| 1. Will Deck ever release products with (different color LEDs/new features/insert your idea here)? |
| Maybe. This is based on many factors, most importantly customer demand and the cost of the parts to create the new feature. If you have suggestions for a new product the best place to post them is in our forum. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:19:15 |
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| 2. Which models have tilt feet on the bottom and which ones do not? |
| The 105-key Deck Legend has adjustable tilt feet on the bottom of the housing. The 82-key (and the obsolete 21-key numeric pad) do not have tilt
feet on the bottom. The reason? Our study shows that they are only used 12% of the time so we chose to leave them off. The industry standard is
0-2 degrees with the tilt feet unextended and 7-9 degrees with them extended. The 82-key and 21-key Deck have a 7 degree tilt angle. This angle was chosen by our focus group to be the ideal comfort angle. We did not make them adjustable due to the overwhelming 7 degree angle preference and to help reduce manufacturing costs. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:21:22 |
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| 3. Will Deck keyboards work with USB to PS/2 adapters? How about KVM switches? |
Deck products will not work with common USB to PS/2 adapters. Most (if not all) of these adapters were meant to be replacement adapters for original equipment that supports both USB and PS/2 interfaces (Deck keyboards only support USB, including the USB version of the 105-key Legend); these adapters will not simply convert any generic USB keyboard into a generic PS/2 keyboard. To date, the adapters that we’ve examined simply map "USB D-" to "PS/2 Data" and "USB D+" to "PS/2 Clock" (as well as +5V to +5V and gnd to gnd).
KVM switches fall under the same example. If you have a USB Deck, your best bet is to buy a USB KVM switch (the same applies to PS2 with a PS2 KVM). |
| last updated - 2010-02-22 10:42:20 |
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| 4. I am concerned about spilling things onto my Deck and want to protect it from damage. Do you sell any protective covers for your products? |
| There are covers available through 3rd party manufacturers but we do not sell them through our website. It has come to our attention that a company called Compucover sells covers for our products online (click here for Deck 82 and
Deck Legend). |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 12:55:35 |
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| 5. What countries do you sell Deck keyboards to? Besides this site, is there any other place I can buy Deck keyboards? |
| Currently we only sell Deck keyboards through this site to the United States. In the future we may have the ability to ship worldwide. If you currently reside outside the U.S. you can still purchase our products through one of our resellers. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 12:57:50 |
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| 6. If I feel uncomfortable having credit card operations processed on the internet, is there another way to order a
Deck keyboard? |
Yes, for US customers we can take your order by phone during normal business hours (8am - 5pm M-F CST). Please call us at (262) 652-2626.
Customers outside the US should contact a reseller of our products for help with ordering. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:12:26 |
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| 7. Will I receive a tracking number via email after purchasing a Deck online through this site? |
| Once your order is shipped you should receive the tracking information via email within 24 hours. If you do not receive the tracking email, please contact us via email
at technicalsupport@deckkeyboards.com and we can retrieve the information. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:14:02 |
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| 8. Can you make the backlighting brighter and dimmer? Can you turn it off? How? |
Yes. The keyboard has 8 levels of brightness: "1" (dimmest) through "7" (brightest) with "0" being off. There are two ways to change the
brightness level. The first step in either method is to press and hold the "Fn" key down. The "Fn" key is located just to the right of the spacebar.
The first method incorporates the "up" or "down cursor" keys to brighten or dim the brightness respectively. With the "Fn" key held down, if you press one of these cursor keys, the brightness will step one level in the corresponding direction. If you continue to hold the cursor key down, the level will continue to step in that direction at a rate of about 3 steps per second. However, there is no "roll-over". For example, once you reach maximum brightness, the brightness level will not "rollover" to off and then continue getting brighter. This first method of changing the brightness is relative - you don't know your current brightness level; you just want to either brighten or dim the brightness.
The second method is absolute - you know the brightness level that you want and you want to get there directly. The method incorporates the numerical keys located just below the function keys. Again, start by holding down the "Fn" key, then press either "0" for off, or "1" - "7" for on brightness levels.
No information will be sent to the PC while the "Fn" key is held down and either the "up" or "down cursor" keys, "0" or "1" - "7" keys are pressed.
In other words, the keyboard doesn't tell the PC these keys are being pressed. It also doesn't matter which key you release first. However, any other key press will be reported to the PC regardless of the state of the "Fn" key. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:22:54 |
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| 9. What is the default brightness level and can it be changed? |
On the 82-key and 21-key Deck, the default brightness is level 7, or on at full brightness. This default brightness level is stored in ROM and
cannot be changed.
