Review Logitech G13 or too advanced way to remap the keyboard
Foreword
Logitech G13 - perhaps one of the most long-lived gadgets of the company. It is issued if the global network is not lying, since 2008.
This intricate little thing is a kind of “half keyboard”, designed, as the manufacturer claims, especially for gamers. Actually, it is imprisoned for them - 25 fully programmable keys with the ability to assign any keyboard shortcuts and any macros to them (arbitrary sequences of keystrokes and delays between them).
Like any self-respecting accessory for gamers, Logitech G13 can save profiles for different games. Some profiles are stored on the computer, 3 profiles can be downloaded to the device’s memory if you are planning to take it with you to any championship.
And now the most delicious: Logitech G13 can store profiles not only for games, but also for other applications. This, in fact, was the reason for the purchase.
Brief FAQ for purchase reasons
Q: Why not take something from a full-sized game series?
A: Because there is a full-size keyboard with a normal left shift (yes, that's why I don’t like Logitech).
Q: What is the point of such a device outside of WoW?
A: I do not play WoW and analogs at all. But the hotkey for a note in MS Word has not yet been studied. As well as much more. Here all these hotkeys are made with one button - at the same time, chosen by me - by the button. Without reassigning it in the application itself.
Q: How does this miracle on the table look?
A: Like half a keyboard with white backlight. Backlight color is adjustable. There is nothing specifically gaming in the appearance of the device.
Q: Why not reassign existing keys on an existing keyboard?
A: Because all software does not support remaps like Alt + Shift + ...
Unpacking
He will not be because the packaging of the device was a bit tattered. Let me tell you in words: it comes in a standard black and green blister, typical for Logitech devices. Included paper with the invaluable "congratulations on you becoming the owner ...", and a driver disc.
Appearance
The main color is black. The border around the keys is dark gray. In principle, the device in appearance and color scheme is very similar to the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. The same color scheme, the same smooth lines. Moreover, there is even a soft wrist rest, but, unlike the Microsoft product, it is made not of “young dermatin skin”, but of ordinary rubber. Which, however, does not affect convenience.
The Logitech G13 profile is curved. The middle of the device is raised up, the wrist rest and button block are lower. I had concerns about ease of use, but everything is quite convenient.
The bottom of the device is also curved, under the keyboard unit there is a metal plate with the letters “G13” extruded on it. The keyboard stands firmly on 6 legs, 4 of which are in opposite edges of the main unit, and 2 more under the mini-joystick.
Above is a mini-display that supports several applets out of the box, but sometimes it is smart and quick-witted and recognizes running programs. For example, the keyboard recognized Media Player Home Cinema x64, after which its profile was configured for it.
Installation process
In principle, nothing complicated - we install drivers and connect the device via usb. But, as they say, there are nuances.
Firstly , the Logitech website has two versions of software. One of them is called “Logitech Gaming Software”, the second is “GamePanel Software”. They are almost identical in function, but vary greatly in size of the downloaded file.
First I installed "GamePanel Software." G13 was defined by the system as one composite device, a beautiful picture in the task manager was automatically picked up, and the pluses ended there. In Windows 7 x64, macros worked out once in a while. And, for example, in Starcraft 2 they did not work at all.
After that I installed Logitech Gaming Software. The previous version of the software self-deleted, the system redefined Logitech G13 as three different devices, erased a beautiful picture from “devices and printers”, but ... The device finally earned “all the money” - macros are processed wherever needed, profiles are switched, part of the games it is determined automatically; for the rest, profiles are set by hand.
It is important that Logitech does not tell us exactly which version of the software you need to install, so I had to study this issue from my own experience. In old reviews, just screenshots of GamePanel are given, Gaming Software then did not exist yet.
SecondlyThe Logitech device is very finicky in terms of power. At first I plugged it into the connector on the rear panel, but it turned off after about 15 minutes of use. Enhanced google showed that this is not a device problem, but, most likely, a usb power problem. However, shamanism with these parameters yielded nothing, and so far the Logitech G13 is working quite stably from the front panel connector.
Thirdly , without drivers, the device works like a regular keyboard (truncated almost to the WASD block). In this regard, it is not entirely clear to me what sacred meaning it is to save profiles in the keyboard memory - it works like a flash drive for transferring profiles. If she could work without installing software - everything would be even more interesting. But, unfortunately, there is no such possibility.
Logitech gaming software
This is what the main window of Logitech Gaming Software looks like:
Bottom - from left to right: link to the manufacturer’s website, device thumbnail (not pressed, serves for beauty), the main window, setting G-keys, setting applets, setting backlighting, choosing profiles to transfer, driver settings and calling for help.
Let's start in order:
Setting the G-keys is, in fact, the main item in the menu. It is for the sake of these settings that such keyboards are acquired. As I said, all keys and the joystick are programmable and equal. That is, you can set any actions or their sequences and assign them to any key or joystick.
Here are the options the program offers:
- Keyboard shortcut. Actually, I don’t know what to comment on here. Keyboard shortcut. Any. Alt + shift + ctrl + whatever you want.
- Composite key. This, in fact, is a macro. Keystrokes, their combinations, optionally - also fixing delays between keystrokes. Pressing and releasing a key is recorded as two different events.
- Text message. Again, an obvious option, but keep in mind that a text message is always entered in the active layout. For example, if I have the text “Logitech G13” on my key, then with the active Russian layout, “Дпшпшеуср П13” will be typed.
- Mouse function. Mouse emulator. 4 scroll directions, single and double click, 5 (!) Mouse buttons.
- Multimedia. Standard multimedia rewind / play / pause
- Special keys. Window control keys (minimize / maximize and so on).
- Label. Actually, a shortcut to a program with standard settings.
- Function keys. This is not an F1-F much as one might think. This is a call to the calculator, the email client, and the emulation of the M1-M3 buttons on the keyboard itself.
The buttons M1-M3 on top of the keyboard allow you to set individual "subprofiles" and switch them. Actually, these are three different sets of key assignments, united by one application profile. These modes are marked with the backlight of the M-keys (the key of the active mode is red), and, if desired, you can set your own backlight color for each mode.
It is important that the backlight settings are global. That is, the M1 mode will be highlighted with the selected color in any profile.
Five profiles can be downloaded to the keyboard, though without drivers, as I said, it won’t work.
Operating experience
In short, it’s nice and comfortable. Some applications are automatically detected. Apparently, the Battlefield Bad Company 2 profile was downloaded by the keyboard from the Internet on its own. Part of the profiles is collected manually and launched by the keyboard when starting the corresponding application.
Some applications, however, are not defined at all. The Starcraft 2 profile must be specified using the keyboard itself - the drivers still have not learned to see it. I did not track any pattern in “I see - I do not see”.
And the most important question: WHY?
Because of the macros. If you don’t think that it is intended for MMORPG, then Logitech G13 is a rather convenient tool for work. The analog mini-joystick, by the way, is very good at scrolling and rewinding.
Actually, on the same Youtube there is a video where the Logitech G13 is used - from a Mac to Adobe Lightroom. Here it is:
In general, the acquisition is interesting. But only for rather specific tasks, combined with an irrepressible desire to buy some gadget. Although, it's definitely worth the money.
In conclusion
Photos in the interior:
