Specifications, Availability and Pricing

Aesthetically you are given a compact design that has just enough around the 104 key layout that the keyboard still is able to stay rigid. The key caps are ever so slightly contoured to offer a place for your fingertips to settle on the keys and of course are almost completely taken up with the letter, number, or abbreviated commands on the secondary keys. The design of the keyboard is rounded at the front and flattens out as it reaches a maximum height of 1.1"� without the adjustable legs being used. The key caps are textured, and so is the outer edge of the frame, but an insert of a shiny piano black finish surrounding the keys is a nice touch to add just a bit of elegance to what is basically a plastic keyboard with rubber dome switches.

Technically, on the inside and around the KB505U, there is a bit to discuss as well. To connect this device you have a USB connection on the end of five feet of plastic coated cable. Above the standard 104 key layout you are also given Email, Home and Favorites buttons along with the full assortment of multimedia keys, and ending with My Computer and Calculator buttons on the right. One last button you will find on the top right corner is the LED button, and that takes us to the inside if the keyboard. There you will fine rubber domes under the key caps that make contact against a plastic membrane. Under those two layers is a thick layer of plastic that has LEDs along the one edge of it, and when powered, this plastic that goes from end to end and top to bottom will illuminate every key on the board with either a red, blue, or purple glow of the LED lighting system coming through those extra-large print key caps.

In my opinion, for a keyboard that is plug and play ready, with no accompanying software, you shouldn't have to break the bank buying one. AZiO is on the same page here, and why they do offer a solution with less eye strain than others, even a LED backlighting system that has optional colors, but that doesn't mean you are going to be raked over the coals. From what I can tell the AZiO KB505U Large Print 3 Color backlit keyboard is a steal at the price I am seeing over the 21 places I could buy it. Careful where you buy one though, at the high-end you are going to have to spend near $50, and while not bad, there are much better deals to be had. If you shop carefully, even at respected e-tailers, you can acquire this board for $33.32 at Geeks.com with shipping included at the time of writing.

Now you can see why I addressed its affordable enough to give it a go, and definitely makes for an attractive price point for gift ideas for someone you know who could benefit from what the KB505U offers.