Dell has a ways to go before it can match, say, Microsoft’s peripheral acumen — or the considerable buzz being generated by Blue Track at the moment. That said, the computer giant looks to have a couple new ones in the pipeline, and that’s always a treat for the folks too poor or lazy to replace their pre-bundled keyboard and mouse. The keyboard’s short-throw keys will be a love it or hate it affair, but the media keys seem nice enough, while the mouse offers sensitivity-denoting LEDs and some laser tech underneath to match those smooth, predictable contours. No word on a ship date, but look for these to show up in your new Dell boxes before long.

Mouse and keyboard from Dell: [via]

The new Logitech Illuminated Keyboard makes typing easy – even in the dark. To optimize existing backlight technology, Logitech combined microlens reflectors, a multilayer painting process and laser etching – creating a backlight experience that is brighter, sharper and easier to read. Whether you’re typing an e-mail or chatting with a friend, the adjustable backlight gives you just the right amount of light.

The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard features the Logitech PerfectStroke key system, which provides a typing experience that’s comfortable, fluid and silent. PerfectStroke is designed to create longer key travel – 3.2 mm compared to 2.2 mm – than that of typical notebook keyboards.
With its transparent frame, the ultra-thin Illuminated Keyboard (.37 inches or 9.3 mm from base to frame) adds an elegant touch to any desk. Balancing form and function, the keyboard offers a full-size key layout (including a number pad), soft-touch palm rest and a full row of F-keys, as well as media- and volume-control keys for instant command of your entertainment. The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe in October for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard makes typing easy: [via] – [source]

BBG supremo Joel Johnson is currently away, but I know our rainbow-loving leader would be enchanted by the bright colors of Crayola’s EZ Type keyboard.

A close inspection of the $30 USB model, however, reveals a somewhat cocked-up layout, with the keys arranged in a neat grid instead of the finely-evolved modern standard. Such things are sexy in cellphones, but in a training model for the real thing? Also, is that Comic Sans?

Crayola EZ Type – coloured keyboard: [via] – [source]

Microsoft has taken the opportunity to announce the SideWinder X6 keyboard at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, adding yet another member to the venerable SideWinder line of gaming peripherals from the software giant. It seems as though Microsoft Hardware laid low for quite some time, and the SideWinder name has not exactly lighted up the gaming world for some time already, so hopefully the X6’s debut will change all that. This is touted to be the most versatile gaming keyboard on the market thanks to the pioneering switchable key pad which can be attached to either the left or right side of the keyboard, catering for both left- and right-handers.

The switchable keypad itself is useful for ordinary, everyday tasks, depending on which hand the user is more prone to using. When used for gaming, however, it’s value cannot be undermined. The switchable keypad enables gamers to record up to 90 macros PER game, thanks to a set of dedicated macro keys that accompanies the fully programmable keypad. Instant mode switching allows gamers to move between an Excel spreadsheet and their favorite game in a snap, and the modes are differentiated through the LEDs displayed. The inclusion of automatic profile switching makes it possible to detect the current application, applying the custom profile in an instant.
The SideWinder X6 Keyboard will hit retail shelves this September for $79.95. Image courtesy of Engadget.

SideWinter X6 – gaming keyboard from Microsoft: [via]

This keyboard would definitely make your “life at your PC” much easy-er, it’s something I’d surely get for myself even thou it costs quite a lot… but still it’s very useful and it can help a lot in many ways. You can find the Optimus Maximus Keyboard at ThinkGeek for the price of $1,589.99!

Optimus Maximus Keyboard Unleashed: [Via] – [ThinkGeek]

Straddling the line between PDA and UMPC — and ending up looking something like an Atari Lynx — the just-announced Willcom D4, co-created with Sharp, is an Intel Atom-powered computer capable of running Windows Vista. It has a five-inch touchscreen (roughly the size of a whole iPhone or iPod Touch, to give you some idea) and includes to my delight a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. A keyboard that will likely be unusable for long form text input, of course, but one that is essential all the same.

Sharp/Willcom D4 UMPC runns Vista: [Via BoingBoing]

We love Kensington’s low-profile keyboards with the laptop style keys, which is why this Ci70 keyboard looks so appetizing. It’s got two USB ports, nothing special, but a mini USB connector that actually hides underneath a cover on top. So to recap, two USB ports, one mini USB cord, really low/quiet style Kensington keys, 35% smaller than other “standard multimedia keyboards” and a price of $49.99. Works with both PCs and Macs thanks to it having both a Windows key and a Mac Command key.

Kensington Ci70 Keyboard Has USB/Mini USB Ports and Laptop-Styled Keys: [Via] – [Kesington]