Logitech's new PC gaming peripherals go over(key)board
Is your desk just not looking enough like the dashboard of an Imperial TIE fighter? Logitech is seeking to solve what it evidently sees as a common dilemma with its new G-Series gaming peripherals.
The offerings are headlined by the G19 keyboard ($199), which features an integrated 320x240 color LCD, presumably for targeting Rebel scum. There's also a 5000DPI G9x mouse ($99) for really accurate kills and a G35 voice headset ($129) that simulates 7.1 audio and, taking a cue from the insanely popular Xbox 360 feature, changes the pitch of your voice, should you so desire. Look for the keyboard and headset in March; the mouse is set to follow in April. For more details, contact your designated supply officer or Sienar Fleet Systems directly.
[Via Engadget]
The offerings are headlined by the G19 keyboard ($199), which features an integrated 320x240 color LCD, presumably for targeting Rebel scum. There's also a 5000DPI G9x mouse ($99) for really accurate kills and a G35 voice headset ($129) that simulates 7.1 audio and, taking a cue from the insanely popular Xbox 360 feature, changes the pitch of your voice, should you so desire. Look for the keyboard and headset in March; the mouse is set to follow in April. For more details, contact your designated supply officer or Sienar Fleet Systems directly.
[Via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
V1L3 @ Jan 6th 2009 11:59PM
It's all well and good until your new keyboard goes flying off into the distance just before your computer explodes.
zuke @ Jan 7th 2009 2:28AM
Thanks, I just about spit up my water reading that! :)
tc @ Jan 7th 2009 3:16AM
I never knew how much I hated keyboards until I used this thing
Superstar90 @ Jan 7th 2009 12:01AM
This will make you the envy of all the other basement dwellers around!
How so very kitsch!
mismajor99 @ Jan 7th 2009 2:55PM
yes, becuase console and non-pc gamers are so different, all racked up in their dark bedrooms on sdtv's!
WAIT! What happens if a console gamer's bedroom is below the first floor, making it the "basement", what do those dwellers have to be jealous of? No Wii games worth buying? The fear of it all!
Yatcho @ Jan 7th 2009 12:05AM
Im assuming the voice pitch changer has a Darth Vader option, right?
Lekko @ Jan 7th 2009 12:51AM
No, the Vader voice changer is a separate attachment that goes on your chest.
Nap @ Jan 7th 2009 10:50AM
Too bad the Yoda pitch changer is free but you have to pay an EXTRA $15 for the Darth Vader one!
I hope it comes with an auto-tune pitch changer so I can get my T-Pain on whilst playing Left 4 Dead
aristokrat @ Jan 7th 2009 3:08PM
Oh, how I long to emulate Kanye in online play. "How can he be the voice of the current generation when he's barely the voice of his own album?"
Monkeys Suck @ Jan 7th 2009 12:07AM
Wow. Just wow. When will we get a Minority Report style keyboard?
If my Copperhead craps out ever, I might pick up the mouse...I love high DPI mice, especially for working on high resolution monitors.
Nuke tha Whales @ Jan 7th 2009 12:57AM
i think u mean WoW
Snowblind @ Jan 7th 2009 8:42AM
Microsoft are already working on Minority Report-esque technology.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PimbkQNKzb4&feature=related
Turd Ferguson (formerly antsmarching) @ Jan 7th 2009 12:09AM
double you tee eff, mate
Levi @ Jan 7th 2009 12:13AM
All I want is a simple wireless keyboard and wireless 5 button mouse with a nice scroll wheel. This is crazy.
I may be asking the wrong place here, but anybody have a wireless keyboard they love? I already have a mouse, but I'm willing to replace it if the must-have keyboard is part of a wireless desktop set.
The monstrosity of a keyboard above is just too much.
infernus @ Jan 7th 2009 12:25AM
Been using the MX5500 Revolution kb/m combo since it came out last year, and I've been really liking it. Especially since I upgraded to Vista, I got to use the extra keys as they were intended. Does pretty well in gaming too; no lag.
Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Jan 7th 2009 1:07AM
What do you do with 5 buttons on a mouse?
Premature ejaculation man @ Jan 7th 2009 2:13AM
Button 5 is the secret porn button since people only know where 3 buttons are normally.
