Freak369's Full Review: Belkin Classic (F8E206-PS2) Keyboard
Ok, so you might be wondering about the title of this review. Simply put, it won’t die. I picked it up when I was trouble shooting problems with my desk top computer. I was trying everything under the sun to avoid having the geeks tinker with it - once they get a hold of it they start adding stuff to it that I’ll never use. Stuff that I will try to delete ... which in turn adds to the problem. Someone suggested a trying a new or different mouse and keyboard to see if that was the problem with it [in hindsight, I have no idea why I listened to them]. Regardless, this is one of the best keyboards I have ever owned and don’t let the name of it scare you away, they call it a classic for a reason - because it will outlast almost every other keyboard on the market. When I purchased this it wasn’t because of the Belkin name or the features, it wasn’t because it had hot keys or QuietType, it was because it was the cheapest keyboard at the store. This product proves that you don’t always have to spend more to get something that will last.
Belkin Classic Keyboard
To get the most from this keyboard you are going to want to read and follow the instructions that come with it. If you don’t you will have a hard time setting up the advanced features like retrieving your email, using search pages and opening your internet connection. That doesn’t mean that you will have trouble doing these things but the one touch buttons on the keyboard require a set up in order to have them work. The keyboard has all the standard functions like the right side numeric pad, four directional arrow keys, QWERTY keyboard lay out, escape [esc], print screen, scroll lock, pause, insert, delete, home, end and page up and down buttons. There are three lights on the keyboard that let you now when the numeric, caps and scroll locks are pressed. The buttons for the internet, mail and search access are smaller and almost flat, in a way this is nice because if you choose to not set up this feature, they aren’t in your way or accidentally pressed.
I had no problem getting this to work right out of the box; I unplugged the old one from the back of the computer, checked the prongs on this one and slid it in. There was no set up needed and the computer didn’t pause to load new hardware like it does when you plug in an MP3 player. It plugs into the PS2 port on the back of the computer but you will want to check the direction of the plug before you start blinding stabbing it into the hole. Some have a flat side to show you where the top is, others have the flat section on the side, please check to make sure that you are plugging this in correctly so you don’t damage the prongs or the port. If you are using this with a laptop and it has an on screen display of functions that are active [like caps or number lock], from time to time you will get ‘ghost messages’ on the screen. This happened a few times after I had it hooked up to the laptop and had it running for about 15 hours. The light on the keyboard wouldn’t be lit up but it would have CAPS or NUM word on the screen. When I shut it off and rebooted it, it was fine. I think this more the fault of my laptop than the keyboard but it is worth mentioning in case someone is planning on using this on more than one computer.
Cleaning
One thing that I have always had problems with when it comes to keyboards is getting them clean without getting liquids into the keyboard. No matter how many times you wash your hands before you start typing, the grease from your fingertips will start to build up on them and attract dirt. The outer sections are easy to clean but when it comes time to do the indented areas between the keys, you do have to take your time to get them clean. This might not sound like a big deal but if you get enough dirt or lint between the keys, eventually it is going to break loose and fall into the keyboard, then you run the risk of keys not working properly. You could invest in a keyboard cover but to me they are a waste because they are more work than reward. This has had things spilled on it including the things listed in the title. I thought for sure that when Annabelle got sick near it, it was all over but luckily nothing got into the keyboard, just on a few of the keys on the numeric pad.
To clean this I use a folded up paper towel with some Fantastic sprayed on it to get between the keys then use a cotton swab to go around the outer edges. You might not go to such lengths to clean your keyboard but I am pretty anal about it. It just looks so disgusting to see all that grime and dirt on the keys. Common sense should tell you to not submerge this in water but the customer service rep did say a few people tried it to clean it because they saw that it had a rubber membrane and assumed that it would keep water out of it. I guess the only way to get around the dirt factor is to purchase a black keyboard but even then, lint and dust will start to show after a few months but the flat areas will ‘look’ clean ... even though you know they aren’t
Price
I found this at a small local computer store for $11.99, there are a few that are cheaper than this but they don’t have the QuietType keys or functions that I have grown to love. When I looked online, vendors had these from $10.99 all the way up to $16.99 depending on the site. To me this is more than worth the price that I paid and it’s never given me a lick of trouble. It worked the second that I plugged it in and hasn’t quit since. You could pay more for a keyboard but why bother unless it has something special that you really need. If this ever dies chances are I will buy another one because it’s given me no problems at all, is quiet when you are typing and has been put through a lot without ever failing to work. Your warranty is good for as long as you own it so if you do have problems with it months after you buy it, they will help you as much as they can to resolve issues with it.
Warranty
This keyboard comes with a lifetime warranty against defects and workmanship. As I say in most of my reviews, if something is wrong with a product, you’ll know about it shortly after you take it out of the box. In the event that this has some type of defect, Belkin will replace or repair it at their discretion for the entire time you own it. You will have to fill out and mail in the registration card to activate it and it doesn’t hurt to keep the box for a while in case you need to make and exchange at the store or mail it to them. The warranty doesn’t cover accidents like spilling something on the keyboard. Usual wear and tear on it is also not covered but on the plus side, if you have trouble with the ink rubbing off the keys, they can send you replacement buttons. This was one of the things that I asked the customer service representative when I called them to ask about the QuietType feature and the rubber membrane. She told me that if they letters ever started to wear off to call them and let them know the model number and keys that needed replacing and they would send out new ones with instructions on how to replace the keys. So far the only letters that are starting to show any signs of wear are the N, O and L. Either I hit these more often than other letters or my fingers are dragging over them in a way that is causing the ink to wear off.
The Bottom Line
As I said, this is one of the best keyboards that I have ever owned. I’m glad that I decided to invest in this one rather than buying a more expensive one, with all the action it’s seen and things that have been spilled on it, I doubt others would have been able to keep up. It is comfortable to type on, doesn’t have that loud clanking noise when you are typing and it works, in most cases, right out of the box. You will have to take some time to set up some of the one touch keys but outside of that, this thing is ready to go as soon as you plug it in. I’ve always had good luck with Belkin products and this one is no exception, it’s made well, is lightweight and performs without fail. If you are looking for a solid and dependable keyboard for yourself or for children, this is one of the best picks. It has just enough features to allow you to get things done quickly but not so many that you are scratching your head trying to figure them out.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.