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(More customer reviews)Just got the Logitech G15 Gaming keyboard yesterday, and overall I'm impressed by the flexibility and potential it offers. However, don't let the attractive design of the keyboard and the sweet looking LCD screen you see in the pictures fool you. The real draw of the G15 can all be found on the left side of the keyboard.
The best feature of this keyboard really isn't the LCD display, but its capability to create keyboard macros.The G15 features 18 additional "G" keys on the left hand side of the keyboard, which are completely customizable to playback complicated sequences of keystrokes (i.e. macros) for whatever game or Windows application you might have.These 18 keys can each be reassigned under three different "M" keyboard maps, giving you the capability to assign 3 different macros on one G key. Think of these keys as a hardware version of Keyboard Express built into your keyboard--only the macros are "hard-wired" to specific applications, i.e., the macros only work once an application you assign to it is running on your PC. In a nutshell you a) launch the included G-Series Keyboard Profiler software, b) name and assign a macro to a specific executable program, and then c) record the keystrokes to the macro.Only after you run the designated program the macro becomes available for use.
Logitech included premade profiles for Battlefield 2 and Star Wars Battlefront in its Profiler software. As you might imagine these profiles contain some basic prebuilt macros assigned to G-Keys for those specific games, giving your keyboard some added functionality.As for the Profiler software itself--it isn't all that flashy, but contains some great tutorials to get you started.It isn't rocket science creating macros on this keyboard, but it isn't clear-cut easy either.Going through the help tutorials in the included software is a good idea. If you're not at all interested in reading, it's also pretty simple to create a macro on the fly using the Quick Macro function--just hit the MR record key, choose a G key, enter your keystrokes, then hit the MR key to stop recording. It's very simple to create macros on the fly this way.
The G Keys can also be assigned to general apps under the standard profile--default web browser, calculator, email program, My Computer, and default media player.So in essence it retains the functionality of Logitech's other keyboard, the Media Keyboard Elite.
The LCD display is a whole lot less useful than the G Keys. In the normal Windows environment it provides very basic information--one display option gives you a basic clock with hands along with the digital time and date. Another option gives you the current CPU and RAM usage in a percentage bar. It will also display basic information about the file you are playing in your default media player. Apparently you are able to use the LCD display within games, but according to the help software the game must come with "LCD support". So, ultimately (out of the box at least) the LCD isn't very useful or helpful. It's a very basic display, as well -- not too much different from the $5 LCD alarm clocks you can buy at the Jewelry section at your local Target.
The G15 has some other noteworthy features-more specifically backlit keys for late night play, 2 additional USB ports, and full media player controls.The backlit keys give a pretty nice blue glow to the keys and two brightness settings are available.The LCD screen becomes backlit along with the keys as well.The two USB ports are a disappointment from my experience.I could not connect my Motorola MPX220 cell phone to my PC through the ports on the keyboard--Windows kicked back a message that the port did not have enough power to support the device.The keyboard also features a cable management system (which are actually just wire channels under the keyboard) to prevent cable clutter. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.
Ergonomically the keyboard is pretty standard fare for Logitech.The keys themselves are slightly smaller than in the Media Keyboard Elite, but really no less comfortable.They also give about the same tactile response as in other Logitech keyboards. One thing to keep in mind is that this keyboard, with its additional G keys and flip up LCD display, is on the big side, so it may not fit on your keyboard drawer with the LCD display in the open position.The keyboard itself is about 21 1/2"L x 8 1/2"D x 3 1/2" H with the feet up and the LCD monitor flipped open.
Overall I can't help but feel "suckered into" buying this keyboard by looking at its sleek design and LCD. I expected a lot more functionality from the LCD display out of the box. However, I am satisfied with the overall flexibility the G15 offers. So ultimately the true beauty of the G15 lies beneath the surface.
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Product Description:
The Logitech G15 keyboard offers gamers an unprecedented level of in-game information, programmability and control. Its adjustable-tilt, backlit LCD display shows you crucial information during game play, and lets you set timers to keep track of game events. The 18 programmable 'G Keys' allow you to execute macros - like casting spells in World of Warcraft - with a single button press, and the backlit keys are great for lights-out play. The G15 also features a switch that turns off the 'Windows' key, so hitting that button accidentally won't end your game. The Logitech G15 keyboard is completely customizable to help you play better. Try it and you'll never go back to a standard keyboard.
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