Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard

[PAGETITLE=Introduction][Top Ad] The never-ending quest for the ultimate gaming gear has fueled the peripheral war for decades. Established in 1981, Logitech has been a pioneer on many fronts of this battle. From the humble mouse to massively powerful speaker systems, their product range has not left us lacking. Gaming keyboards are big business and the release of the G15 V1 model in 2005 changed the way we looked at this overlooked device. We were given a nice little display that proved to be quite useful whether gaming or just surfing the web. The SDK was free and open-source, which allowed many custom applications to take advantage of it. A revised version, aptly called the G15 V2, was released in 2007 and addressed the size issue of the original. 2009 brought us the next evolution of the G series keyboard, the G19. Packing an LCD screen, user adjustable back-lighting and powered USB 2.0 ports amongst other features, the G19 was designed to surpass its older brothers. With a price tag of $199.99 US, there seems to be some big shoes to fill. Let's take a closer look and see just how well it meets our expectations. Closer Look. Out of the box and onto our desk, we get our first glimpse of the G19. The overall width is just over 19", so it should keep within the keyboard tray on nearly all desks. This time around, we're given two rows of programmable macro keys, as well as multi-media controls. The USB cable that goes to the tower also has an A/C power line that supplies the LCD with whatever juice it needs. For most gamers, the keys themselves are going to be the perfect size and height. They have an excellent feel, and also resistance, and the spacebar isn't fussy with regards to where you hit it. The typical QWERTY keyboard layout is maintained here, so shortly after hopping on the G19, you'll be a pro at using it. Above the backlit G19 logo, we see the usual suspects. LEDs for the Caps Lock, Scroll Lock and also the Num Lock are found at the top of the board, and are easy to notice if you need to check the status quickly. The media function keys are found in the upper right corner. The volume control is now barrel-shaped and rolls with the flick of the finger. It is not overly sensitive and does take a few flicks to get things moving. While some would rather it be more sensitive, it felt just right to me. The media keys work with most current media applications with no extra programming or tweaking needed. To the direct left of the LCD screen, its controls can be found. Logitech has chosen to keep things simple here and as you'd expect, they're all easy to access and push. Within 5 minutes, I was right at home with them and able to effortlessly scroll through all of the available choices. Note that the sliding key to the upper left de-activates the "Windows" key. Anyone that has accidentally hit that key while in the middle of an intense gaming session will surely appreciate the inclusion. A familiar sight on the left side of the board are the macro keys. The first revision of the G15 included three rows, while the second dropped it to just one. The G19 has settled right in the middle with two, but because you can switch between three complete macro setups (with the M1 - M3 buttons), you essentially have 36 macro buttons at your perusal. Also, you can program the LEDs to change colors with each set of presets, so that you can easily distinguish which one you've chosen. The LCD screen is mounted on a bar that allows for easy pivoting for the perfect view. At its stock position, the view angle is kind of limited, so it's nice to see that the issue was remedied in this manner, as it's simple, yet effective. The backside of the G19 is somewhat uneventful. There are rubber feet at the bottom to prevent it from sliding around, and adjustable feet towards the top to angle the board for those that prefer it. For added comfort, we are given a simple but effective removable wrist rest. Little effort is required to install or remove it, but like most wrist rests, you'll want to take care in not accidentally snapping the plastic tabs, especially when removing. This feature is either love it or hate it, and I personally can't bear to use one on any keyboard, but it's still a nice option for those that prefer it. The G19 is one expensive keyboard, but what it does get you is a very bright, clear and easy-to-read LCD screen. The colors are great and the overall functionality is thoroughly enjoyable. What we're given is a 320x240 resolution, which, believe it or not, can even handle some streaming video. This is a great upgrade from the G15's monochrome display. With the tour of the board out of the way, let's get right into the software installation and set-up, and finish things off with some final comments. [PAGEBREAK][PAGETITLE=Installation, Usage, Final Thoughts] Installation was as simple as plugging in the USB cable and the required A/C adapter. You will get basic functionality right away with the advanced features available once you install the software. Once installed, you'll have options available to control how things are displayed, as you'd expect. Here you can set the display to cycle through the various features and set the backlight intensity if you so desire. I should note that you will get 10+ processes running in the background after everything is installed, but you can disable the features you will not use in the LCD Manager window. Final Thoughts. Overall, I am impressed with the G19. The build quality is excellent and everything functioned perfectly out of the box. They keys are right where I expected them and their resistance is spot on. I spend far too many hours a day in front of my PC, whether working or playing, so comfort is a top priority, and the G19 delivers. The self-powered USB ports are also a welcome addition. Having these convenient ports within arm's reach is very important. Fast, easy access for not only my thumb drives but also my gamepads without having to reach down is just what the doctor ordered. Also, the inclusion of twelve fully-programmable macro keys with three possible settings each is yet another great feature. Adding the ability to customize the colors is tops in my book, since that was always my main beef with the G15. Finally, the LCD screen is the final icing on the cake. It can be argued that it is over the top and simply not needed, but that was the same argument used against the G15. If we look back, it took some time before anyone coded applications to take advantage of the earlier models, so it is just a matter of time before the same will apply here. The awkward view angles are easily corrected and the lighting and colors are excellent. The daunting and major drawback is the price. Any way you look at it, it is very hard to justify spending $200 US on a keyboard. Don't get me wrong, I believe it is worth the price of admission, but it's sure to turn away some potential buyers. It's a premium product, there's no two-ways about it. The lack of applications that currently support and use the LCD is quite small, and that also hurts the appeal to some degree. Logitech should really put the spurs to developers to put it to better use which will in turn help justify the high price tag. Thankfully, the SDK is completely open-sourced, so it really is just a matter of time before we begin to see some really cool things utilize it. With all this taken into consideration, I'm awarding the G19 an 8 out of 10. As for a basic keyboard, functionality is as good as it gets. Excellent feel and comfort have long been Logitech trademarks, and the G19 isn't an exception. Quality is right where it needs to be. I love the LCD and with a little help from the aftermarket, it will become a must-have feature. Pros Very high quality. Comfortable. Wide range of backlight colors. Excellent multimedia controls. Many programmable macro keys. Cons Very pricey. Current limited support for LCD applications. Discuss this article in our forums! Have a comment you wish to make on this article? Recommendations? Criticism? Feel free to head over to our related thread and put your words to our virtual paper! There is no requirement to register in order to respond to these threads, but it sure doesn't hurt!

Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard

Page 853 –