The SK-1788/BS keyboard from Lite-On provides another choice among affordable, entry-level keyboards. The fundamentals of the SK-1788/BS are all standard, featuring a 104-key layout and a two-tone hue. Thanks to successful cost management, the SK-1788/BS delivers quality at a budget price. The keystroke feedback is delightfully tactile; the tapping is quiet; the base is rugged; and the space key is generously large. You'll love working on this device!




Pros: I've seen many of my friends keyboards come and go over the time I've owned this one, but this one has stood the test of time. Despite showing a few battle-scars from years of use and abuse, it still works perfectly. The supports mounted under the keyboard have broken, but this falls under the category of abuse because in a fit of rage, I slammed my keyboard and managed to snap them. A small dish towel folded over several times and set under the back of the keyboard remedied this issue. In another instance of abuse, while cleaning my setup thoroughly, I decided to remove all the keys and soak them to clean off the years of collected gunk, and get a chance to brush out the inside of the keyboard. While doing this, I managed to lose my End key in the drain of my sink. A quick transplant later from a different keyboard, and all was good. Unlike many of my friends keyboards, which start to show fade on the markings on the keys after perhaps, only a few months of hard use, this keyboard has withstood nearly 6 years of >8 hour days, with no fade on any key whatsoever. The sheathing on the cable is nice and thick, and after some breaking in, will contort to any reasonable angle. The PS/2 jack has also stood up well with no sign of wear or tear on it, despite hundreds of cycles of plugging/unplugging. The icing on the cake here is the fact that it is a simple standard, U.S. English 104 key layout, with none of the key sizing arbitrarily changed. The keys have fairly good force feedback, it's not like trying to crush rocks with your fingers, nor is it like typing on marshmallows, NOR is it like typing on a sheet of paper.
Cons: PS/2 interface rather than USB. There is apparently a USB version of this keyboard, but not ever having owned one, I can't speak on whether the second incarnation of this keyboard maintained all the positives which I listed above.
Overall Review: I wish I'd had the foresight when I bought this keyboard to install a key-counter so I could quantify just how resilient this keyboard is, but unfortunately, I didn't. I can tell you as a gamer however, that the WASD and 1234 keys show absolutely no wear at all and feel as taught as some of the most underused keys on this keyboard though. Overall, I cannot give this keyboard enough praise, I may never replace it.