On the 105-key Deck (The Legend), the keyboard has non-volatile memory to save the backlighting level as well as the brightness mode of the Num, Caps and Scroll Lock LEDs (status LEDs). There are two status LED modes. The first mode has the status LEDs dim along with the backlighting LEDs of the keys. The second mode is a “daylight” mode in which the status LEDs remain bright at all backlighting brightness levels - even if the backlighting is turned “off”. Please note that the status LEDs will dim slightly as the backlighting levels decrease toward level 1. The status LED mode is toggled by pressing “Fn” followed by “Caps Lock” key. Just as with the dimming operation, no “Caps Lock” key information is sent to the PC when the “Fn” key is down. If the non-volatile memory fails, the default power-on settings are level 7 brightness and the status LEDs dim along with the backlighting of the keys. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:23:43 |
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| 10. How long do the "back lights" or LEDs last? |
| The LEDs are rated to last 200,000 hours because we drive them at 5.25 mA maximum which is well below their rated current of 20 mA. To put it into perspective 200,000 hours is equivalent to 22.8 years! |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:26:11 |
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| 11. Why doesn't the Caps Lock LED come on when I press the Caps Lock? |
| Try increasing the brightness of the backlighting. The caps lock LED brightness dims along with the rest of the keyboard. The caps lock LED will
not turn on if the backlighting is completely off (level 0). On the 105-key Deck (The Legend), the lock status LEDs may be turned on or off when the
rest of the backlighting is turned off. This is done by pressing the FN key and the caps lock key. This also toggles whether the lock status LEDs are
bright or dim when the backlighting is on. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:26:49 |
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| 12. How can I get other "cool" keycaps like the skull and crossbones or other accessories? |
| Keycap sets are now available under the "Products" section of the site which can be accessed by the link on the right side of this page, or
by clicking here. We also include one blank keycap for your own personal customization. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:30:20 |
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| 13. Can I see what the artwork that gets printed on the keycaps looks like before I buy one? |
| Yes. You can view them in the actual size by visiting the "Contact Us" link on the left hand pane of the page or by clicking here. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:33:01 |
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| 14. Will the accessory keycap sets fit all the different Deck boards? |
| Yes they fit all currently available Deck boards on any key that is the single square (1x1 as we call them) size. They will also fit onto switches that
have larger keycaps (such as the shift, enter, etc.) but will not fill in all the space around it. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:33:45 |
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| 15. Will the letters on the keycaps wear off eventually? |
| NEVER! Characters can't chip off the key caps or wear down because we use a sublimated negative printing process which drives the ink into the plastic
keycaps at 525°F. This means permanent printing from the inside out, not just on the top, and gives the letters a permanent place inside the plastic. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:34:22 |
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| 16. What kind of key switches are used in Deck keyboards? How long do they last? |
| We use Cherry MX gold cross point key switches. Our linear switches are Cherry MX1A-11NW (black stem) and our current soft tactile switches are MX1A-C1NW (clear stem; although this may change to MX1A-G1NW - brown stems - in the future). These switches have a 50-million cycle rating which averages out to be around 20 years of normal usage. To put it into perspective, the keyboard you are using right now most likely has 1 million cycle switches and no gold. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:36:24 |
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| 17. Can I buy different color or replacement housings? |
| Extra housings for your Deck can be found under the "Products" section of the site located on the right side of this page, or by
clicking here. They come in 6 colors: red, yellow, blue, green, black (opaque) and clear (translucent). Deck 105 housings come only in the standard charcoal color at this time. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:39:51 |
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| 18. What is the return policy? How do I return products for repair/exchange/refund? |
| To view our current return policy, please click here. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:42:10 |
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| 19. What is your privacy policy? Do you sell my information to 3rd parties? |
| To view our current privacy policy, please click here. We would like to stress that we respect your privacy and do not sell or redistribute any of the information you submit via our website. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:46:08 |
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| 20. Who do I contact for technical support? Is it free? |
Technical support is free. There are two methods to obtain support: via email and through our forums.
