Logitech g15 Gaming Keyboard

Overview and Features:

High-visibility GamePanel LCD

Keybord only - No Box or origional CD

• Illuminated characters with 3 levels of brightness (one being 'off')
• 6 programmable G-keys
• Programmable Macros can be recorded without leaving your game
• Grooves for cable routing underneath the board
• Convenient media playback control keys

The modest hardware requirements are also shown:

• PC with Pentium Processor or compatible
• 256mb RAM
• 20mb of hard drive space
• CD-ROM drive
• USB port
• Windows XP or Vista

Isn't she a beauty? I have to say that I like the new look right off the bat. The overall layout is nearly identical to the original G15, with the LCD and media keys top-center, and the G-keys on the left. There are also two USB ports at the top underneath the LCD. Logitech also includes a driver CD and a plastic hand rest. The hand rest feels like smooth plastic, whereas the original G15 hand rest felt slightly rubberized.

Here we see the grooves for managing the wiring, as well as the collapsible stands to angle the board. One thing that some users may find annoying is that while the grooves are appropriately sized for mice cords, thicker cords (like, the G15 cord!) won't fit without a lot of manhandling. This groove array appears to have been designed for use with a single mouse, and thus its usefulness is very limited.

Here we have a nice shot of the 6 G-keys as well as the Mode and Macro Record keys. This is where most of the original G-15 fans are going to get ticked. There were a lot of mixed thoughts on reducing the number of G-keys to 6, but I think that the G15 product manager explained the change pretty well:

"The major goal behind the design change in the G15 was to decrease the size of the product so that it would fit better on people's desks. This was by far the number one complaint about the design of the original keyboard... The decision to remove keys was not made arbitrarily. In early discussions about the new design, it became very clear that it was not possible to address the need to make the keyboard more compact without affecting the number of macro keys. The majority of end-users with whom I talked only use between four and six macros per game, so six (or 18, considering M-keys) became the number we would use."

So where the old G15 was ~21.5" wide, the new revision is just under 19.5" wide. Those with tiny desks or limited counting capacity may rejoice.

The logo is small, stylish, and symmetrical. Sleek, too.

The uniformity of the keyboard body surfaces gives it a nice, minimalist feel. Here you can see the G15 logo and the light control button.

Aside from the media keys, there are also 4 function buttons just below the LCD that serve various functions depending on the LCD applet that is active, and a 5th button on the left that allows users to change the active applet.

Ah, yes - the night shot. Insert your own subjective comments here. Mine are: "I like it" and, more factually, "It's not blue".

Here's the LCD in action, running SirReal's Panel, which I think is a pretty good worst-case scenario in terms of tiny characters. I have no problems seeing what's there. The image can also be inverted...