I was kinda forced into buying a new keyboard when I managed to accidentally melt two buttons together on my old one! Yet another reason not to smoke kids.
Anyway, I had heard the hype about the G15 for some time, indeed it has been a favourite on these very boards, but wondered really what more a keyboard could really do, I mean, essentially, its just a keyboard isn’t it?
However I have been impressed with Logitech products in general so figured why not and bought one.
It’s a bit of a beast, the new version trimmed down the G-Keys from eighteen to six. I can see why. But still it’s a big keyboard, its rugged and excellently made too. I like that though to be honest, something nice and sturdy about it, like a Tonka toy! I have successfully dropped it, punched it, kicked it and stood on it and although I have yet to drop a cigarette on it, something tells me it’d coolly extinguish it with a satisfying ‘tsssss’ sound before blowing smoke rings in my direction.
That said there have been warnings in this very forum about dropping liquids on it, apparently the old ones broke very easily if there was liquid spilled on them. I have yet to hear if that has changed with the new model, but I’m unfortunately not rich enough to try it.
The actually keys themselves are big and clunky too, and initially you might think that’s a bad thing, but it is a joy to use. Despite its size nothing is too far away and the keys work in a soft and spongy way, despite their clunky appearance. This also means that you don’t get that typical ‘click-clack’ tapping of keys on it too.
So it’s a good keyboard but it has three more features that set it apart from (most) other keyboards.
The first is the backlighting. It is orange, every character on your keyboard glows orange. Not a distasteful orange either, quite a soft one. But if that’s really not your thing then there is a button on the top to either dim it or turn it off completely. The previous version was blue and to be honest I think I’d have preferred that but not because I dislike the orange, just more a personal preference.
The second are the six G-Keys on the left-hand side of the keyboard. These keys are completely programmable to do, well anything you want. Obviously this is a gaming keyboard so in essence they are there for in-game functions. They can simply be assigned to single keystrokes, or, by setting macros, more complex functions. The software that comes with it makes this exceptionally easy. Single keystrokes go without explanation, but more complex macros are very easy too. You simply start ‘recording’ then press the relevant keys and that’s it.
A simple example is voice commands in Team Fortress 2. Usually requiring two keystrokes, one to bring up voice menu, second to say the specific command. In macros you simply start recording, press the two relevant keys, stop recording and its done. Then one press of you G key in-game and your little trooper barks out the relevant command.
Thus:
But the possibilities are almost endless and obviously far more complex commands than this could be set, perhaps for example, the highest rocket jump in Team Fortress 2 performed by the soldier. This requires a crouch-shot-jump combo to do. Programme this into the G-Key and off you go. (This one is theory but I’m fairly certain it would work in practice).
Further you can configure the G-Keys in-game simply by pressing the ‘MR’ button and following the instructions on the LCD display (of which, more in a mo).
Also you have three different memory settings (three ‘M’ buttons) you can configure, could be for three different games, but, of course, you could go mad and have them all configured for one. So all-in-all, maths fans, there are eighteen programmable keys. So going back to a previous point, I can see why they cut that down from eighteen! (see also Jk's comments below)
The final is the LCD Display screen. From the software included you get a number of functions. Firstly there are the displays, LCD Clock, Performance Monitor (showing RAM and CPU usage), LCD Countdown Timer (essentially a stopwatch, yeah not sure what for either), LCD POP3 Monitor and Media Display.
The Media Display is useful, along with the buttons around the edge of the LCD display it allows you to control your media from the keyboard and have a little display of what’s playing.
On top of this there is a huge amount of native support for a number of games that really bring the LCD into its own, for a comprehensive list, see here. I have only really seen it work on Star Wars Battlefront 2 where it shows you your class, which weapon you have and how much ammo. Not really a life or death thing but still a useful tool to have. This native support has already increased last year and indications from Logitech are that this will continue.
However with the G15 being around for some time there are a huge number of programmes, plug-ins and add-ons available, not only for games but also for just about anything you can think of, weather reports for example. For more information on this and a general discussion, please see the forums very own G15 Discussion Thread.
