Maximum PC Gives Logitech G19 Kickass! Award

[CX23882]

Kickass! To the max!

These Logitech rubber domes are truly excellent (or kickass). I have a basic Logitech rubber dome at work, and in 4 weeks the Page Down has gone from a light(ish) touch to requiring being hammered to register. I'm not heavy-handed. This is the second keyboard - with the first one, the feet broke off whilst the IT guys were setting everything up.

I'll tell you what, if my company offered to buy me a Cherry MX based keyboard I'd tell them where to stick it, because they don't have a kickass screen and a switch to disable that pesky Windows key (Micro$of sux lol rofl d00d ultr@ 1337). Logitech rule! I wouldn't even want a Cherry Cymotion board, because the last one I had at work lasted two years and continued to work as new. That's no good, we need disposible crap that lasts a month. Now, if I could get the kickass key-feel of the basic Logitech keyboard, and then add a kickass screen and illuminated keys, that would be truly... Kickass.

[CX23882]

Why would you want n-key rollover on a gaming keyboard? What you want is a screen so you can check your emails whilst you're getting your head blown off for not being able to crouch in time. That's why the G19 is so kickass, because it has just that.

You losers with your Filcos, Cherrys, Topres and IBMs. You just don't get it. Look at my epenis glowing in glow of my illuminated keys.

[Shuki]

It all stems down to marketing > product quality

[Bollwerk]

Why would you want n-key rollover on a gaming keyboard? What you want is a screen so you can check your emails whilst you're getting your head blown off for not being able to crouch in time. That's why the G19 is so kickass, because it has just just.

You losers with your Filcos, Cherrys, Topres and IBMs. You just don't get it. Look at my epenis glowing in glow of my illuminated keys.

Couldn't say it better. xD

[bitflipper]

Funny, bit-tech.net gave the G19 a 5/10 overall rating.

Somebody's probably getting some kickback for their kick-ass award ya think?

[Ulysses31]

Does nobody care that it's stupidly large?  I'd prefer more desk space, not less.

Ha, "marketing over quality" pretty much sums up most Western economies.  Gamers must have an incredibly over-inflated sense of importance, surrounded by their multi-screens, 10-way speaker systems, thought-operated joysticks and such.  To them, we must seem like low-tech jerks.  Still, gamers are the most likely to purchase pseudo-innovative products and therefore the best target demographic for cash-strapped manufacturers to make money.  It reminds me of this shrewd observation I saw on the Simpsons:

Lisa: It's awful being a kid. No one listens to you.

Abe: It's rotten being old. No one listens to you.

Homer: I'm a white male, age 18 to 49. Everyone listens to me -- no matter how dumb my suggestions are. (Homer pulls out a can of "nuts and gum-with starburst on can stating “together at last!")

[ch_123]

That means when applications are running you can watch youtube and read your email and not have to alt-tab out.

Except of course, now you have to crane your neck down and watch the videos/emails on the tiny screen on your keyboard, which is located somewhere beneath your screen. Wait, what was the advantage of this setup again?

[bitflipper]

Even Bit-tech gave it 8/10 for features, 3/10 for value.  Not trying to defend MaxPC or anything....

There's no defense for MaxPC. The vast majority of their kb & mouse reviews are Logitech, MS, Steelseries, or Razer.

Their editor in chief admitted he prefers console gaming to PC, and runs a Mac as his primary machine. Of course, he doesn't freely admit this.

I was a subscriber for 9 years or so, then let my subscription lapse a year and a half ago. I got tired of all the n00b level articles, six week old news, and Windows fanboyism.

You know:
"How to build a PC - you'll need a phillips screwdriver...."
"12 Vista power tips - change your desktop background...."
"How to get up and running with Linux - install Ubuntu...."

You'll find a few nuggets once in a while, but overall it's geared towards the teenaged FPS playing n00b. Nothing wrong with that market, it's just not me anymore.

I guess I'm too old and cranky to read their fanboyish drivel which is typified by their "kick ass" award for an overpriced piece of garbage keyboard which I would wear out in a matter of weeks.

At least here, when there's a debate about keyswitches, it's based upon usage and personal preference - not staying in the good graces of Logitech.

/rant

I feel much better now.

[timw4mail]

You know the sad thing is, that Logitech actually makes decent mice.

[Bollwerk]

With bull**** setpoint.^^

Actually I find Logitechs mice to heavy. I'm using a MX1100 rigth now for surfing. Not more. At work, it is too heavy, for gaming, the Laser skipps way too early for 40cm/360°.

Whatever. For private medium usage, it is nice.

I prefer my Intellimouse Optical for Gaming. Lightweight, low LOD and the shape works out fine for me.

[bitflipper]

You know the sad thing is, that Logitech actually makes decent mice.

....and trackballs. They just seem to innovate their mice/kbs to an upgrade cycle. A mechanical 'board would last too long and eventually drop their sales numbers.

[itlnstln]

....and trackballs. They just seem to innovate their mice/kbs to an upgrade cycle. A mechanical 'board would last too long and eventually drop their sales numbers.

I would disagree.  I don't think anybody, regardless of whatever switch type they use, buys any more or less keyboards than anyone else.  I can't tell you how many people use their POS rubber dome 'boards for years.  Many people only get a new keyboard when it comes with a new PC.
 
OTOH, there are people, like gamers, that will buy a new keyboard as soon as the latest-and-greatest feature is added to it regardless of the age of the old 'board.
 
I don't think any manufacturer will lose or gain sales, necessarily, just off changing their key switch.  I mean, Unicomp is not getting a whole of repeat sales simply because they are not offering anything new.  Not many people re-buy what they have if the original still works.
 
