18/01/2006
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/pcperipherals/accessories/0,39053286,39097582p,00.htm

Gaming is more than just setting up the best system money can buy. Without the right tools, the only good this machine will do is in showing you the minute details of how your character has been killed by a pimply teen. Unlike precise laser mice, such as the Logitech G7 gaming mouse, which is usually critical for fast-paced shooting games, the Logitech G15 keyboard has features that will help your kill ratio in first person shooter (FPS) titles as well as real-time strategy (RTS) and simulation games.

Design
Significantly larger than a conventional multimedia keyboard, the 546.1 x 266.7mm Logitech G15 gaming keyboard will take up quite a bit of your desk space. However, it utilizes the additional real estate to the fullest, fitting a foldable LCD display at the top and an additional set of keys to the left. The usual suspects, such as multimedia controls and volume level buttons, are also present and accounted for.

	Not the smallest of keyboards, but suitable for heavy-duty gaming.

Dressed in a spiffy black-and-silver theme, the keyboard has a rubberized border with detachable wrist rest. The top corners are slotted and look like handles which, unfortunately, are too narrow to be used as such but still handy for holding quick reference cards. The programmable G keys aside, the layout of the letter and function buttons are typical for a 104-key "Windows" keyboard layout, with the exception of a Zoom logo printed on the bottom-left CTRL key. The Zoom identifier is there because that particular button is commonly mapped to sniper views in FPS games. The keys are quiet, yet provide a comfortable level of tactile feedback.

The LCD display measures 101.6 x 25.4mm and folds down for easy transport and storage. When the panel is in use, a row of multimedia buttons are exposed to control music and video playback using the Windows Media Player. The volume control is also located in the same place, though the mute button lies in a more exposed top right area next to the backlight key. Opposite is a toggle to switch between gaming and Windows mode.

Features
Though the Logitech G15 gaming keyboard's key feature is the LCD display, which is suggestively named GamePanel, it is really the programmable G keys which steal the limelight.

An essential gaming feature, the programmable G keys.

18 G keys are arranged in groups of six and lie to the left of the keyboard. Each key can be programmed to simulate multiple key presses. Above them are three buttons labeled M1, M2 and M3 which allow each G key to be mapped to three different profiles, giving a total of 54 combinations or macros. This function alone does wonders for both FPS and RTS gaming. Multiple attacks in FPS games and resource management in RTS titles, which used to require multiple actions, can now be simplified using a single G key. This makes the competition think you have superhuman reflexes and coordination.

Though by default the G key does not take into account time delays when recording macros, this feature can be activated with Logitech's G-series Profiler software. This application also tracks which game is active and changes the profile accordingly. In effect, you can customize all 54 combinations for every single game on your PC. Recording a macro is a simple three-step process that can be done even during gameplay, eliminating the need for a long preparatory period. For the impatient, pre-recording macros can be downloaded from the Web and used immediately with the keyboard.

Not every key press is desirable. When push comes to shove, the simple mistake of pressing the Windows Menu or Windows Start key can have a catastrophic effect on your game. Logitech includes a simple switch that toggles between the normal Windows and gaming mode, which disables the aforementioned keys and saves the player from himself.

	The GamePanel display which, contradictorily, is more useful for non-gaming functions.

The GamePanel is capable of displaying 160 x 43-pixel resolution and up to five lines of text. With a 30fps refresh rate, animations render smoothly, though currently only the LCD clock applet demonstrates this feature. Three other applets comprise of a performance monitor, media display and keyboard profiler. The performance monitor tracks CPU and RAM usage to let you know when the system is reaching its limit. The media display shows volume levels and music titles and works in conjunction with the multimedia keys. For a quick check on active settings, the keyboard profiler is the applet of choice. Switching between applets is a matter of pushing one of five black rubber buttons just under the LCD. The other four are reserved for interacting with data on the GamePanel, though they are not required with the default applets. The information on the panel can be easily programmed in C++ (the software development kit is provided in the installation CD) and we expect applets with interactive data in the future.

Though the GamePanel is touted as an aid to display vital information during gameplay, there are not many titles that support the LCD display. We tested Brother in Arms which had an applet written for displaying weapon statistics on the GamePanel, and found that we did not use the information often. Looking away from the game, even for a split second, is a life-and-death proposition.

For light night gaming sessions, the keyboard can be backlit with a blue LED glow at the press of a button. Two brightness levels can be selected to prevent distracting illumination. Two USB 1.1 ports are located on the keyboard for connecting additional peripherals.

Service And Support
Logitech provides a one-year warranty with this keyboard. Should a hardware problem occur, you have to contact Logitech's customer service by phone for details on which distributor to send the equipment for repair and diagnosis. Updated device drivers, firmware and software updates can be downloaded from their support Web site. A basic troubleshooting database is available for common user-related issues.