Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard Review
Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard Review - Please note i plagarized much of this review from http://www.everythingusb.com (I stole scott’s pictures and stuff)
Between the posting of pictures and time spent at home I ve found that I really didnt like my current Microsoft keyboard. There were some buttons on the side and top that were not in a good position and I never used. So i was wondering around BestBuy and saw this thing.
The Logitech G15 is really setup as a gaming keyboard with 18 programmable keys on the left side for various game profiles. There are really 3 “profiles” across the 18 keys so a total of 54. Microsoft had this in their keyboard but only 24 functions across keys F1-F12 and they never worked the way I wanted. Anyway the keys can be re-programmed to do anythign you want including:
- Launch programs like emai, browser, calculator, InstantMessanger, Skype etc.
- Open certain files or folders
- record and run macros (keystroke combinations)
- cut, copy and paste
Then I put my hands on the keyboard and found that the keys are very smooth and easy to use. They are not only quiet but feel perfect and are big enough for huge meat hooks like my fingers. I type pretty fast and the keys feel crisp and responsive but not hard or sharp. the keybaord has this interesting coating on the keys. not realliy rubber like the included wrist rest but a texture plastic actually. It works well, gives my fingertips a secure sense of contact witht the keys even at high typing rates. I also noticed the keyboard lights up from the letters and around each key. very cool for late nite work.
This thing is big (It’s a full 21.5″ long and 10.5″ tall with the wrist rest attached), it takes up a bunch of space but its more wide than deep since the keys are on the left side of the keyboard, but thats good since they are in a location thats eaisier to reach.
All Lit Up
The G15’s keys are beautifully backlit, a solid blue shining through the laser-engraved letters of each key with a mild underglow surrounding each key. Each key is as lit as the next, with no dim or bright spots anywhere on the keyboard. As soon as the computer is turned on and Windows loads, the backlight will automatically turn on, although there are three manual settings to choose from: Off, Low, and High, though there’s not much of a difference between Low and High.
Since this is a gaming keyboard it has a mode switch on it to disable keys like the Windows Start button and other that would interrupt a gamer. while i dont really use this feature and the only game i play is Flight Simulator, I see how this could be useful for some folks.
The G15 has two USB 1.1 ports for plugging in headsets and wireless receivers or USB Memory cards or MP3 Players like i recently reviewed,. Anything plugged into the two ports can also take advantage of the G15’s cable management, as there are grooves lining the underside of the keyboard for cable runs. While great in concept, it doesn’t work that well. The camera cord, headset cord, and mouse cords we tried were either too thick to fit, or too thin to stay in place. Logitech would benefit from widening the grooves and making cable clips to address this issue.
The interface shown is how you program the 18 keys across the “Modes” M1-3. the other picture is of the keys and how they are laid out. Its quite easy to program and I completely finished my setup in under 2 minutes. the only challenge i had here was that it was a bit hard to set a shortcut to a Folder on my computer like “My Documents”.
The neatest but most underused feature to me is the 160×43 LCD display located on the top center of the keyboard right above the multimedia controls. The display can be used to monitor several things:- Current Date and Time (remove it from your taskbar)
- How much strain is on your computer (CPU&RAM)
- How many new emails you have
- MP3 Song information and controls
I could see this feature becoming very powerful in the future. I’d love to see a stock ticker, even Instant messenger chats, things that really arent all that important to take up precious screen space with.
Rating: 5 out of 5 - Great keyboard laid out just the way i like it.
Cool factor 3 out of 5 - its really cool if you are a hardcore gamer but there are much cooler looking keyboards out there.
Cost of purchase - I got it for $65
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