So, is that it? Well no, there are other things: two USB ports on the back (albeit in 1.1 – thank you Jk), a slidebutton that disables the Windows keys (for those annoying times in-game when you’ve caught it), cable tidies underneath to tuck your cables away…etc etc.
What I’m basically saying is, it’s everything you could want in a keyboard, and then some.
I'm not getting into a 'My keyboard's better than your keyboard' type discussion, I'm just making a point that should have perhaps been included in the review.
The blurb I have read has indicated that the Gaming Development Industry is very much geared towards making more native support for the Logitech G15 and has pretty much accepted it as the gaming keyboard of choice.
Just something to bear in mind for the future. As I said, not trying to say it makes it any better, or worse, than the alternatives.
ive been trying to work out if i really want to spend £50 on a keyboard, might do it after reading this review
That's what I thought - If you are going to spend that much money, then I would say that this is the best of the bunch, but if you were only planning to spend £20 on a keyboard that you only want for ordinary office work then it really isn't worth spending that extra.
As Stu says you are paying for the screen and the development that goes into the keyboard by the gaming industry, not just by logitech.
I currently have a Saitek Eclipse .. but Im starting to think one of these would be helpful .. however I'm kinda lacking in funds at the moment having just paid for a new PC
I just recently brought a new keyboard and the choice was between the Logitech g15 or saitek eclipse II....i chose the eclispe II.
Good review and a really nice keyboard you got there and since i started of rather straight to the point ill give my reasons.
1. even tho its a nice orange its still orange i mean my mouse has blue lighting very little being a G9 but its blue, my new vadim is fully blue my speakers glow blue....starting to see a pattern.lol
Everyone has there own different tastes and i always choose function over looks although looks are still important. but to me having only 1 color and that coulr being orange was a big neagtive for me.
2. The G Keys are amazing hands down best out of any board but this was also a down side for me as i dont really play mmorps anymore and pretty much never online with fps so they serve no real benefit to me so it would of been a bonus wasted. I wouldnt say this was a negative but for me it wasnt really a posative either.
3. The lcd screen is either something you love or hate it divides most's people's opinion. There are tons of really neat progs out there for it but unless you doing benchmarking or or using some form of MMO addon i cant really see how it works. If your playing a fps you really shouldnt be looking down at the lcd and admiring your 80% cpu usage but i see some form of leaderboard porg as something to glance at whilst waiting to join a game.Once again this was not really a negative or a posative for me.
4. Now they might of dealt with this problem since i last looked at the G15 but they keys arent cut there painted which can lead to rubbing of the keys, a few trips to some G15 oriented forums see's quite a few people with this problem.
Now i like to make my own mind up about everything i never really read "big" company reviews i tend to only read "user" reviews as they give you more of an experience log rather than its cool or crap, so really i think this is an amzing keyboard i like it so much that if it had cut keys and blue lighting or at least red id be ok with it and buy it tomorrow that said the Eclipse II is an amzing keyboard and i dont regret my choice one bit but like Stu said i dont wann turn this into a "my keyboards better than yours" quibble. just thought id add my thoughts.
I love the G15, the ornge is an ideal colour (it allows you to see it all in the dark without it being distracting), the best addon I have found for the screen is the TF2 plugin (Stu was the one who found it), and the keys arent painted on, so should never fade.
Good, constructive feedback Draven and also provides an alternate point of view, very well put.
Draven wrote:
3. The lcd screen is either something you love or hate it divides most's people's opinion. There are tons of really neat progs out there for it but unless you doing benchmarking or or using some form of MMO addon i cant really see how it works. If your playing a fps you really shouldnt be looking down at the lcd and admiring your 80% cpu usage but i see some form of leaderboard porg as something to glance at whilst waiting to join a game.Once again this was not really a negative or a positive for me.
On this point I'd say that firstly you are right, you can't really run around on an FPS in particular checking your LCD, its a valid point and should be made. I use it exactly how you sugested, to glance at some stats whilst in-game.
What I would say however is that the possibilities for the LCD are seemingly endless, no matter what you use your PC for there will be a utility somewhere that you will find useful. You can, if you're so inclined, design your own too.
Just as a by the way, I would have preferred blue as my Vadim now also glows a healthy blue!
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and since i started of rather straight to the point ill give my reasons.