I would probably buy a Logitech 'board if they offered one with Cherry browns, and I already own 2 working 'boards with browns.  In this case, it would just be because it was different.

[bitflipper]

I was surprised tearing apart my Logitech $9.99 keyboard how well thought out the internals were (18 screws for the shell, indestructible cord protector, nice SMT controller).  I guess when you crank out Jillions of them you can't fool around.

CompUSA used to have a cheap rubber dome kb I would use for work. They were constructed nicely, but in a couple of months it was shiny keycaps and the right ALT wouldn't work. I don't even use right ALT that much.

[keyb_gr]

I was surprised tearing apart my Logitech $9.99 keyboard how well thought out the internals were (18 screws for the shell, indestructible cord protector, nice SMT controller).  I guess when you crank out Jillions of them you can't fool around.

These things are made by pros, no doubt about that. The funny thing is that these basics boards seem to be better in terms of quality than many a more boutique "gaming" or backlit board at a higher price.

[JBert]

Still, the keys tend have too much friction for my liking.
I still prefer my IBM RD keyboard, even if it hasn't got any interesting media keys nor LCD.

[Rajagra]

As far as I'm concerned, any keyboard that uses membranes has "coffee-spill obsolescence" built in.

[watduzhkstand4]

that magazine needs to know what we're using lol

[DarthShrine]

Speaking of computer magazines reviewing keyboards, Atomic here recently reviewed the Realforce 103U-UB (surprised me, since it's a gaming magazine and they're the type to drool over stuff like the G19). They complained that the shift key returns too slowly, and that the price was too high (fair enough), but they only gave it 76%. "A solid design, light on features, possibly high price."

[Ulysses31]

With bull**** setpoint.^^

Actually I find Logitechs mice to heavy. I'm using a MX1100 rigth now for surfing. Not more. At work, it is too heavy, for gaming, the Laser skipps way too early for 40cm/360°.

Whatever. For private medium usage, it is nice.

I prefer my Intellimouse Optical for Gaming. Lightweight, low LOD and the shape works out fine for me.

You could try it with just one AA cell installed to make it lighter.  It'll work just the same but obviously give you half the battery life.

I also hate Setpoint.  I have been using it for a while now, ever since I had to reconfigure some buttons (certain switches wear out far too quickly).  As a result, there is sometimes a 5-10 second lag between my pressing a button and seeing the reaction.  This drives me up the wall but i've learned to live with it.  There is hope, however.  The new G500 mouse is supposedly programmable, so that you shouldn't need to have Setpoint installed to have custom key configurations; they can be saved in the internal memory.  It also has a nicer shape (more like the MX1000 that I use currently, nice and curved).  The only downside is that it's wired (because it's for GAMERS >_<).

[Bollwerk]

I even thought about deinstalling Setpoint and living without it, but There are some buttons at this mouse which requires the software. Hm.

I'm already using it with only one AA cell. What kind of jerk would use two?^^

[Ulysses31]

Alright, then use a AAA in one of those AAA/AA converters

[Bollwerk]

xD. That's one good idea.^^

This microgear stuff is very good thing, I think, but it puts some weight on, too.

[Ulysses31]

I've experienced (and read about) too many problems with the micro-gear wheel seizing up to consider it a good idea.  The rubber grip should be removed because it decays and becomes loose after a while, in favour of an all-metal wheel with some sort of knurling, and the wheel itself should rotate on a metal, rather than plastic shaft (apparently they break).

[ignoo]

It's an absolute freakin shame the G19 is rubber dome, because the thing is gorgeous.  The extra keys could come in really handy for gaming, and the LCD could also be useful.  The size is quite large, but bigger is better - ask any Texan.

[ch_123]

Pfft.

[timw4mail]

This is where finding Point of Sale keyboards comes into play.

[hyperlinked]

You know the sad thing is, that Logitech actually makes decent mice.

I'm getting baited. :boom:

[ironcoder]

Why would you want n-key rollover on a gaming keyboard? What you want is a screen so you can check your emails whilst you're getting your head blown off for not being able to crouch in time. That's why the G19 is so kickass, because it has just just.

You losers with your Filcos, Cherrys, Topres and IBMs. You just don't get it. Look at my epenis glowing in glow of my illuminated keys.

This was one of the finest posts I've seen in days. And that last line is definitely signature material :drum:

[Red October]

This is where finding Point of Sale keyboards comes into play.

I actually tried to use a Logic Controls LK1800 for gaming for a while, nice unit with lots of programmable keys; if my dream keyboard didn't exist, well, I could make it.  Turns out it wasn't very fun, as I (stupidly) ordered a USB model which had 0-key rollover; no simultaneous input was possible.  I ended up returning the damn thing, although I'd love to get my hands on a PS/2 unit; the web site says it has "Full-travel tactile keys"...  

The shop I work in sells Logitech keyboards, all pointlessly wireless, all thing and lightweight and rubber-domed with short travel to the keys.  The feet (which seem to be vestigal at this stage in the proceedings to be honest, they raise it perhaps 1/4" at best) break on the shop displays (rendering them unvendable).  I'd take one of our oddball KeySourceInternational POS keyboards, with their... severe... Cherry blacks before I took one of those horrible things.

[Rajagra]

I'm getting baited. :boom:

Don't take the bait. It's a trap!

[JBert]

And for the Star Wars crowd...


It's A Trap!

And here I expected to see a Death Star...
That's disappointing.

[msiegel]

:lol: