{"id":1450,"date":"2010-10-07T14:52:13","date_gmt":"2010-10-07T07:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.thewellconnectedhome.com\/blog\/?p=1450"},"modified":"2010-12-15T16:12:56","modified_gmt":"2010-12-15T09:12:56","slug":"eclipse-wireless-litetouch-keyboard-with-lcd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/eclipse-wireless-litetouch-keyboard-with-lcd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Eclipse Wireless Litetouch Keyboard with LCD Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #888888;\">by Lori Cunningham<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" title=\"Eclipse litetouch wireless keyboard\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2010\/09\/Eclipse-litetouch-wireless-keyboard.jpg?resize=307%2C179&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Slim sleek design\" width=\"307\" height=\"179\" \/>Have  you tried a wireless keyboard yet?\u00a0 One came with my HP computer years  ago and it works pretty well.\u00a0 About every month or so I need to change  the batteries.\u00a0 With rechargeable batteries, it works pretty well, but  when the batteries run out, I can be in the middle of typing a sentence  and then suddenly, nothing types onto the screen.\u00a0 This typically  happens at the most inopportune times.<\/p>\n<p>MadCatz has recently come out with a new wireless keyboard called the Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard.\u00a0 I have been using it for the past two months*.\u00a0 The Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard is  a full\u00a0sized\u00a0keyboard, yet it has a very slim profile and is more  compact than my HP keyboard.\u00a0 It is wireless, but it comes with a  charging cord \u2013 no more wasted batteries!<\/p>\n<p>What intrigued me about the keyboard was its large\u00a02 x 3 1\/2 inch LCD  touch panel on the right side of the keyboard, where the 10-key number  pad usually is.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never seen a keyboard like this before.\u00a0 With the  LCD touch panel, you have three button modes:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>MyEclipse<\/strong> \u2013 which allows you to program in your fave websites or files\/programs on your computer, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A number pad<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" title=\"Eclipse Keyboard 3 Keyboard Options\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2010\/09\/Eclipse-Keyboard-3-Keyboard-Options-300x157.jpg?resize=337%2C205&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The keyboard will show one of these 3 screens at your choosing\" width=\"337\" height=\"205\" \/><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Media controls<\/strong> \u2013 has shortcuts to\n<ul>\n<li>My Computer<\/li>\n<li>search (on your computer)<\/li>\n<li>calculator<\/li>\n<li>your e-mail<\/li>\n<li>your Internet home page<\/li>\n<li>default media player<\/li>\n<li>file manager<\/li>\n<li>My Pictures<\/li>\n<li>My Videos<\/li>\n<li>My music<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>These are very handy shortcuts.\u00a0 For example, when I click on the  media player button, my iTunes program starts.\u00a0 Once I start a playlist,  I can control the music from my keyboard.\u00a0 I can pause, skip, stop or  mute the music.\u00a0 This is a great feature \u2013 now I can continue what I\u2019m  doing without having to switch back and forth between the program I\u2019m  using and iTunes.<\/p>\n<p>Another great feature I like is that it has volume right on the touch  pad.\u00a0 With a slide of my finger I can easily adjust the volume.\u00a0 No  longer clicking on the adjust volu<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" title=\"Eclipse Keyboard Programming Software\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2010\/09\/Eclipse-Keyboard-Programming-Software-300x269.jpg?resize=300%2C269&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"269\" \/>me icon on my computer.<\/p>\n<p>Customizing\u00a0 the Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard is  easy.\u00a0 Just press the prog. button on the myeclipse menu and the  software pops up on your screen.\u00a0 Click on the icon key you want to  program and you can either type in the URL, search for the program on  your computer, or you can Drag &amp; Drop the URL directly onto the  button you want to program.\u00a0 I dragged and dropped all the URL\u2019s and had  my keyboard programmed in no time.\u00a0 The software on my monitor\u00a0even  showed recognizable icons from the sites I added.\u00a0 Unfortunately, these  icons do not transfer to your keyboard LCD.\u00a0 The keyboard LCD has  pre-programmed icons.