Performance

During the hours of testing that we put this keyboard through it handled itself quite well. After some time we noticed some quirks although the majority seem to be related to the software and not the keyboard. Even though some are small things they are quite annoying after some time. Besides an increased amount of crashes and freezes (the LCD software doesn't function; switch application button doesn't work either) that force you to restart the software, the Num-Lock doesn't want to stay on default even though it should.We did find a fix for this issue though: when you log out of Windows XP, watch the Num-Lock light and as soon as it goes out, hit the Num-Lock key again (enabling it). The next time you restart it should be enabled. One of our biggest irrtants is that the LCD software seems to reset it's settings at random therefore we often have to deactivate the LCD applications we don't use and other LCD settings such as contrast and the switching algorithm in use. Another quite abnormal issue is that sometimes a few keys suddenly decide they don't want to work; for us it has been the enter and escape key. This can be attributed to the software as well because as soon as we restart SetPoint and the G-Series software the buttons resume functioning status.

The G keys are one of the two biggest feature attractions to the keyboard (the LCD being the other) and fortunately Logitech has done quite a nice job of making sure they function well and correctly. As we explained earlier, the G keys allow you to program macros (either on-the-fly or on the desktop) and have three different modes each providing 18 keys for a total of 54. Application specific profiles (even a profile for your desktop) enable you to configure all 54 keys for each of your games. The software even has game auto-detection which finds most games quite easily and already has preset macros for that game that you can assign to the keys of your choice. In the event that the game was not found or you want to create application specific settings, you can manually create a new profile (which can be necessary, especially with multiple Steam/Valve games that aren't detected). You can use the default profile to configure the buttons to launch applications for you with the press of a button. Other options such as recording time delays between key presses or not, modifying times between key press and release, persistent profile (stays active despite the application), and much more are available.

The LCD on the G15 had us somewhat concerned originally because we didn't feel that it would serve a great purpose for gamers. If you are looking at your keyboard instead of your monitor during a match it's suicide...or so one would think. Yes a few times we did find ourselves fragged because we were checking what the LCD said but in most cases the outcome was better because most applications have very up front presentation of information. And even if you're not using it while you're playing, there are usually other stats you can look at while waiting to respawn. UT2004 for example has three different modes [ed: even though you have to type in the command in the console to change the mode for UT2K4, you can program these keystrokes to a macro and then manually reduce the time delays so it goes very quickly in game and makes switching much more convenient. The command is: lcdmode x where x is 0,1, or 2; check the readme file that comes in the Help directory for the G15 patch update for more information and commands], each of which give you different information such as frags and your place on the leaderboard or a summary of your ammunition amounts and the last provides real-time network statistics. These take but a second to look at so as long as you don't view them during the middle of a firefight you should be okay and they also can provide you with some useful infromation. Needless to say we are about 50/50 on the issue of the LCD while gaming; on one hand it can provide good stats and such but on the other if it isn't displaying the right application at that moment you will have to continously glance at the screen and open yourself up to more gaming mistakes. It is certainly useful for the desktop and the applications have their value, just be careful when you decide to take a gander at the screen.