Logitech G13 Review by Peter Brennon

My Overall Rating:

Save on this GameBoard for a limited time at Amazon.com

If you’ve been gaming online for any amount of time…there’s no doubt that you’ve seen that one guy that just seems faster…more adept and more agile than any other player. Well, that guy wasn’t actually faster or more agile at all…he was probably just using the Logitech G13 to improve his skill level and make him a superior opponent.

It may be the only true gaming keyboard around, even considering the other models the company makes. Most gaming keyboards perform dual duty. They serve both as a regular typing keyboard and have extra features designed specifically for playing games.

That’s a good thing and consumers love them. But there is room in the world for a true, single-purpose gaming keyboard, if for no other reason than that there are true, single-purpose gamers. The Logitech G13 is that keyboard.

In truth, it’s really a type of gamepad, or a gaming keypad, or a gameboard… however you want to describe it. One look is enough to show that. What’s immediately obvious are the overall shape and the key layout. Those are big hints that something unusual is afoot (or, er, at hand ) here.

Watch this great review of the Logitech G13 Advanced GameBoard

Buy and save on the Logitech G13 Advanced GameBoard at Amazon.com!

With 22 labeled “G” keys, you’ve got a ton of pre-set features literally at your fingertips. The joystick, a feature most gaming keyboards lack, makes play even more like a true game controller. Offering five programmable functions, it’s highly flexible. That flexibility grows by an order of magnitude, thanks to the three gaming modes for the keys, giving an effective total of 87 programmable keys.

All those have a very nice tactile feel and a fully-audible click. The two buttons right beside the joystick give a different, high-pitched sound, so you have even more sensory clues for orientation without looking down.

A high quality 160 x 43 pixel LCD screen adds to the fun. You’ll also see four keys located in the middle at the top that provide circular grooves for WASD gamers. Even in a darkened room you can feel the buttons and keep focused on your game. With the buttons located right beneath the panel you’ve got control for the monitor and your game right there. Navigation is now effortless.

You don’t have to worry about those controls moving away when the play gets frenetic, either. At 650 grams (about 1.4 lbs), and sporting six rubber feet, this guy will stay wherever you put it. That effect is enhanced by the G13′s unique shape and the wavelike wristrest, also rubberized to keep your hands firmly where they need to be.

A quick glance at the LCD screen and you can see live game stats, system information, and even in game messages. The LCD screen displays all of that information and more, making sure that the player is fully immersed in their very best game.

With superb backlighting, you can play in total darkness and never miss a keystroke. That backlighting is configurable, too. You select the exact color you want from a color swatch and both the keys and the LCD respond on the fly.

The Logitech software included makes it all very easy to learn about and do. After a short tour of features, you can use the Key Profile, Macro Manager, and others. Click a button in the software and assign a macro. Tap another and you can record a series of keystrokes to design your own macro. You can even program a time delay between keystrokes. The LCD Manager lets you customize the apps that run there.

All those options are stored internally in the Logitech G13′s internal memory, so your individual preferences are never lost. Take a tour around this gaming keypad and you may never want to use an ordinary keyboard for play again.

Read what other users of the Logitech G13 have to say about it:

P. Henderson,
“I’ve owned the G13 for awhile now and I love it! The use of complex macros is an awesome function and if you’re playing first person shooters, like Call of Duty, it’s almost like cheating with this thing. It has a very comfortable design and the backlighting makes it easy to ready even in dark rooms. You can use the macros for other computing functions also. Very versatile. I highly recommend it…” Read full review

Markus,
“This keyboard is easy to use and its actually very smart. It will automatically adjust the profiles to whichever program I am currently running. This device makes recording macros easier than anything else I’ve ever used. With one push of a button, you can record complex macros…just push the MR button. Much more comfortable than a keyboard for long gaming sessions. Definitely one of my favorite pc gaming tools…” Read full review

Get the Logitech G13 and save for a limited time at Amazon.com!

Microsoft SideWinder X8 Mouse Review by Nathan Vansyckel

Overall Rating:

Get the Microsoft SideWinder X8 Mouse almost 25% for a limited time at Amazon.com!

To be honest, I wasn’t very excited about the SideWinder X8. Microsoft hasn’t impressed me much with their previous gaming mouse, the X5. Well, I just recently got the chance to try out the X8 at a friends house and…I’m impressed. The first and coolest thing about the X8 is its BlueTrack technology. This thing tracks flawlessly on all kinds of surfaces most notably a glass top desk.

The X8 is embracing an ever growing feature becoming predominant in gaming mice: it’s wireless. More and more I am becoming convinced that wireless mice are suitable for gaming, and the SideWinder X8 confirms this belief. Up to 30 hours of continuous play comes with each charge and its wireless receiver doubles as a charging dock letting you plug and play, for non-stop gaming.

3 DPI setting buttons let you toggle the X8′s sensitivity between low, medium, and high, maxing out at 4000 DPI. With the push of a button, you can adjust the sensitivity for both super crucial sniper shots, and fast paced spray fire shootouts. Coupled with it’s easy in game macro recording, the X8 has all the essential benefits I look for in a gaming mouse and a cool design to boot.

Check out this video review of the Microsoft SideWinder  X8 Mouse!

Take a look at all the benefits the Microsoft SideWinder X8 Mouse has to offer:

• Play and Charge dock provides up to 30 hours of active gaming on a single charge, or make use of the play and charge cable for non stop gaming.
• BlueTrack Technology processes images at a blazing 13,000 frames per second making it the most advanced tracking technology available.
• A 2.4 GHZ wireless connection provides best in class performance.
• On the fly DPI changes for maximum precision in any situation.
• Up to 7 programmable buttons. You get 5 customizable main buttons, and left/right tilt.

One of the biggest problems I had with previous Microsoft gaming mice was their ergonomics. The original SideWinder reminded me of an xbox controller. Big, bulky, and uncomfortable. The X8 has fixed this issue 10 fold, and is one very comfortable piece of equipment. They nixed all the sharp angles and the pointy back, leaving nothing but a comfortable, solid feel.

The last notable feature of the SideWinder X8 that definitely deserves mention is its hockey puck shaped charging unit/wireless receiver. No worrying about dead batteries with this thing, thanks to a play and charge cable which connects easily even mid-game. The charging unit also doubles as storage space for replacement mouse feet which can really come in handy on unconventional surfaces.

Take a look at what other users of the Microsoft SideWinder X8 have to say:

Aaron Smith,
“I just got the Microsoft SideWinder X8, and this thing is awesome! It not only works on every surface I’ve tried it on so far, but it performs on them as well. On the fly DPI adjustments are a must have for any gamer and I found the different DPI settings on the X8 work perfectly in FPS games. Battery life is good and the hockey puck charger is very convenient and cool! All around a very cool mouse and I give it a full 5 stars!” Read Full Review

Erik Meyer,
“The Microsoft SideWinder X8 is an excellent gaming mouse and the fact that it’s wireless makes it all the better. So far my favorite part about the SideWinder is its button placement. I am a big macro user, and the extra programmable buttons are in the perfect spots for me. The charging puck is incredibly cool and allows for plug and play charging so there’s never any downtime in your gaming. All in all, I’m very satisfied with the SideWinder X8 and I highly recommend it.” Read Full Review

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