Few companies maintain the image of constantly providing excellent, high-quality products year after year. Logitech is one of those companies, and though many have pegged them on high prices for their wide variety of computer peripherals, other complaints are rare.
At E3, they quietly showed the press their latest gaming-grade products: the G510 Gaming Keyboard, the G700 Wireless Gaming Mouse, and the G930 Wireless Gaming Headset. These products replace the G15, G7 and G35, respectively, which are all critically acclaimed peripherals. But don’t let the new naming nomenclature fool you: these new hardware devices are indeed improved, just not by a magnitude of 2.
One fatal reality of gaming keyboards I’ve discovered over the years is that many companies fail to provide a decent typing experience to go along with the gaming experience. No matter how often users play games, they still spend more time web browsing, instant messaging, working or just typing away. How good a keyboard is overall must include how good the keyboard is to use for both gaming and general use.
Many of Logitech’s keyboards, both gaming and non-gaming, feel very mushy. As I’ve found on Logitech’s keyboards, high-profile (ie tall) keys don’t feel clicky, and similarly lack a tactile, responsive feel. The G510 suffers from this same symptom, where the typing experience is lacking, though gaming on it is stellar. The keys don’t give way easily and have solid weight behind them, but there is a space between the key contact and key where button presses may not be registered. In my experience, this hasn’t caused any problems or missed keys, but the typing experience on the G510 could be better.
Bear in mind that the G510 is not the “premier”, top-of-the-line gaming keyboard. That’s the G19, which comes with a full 240x320 color LCD display. The G510 comes with an LED display, similar to the G15 before it, as well as four media buttons, a volume control wheel, and 18 programmable macro keys. A “game” switch cuts off Windows control buttons so players who accidentally press either the Windows or menu keys don’t accidentally exit their game. Finally, the G510 features a stereo and microphone input for 2.1 headphones, as well as a headphone and microphone cutoff button.
A word on the macro keys. The 18 macro keys are seated on the far left of the keyboard, in three sections (1-6, 7-12, 13-18). Above them are three keys that switch between macro functions, meaning the keyboard can save a total of 54 functions on the keyboard at any one time. Recording macro functions can be done directly on the keyboard without additional software, though obviously it’s easier with Logitech’s key profiler software.
As a gaming keyboard, the G510 is excellent. The LED display does a great job at displaying whatever users may want, and offers all of the great functions that the G15 had. Built-in functions include a simple clock, PC activity monitoring, email and rss feeds, macro setting, and game usage. While not all games function with the G510’s display, many do. Some developers use the display for their games, making it light up to acting as a health-bar or having it act as items menu. These effects provide greater immersion than is possible on just a monitor. One game that sticks out is FEAR 2, which makes the LED display blink when metaphysical attacks occur.
Logitech also made sure to allow up to five simultaneous button presses in a localized area, mostly around the WASD keys. This means users can press five keys and they will all register. Most keyboards cannot do this, though earlier this year Microsoft released the SideWinder X4, which prevents ghosting for any 13 keys at once. Still, I’ve yet to come across any trouble with ghosting while testing the keyboard across a slew of current and older PC games.
The G510 is a strong keyboard, though users who don’t like mushy keys will get fed up with the typing experience. The lack of a wrist rest is also disappointing because after some gameplay or typing your wrists will feel uncomfortable resting on the table. And at $120, the G510 is a fairly expensive keyboard compared to competing models, such as Microsoft’s Sidewinder X6 and, perhaps more importantly, Logitech’s own G15 revisions. For current G15 owners, it’s very difficult to recommend the G510 because it boasts very few new features. Still, the build and design of the G510 are both excellent, and saying it’s tough to buy one over an older G15 is no insult. Logitech made a great keyboard, and their followup is indeed better, if ever so slightly. I would recommend it to LAN gamers specifically, because it’s a sturdy keyboard, and the 3.5mm jacks for a headset, with cutoff keys, could prove invaluable for team gaming.
