Logitech G710+ Mechanical Keyboard and G600 MMO Mouse Review
by Dustin Sklavos on October 9, 2012 12:01 AM ESTIn Practice: The Software
Logitech has condensed their software into a single suite, the Logitech Gaming Software. As with any peripheral, this is the weakest link in the experience. I think this is cleaner than SetPoint or the software used for my G500 mouse, and it's easy to switch between the supported peripherals, but it still suffers from classic Logitech bloat. Being pestered for registration is aggravating, and while the keyboard side of the software seems to work smoothly, the mouse side is still buggy with the G600. I did speak to a rep on the phone and explained the issues I saw (button lighting not consistently working correctly in the software, DPI adjustments getting reversed), so hopefully those will be covered.
Thankfully both the G710+ and G600 can be programmed and have profiles stored in their on-board memory so you really only have to bother with the software once. Unfortunately, in the case of both pieces of hardware, that does mean losing features. You lose context switching (where the hardware switches modes and configurations depending on the software running), which is expected, but the G600 actually operates at irritatingly reduced functionality in on-board mode. My ancient-by-technology-standards G500 can have its buttons assigned to media playback keys and that configuration is stored on board; with the G600 that feature is conspicuously absent and I received conflicting reports as to why.
The Logitech Gaming Software suite ultimately isn't quite as frustrating or bloated as it used to be, but it still needs to be pared down and I feel like aesthetically it could be more functional and direct and less ostentatious. The dirty secret is that enthusiast/gamer class hardware is oftentimes worth looking at for productivity purposes; replacement keypads are routinely used by graphic artists for Photoshop shortcuts, and the increased precision and feedback of both quality gaming mice and keyboards is undoubtedly going to be useful to power users from any stripe.
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AmdInside - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Can you comment on the brightness of the backlit keys please? I own a Logitech G110 which I had to retire early because the backlit keys were very dim which is a feedback I've read a lot on the internet about the model. I moved onto a mechnical keyboard with Cherry MX which I find perfect for my mixed gaming/office productivity needs but would be nice to get a Logitech keyboard as I could use the macro keys and backlit keys since I don't like to have the light on in the office at night.Dustin Sklavos - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
BRIGHT. But adjustable. :)DanNeely - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
The nearest Fry's/Microcenters are a full days round trip driving; and while WorstBuy claims "available now" for most of Razer's keyboards; that apparently means "can be shipped to the store same day for pickup"; since when I went to my local location they didn't have any of them out and the instore version of their website indicated not stocked locally.ScytheNoire - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
I've had the G600 since I could first buy it and so far it's my favourite mouse on the market. Possibly favourite mouse ever (and that's a lot of mice).Between the G600 and the Razer Naga Epic, the G600 wins, hands down, easily. I haven't had my hands on the Corsair M90, but I suspect that the thumb key layout would bother me. G600 fits my hand perfectly and the concave thumb buttons is what makes it superior to the Razer Naga Epic, I can always tell where my thumb is in relation to the buttons.
I've been looking for a mechanical keyboard, was tossing around the Corsair K90, but might also check out this new Logitech one. I think I really need to find a store that carries a lot of mechanical keyboards so I can really test them out before plunking down the money they cost.
maximumGPU - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
" The problem is that the Browns feel like they have higher resistance than the Blues, Reds, or Blacks even though they're actually specced to have the least resistance. They may actually be bottoming out faster, but either way they put vastly more stress on my wrists than the other switches do. I'll have to see how the Rosewill keyboard I have in house with Cherry MX Brown switches plays out, but I can tell you the G710+'s feedback feels more like stiff membrane keys than the other mechanical keyboards I've used. "i find that very odd. I have both Blues and Browns and i can definitely sense the extra stiffness of the blue keys, no question about that. Could there be another explanation to your findings?
on another notte, I know a lot of folks generalise statements like Blues are better for typing, etc... but really every advice for mech keyboards is useless. It's a case of try out what's best for you.
Case in point, i'm a very light touch typist, and i far prefer Browns over Blues for both typing and gaming.
Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
This doesn't sound like descriptions I've read of other brown keyboards, so I wonder what's up with this one...browns should have the same operating force as the reds, except for the little catch where it actuates. They definitely should feel lighter than blues.Impulses - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
My Rosewill with browns feels almost identical to my K90 with reds, I barely even notice the tactile bump with typing since I don't use the Rosewill a lot (it's more noticeable while gaming but then I usually bottom out regardless so it's kinda moot). Logitech might've tried to innovate somehow and screwed up the standard feel of browns.lyeoh - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Can we have some benchmarks and stats please? What are the various button and key latencies in milliseconds?How fast can the mouse be moved and still track accurately (cm/inches per second)? What's the mouse update rate for this? 1000Hz? 500Hz?
What's the repeatability of the mouse? e.g. set it to linear, place it on position A, move it to position B X cm away at Y cm per second. Move it back to A (you can use guide rails or similar to limit the movement) then see if the pointer is still at the same spot.
How many keys on the keyboard can be pressed at the same time before they stop being detected (excluding the modifier keys)? Which keys are those for maximum?
Holly - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Actually keys hit at once generally become problem in software processing much earlier than hardware, even for my primitive D3D semestral work I had to implement my own keyboard handler to have it working properly for more complex actions.ahamling27 - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
I've been using the Monoprice Backlit Macro Mechancial Gaming Keyboard(Apparently, Monoprice calls their products how they see them) for about 3 months now to game and type on and it's been a pleasurable experience to say the least. It's got Cherry MX Reds and is backlit red, with 4 birghtness settings and a pulse setting. It also has 2 usb 2.0 ports and 3.5 mm audio in and headphone jacks.Many dismiss it because it uses the shell of an existing brand that has since gone out of business but I can attest that the innards are far from similar. It's priced less than this Logitech keyboard, and you can sometimes find it on sale for less than $100.
I hope you would consider calling Monoprice up and ask for one to review. Monoprice is known for their quality and it shows in this keyboard.