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programming and human factors
by Jeff Atwood
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Logitech just introduced some intriguing new HIDs*. For one thing, they're both wired! Totally old school. Love it.
The new Logitech G15 gaming keyboard has a programmable backlit text LCD and three-level backlit keys. The LCD panel is hinged; it adjusts and folds down for storage.
I don't know what I'd use that LCD for, exactly, but damn-- it's cool!
And that's big news for a keyboard. Honestly, when was the last time you saw a keyboard that you'd really consider interesting? Or innovative? And it meets my programmer keyboard criteria, too: the arrow cluster and pgup/pgdn cluster are mercifully unmangled.
The Logitech G5 mouse is an upgraded, wired variant of Logitech's earlier MX1000 laser mouse. Yeah, there's also an upgraded wireless version, but who cares. The wired one is lighter-- and it even comes with a selection of weight cartridges!
Plus it just looks cooler than the wireless version. I like that they ditched the second thumb button, since I never used it anyway. And it retains the cool on-the-fly hardware level sensitivity adjustment I like so much in my current mouse. MX518, I hardly knew ye.
* In USB parlance, Human Interface Devices.
Posted by Jeff Atwood View blog reactions
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For a more.. interesting.. take on what HID means, check out this theoretical device:
This is work safe (I swear!), but there is a little use of the f word as part of the product name.
Jeff Atwood on August 15, 2005 04:54 AMJeff,
It looks very cool.
But man, are you into keyboards?! :-))
Stas Kubasek on August 15, 2005 09:20 AMAlthough I'm usually more into the simplistic design for keyboards, I love this keyboard. As long as it has a standard layout, including the two key clusters you mentioned, along with a full backspace and the backslash over the enter key, I will be happy with it. That keyboard also looks to have a heck of a lot more to offer without getting in the way of typical keyboard usage.
As far as the mouse is concerned though, I'll stick with my two buttons and a scroll wheel.
Marty Thompson on August 15, 2005 09:46 AMI can't imagine someone looking down at their keyboard to see how much ammo they have, or to see their teammates chatting, versus having that stuff on the screen.
David Grant on August 15, 2005 05:45 PM> I can't imagine someone looking down at their keyboard to see how much ammo they have, or to see their teammates chatting, versus having that stuff on the screen.
Yeah, I thought about that too. Not very practical. Might be better for non-game related stuff.. CPU temps, system temp, % CPU load, network throughput, etc.
Jeff Atwood on August 15, 2005 09:50 PMI saw these at QuakeCon when Logitech introduced them. I held off on my current PC build in buying a keyboard...but I did buy an MX 518...and love it. I'll be buying the keyboard I think...along with a new mouse. I'm hoping they just make a desktop bundle and lower the prices in a month or two.
Brian Swiger on August 16, 2005 10:48 AMLogitech G5 review:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1847008,00.asp
Jeff Atwood on August 16, 2005 02:12 PMAnother G5 mouse review.
http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-22471-2523-x-x-x
I didn't realize the wheel had tilt (left-right) functionality, not that it matters. I was never able to use tilt wheel worth a darn on the MS mouse that introduced that functionality. I wonder if Apple's idea of a mini-trackball in place of a wheel is more functional..
Jeff Atwood on September 3, 2005 08:15 PMcan you tell me the price of MX for counter strike,and g5 mouse for counter strike,,and tell methe price in miki_idrizi@hotmail.com its my mail.please
bardhi on May 29, 2007 12:27 PMI got that G5 Mouse and I just ordered a new computer which I'll have within a weak, and it comes with that G15 keyboard with LCD display.
Unknown on September 18, 2007 07:00 AM| Content (c) 2008 Jeff Atwood. Logo image used with permission of the author. (c) 1993 Steven C. McConnell. All Rights Reserved. |
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