Like the G15, the G7 also released five years ago, and has amassed a small but growing base of fans who want wireless gaming peripherals. The G700 is the answer to that, though strangely Logitech has marketed the G700 as an excellent MMO mouse. I’d contest that the G700 is an excellent all-around gaming mouse, which could also be great for MMO gamers.
The G700 follows a very similar design of the G7 and G500, previously Logitech’s most recent mouse (and my favorite before testing the G700), with a long base and nicely contoured sides. This allows for easy grip in the hand, and the design and body feel good to hold. Unlike many gaming mice, even the pinky finger doesn’t fall off the edge.
Besides for a few MMO-specific mice like Razer’s Naga or SteelSeries’ World of Warcraft mouse, the G700 is feature filled with 13 programmable functions (two main buttons, eight additional buttons and the scroll wheel), as well as a frictionless scroll wheel that’s been featured on several of Logitech’s high-end mice, like the G9, G9x and G500. The G700 is no-nonsense, with no lighting features and a complete black and simple outline, discolored only by Logitech’s logo. Three buttons sit high on the left side, all specially designed to feel uniquely different so users don’t accidentally press the wrong one. Four thumb buttons are similarly made, with two small buttons sitting below two larger ones. Beside those is a light indicator which shows battery power and macro settings.
Macro settings cannot be set directly on the G700, which is pretty standard among gaming mice (notable exceptions include the SteelSeries Ikari Laser). Setup of macro keys is easy through Logitech’s SetPoint software, which includes a wide range of useful macros, as well as customizable macros. However, because of the design of the buttons, only the four by the thumb are suitable for fast-paced macro functions. The three by the index finger are too far out of the way, and the sole middle button below the scroll wheel is too far to reach when in a jam.
While wireless, the G700 is not a Bluetooth mouse. Instead it uses Logitech’s proprietary wireless technology and a dongle, which is somewhat disappointing except that the dongle is so easy to plug into any laptop or desktop, so much so that even traveling with the G700 isn’t a problem. The dongle is so small, that losing it isn’t a worry because users can keep it plugged in a laptop without it sticking out. Logitech also included a USB extender cable, though when I spoke with Logitech they said the G700 should work up to 30 feet away, even through walls. Still, it’s rare that someone would play in a different room than their computer.
Wireless use is excellent, on par with what I’ve seen with Razer’s Mamba and Microsoft’s Sidewinder X8, both highly-regarded wireless gaming mice. The G700 features up to 1,000Hz polling (reports per second), the current top-grade standard, and more buttons and macro settings than either competitor. While I wish Logitech would include their Darkfield technology in a gaming mouse (which allows for tracking over any surface, such as glass), it isn’t really necessary when most gamers play on a mousepad anyways.
But perhaps the best part of the G700 is that it instantly swaps between a wireless and wired mouse when plugged into the included USB micro cable. That means that if you’re a pro-gamer who must have the fastest mouse available and don’t trust wireless to be fast enough, or if you’re at a LAN gaming event and too many wireless signals are distorting your own, a just plug the mouse in and it will function as a wired mouse, with all the benefits wired mice have over wireless. No other mouse can boast this capability, even if the Sidewinder X8’s magnetic-charging cable is more convenient.
With up to 5700 dpi, Logitech’s G700 matches the fastest gaming mice in every way. It feels good to hold and to glide on most any surface. It reads excellently and after a week of testing I haven’t once seen it jump or flare uncontrollably. Battery life is excellent, running for 4-5 days under standard use and a full long day under heavy use, which includes gaming, with all settings maxed out. In effect, the G700 is the best wireless gaming mouse I’ve ever tested, even though I thought the Sidewinder X8 was excellent. The G700 is one of the best mice I’ve ever used.
