Logitech G15 Keyboard Review [Archive]

dang

12-11-2005, 06:56 PM

Checkout our latest review of the Logitech G15 Keyboard (http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review3331.html)Logitech's new G15 gaming keyboard is a paradise of options for the hardcore gamers. There is no going back now.

Ioman

12-11-2005, 07:05 PM

I think this keyboard is pretty cool, but I would not buy it simply because of its size. I like having a light keyboard that I can easily move while gaming. Maybe I am retarded in that way lol.

ECA

12-11-2005, 08:26 PM

WHY I need all those keys...Im a KB user in my games also..
I DID like that one with the rounded section..

MINUS's:
Routing all your cables(sound, mouse, and mic?) thru the KB??? No, no nononono... Then you cant MOVE it easy.
20 meg customizable driver and KB shortcuts????

ECA

12-11-2005, 08:27 PM

PS,
hit the buy now and you get toaster ovens..

neuroking

12-11-2005, 09:59 PM

I love this keyboard. It looks snazzy, works well, and um.. did I mention is looks snazzy?

The shortcut keys are nice because it makes creating a macro universal. I don't have to worrya bout which gmae I have to do what in. Just record and go. Oh, and the LCD jsut makes the whole thing LOOK commanding. Not horribly useful, but people fear and respect my 'puter now. I think they think it's watching them...

The USB ports are just for easy access. No one says you have to route every USB device through them. I find it handy for flash drives, PSP, and my BT headset, which charges over USB.

ECA

12-12-2005, 12:34 PM

well..,
the USB (device use) could be nice, considering its ALREADY usb and no extra wires. But its the Sound, and mic, that would be abit restraining, if you used it.
Even the KB I have now(logitech) I dont use the drivers on for the EXTRA 16 keys..
And when playing games, i sit the KB on my lap, for better control..
STILL liked the other one, with the rounded end, and left hand control...It was expencive, but NICE.
Thanks for the Fix, on Buy now, as I see this ISNT any cheaper then the one I mentioned.. I know we talked about it, but DT dont have a review, that I saw..

ECA

12-12-2005, 01:50 PM

http://www.wolf-claw.com/corporate/corporate.htm

neuroking

12-13-2005, 09:43 AM

Yeah, I've seen that woldclaw thing. It is definately a better gaming specific keyboard, but the thing is fungy and looks like a toy. Th G15 at least looks like a normal keyboard. Either way, looks like they're coming out with a circle part only piece, so you can have the bet of both worlds. :)

ECA

12-13-2005, 10:00 AM

THAT would be cool.
Looking around, they are coming down in price.
YES, I like logitech, they have a great reputation. They make great KB, and other devices.
ALL I look for is DURABILITY, and simplicity. Its only a KB, and its the typing feature that means MORE then anything.

neuroking

01-13-2006, 03:35 PM

I've noticed alot of people having a hard time getting ahold of one of these. In the US, at least, they're everywhere. I was just at Best Buy today and they had 2 on the shelf. As for our friends across the pond... hopefully Logitech will get this thing out there too. Sweet keyboard.

Oh, and when the review was written, it was actually purchased at a brick and mortar store.

Archon

01-14-2006, 11:16 AM

Looks pretty cool. Is a little too big for me, and I never look down at my keyboard to make any use of the LCD. The backlit keys are nice... all the other ones I've seen are laptop keyboards, so they're wicked dumb to use during gaming. But that macro shat is hot.

ECA

01-14-2006, 12:02 PM

But macro keys can be set WITHOUT all the extra's..
ALL the display does is make it easier to do.

The extra function keys CAN be cool, But I have found very FEW (old hat) persons that use them, maybe the younger folks like them and can find uses, but programming a few macros will do the same thing and NOT enlarge the KB.

And Macro's can be set in the reg, as there are already SOME there(hit CTRL,ESC) so as NOT to require an EXTRA program do handle them.

ECA

01-14-2006, 12:10 PM

something a FEW of you may not know...
LOOk at the top of IE...All those words up there...See the Underlined LETTERS??
HIT ALT and the LETTER...
NOW hit ESc to go BACK.

Under EACH of those letters are MORe words with UNDERLINES...try this..
HOLD THE ALT, then F, then N...WOW you got a NEW window.
ALMOST ALL programs have this. it goes back the the DOS days.

ECA

01-14-2006, 12:15 PM

http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/keyboard.aspx

have fun

Archon

01-14-2006, 01:00 PM

neuroking

01-14-2006, 02:41 PM

Macros are different from keyboard shortcuts. The macros can be set to hold down a button, hold and release, wait a period of time and press another, etc. It's not jsut an easy way of avoiding convoluted finger positions. Plus the G15 senses which application is running and switches the assignments automatically. Let's see your fancy registry do that! hehe

ECA

01-14-2006, 06:28 PM

NK, and how do you think they ID set the keyboard in the First place.
How can your KB be set to crylic, icelandic, or ANY other language??

http://www.icpug.org.uk/national/features/030316fe.htm

You can set any key to do, about anything. from a full copy of your diary, to multiple commands...And if you LOOK, there should be a .INI file for what keys do WHAT, in 99% of programs..

psyxe

01-22-2006, 05:10 AM

i jus got one of these today... for about 100 dollars australian...
pretty sweet... any1 know of any GamePanel programs out yet (third party)??

neuroking

01-22-2006, 05:17 AM

*angry!*

As the earlier poster mentioned, they keys on some of these might rub off. I've had mine for 3 months and I'm starting to see it on the wasd keys. I'm contacting Logitech on monday, and if the problem hasn't been addressed, you can bet the review will be updated to reflect that. Checking the interweb, there are ALOT of people having this problem. Buyer beware.