Jeff @ Jan 7th 2009 2:22AM
how I use my mouse buttons in COD 4, for example:
Left click: shoot
Right click: aim
middle mouse: switch weapons.
middle mouse pressed: special grenade
mouse 5: melee
mouse 4: grenade launcher/c4/etc
Eggy @ Jan 7th 2009 2:27AM
No gamer uses a wireless mouse+KB.
Foetoid @ Jan 7th 2009 3:23AM
Spot on Eggy. Any serious PC gamer avoids wireless crap at all costs. They are more prone to interference, information is transfered over cable WAY faster than wireless (giving you faster response) and ANY battery problems lead to gaming problems. Plus these keyboards are all back-lit and have screens...serious battery killers. I know someone who's pro at CS:Source and swears by the G15 Keyboard and G9 Mouse.
Levi @ Jan 7th 2009 9:58AM
You two are wrong. The only thing you have to worry about with wireless is drop out. They are JUST as responsive as wired, as long as you don't get crap. BlueTooth does a fine job. The only time I wouldn't want to use wireless is if I was in a tournament or something. I friggin HATE wires. Though, I guess you couldn't really call me a "serious" PC gamer anymore; ever since I got my PS3 I've been way more into that. Plus, I have an older PC that can run BioShock, nothing newer.
To answer the question on how you use 5 buttons on a mouse in games: I use all 5 buttons in Counter Strike as follows:
Left = shoot primary
Right = jump
Thumb 1 = select secondary
Thumb 2 = select melee
Wheel click = select primary
Wheel up = select frag grenade
Wheel down = shoot primary / jump (for rapid fire / bunny hopping)
It might sound over the top to someone who doesn't think it's necessary, but having all weapons bound to mouse buttons makes it SO much faster to switch.
Courtney @ Jan 7th 2009 6:31PM
I plug a wired keyboard into my system for when I play RTS games. I just had a few too many frustrating experiences where I was selecting a group of units or some other CTRL/ALT combination and the keyboard would drop the signal.
Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Jan 8th 2009 12:09AM
Cool, thanks for replies, fellas. I haven't been a PC gamer since Sierra had its heyday and I wasn't being sarcastic either, so thanks for the good input.
Dan @ Jan 7th 2009 12:16AM
Mu 1 is the Emperor's stool pigeon!
Mitsuo @ Jan 7th 2009 12:18AM
Did you guys know that all the gaming keyboards and mouses in the world are racist and discriminate? It's true. All of them. All bloody discriminate against me. Why? Cause I'm left handed. Do WE ever get a good mouse or keyboard for gaming? Nooooooo. I guess I'll just take my 5 button dynex mouse and HP standard keyboard and frag you all the same.
Monkeys Suck @ Jan 7th 2009 12:23AM
Pretty sure most Razer mice are ambidextrous.
j.howlett @ Jan 7th 2009 12:24AM
mice
Mitsuo @ Jan 7th 2009 12:28AM
It does, but it looks like all the 5 button mice, are right handed since they have both buttons on the left side. There's no way you can hit both the buttons with your ring finger.
Monkeys Suck @ Jan 7th 2009 12:39AM
Really? My copperhead has 7 buttons, two buttons on both sides, but the one side is usually for DPI switching, and I can switch the buttons around. Check out the diamondback or copperhead, both have 7 buttons.
Mitsuo @ Jan 7th 2009 12:48AM
Ah ok. I see that. I was just going by the pictures and the buttons were basically...hidden. So I'll just say, MOST of the gaming mice are prejudice against use southpaws. What we have is a very, Very, VERY limited selection to choose from.
Jeff @ Jan 7th 2009 2:23AM
You lefties are the reason all Razer mice after the deathadder suck imho. Not that I don't wish lefties had their own dedicated gaming mice, but ambidextrous designs just aren't as comfortable-- that's why I stick with my deathadder.
Einhanderkiller @ Jan 7th 2009 2:49AM
Mouses is the plural of computer mouse.
Mice is the plural of rodent mouse.
Reader @ Jan 7th 2009 9:32AM
From the God Wiki (because I was curious and don't just believe what commenters say):
"The Compact Oxford English Dictionary (third edition) and the fourth edition of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language endorse both computer mice and computer mouses as correct plural forms for computer mouse."
And why should I give up my ergonomics for your crippled ass? I kid I kid, but really it is more profitable to tailor your products to the overwhelming majority than the minority.
