Ben's Bargains

Product: Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard
Manufacturer: Logitech
MSRP: $99.99 [BizRate]
Lowest Historical Price: $48 [History]

Introduction
The first iteration of the Logitech G15 features 18 physical keys, a tilting LCD, and a Volume Knob. But Logitech has given the G15 a facelift, integrating the LCD into the keyboard frame and switching to a 6-key 3-profile layout (more on that later). Will its new look win us over? Click through to find out.



Specs
Model: G15
Hardware Platform: PC
Connectivity: USB
Color: Black and Gray with Orange Backlight
Warranty: 1-year limited
Keys: Standard 104-key layout with 18 Programmable Macro Keys
LCD: Built-In

Description
The Logitech G15 comes in a standard box with the usual accessories. Included are the software CD, installation guide and a snap-on palmrest. The keyboard itself sports some nifty features, such as an LCD, backlit keys, and macro buttons. Hidden at the back edge of the keyboard are two USB ports for extra peripherals. It has the standard media buttons, a mute button, and even a button to control the brightness of the keyboard backlighting. Also of note- there are built-in grooves under the keyboard to help organize the cords of your peripherals.



There are 18 customizable keys on the left-hand side. Only 6 physical G buttons exist, but you can switch between 3 different profiles giving you 18 total keys. They have also added a feature called "Quick Macro" which allows you to add a macro to one of the G keys.

The LCD displays four items of interest. It switches between the Logitech LCD Countdown Timer (countdown and stopwatch), the Logitech LCD Clock (clock with date and time), the Logitech Performance Monitor (CPU/RAM Usage) and the Logitech Media Display (displays what is playing on your playlist).



Review
The actual look of the keyboard is nice. It's simple but not too plain, and the backlight on the keys adds a cool factor - useful for playing games in a dark room. I didn't like the way the keys felt when pressed. It's a standard keyboard feel, but I prefer the Logitech dinovo style keyboards. The keys on the dinovo are much quieter and require less force to register. But for gaming purposes, it's not a deal-breaker. The Forward / Backward / Volume Up / Volume Down buttons were a little hard to press.

The LCD proved to be somewhat useful too, as it kept track of the amount of resources being used by the computer. It also displayed the titles of the songs I played through Windows Media Player or iTunes. It was somewhat of a novelty item, as this information isn't hard to get to. However, I could see how it could be useful for WoW players or other supported RPGs where it displays information about their characters.

I found the software to be easy to use. Everything was labeled clearly, and I had no problems navigating the menus. You can use a script editor (Lua) to create your own scripts, or you can just use their graphical interface to set the keys. With multiple profile support, you don't have to worry about re-programming the keys between games. If there's an unfamiliar feature, the handy help section can answer your questions.



Conclusion
For gaming purposes, the Logitech G15 is a winner. The lighted keyboard helps you see the keys in the dark, and the macros save you from pressing the same keystrokes over and over. The built-in USB ports are useful too since it removes the need for an additional hub that would clutter your desk. The LCD can be useful in supported games, but not that important for regular everyday use. I have come to the conclusion that the Logitech G15 is a good gaming keyboard, but that's it. If you do a lot of typing, I would still recommend getting a Logitech dinovo Keyboard.

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