\u00a0 But if you forgot what you programmed on a key,  you can pull up the software using the prog. button to see what you  assigned it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The keyboard uses a plug or USB to charge \u2013 very versatile<\/li>\n<li>it\u2019s size is slim and\u00a0compact \u2013 does not take much room on the desk<\/li>\n<li>It operates on 2.4 GHz technology range and provides control up to 30 ft. away<\/li>\n<li>It has a backlight so you can see the keys in low lighting<\/li>\n<li>the keys are low profile and as a result tend to be quieter than other keyboards<\/li>\n<li>you can easily program the keyboard using the Eclipse software and test out your shortcuts to ensure you added them in correctly<\/li>\n<li>Includes a precise tracking mouse and two buttons \u2013 can be used in conjunction with your full-size mouse<\/li>\n<li>Programming is easy.\u00a0 Just press the prog. button on myeclipse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The 10-key number pad is on the LCD panel.\u00a0 If you are used to  10-key number adding by memory, this feature throws you off since you  don\u2019t actually depress a button<\/li>\n<li>The keyboard charge only seems to last 2-3 days<\/li>\n<li>the logos on the buttons on the LCD part of the keyboard cannot be  changed.\u00a0 You have to remember what you put for the shortcut with the  heart, tennis racket, suitcase, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">A Mom\u2019s Perspective<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For t<a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2010\/01\/WellConnectedMom.com-LOGO-MOM.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" title=\"WellConnectedMom.com LOGO MOM\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2010\/01\/WellConnectedMom.com-LOGO-MOM-165x300.jpg?resize=165%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"165\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a>he most part, the Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard performed  similar to other keyboards I have used.\u00a0 However, the customizable LCD  and 2.4 GHz 30ft. changes create a noticeable difference.<\/p>\n<p>I have used other programmable keyboards, but at most they only  offered 4-6 customizable buttons.\u00a0 And it was not as easy to program as  the Eclipse.\u00a0 I\u00a0did program them, but I never used the buttons.\u00a0 I  simply forgot to use them.\u00a0 Admittedly, it is a process to remember to  use programmed buttons \u2013 even on the Eclipse.\u00a0 When I want to open a  website, I typically just type in the URL.\u00a0 But I have found the  myeclipse programmed buttons to be highly useful and fast.\u00a0 I can get to  websites and programs on my computer faster.\u00a0 I listen to music more on  my computer\u00a0 now that it\u2019s easier to get too.\u00a0 Facebook and Twitter are  just a click away.\u00a0 I also love the calculator shortcut button.\u00a0 It is  so handy to calculate some numbers while working in another program.\u00a0 No  more searching for my calculator in my drawer.<\/p>\n<p>As handy as this keyboard is for my office, I foresee that the Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard would  be great for the family room as well.\u00a0 With Internet\/Connected \u00a0TV\u2019s  becoming more prevalent, having a slim, compact, wireless keyboard with  included mouse would be very helpful.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the next 4 months, we will  be buying an Internet enabled TV.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be sure to try out the Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard with it and let you know how it works.<\/p>\n<p>The Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard can be purchased at selected Best Buy stores or\u00a0<a title=\"Available at Best Buy\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bestbuy.com\/site\/Saitek+-+Eclipse+LiteTouch+Wireless+Keyboard+-+Black\/Silver\/9742328.p?id=1218165343866&amp;skuId=9742328\" target=\"_blank\">BestBuy online<\/a> for $99.99.<\/p>\n<p>*I was sent an Exclipse wireless litetouch keyboard in exchange for my honest review.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new Eclipse Wireless Litetouch Keyboard with LCD is unlike any other keyboard due to it&#8217;s increased customization through the LCD panel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,8,9,14],"tags":[64,336,337,338,339,340,341,342],"class_list":["post-1450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dads","category-gadgets","category-home-technology","category-moms","tag-computer","tag-eclipse","tag-keyboard","tag-litetouch","tag-madcatz","tag-office-technology","tag-programmable-keyboard","tag-wireless-keyboard","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1450"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1450\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}