Zboard Gaming Keyboard

At a first glance the Zboard looks like a regular keyboard. There are a few more buttons, for opening things such as web browsers and adjusting the system volume, but this is nothing unusual.

Look a little closer, though, and the differences soon become apparent; the main part of the keyboard can be removed and replaced. Zboard provides a set with a standard Qwerty layout as well as a 3D games one. This has special keys for moving forwards, backwards and strafing from side to side. It takes a while to master, but you soon get used to the new layout and having all your controls under your left hand. If this can't improve your game then we don't know what will.

The bundled software is simple to use and comes with some profiles for specific games, such as Call of Duty. It's just a matter of picking the right one for the right game. Zboard is planning to sell additional keyboard layouts for specific games. These are likely to start appearing with Half Life 2 and Doom3.

Before you think this keyboard is just about games, it's not. The standard keyboard is every bit as comfortable to use as an ordinary one. Plus, it's got a couple of extra tricks. When Internet Explorer is running, the F-keys can be converted into shortcuts for web navigation. In standard Windows the numeric keypad can be used for standard shortcuts and task switching. There are even keyboard layouts designed for applications such as Photoshop.

Considering you get two layouts in the box, the £40 asking price isn't a huge amount. Whether you decide to buy extra layouts is your choice, but it's a decent keyboard in its own right.

Contact: Zboard
www.zboard.com

Specifications:

• Two-port USB hub
• USB connection
• Exchangeable keysets
• Programmable hotkeys