At $100, the G700 is a best buy. I’m not entirely sure about wireless mice (after two months of using the X8, I had some problems with my hand, which stopped when I stopped using it), but thus far I’ve had no problem with the G700. It’s a great mouse, both for gaming and for everyday use. The only downside is that it’s a heavy mouse, so those who like lighter mice for quick movements are out of luck unless you plan on using it just as a wired mouse, by removing the rechargeable battery. Even then, you’d have in your hands an excellent gaming peripheral.
How the G35 went to G930 is beyond me. Logitech spokespeople at E3 couldn’t really explain it themselves. Still, the G35 was my favorite surround headset last year because it was very comfortable, provided grade-A sound quality (nearly on par with the THX-approved Razer Mako speakers), and great surround quality, even if it wasn’t true surround but Dolby Digital. The G35 has remained my headset of choice for the past year, until the G930 arrived.
While the G510 is very similar to the G15, the wireless G930 is almost identical to the wired G35. The size, build and feel have only subtle differences, such as concave sides, more pronounced edges, and a sleeker look. The G930 is everything the G35 was, wireless.
That alone would make the G930 an immediate buy, even if a brand new G35 sells for just under $100, compared to $160 for the G930. However, anyone who plays games with headphones knows that the wire is often the most annoying part because it’s almost impossible to set it properly, and the wiring always causes clutter. Then there’s switching between default speakers in Windows (a giant hassle in all but Windows 7, and even then) or by plugging in and unplugging the headset constantly. The G930 eliminates the need with a simple wireless dongle and a ten-hour rated battery life.
My experience with the G35 has always been to follow these steps: plug them into one of my two front USB ports; unwrap the wire from around the headset; plug it in; go into sound properties and change the default output to the headset; start the game. If I didn’t follow that exact order, the sound wouldn’t output to the headset properly and I’d have to do it all over again. With the G930, I can leave the dongle, which Logitech told me should be good up to 50 feet through walls (which is accurate in my own tests) plugged into an included USB extender base, and switch between my speakers and the headset at any time, whether the G930 is on or off. And when I want to use the headset, I just need to press the power button and I’m good to go.
The only way Logitech could make it easier is if they could change the way Windows deals with audio input/output.
Logitech includes a large USB-key sized dongle, a USB extender (which includes a USB micro cable that will recharge the headset when necessary, and also roll up that cable for easy storage), and the necessary software. As I’m writing this, I’m recharging the G930 after a night-long gaming session, and the charging wire is not obstructing or weighing down the headset. Even wired, the G930 feels better than the G35.
The only downside to the hardware included is that the USB dongle is bright like a Christmas tree. Users can just turn the dongle away from view, but it indicates that the headset is in use, and the bright green LED could easily have been a cool, dark blue or a dark Cylon-red. That color scheme worked for Microsoft and Razer.
Features on the G930 are excellent. A smooth adjustable headband for snug fit. Earcups which turn 200 degrees for comfortable wearing around the neck. A hardly noticeable red LED on the microphone boom indicating mute. A mute, volume control, power and surround-activator on the left earcup. The G930 has almost everything.
Almost. One limitation of the G35 carries over here, with the G-keys, three semi-programmable keys that can control media playback, or opening certain applications, but few other uses. Unfortunately, they aren’t fully programmable, which means only a small selection of functions are available. At the moment, none of those functions serve my personal needs, such as opening VLC to play a video or pausing music in Zune. It does allow all G930 features to be set, such as changing advanced audio settings or adjusting voice morphing. Otherwise, plugins are necessary, and right now there simply aren’t very many to choose from.
More comfort, better control, great sound and surround quality, all without cumbersome wire tangling. But for $160, it’s easy to start questioning the purchase above headsets which offer multi-console support, such as headsets from Turtle Beach, Tritton or Astro Gaming. But one thing I can say with certainty: the quality of the G930s is undeniable. It may be PC-only, but it’s still the best headset I’ve ever tested. That’s why it’s sad that the experience doesn’t transfer over to the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, even if such a feature were to add to the cost and/or be an expandable hardware addition. Still, to have that functionality would be worth the price hike.
