Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard - NO SIR! I DON'T LIKE IT!

[FlyingPenguin]

I'm pretty fussy about keyboards and mice. I really wanted to like the G15 but it just didn't feel right. Ergonomically (for me anyway) the angle of the keyboard isn't steep enough and almost immediately my left hand started cramping up playing MW2.

The display is nice but not really all that useful IMO. About the only thing I really liked were the macro keys. For a $100 keyboard I wasn't to impressed with the feel and quality either, and the spacing of some of the keys was rather non-standard.

At any rate considering how much it costs and it's no where near as comfortable as my trusty old Dell Multimedia keyboard, I returned it to best Buy.

I really haven't found anything I like better than the Dell Multimedia keyboard. Unfortunately it was discontinued last year and replaced with one that has horrible laptop style keys. However, I bought a dozen of them from a distributor on Ebay (for less than the single G15 costs) so I'm set for a while (I tend to kill off a keyboard every 6 - 8 months no matter how rugged - I'm a real pounder when gaming).

The Dell has classically shaped key, a fair bit of tactile feedback, and can take a lot of abuse. I also like the round volume control which works a heck of a lot better than the up/down buttons on the G15 and most of the newer multimedia keyboards.

[Pugsley]

Man, my keyboard is so old it doesn't even have windows keys.

[FlyingPenguin]

Heh, first thing I do with a keyboard is pry the left Windows key off - interferes with my gaming and I prefer that fix to using an app that disables the key (plus I can still use the right Windows key).

[eGoCeNTRoNiX]

I have one of the logitech gaming keyboards but it's not the G15.. It came as part of an MX1000 combo.. Like you said, the LCD is pretty much useless for anything short of telling you what the temperature is in the house. Mine has some touch sliders on the left for volume control, and other multimedia features and they are finicky at best. As a keyboard it was comfy, but a a multimedia keyboard it fails. I loved my MX700 keyboard and the closest thing I've found to it so far is actually a Microsoft Multimedia keyboard. I use the microsoft keyboard in my shop for my bench PC. And I still have the MX700 combo in a box somewhere.. I need to try and dig it out haha

[DaMaN]

I got the G11 and it has a game mode that disables the windows key. I like it.

[FlyingPenguin]

The G15 has a slide switch that disables the Windows key as well.

[normalicy]

I'm pretty picky myself. However, I'm picky in a way that apparently most aren't. I like the natural keyboards. I have the 4000 series board & my only gripe is that it doesn't light up. So, I finally dealt with it by prying every single key out & running some red EL wire underneath it all. Took about 2 hours (involved some drilling as well & mounting the inverter which amazingly fit inside). Now, I love my keyboard & it matches the glow of my mouse (G9).

At work, we're issued keyboards, but of course, I just made my own computer & I have a 10 year old Compaq keyboard that I still love. I can really feel the keys depress. I hate mushy keys (like laptop keyboards).

[RubberDuckie]

I use the Dell in the photo FP posted. I have 10 of them in the closet. I like the USB plug at the top. That is where I plug in my wireless mouse.

[theophilusmousse]

I have a:
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ch ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-i4d-1xbQ08/S2ZRD ... 44/g11.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/M42Hanly/Dr ... site">Drop Box</a></td></tr></table>


no lcd nonsense that pretty much does nothing, and the macro keys are 3 wide.
the slider turns off the windows key, it is backlit... and the volume controller is a dial... not a slider or up/down buttons

personally I like the feel of it and find myself being more gentle with it that i was with the old clicky one i had before... i had to laugh at myself a couple times when i realized how hard I was actually hitting the keyboard while gaming on that thing.

of course the ergonomics thing is another story.... I always just assumed that my left hand cramping up would be an issue regardless of what keyboard I was using... i tend to just angle the keyboard... usually helps for me.

[normalicy]

Volume knobs are imperative to me. I hate when I game on my headphones (which don't have built in volume control) don't control volume. Unfortunately, the natural keyboards are ignored in that area as well.

Apparently, I'm very gentle with the keyboard. I can make one last for decades. Usually, I can barely read the letters when I retire one.

[FlyingPenguin]

Yeah I love the volume knob on these keyboards.

Well my lot of 16 used Dell Multimedia keyboards/optical mice combos came in. Not a bad deal for $89 + shipping (around $120 total).

For a little more than the price of a single G15 I've got 4 A+ quality keyboards that look brand new (not even any keycap wear marks), 4 A quality keyboards (space key cap showing slight surface wear but still feels as springy as a new keyboard), a couple of B quality keyboards, and the rest are worn although still quite serviceable (they've got less wear than the last keyboard I wore out). I wouldn't game on the worn ones but I'd have no qualms about giving one to someone with a charity build. The eight good ones should hold me for another 5 - 7 years.

Only one had a missing key. Most of the mice look to be in good if not like-new condition but I didn't go through them very carefully yet. I just pulled 4 of the best looking mice to put in the car trunk as customer freebies (I always carry a few mice to give to clients with totally worn or old ball mice).

I was a little leery of buying from someone on E-Bay, but the guy had a good rating. I realize this was probably a lot purchased at auction from some company that went bankrupt so I was hoping that at least half would be in good shape. The guy really packed them nice too - wrapped them in three bundles thickly with bubble wrap and then took great care to pack them in the middle of a big box filled with shipping peanuts with a good 8 inches of peanuts on all sides. I'll have to leave him a very nice review.

[Executioner]

LOL I still use an old Focus keyboard. Some of the letters - a, s, d, c, left-shift, left-ctrl no longer have the letters on them due to gaming. My guess is my keyboard is probably 7 years old. I also removed the win key.