Product: TG3 Deck Legend Keyboard
MSRP: $150
Supplier: TG3 Electronics
Author: Bill (tomalakborg)
Date: April 29, 2006

Sure glowing keyboards are great to look at, but it means nothing if they can’t perform. Since users spend far more time on the keyboard than the mouse, quality is a must. Having the right board can not only affect your words per minute or frag-rate, but the longevity of your wrists. Is the Deck worth the steep price of $150?

 

Specs –

• 105 Keys
• Glowing LED backlight (per key)
• 7 levels of brightness
• 18.5″ long x 7″ deep x 2″ high (with feet) 3.5lbs
• USB or PS/2
• Mac or Windows
• Multiple colors available
    o Gold
    o Fire (red)
    o Ice (blue)
    o Toxic (green)

 

Contents, my model –

I received the fire red, USB, Windows keyset Deck. The keyboard comes with a replacement keycap emblazoned with a skull and crossbones. The usual manual and quick start guide are thrown in for fun.

 

Packaging –

Not much here, just a simple brown cardboard box containing the aforementioned items. Evidently they put your money into the keyboard, a reassuring sign.

 

The Deck –

Sure enough, 150 dollars buys a quality keyboard, apparent from when you first lay eyes on it. The keyboard is strictly business, with a simple design and no excessive flare. At 3.5 pounds, the keyboard makes for a suitable murder weapon, and stays put on the desk. The tolerances of the keyboard are equally amazing.

• Mean Time Between Failures – 86,000 hrs
• Operating Temperature – -40°C to +70°C
• 50-million cycle switches

To my delight, it is not bastardized by any ergonomics in the key layout. The standard QWERTY pattern of keys is present, and the six control keys (insert, delete, page up, down…) are left well alone. The keys feature a larger than normal font, that is inked in such a way that it will never fade. I was pleased by the simplicity of the board, although I learned just how much I used my old multimedia keys.

  

             

The backlight is probably why you are here, and you will be pleased to know it is much more than a gimmick. More thought went into this feature than I thought possible, all the way from 7 light settings (and off) as well as two modes for caps lock lights. The settings are controlled by using the function (fn) key with either the up/down arrows or the numbers 0-7. Caps lock lights can be either in sync with the light setting of the board, or always fully lit. I was amazed by the quality of the lights, and was happy to see lit keys, not just light around the keys. The light setting is saved in non-volatile memory within the keyboard, so you will never have to set up again when you plug in to a different computer.

     

 

Setup –

No drivers are required, so setup is as simple as plugging in the USB cord and watching Windows do its thing.

 

Performance –

The Deck performed better than I predicted. They keys were initially stiff, but once a little broken in, they made typing easy and relaxed. It’s tight and responsive for all the gamers, and the backlight will certainly help your game in the dark. So far I’ve used it every day for a few weeks, and love the feel.

 

Extras –

TG3 did something I never would have thought a manufacturer to do: they included instructions for modding your board. The inclusion of the skull keycap is to jumpstart your creativity. There are instructions on how to tap more lights into the keyboard, remove panels, and what paint to use. I’m glad to see a solid product that they encourage you to take apart and see for yourself.

 

Conclusion –

This is the best keyboard I’ve seen, even without the backlight. The action is tight, the layout is perfectly simple and the backlight is great. I could not think of anything to make this keyboard better. If you really want the multimedia keys, you’ll be disappointed, but it’s a small issue when you consider the quality of this keyboard. It may be worth the price, but I doubt many people will spend 150 dollars on keyboards in their lifetime. I can easily recommend the Deck to anyone who uses a keyboard extensively every day.

 

Maximum CPU gives the
TG3 Deck Legend Keyboard

4 / 5

Pros –

+ Great look
+ Great feel
+ Backlight
+ Production quality

Cons –

- No multimedia keys
- Price