Logitech G19 Review by Daniel Lavery

My Overall Rating:

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The Logitech G19 has been around for almost two years now, and yet it’s still one of the best – if not the best – gaming keyboard on the market, hands down.

Sure, the newer models have some features and refinements the G19 hadn’t seen. But at a certain point the extra bells and whistles become merely “nice to have”.

In fact, the G19 has a couple of features that the new Logitech G510, good as it is, lacks. Among those are the LCD panel. True, the G510 has one, but it’s built into the chassis at a pre-selected angle. The one in the G19 can swivel to whatever viewing angle is best for you.

Watch this great review of the Logitech G19 gaming keyboard

Buy and save on the Logitech G19 at Amazon.com!

The most noticeable feature of this keyboard, and probably its key selling point is the 320×240 pixel full color screen which boasts just as many features as the keyboard itself. Right out of the box, the gamepanel comes stock with these applets:

• Clock
• CPU/Ram monitor
• Countdown timer
• Movie Player
• Picture Viewer
• POP3 checker

You can even use it for video playback, though at 320×240 it’s a bit rough for any meaningful viewing of, say, YouTube vids which the G19 can display. But that’s not all the LCD display has to offer. It can also show game stats and VOIP communication data.

The Gamepanel software comes packed with information for dozens of different games, including World of Warcraft and Call of Duty: World at War. The software is easily uploadable and will enhance your perfomance by displaying important in game details on the LCD display. This addition to the keyboard is a great feature, ensuring that you can always keep your focus where it needs to be, on the game!

The color capability extends to the backlit keys, letting you create an array of up to 16 million options, which you configure using the supplied Logitech Profile software. Is that just a “gee whiz” feature or is it really of any use? The answer will depend on the individual gamer, of course. Some will find it very handy, especially those with certain kinds of color blindness. Adjusting it to suit your specific vision can make a big difference.

The G19 offers an impressive array of keys for gaming, too. While it doesn’t quite match the 18 programmable “G” keys of the new G510, a set of 12 “G” keys along the left edge is still highly useful. Combine that with its three switchable modes (like the G510) and you can create a set of 36 custom macros. With on-the-fly recording (also like the G510), those customizations can be as unique as your style of play.

Sometimes what you can’t do is as important as what you can. The G19 has a ‘game mode’ switch which lets you disable the dedicated Windows key, so you never have to worry about pressing it accidentally during frenetic gaming. No accidental switch to your desktop screen here just because your fingers were flying around killing trolls . There is no way of counting the number of times this feature has saved me.

Also in the area of “can’t” the G510 can’t accept USB devices because there are no ports on it. The G19, by contrast, offers two powered USB 2.0 slots. Whether you’re transferring data, loading software, or just viewing media, they’ll be useful.

The G19 also brought in another Logitech innovation: the ability to recognize five simultaneous key presses. That makes for some truly expansive options. Whether you’re a gamer who uses macros freely or just someone who enjoys creating unusual digital image effects, you’ll find that feature very handy.

The Logitech G19 also offers built-in controls for iTunes, Windows Media Center, and other similar apps. Along with the drum-style volume control, you’ll find yourself using them often. Of course, with built-in support for dozens of PC games (and apps like Ventrilo), you’ll find yourself using everything on this gaming keyboard often.

With a price tag between $150 and $200 depending on where you buy, the G19 doesn’t come cheap. You will spend significantly more than let’s say the Logitech G15 or even the newer Logitech 510 which share many of the same features. In addition there is still a lack of specific applets for the G19′s full color LCD screen. Until more color specific applets are available or the price comes down I wouldn’t recommend it UNLESS you can afford the money of course.

Read what other users of the Logitech G19 have to say about it:

M. Haddad,
“This keyboard is by far the best gaming keyboard I have ever used. There are so many great aspects to it. The LCD display is my favorite part of this keyboard. It can play just about anything you can think of, from movies and pictures, to news feeds and YouTube clips. The game keys are assignable to macros, applications, different keystrokes, and shortcuts. All in all, I absolutely love this keyboard and recommend it for all serious gamers…” Read full review

Brandon J.,
“I don’t think I’ll ever buy a new keyboard again. The Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard does everything I need and more. The macros are awesome and have really helped me improve my PvP play. There are so many features to utilize and personalize to my own style…even the backlight under the keys. I don’t think I’ll ever buy a new keyboard again. The Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard does everything I need and more. The macros are awesome and have really helped me improve my PvP play. There are so many features to utilize and personalize to my own style… even the backlight under the keys…“ Read full review

Get the Logitech G19 gaming keyboard at a discount for a limited time at Amazon.com!