Supposedly they have alreayd revised the keyboard, so i will see if this was done to address the paint problem.

neuroking

01-22-2006, 05:24 AM

Here's what I sent:
I am a senior editor at Designtechnica, and recently reviewed the G15 keyboard. (http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review3331.html) Please pass this along to your marketing/media contact.

I have started to notice the paint on the keys rubbing off. I researched the problem, and have found many posts on this problem, and the product has been out for barely 4 months.

a)I would like my keyboard replaced.
b)I need to know what has been done to address this problem, or I will have to significantly lower the rating of the product.

ECA

01-22-2006, 11:21 AM

I thought Logitech lasered there letter on...
My old KB hasnt lost a letter yet...they must be getting CHEAP..

neuroking

01-22-2006, 01:15 PM

With the G15 they made the keys clear, then kinda reverse stencilled the letters on. The other 3 Logitech keybaords I've had have never had this problem. Appears to be a problem with the Saitek ones, too. But at least those make it at least 6 months before showing the wear and tear.

ECA

01-22-2006, 04:26 PM

psyxe

01-22-2006, 05:56 PM

It would be nice to Indent them, lower, INTO the plastic, OR, reverse them and place IN/under a clear plastic key. This is abit stupid, to use JUST stencils.
I MENA, its OLD tech to use laser tech to inscribe the letters...why they using STUPID tech.

cutting costs....

anyway can sum1 tell me a place for any third party LCD gamepanel software?
i tried googling it but it just has hundreds of pages of reviews etc... for the keyboard

ECA

01-22-2006, 06:00 PM

send me link to which one...
Did you try the makers site to see if someone made a mod for it..

robertproctor

01-27-2006, 09:04 PM

So why isn't there a kb for us lefthanders :vivi to use with our mouse? :vivi

ECA

01-27-2006, 09:20 PM

There ARE lefthanded KB...Want to pay for it ALSO??

Ioman

01-27-2006, 09:27 PM

So why isn't there a kb for us lefthanders :vivi to use with our mouse? :vivi

No doubt, left hand users have been getting shafted for ever it seems.

robertproctor

01-27-2006, 10:01 PM

Well :censored , of course I would pay for one, I am tired of screwing around with right handed keyboards.....I guess I need to qualify my statement, a KB for gaming, I am fine with a standard KB for day to day stuff.

Ioman

01-28-2006, 09:18 AM

Have you checked out the Saitek gaming keyboard? Thats what I use. There is a detachable keypad which you could use with your left hand if you wanted.

ECA

01-28-2006, 11:16 AM

I think I like the detachable, sectioned KB's...USe the parts you want, and mix and match where you want the sections...Its cool, and you can REALLY mess up those that you DONT want to use your computer.

And the idea of placeing the Number section in the middle, and seperating the hands more, is cool.

ECA

01-28-2006, 12:40 PM

http://www.maltron.com/

http://www.maltron.com/maltron-kbd-single.html
FULL left handed KB..

ECA

01-28-2006, 01:23 PM

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/input/completely-customize-your-keyboard-layout-100278.php
try this, TOTAL control of where you want your keys...

http://www.xoxide.com/keyboards.html

ECA

01-28-2006, 01:27 PM

http://www.zboard.com/modules/zboard_video.asp?file=sizzle_video_player.swf

neuroking

01-28-2006, 05:06 PM

Here's teh response I got from Logitech. Hooray for form responses!

Thank you for your recent inquiry about your Keyboards.

I understand that the letters on the keyboard are wearing off.

I would like to inform you that the characters on the Logitech keyboard are usually wear-resistant and durable enough to withstand moderate to even heavy rough use. In this case, the concerned unit seems to be defective and I suggest you get it replaced. Please refer to the following URL to obtain an RMA for your device:

Title: Defective product-Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) procedures

ECA

01-28-2006, 07:01 PM

They shouldnt wear off.
Good for you..

neuroking

01-30-2006, 10:02 AM

I called Logitech today. They assured me that this was an initial first batch to the warehouse that they were not even aware was going to be shipping, and that the issue was 100% resolved. In all fairness I did get the first run of the thing, and it was odd how I found it one day, then they were no where to be seen for 3 weeks.

If this happens to anyone else, just call them. They will get the various numbers from you, send out a new keyboard (for free, no credit card required), and you can then do what you want with the old one. They don't even want them back (another sure sign this issue is a done deal - they're not even trying to recondition them).

Yup, so I'm happy. Unless this happens on the new one I get, i see no reason to adjust the score. There is a 1 year warranty, so we'll see how it goes. Wish it was a 5 year one like teh MX3100 has, but I guess the more features, the shorter the warranty (more likely something will die too soon).

Yup. The End (hopefully).

Ioman

01-30-2006, 02:36 PM

The "S" on my MX 700 desktop keyboard is starting to wear off. not bad though and I use the keyboard quite a bit.

neuroking

02-06-2006, 05:59 PM

Exactly 1 week after I called tech support, I got my new G15 (they said 7-14 days).

I can see no difference between this model and the defective one, except the keys feel a little more mushy. Not bad, but this one does feel different. We'll see how it holds up! And for anyone curious, they send a completely new, boxed keyboard, not some refurb or out of box junk.