. Lives in hungry, and he told me about his keyboard and why he likes it, :) and thus I found out about num pads on the left :D. what I meant by the light comment was that, I would opt for a performance keyboard rather than a looks keyboard :P. Also I deffinetly agree, placement of keys is vital in the level of your gaming, at the moment with this standard keyboard my left hand is constantly all over the keyboard pressing buttons for hotkeys. A z-board has keys all in a conveniant place so that it is easier to game, and a higher level a gamer can thus preform at :). Cheers for the feedback

I know exactly what you mean. I'm interested in performance rather than looks too. That's why I started this discussion. Too many people get fooled by the marketing and "looks", that they end up wasting money on something that doesn't help them game better. Programmable hotkeys placed in advantageous positions is what it is all about. Cheers.

I'm not willing to spend big bucks on a gaming keyboard and I am open to the idea of sticking to a "regular" keyboard as long as it has the key positioning and features that can be helpful to me. When it comes to gaming mice, you are absolutely right 060157. I bought a Razer Copperhead on sale from Amazon.com and it has been worth every penny. The additional buttons are beneficial for the reasons that you mentioned. There are many more options when it comes to gaming mice at various price points. There seems to be something for all hands and styles. Cheers.