Logitech G710+ Mechanical Keyboard and G600 MMO Mouse Review
by Dustin Sklavos on October 9, 2012 12:01 AM ESTIn Practice: Work
I've actually been using the Logitech G710+ keyboard and G600 mouse while writing up this review, and hammering out something detailed while having to check specs and so on gives both peripherals a good working over in productivity setting. I'm particularly familiar with the G600, which has been out longer and in my hands longer, and I've tried it in quite a few different environments.
For typing, I have to say that at least by my experience with the G710+, I'm not a fan of Cherry MX Brown switches. While I personally enjoy the feedback and clickiness of the MX Blues the best for typing, they really are inferior for gaming to all the other switches, so the MX Browns are at least an attempt to balance things. 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. This is all subjective, though; undoubtedly you'll be able to play with the G710+ in retail and feel for yourself.
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Meanwhile, the G600 has a very smart design that felt incredibly intuitive in my hand. Feeling out the hot button array on the left side was easy enough to do (I preferred using the lower array instead of the upper), but fair warning: this is not a mouse for small hands. This mouse will probably be very comfortable to users who either like big mice or have big hands, but if you have small hands like I do, it's liable to stress your wrist and hands a bit more. I found my wrist cramping up after about a half hour of using the G600, but your mileage may vary.
In Practice: Play
I tried a few games with the G600 and G710+, but the one that got the most attention (and the one that's been dominating my attention span over the past couple of weeks) is the closed beta of MechWarrior Online. I could go on and on about how awesome the game is even in its current, somewhat buggy and slightly unbalanced state, but suffice to say pretty much everyone I know has made a concerted effort to get into it and either lucked out with a beta key from registering or actually bought into the closed beta with a Founder's Package, and griefing heavy mechs with my idiotic little Streak SRM Commando has been a delight.
The same resistance, size, and weight issues I experienced in day to day use with both peripherals unfortunately still apply in gaming, but the MX Brown switches used by the G710+ still remain superior to the Blues for games and certainly a valid option. I still think the Reds or Blacks are ultimately preferable in either productivity or gaming (I probably give a slight edge to the Reds), but the Browns are perfectly serviceable.
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On the other hand, I think the G600 is an absolutely killer gaming option for users who are built to enjoy it. A friend of mine with larger hands found it incredibly comfortable and intuitive to use, and the ability to configure a DPI shift (similar to Corsair's sniper button) to the third surface button for precise aiming is incredibly useful. Likewise, as a MechWarrior Online afficionado I can't help but appreciate the potential of using the button array to control the various firing patterns.
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Impulses - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Yeah, a review of MP's boards along with the newer backlit Rosewills would be nice, they're some of the best values around... Though the deal I caught for my K90 at $85 was also pretty sweet, and Newegg seems to run it every 3-4 months so it's worth keeping an eye out for, if you can forgive it's one flaw anyway (the subset of keys with rubber dome switches).Azethoth - Thursday, October 11, 2012 - link
That's not the flaw. The one true flaw is the sticky keys. Once a day or so a key just goes bananas. It would be amusing, but what if it undoes all your code changes in a file, or kills your hardcore character. No bueno.antef - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Compare this to say the MS Natural 4000 or Comfort Curve 3000. They're both "softer" typing keyboards but of course there is still plenty of "feedback." I'm not sure what extra "feedback" above and beyond that you could want, or why you'd want it. It's only going to make things louder and less pleasant. And what about speed? Less key-travel (shallower) and less resistance should lead to faster typing. What is good about tall, clackety keys?Impulses - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
It's a personal preference thing, mechanical keys actuate halfway thru their travel tho, unlike rubber domes which require you to bottom out (more stress) every single time in order for the key press to register. Neither's technically a deeper travel key tho, unlike you're comparing it to slimmer rubber dome boards or scissor boards with laptop style keys.If you're not bottoming out on a mechanical keyboard you actually produce very little noise, particularly with browns or reds... It's actually quieter than a membrane keyboard. I used various iterations of MS Natural keyboards for about fifteen years before going with a mechanical and tbh I haven't looked back. Took me maybe a week to adjust and as a side benefit I also don't experience as much of an abrupt switch when I type on my laptop more.
It's not for everyone, but I wouldn't dismiss it without trying one.
antef - Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - link
Thanks, maybe I should try one sometime, but I'm not sure where to find one. How are they on wrist fatigue? "Ergo" options are dwindling so it would be nice to know of good straight keyboards that still provide comfort. It seems impossible to use straight keyboards at a good wrist angle, but as others have said, maybe other factors end up mattering more.Impulses - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Why is everyone making such a big deal about the G600's size btw? Dustin seems to indicate it's too big for him but his own G500 looks bigger... At least from what I can gather while trying the G600 out thru the awful box cutout Logitech made for it, the thing is cut almost like they don't want people to know about the third button (mouse is tilted in/back on the right side)...I went to the store explicitly because I liked that third button design, I'm not sure I like the general/smaller shape tho. Gonna have to try it out elsewhere once it's out for display, or buy it to try out at some point (Best Buy here has it at $88 tho, ouch).
shin0bi272 - Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - link
not every one uses the default WASD controls there logitech. Plus the winning answer is cherry mx blacks not brown.Inteli - Thursday, November 29, 2012 - link
Ignorant Much? I personally use a Cherry MX Brown keyboard for gaming and i find it just fine. I've heard Cherry MX Blacks vary in quality a lot as well. And, if you knew anything about mechanical keyboards, you would know that the keys are replaceable. Just petition Logitech to release keycaps more oriented to ESDF. However, WASD is the industry standard, and it make more sense that if you're gonna cater to a certain way of moving your character to use the industry standard. If you like Cherry MX Blacks, that's cool, nobody minds, but there are already plenty of MX Black keyboards out there, most suited to gaming, and honestly, I've heard that most people really like Reds or Browns for gaming rather than Blacks. I know I certainly prefer them. Don't say something just based on what you like/what caters to you. Likely (unless you like Cherry MX Greens or Clears) there are keyboards that cater to you, so get someone else's keyboard. Logitech's not gonna be weeping because not everyone buys a Logitech Mechanical Keyboard.Peanutsrevenge - Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - link
Please tell me the keyboard comes with replaceable black WSAD / Arrow keys and that the god awful orange strip is removable/replaceable!Might work with an OC Gigabyte based system I guess :D
Hrel - Thursday, October 11, 2012 - link
I know you can't review everything; but I really wish you had a review for the G700. Wired/wireless mouse. I really like that it can be either, but I'm hesitant about the type of plastic they used on it, soft touch or gtfo. I don't like that hard plastic either.On another note I've been seeing a lot of NAS boxes using ARM processors now, can we get some reviews on those? I mean, how can it be fully functional running on ARM?