Razer Deathadder 3500 Review by Peter Brennon

My Overall Rating:

Save on the Razer Deathadder 3500 gaming mouse for a limited time at Amazon.com!

The Razer DeathAdder 3500 is the upgraded version of the Razer DeathAdder 1800. Just as the older 1800 dpi model it really is a great mouse, and at a very realistic price. If accuracy were the only criteria, the DeathAdder might win a contest against even the best competitors. Even though there are many other factors to consider, this model remains in outstanding company.

Outstanding ergonomics is one major reason. Fit and feel are always personal factors but the rubberized coating on the top of the DeathAdder makes it comfortable and easy to control.

Watch this great review of the Razer Deathadder gaming mouse (older 1800 dpi model)

Buy and save on the Razer Deathadder 3500 at Amazon.com!

You get plenty of control in other respects, too. The Razer DeathAdder supports up to 3,500 dpi, a number that generally exceeds by a wide margin the sensitivity anyone will need. The most vigorous FPS game will present no overwhelming challenges to this gaming tool.

That high sensitivity is also valuable for non-gaming activities too. “Non-gaming?” Yeah, we know. But even gamers have to do other things sometime. It’s ideal for detailed work in Photoshop, for example. Pick out a pixel or two and do whatever you want with them.

Better still, you can control sensitivity on the fly. Knock the level down a peg with a quick flick of the switch. That way your mouse won’t drive you crazy while editing photos, browsing the web, and so forth. It’s no effort to cut it to 1,800 or 900 or even 450 dpi.

The DeathAdder can move up to 120 inches per second (or, alternately described, it takes only 8 ms to move an inch) and with up to 15 g of acceleration. Besides the internal electronics, one thing that helps it do that are the Ultraslick Teflon feet. Low friction means the ability to move fast over multiple surface types.

Save your settings in a profile and you can toggle between them to best suit your immediate needs. Set on high for an FPS, lower for other activities. That profile saving feature is handy for lots of other controllable aspects, too, not least the ability to record macros.

Save up to five different profiles, four different dpi settings (450 dpi – 900 dpi – 1800 dpi – 3500 dpi) , three polling rates (from the default 125 Hz up to 500 Hz or 1000 Hz), and tons of other selections. Those profilable settings include programming the five large, non-slip “HyperResponse” buttons, as well. With a total of 5 different profiles this gives you a total of 25 distinct programmable buttons.

Terms like “HyperResponse” may be marketing buzzwords, but it applies here. The Razer DeathAdder offers a 1,000 Hz (1 MHz) polling rate. Put another way, every millisecond, the mouse is sensing where it is. If you can operate your fast-twitch muscle fibers faster than that, more power to you Superman.

Read what other users of the Razer Deathadder 3500 have to say about it:

Jason M.,
“I like this mouse. It’s stylish, comfortable and customizable. I play a lot of fps and spend a lot of time on the computer in general. I have pretty big hands. I’ve found this mouse to be true to its claims on comfort and ergonomics. I can use it for long hours with no fatigue. The exception to this is my right ring and pinky finger pressed against the right side of the mouse can get sore after many hours of intense gaming. This may just be an issue with my personal grip style, I don’t know. The software is easy to use and there is every setting you could ever want to adjust on a mouse available….” Read full review

J. Mcgrath,
“I’ve loved this beautiful thing since the moment i got it. It’s REALLY cool. The left/right click on the mouse is really easy and sensitive, but not too sensitive. It’s just perfect for my COD4 MW2 playing. I love the feel that my hand has when it rests on the mouse. The cord is a lot better than my old [G5] mouse. The mouse lazer is awesome, and it moves with the SLIGHTEST movement of your hand…” Read full review

Paul G.,
“I played with a Logitech G9 and MX518 as well as the Razer Salmosa, which all felt like solid and accurate mice, but they lacked the feel the DeathAdder has. The arc of the mouse is by far the most comfortable I’ve ever used, in that it actually follows the curve of one’s hand how it instinctively would grab a mouse. I can’t say I know what the mouse grip is made out of, but it is completely slip resistant and oil resistant/absorbent. The sides of the mouse are a hard plastic and between the teflon feet and light weight of the mouse there is almost no resistance to movement…” Read full review

Get the Razer Deathadder 3500 gaming mouse at a discount for a limited time at Amazon.com!