Duke @ Jan 7th 2009 10:36AM
I am a left handed PC gamer for some odd reason. (I am right handed, but left handed using a mouse and keyboard.) I was able to do just fine using Razor mice and the G15 keyboard. I just remap all my keys to the right side of the keyboard and its no biggie.
I can see your complaint though, it is annoying that most mice are not made for left handed use. Razor is my recommendation. I have gone through a lot of mice and no other brand has worked as well to me.
Beyond that, I have to say that I would have drooled over that keyboard and headset a few years ago when I was still doing PC FPS matches.
Booxatron @ Jan 7th 2009 2:50PM
I'm lucky that I started using computers as a very young child, because I was able to learn to use a mouse with my right hand without any awkwardness. I do everything with my left-hand BUT use a mouse, even going so far as to switch my drumset around completely backwards. Actually, I also use scissors with my right-hand, because I never had lefty ones as a kid.
But still, I don't think ambidextrous mice are the way to go, the design just hinders functionality for both handednesses. They really should just manufacture lefty mice, but only make 10% as many as the righty ones.
aristokrat @ Jan 7th 2009 3:13PM
This may be blasphemy or something to some people, but I love Microsoft mice for their ergonomics (the high end at least), and I recall that they at least used to offer left-handed versions of them. I hate ambidextrous mice, they make my wrist sore(r).
mr nimblewick @ Jan 7th 2009 12:26AM
This is where console gaming was headed, until the Wii remote came out.
UltimateQ @ Jan 7th 2009 12:50AM
I'm not a huge fan of the Wii, but I'll give it to them. The wiimote really is the next logical step!
The censors for all the different motions are pretty accurate. Reloading in games is a little less of a hassle when you just lightly shake the nunchuck, rather than trying to remember from 15 different buttons.
I can say, for a casual gamer its a lot better, and I highly recommend it. I don't really use consoles though, because I prefer a mouse and keyboard. But if I were to use a controller of any type for my games, it'd be a wiimote.
UltimateQ @ Jan 7th 2009 12:52AM
And erm... As for the actual news post. I might enjoy the special keyboard and mouse, but I'm not shelling out that much money for it. I use my stuff rather intensely, and wear out my equipment kind of fast. I'd rather not be out $200 for a keyboard every year or so when it needs to be replaced.
My Mice need to be replaced even more often because buttons or mouse wheels wear down.
Naota @ Jan 7th 2009 1:05AM
I think I'll be picking up that headset, I've never had a good quality one. (my current one is that headset you get with Socom for the PS2)
Huey2k2 @ Jan 7th 2009 2:20AM
I definitely am thinking about picking up the headset. Mine is good, but I need a new one soon, and I LOVE Logitech.
Mike T. @ Jan 7th 2009 4:04AM
IT'S A TRAP!
Digit-8.com @ Jan 7th 2009 7:07AM
I wish i had this keyboard. Must be very comfortable playing games.
capt_carl @ Jan 7th 2009 9:27AM
I dunno, I still can't find a mouse suitable enough to replace my MS Intellimouse Optical. I've been thinking of the keyboard for quite some time though. The G13 Gameboard seems like a nice replacement for my Belkin n52 Nostromo. The headphones...eh. Nothing will replace my Sony MDR's.
Pathie @ Jan 7th 2009 10:29AM
My Logitech illuminated keyboard, Ideazon Fang Gamepad, and Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse usually gets the job done. But those devices look pretty neat.
C lab Cpn @ Jan 7th 2009 11:42AM
Am I the only one who thinks that "monitor" on the keyboard might actually be an eye of some sort?
Check the list of features for anything that looks like this:
"Self-aware, right out of the box! No need to wait!"
rushtodeath @ Jan 7th 2009 3:56PM
I would be interested if this stuff wasn't made by Logitech. I swear almost every product I have ever bought from them has crapped out after a few months. That includes about 2-3 different headsets, a g15 keyboard, a mouse, and a gamepad.
Nowadays I buy Razer or Saitek for keyboards/mice and Altec Lansing or Plantronics for sound.
Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Jan 7th 2009 4:38PM
Just when I thought my newly bought G15 was enough to boost my pitifully low ego...
Cono1234 @ Jan 7th 2009 4:52PM
I only have a 3 button mouse
Courtney @ Jan 7th 2009 6:33PM
Combined, those are only slightly cheaper than the dual core 3Ghz PC I built last year. I think I would rather have another mid-range rig than all that crap on my desk.