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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Cannyone - Thursday, April 11, 2013 - link
I prefer "Blacks" because they actually have some resistance... But everyone else seems to be such a bunch of wimps that complain about the actuation force. *deep sighStill if I had to choose between reds and browns I'd pick the browns hands down. Hence this keyboard is the first Logitech that's interested me in a few years. But that mouse is not going to cut it! Sometimes simpler is simply superior.
Swiper34 - Thursday, January 7, 2016 - link
A lot of League of Legends pros use the Browns, seems like its 50/50 between Browns and Reds.Source: http://lolsetup.on-winning.com
blackmagnum - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
A decent evolutionary product of the Logitech gaming line, but compared to the Razer BlackWidow, it looks too awkward and distracting.Samus - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Logitech has been mainstream for years, it's getting really annoying. They used to release groundbreaking stuff at a palatable price but they're obviously playing catchup to almost everybody in every product segment.Remember the beginning of the MX-series mice? The G15 keyboard? The G25 steering wheel with a 6 speed shifter!? All affordable and good quality.
Not they just have run of the mill stuff with spotty reliability. My DiNovo Edge has died twice (now out of warranty) and it was a $150 keyboard...wont be buying another one thats for sure
Omega215D - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
I'd never thought I'd see the day Logitech would put out a mechanical keyboard, let alone a gaming version with a brown switch (blues/ blacks seem to be the most common in gaming boards). The price is decent... maybe it'll grow on me enough to want to buy it.Chaitanya - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Finally, after so many days of waiting for mechanical keyboard, logitech delivered a good one. though like some other logitech products customisable backlight would have gone nicely with this keyboard.dishayu - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
I love my Cherry MX "louder than hell" Blues in the blackwidow ultimate and have no plans to switch.HisDivineOrder - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
I tried a Blackwidow Ultimate and the loudness was actually beginning to make my teeth rattle. I could feel the clicks in my bones. I switched to a Blackwidow Ultimate Stealth and briefly had them side by side.Let me tell you something. The typing experience on the Blues was very, very mildly better in tactile response and so insanely loud--a mind piercing clicking that could drive lesser men to become axe murderers--that I'd upgrade it to the Stealth 10 times out of 10. The Browns are quieter enough to make an incredible difference in usage. I remember reading one review of the BWU that said, "I started hesitating to use my keyboard because of how long it was." That was me. It was THAT loud.
That said, I can't imagine giving up the tactile response of the Blues or Browns, though. That's part of what makes them awesome for typing. I type more than I game, so the lack of response on the Reds or Black's is kinda meh for that usage.
For gaming, though, I can imagine Reds being better. Not Blacks, not with their higher resistance, but Red's being the Brown's without the feedback, I can see it.
Hell, the BWUS has better rollover, matte finish, is still blue backlit, and it is DAMN quieter. Oh, and it still feels worlds better than any other gaming keyboard. Yeah, BWUS. Forget BWU.
RoninX - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
It's a matter of personal preference.I like the clickiness and audible (as well as tactile) feedback of the Blues on my Blackwidow Ultimate -- for both typing and gaming. But then, I also liked the original IBM PC keyboard, which was even louder.
RoninX - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
On the other hand, I have refrained from bringing a BWU to work, since it might be a bit distracting in an office cubicle environment...