Review: Zboard Gaming Keyboard for Guild Wars Factions
Originally Published by Dralspire
Manufacturer: Ideazon
Supplied by: Ideazon
Retail Price: Zboard $49.99
Factions Keyset: $19.99
Jolly day
Some of my computer components get much love and are upgraded on a regular basis. My keyboard is not so lucky. Imagine my excitement when I heard that the friendly people from Ideazon, Inc. (http://www.zboard.com) were going to send us a Zboard gaming keyboard for Guild Wars Factions. The Zboard had already caused much excitement in our IRC chat room, so finding out what the excitement was all about and getting to know the Zboard in depth was definitely my cup of tea.
The Zboard
The Zboard is a special gaming keyboard that consists of a base and various key inserts. The base includes a number of keys for accessing standard PC functions, e.g. volume, e-mail, and web browser. A two port USB hub is integrated in the back, and an optional wrist rest is included in the package. I had available:
a QWERTY insert
a general gaming insert
and a Guild Wars Factions insert
Various other key inserts are available for other games.
Installation
The installation is rather straightforward. The Zboard is connected to the PC via an available USB port, and the provided installation software takes care of the rest. Once the software is installed, it automatically recognizes the current key insert and updates the data for any new key inserts as needed.
Cantha, here I come
Key inserts can be exchanged at any time and do not require a reboot. So I popped in the Guild Wars Factions insert and focused on the task at hand – time to play. :D
I should probably mention that I play a monk. In light of the 12 vs. 12 battles, I had switched my original key assignments on my old keyboard, effectively moving the spells to my numeric keypad and using the mouse for selecting party members.
The Zboard allowed for a simpler method by providing an entire targeting section for party members and opponents. Whether you GvG, PvE, or PvP – this section definitely helps.
It was a big difference to have keys for most user interface functions available and labeled on the Zboard. Keys like “Quests”, “Map”, and “Skills” are certainly more intuitive than “L” and “M”.
Having emotes like “/laugh” and “/dance” available as keys was certainly a pleasant surprise, especially as I cannot remember most of the emote commands anyway.
In addition to the many great functions supported by the Zboard, I greatly enjoyed the Guild Wars Factions-related font and artwork.
Conclusion
After using the Zboard for a couple of days, I have to say I am very impressed. The inserts can easily be switched. At the same time, the keys feel just like you are used to from any other keyboard. Overall, the keyboard is a welcome addition to the Guild Wars gaming experience that lets you enjoy the game even more.
Big Guru thumbs up!
If you would like to find out more about ordering this product please visit www.Zboard.com.
Supplied by: Ideazon
Retail Price: Zboard $49.99
Factions Keyset: $19.99
Jolly day
Some of my computer components get much love and are upgraded on a regular basis. My keyboard is not so lucky. Imagine my excitement when I heard that the friendly people from Ideazon, Inc. (http://www.zboard.com) were going to send us a Zboard gaming keyboard for Guild Wars Factions. The Zboard had already caused much excitement in our IRC chat room, so finding out what the excitement was all about and getting to know the Zboard in depth was definitely my cup of tea.
The Zboard
The Zboard is a special gaming keyboard that consists of a base and various key inserts. The base includes a number of keys for accessing standard PC functions, e.g. volume, e-mail, and web browser. A two port USB hub is integrated in the back, and an optional wrist rest is included in the package. I had available:
a QWERTY insert
a general gaming insert
and a Guild Wars Factions insert
Various other key inserts are available for other games.
Installation
The installation is rather straightforward. The Zboard is connected to the PC via an available USB port, and the provided installation software takes care of the rest. Once the software is installed, it automatically recognizes the current key insert and updates the data for any new key inserts as needed.
Cantha, here I come
Key inserts can be exchanged at any time and do not require a reboot. So I popped in the Guild Wars Factions insert and focused on the task at hand – time to play. :D
I should probably mention that I play a monk. In light of the 12 vs. 12 battles, I had switched my original key assignments on my old keyboard, effectively moving the spells to my numeric keypad and using the mouse for selecting party members.
The Zboard allowed for a simpler method by providing an entire targeting section for party members and opponents. Whether you GvG, PvE, or PvP – this section definitely helps.
It was a big difference to have keys for most user interface functions available and labeled on the Zboard. Keys like “Quests”, “Map”, and “Skills” are certainly more intuitive than “L” and “M”.
Having emotes like “/laugh” and “/dance” available as keys was certainly a pleasant surprise, especially as I cannot remember most of the emote commands anyway.
In addition to the many great functions supported by the Zboard, I greatly enjoyed the Guild Wars Factions-related font and artwork.
Conclusion
After using the Zboard for a couple of days, I have to say I am very impressed. The inserts can easily be switched. At the same time, the keys feel just like you are used to from any other keyboard. Overall, the keyboard is a welcome addition to the Guild Wars gaming experience that lets you enjoy the game even more.
Big Guru thumbs up!
If you would like to find out more about ordering this product please visit www.Zboard.com.
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