Gaming keyboard question

FrankieCrabs · May 1, 2006

Hey, all.

I've been trying to decide between a Logitech G-15 http://www.3dxtreme.net/index.php?id=logitechg15keyboard1 and a Saitek Eclipse red version http://www.3dxtreme.net/index.php?id=saitekeclipsese1.

I've been researching them online, but haven't found a good comparison review anywhere. I'm especially interested in how well the key lighting is. I've read that the illumination of the Saitek is a little uneven, and the g-15 is equal for each key, but these might be more objective opinions than hard fact. Also, can the g-15 macro keys be used for everyday applications, or are they strictly for gaming?

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Frank

mwerner · May 1, 2006

I've never handled one, but I've seen a number of reviews where the opinion was essentially "cute, but not necessary." Now, I have been in positions where lighted keys would be handy. In playing WWII online during the night, the only way you could see anything was to turn off all the room lights. Made using the keyboard kinda rough....

synghyn · May 1, 2006

You know what I'm using that you might wanna check out?
The Nostromo SpeedPad N52 by Belkin. Looks kinda gimiky, but I had a gift cert, and figured what the heck, and I love the thing. Once you get used to it, it really is great for gaming. Pretty much useless for anything else as far as I'm concerned, but I just set it out of my way the rest of the time.
I just like it, because it's plenty of programable buttons in a comfy shape, without risking hitting the windows button, heh. plus a directional pad, scroll wheel, shift state key(you can actually use any key for shift state, but that one works for me)and another fire kinda button

Anyway, something to look at

Jon

ZJChaser · May 1, 2006

http://www.eluminx.com/product.asp?pid=5

I've got this one and love it. I prefer short travel keys and compact boards, not unlike laptops. This board is perfect. Short travel, awesome key feel. It seems to be a love hate kinda thing, my gf hates it but thats jsut keeps her off my computer so all the better.

phatch · May 1, 2006

I've got a Cyber Snipa game keyboard. It's Ok. I'm not thrilled with the key action. Mostly it saves the pounding on my expensive Kinesis keyboard.

Phil

FrankieCrabs · May 2, 2006

Thanks for the replies, folks.

I have actually found both of these kb's at local stores, and tried them both out. They both feel like quality merchandise, very solid. The lighting on the g15 keys seems a bit more even than the eclipse; however, in regular room light, without the backlighting, it seems harder to read the g15 keys than the eclipse. This is because, I believe, the g15 keys are black with smallish clear text which doesn't stand out too well, while the eclipse has silver keys with somewhat larger clear text, which allows for better contrast.

Some of the macro keys on the g15 are set by default to perform certain standard Windows functions when not gaming, such as F1, F11, CTRL+F [for search feature], etc. I know this is redundant, but they can be modified to suit your needs.

Anyway, I'm still trying to decide. You'd think this was a life or death matter the way I put so much time into it.

Frank

Simon Yu · May 2, 2006

FrankieCrabs said:
Anyway, I'm still trying to decide. You'd think this was a life or death matter the way I put so much time into it.

It doesn't get as much attention as a CPU or videocard, but remember that a keyboard IS one of the two devices you constantly use to interact with your computer. It's worth taking some time to consider and to go the extra mile for input devices.

Or at least that's what I tell myself to justify the Razer Copperhead mouse I got a little while back

DeathByCactus · May 2, 2006

I have a different version of that Saitek. It has blue backlighting and came with another small hotkey pad which I rarely use. I have found no noticable problems with it. It types great, feels great, looks great, and best of all plays flawless. Also it is compact, so it fits relatively well on my desk and doesn't push my mouse in an aqward position.

The G15 on the otherhand looks like it has a lot of crap you will never use...like that LCD screen. In a fast paced shootout good luck trying to look at your keyboard and back without risking death. When most of your stats that you need to know are on the screen anyway...like ammo, health, ect.

billyp · May 2, 2006

i use the g15 with an mx518 mouse and love them both. i keep the led on all the time and the dark keys are not an issue. I love the quick macro feature, the keys are smooth and feel nice to the touch. it is a little big, so if you are using a slide out keyboard tray it might be a little snug with both mouse and keyboard on there.

overall i would probably go with the g15 simply because of the flexibility it offers for user customization with the lcd programming because once you get tired of just the "wow" factor of the backlight you will still have something to play with.

just my two cents, if you want more details just pm me.

billyp

p.s. it is hard to find the g15 it took me almost 3 months to track one down and then it was at a high price.

FrankieCrabs · May 4, 2006

billyp said:
i use the g15 with an mx518 mouse and love them both. i keep the led on all the time and the dark keys are not an issue. I love the quick macro feature, the keys are smooth and feel nice to the touch. it is a little big, so if you are using a slide out keyboard tray it might be a little snug with both mouse and keyboard on there.

overall i would probably go with the g15 simply because of the flexibility it offers for user customization with the lcd programming because once you get tired of just the "wow" factor of the backlight you will still have something to play with.

just my two cents, if you want more details just pm me.

billyp

p.s. it is hard to find the g15 it took me almost 3 months to track one down and then it was at a high price.

I've been using the g15 for a few days now, and it does seem to be working alright. I've even set up two macros so that I can log onto my bfc and watchuseek accounts with one keypress.

I think I'd prefer the red lighting of the eclipse [mathces the red lights in my case], but the macro feature seems to be useful outside of gaming, as you mentioned.

Frank