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Installation

Installation of a new keyset is both literally and figuratively a snap; unfold the keyset and snap the right side in place and it's ready to go. Alignment problems were generally not an issue. There were a couple instances where I had a couple keys feel a bit sticky but this was remedied by unbuckling the keyset and laying it back in. The keyset replacement is a quick process that just takes seconds. Windows installation should be done with the regular QWERTY keyset included with the Zboard unlike the Zboard software is installed.

Installation of an alternate keyset requires roughly 10 seconds of detection time before it is ready to go. New keyset drivers can be downloaded automatically through the prompt from the Zboard software.

The Feel

I'll be the first to admit that I am very finicky about keyboards. The keyboard is something that is used every day and because I spend hours a day typing, I generally like to splurge a little bit more on them. Before the days of fancy multimedia buttons, my biggest issue was tactile feel of the keys. I grew up using the IBM style clicky keyboards. They had a great feel to them; when the buttons were depressed, there was a definite click, both audibly and physical so that when a key was pressed, it was very obvious. The clicky IBM type keyboards slowly began to get phased much to my chagrin. I have heard tales about the obnoxious sounds that it makes when someone is typing away at them but I am more inclined to think, like everything else, it was simply a cost issue since I'm assuming rubber based keys are much cheaper to manufacture than spring based ones.

Keyboards succeeding the IBMs have more of a mushy feel and they do not have the audible click nor do they have the same feel. At my previous job as a programmer, I had one of those cheapo spill proof keyboards and it was simply horrible. There was no tactile feedback and the keyboard just felt cheap. Over the last few years I have taken a liking to Logitech keyboards. The first one was the Logitech Internet Keyboard which had basic multimedia buttons but pretty good tactile feedback. It was eventually replaced by the Logitech Elite Keyboard which had great multimedia buttons but the tactile feedback I felt was a bit lacking being a bit on the mushy side.

I'm happy to report that the feedback for the Zboard feels better than the Logitech Internet Keyboard which as far as button feel goes, is superior to the Logitech Elite. The Logitech Internet Keyboard is just a bit on the older side and the keys just do not feel as tight as the Zboard. Whether age or use has affected the Internet Keyboard, I cannot say, but the standard keyset for the Zboard is excellent and is something that I will happily use on a daily basis.