If you are having problems with your Deck products we ask that you please email us first so we have a chance to resolve the issue. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:48:51 |
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| 21. What is the "FN" key? |
| The "FN" key is used internally within the keyboard for a couple of reasons. The first is to change the backlighting brightness (see FAQ question # 8). Secondly, it is used to choose between "PAUSE/BREAK" and "PRTSC/SYSREQ" functions on the 82-key Deck. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:50:31 |
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| 22. What is the "PAUSE/PRTSC" key? |
| We've combined the "PAUSE/BREAK" and "PRTSC/SYSREQ" keys into a single key on the 82-key Deck. If this key is pressed after holding down the "FN" key (which is located to the right of the spacebar), the key will behave like the "PAUSE/BREAK" key. If this key is pressed without the "FN" key being pressed, it will behave just like the "PRTSC/SYSREQ" key. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:51:13 |
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| 23. What is the "WINDOWS" key? (Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation) |
| Please click here to view the Wikipedia article on the Windows key which does a very good job at explaining in great detail. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:53:03 |
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| 24. Why is the "WINDOWS" key in the upper right hand corner instead of the traditional location on the 82-key Deck?
(Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation) |
| Feedback from gamers prompted us to move this key to its current location. We found that having it on the lower row of keys that it accidentally gets
hit by mistake. It is less likely to get hit by mistake with it in the upper right hand corner. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:53:45 |
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| 25. What size are the screws? |
| The screws for the 82-key and 21-key Deck are #6 Phillips panhead, 3/8" long. Screws for the 105-key Legend are #4 Phillips panhead, 3/8" long. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:56:06 |
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| 26. Will the keyboard work with my computer and operating system? |
| Deck keyboards will work under Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, ME, and 98; Windows Server 2008, 2003 and 2000; Mac OS X and OS 9; Linspire, Ubuntu, RedHat, Fedora, and possibly other distributions of Linux (although untested at this time). There are a million PCs and a large number of operating systems out there, and we don't have the chance to test our keyboard on every one of them. Generally it will work on almost every computer that supports the USB protocol as it uses the standard HID drivers bundled with most every OS. So far, we have heard of relatively few systems (most are old and just don't support USB...NT4 anyone?) that our products will not work with - please let us know if you find one. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 13:59:01 |
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| 27. Are there drivers I need to install so my Deck will work? |
| The keyboard is designed to be compliant with USB's Human Interface Device (HID) class. This means that we don't need a software driver because the proper driver should already be on your system (although with older systems like Windows 98 it may ask you to install your Windows CD). |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 14:00:38 |
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| 28. Which version of the USB specification do Deck keyboards meet? |
| USB revision 1.1. USB keyboards are low-speed devices, so they don't need to meet the high-speed specifications of USB 2.0. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 14:01:00 |
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| 29. Will there be a PS/2 interface for the 82-key Deck? |
| As of today we have no plans of making a PS/2 version of the 82-key Deck keyboards. We currently only offer the 105-key Deck (The Legend)
with the option of having the PS/2 interface. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 14:01:26 |
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| 30. Will there be a wireless version? Will there be a smartphone, pocket PC, or other version for battery-powered devices? |
| No. Given the current consumption of the LED backlighting, battery powered backlit keyboards are not practical. But the look of the LED backlighting
speaks for itself; it would not be possible with other means of backlighting. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 14:01:44 |
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| 31. I am using a Mac with (specific OS version). Will these keyboards work for me? Will I lose any functionality? |
Please view the FAQ question above titled "Will the keyboard work with my computer and operating system?" about compatibility with different operating systems. As far as functionality, there will be some slight differences in the way a Deck keyboard operates and the way a standard Apple keyboard are layed out and the way it operates.
Some of the main differences include:
- There is no "EJECT" key or any keys to control power functions such as sleep, power on, or shut down
- "NUM LOCK" and "SCROLL LOCK" keys will not function
- Cursor functions on the numeric pad will not function
- There are no downstream USB ports located within the keyboards (with the exception of the 21-key numeric pad)
- The artwork on the keycaps may differ from a standard Mac keyboard, along with the key layout. To view the layout and art for a specific board, please
click here.
If you find other operational-related issues, please let us know about them by emailing us at technicalsupport@deckkeyboards.com
so we might make our product more useable for the wider customer base in the future. |
| last updated - 2009-06-25 14:05:16 |
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| 32. I am a gamer and need to press alot of keys at once...what is the maximum amount of keys can I press at one time? |
| For all USB Deck products there is a limit of 6 keys + modifier keys (shifts and alts) that can be pressed at any given time and still registered by your computer. This is limited by the USB specification.
All Deck Legend PS2 products have full n-key rollover meaning you can press as many keys at the same time as you want and they should all register to your computer without "ghosting" as some call it. |
| last updated - 2009-08-04 13:33:35 |
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