Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent gaming and general keyboard
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2008
Logitech products are never mediocre. They're either awful or great. The G11, fortunately, falls on the "great" side.
If you're in the market for a nice keyboard (whether you're a gamer, a heavy computer user, or someone who enjoys aesthetic and tactile perfection, the G11 is a sound investment.
I bought the G11 after deciding that I wanted a really well made, wired, back-lit keyboard. There are far to many cheapo keyboards, stocked with useless media buttons and silly ergonomic designs. I decided, as I'm a heavy gamer, that a gaming keyboard was the way to go. The nice thing about computers is that, usually, what's designed for a gamer works REALLY well for any other user.
The G11 is no exception.
The back-lighting displays very nicely, whether seen straight on or at an angle. I have NO trouble with the brightness, and the keys don't look at all blurry. The blue lighting is quite sleek looking, and serves its purpose really well.
The G keys (G1-G18), in coordination with the M1-M3 keys give you 54 macro keys. This is a feature I didn't think I would use, but have grown to love. I'm able to do everything from saving username and password combos (thus able to them inserted at the click of a button), to binding spell set-ups and weapon choices (Oblivion, CS:S, etc.). I also have most of my oft-used programs set to a key, so all I have to do is a hit a button to load my favorite game, firefox, etc.
The media keys work for me, although I almost never use them. Same goes for most of the top row of keys. I keep the keyboard in "gaming mode", thus preventing the Windows key from working, and I only adjust the back-lighting when watching a movie. I've found the ability to record macros to be very useful.
The action on these keys is very satisfying. Typing on it feels great. It's immediately apparent that this is a quality keyboard. Not too clicky, not mushy or overly soft, the G11 hits the sweet spot. It's styled as a desktop keyboard, rather than a laptop (full layout, full sized keys with full action). I prefer this, as it gives a more tactile and concrete response.
The keyboard fits well on my desk. It doesn't seem overly large, but it may be tight on some setups. The included wrist-rest is actually useful ( I initially didn't plan on using it).
Downsides? The software isn't the best in the world. It takes a little playing around to figure it out, as it's not entirely intuitive. Also, the USB hubs should be 2.0, but they're not. I never use them as a result, but I'm not upset about this. Finally, when resting flat, the keys seem to face back away from the typer. In order to even this out, you have to use the little feet on the bottom/back of the keyboard. They are very short, and if you like your keyboard at an incline facing you, you will be disappointed. Other than that, I have NO complaints with this keyboard. It's truly amazing and well worth the price.
Absolutely grab one if you're in the market for a gaming keyboard, a back-lit keyboard, a programmable keyboard, or just a nice keyboard in general.
