Logitech G19 Programmable Gaming Keyboard with Color Display

10 Review to this product

• 

  CJ
  June 19th, 2009 on 9:47 pm

  Rating

  The Logitech G19 keyboard is perfect for 1: Serious gamers 2: Serious Geeks or 3: Seriously rich people who have nothing better to do with $200.

  There is no instruction manual included with the G19, everything you need to know is included in the software, including a video guide to get you started.

  Comes with a wrist rest that can be attached if desired, but it is made of hard plastic and is therefore not comfortable and of little use.

  The following is an outline of the pros and cons I have found while using the G19.

  Pros:

  -The backlit keys are completely customizable. You can choose any shade of any color including white.

  -Awesome LCD with many applets and features including: CPU/RAM monitor, clock, RSS newsfeeds, Youtube feed for viewing Youtube videos,picture slideshow, and video player. Also works with supported games giving you in-game info.

  -12 G keys each capable of storing 3 different functions acessed by the M keys.

  -Media controls (Play/pause, stop, next, back) mute button and volume roll wheel.

  -Windows key disabler switch which is standard on the G series keyboards.

  -2 USB ports on the back of the G19 allow you to plug in and power any USB devices you want.

  -Up to 5 keys can be pressed down at the same time and still register.

  Cons:

  -Needs to be plugged into both a USB port and a outlet. Extra power is needed of course for the LCD panel.

  -What, you expected there to be more cons?

  Conclusion:

  Overall it is a wonderful keyboard that comes equipped with a not-so-wonderful price. Is it worth the dough? You be the judge.

  Now if you’ll excuse I shall watch a Youtube vid on my keyboard… because I can…
• 

  T. Kunikov
  July 20th, 2009 on 9:28 am

  Rating

  Before I received the G 19 I was using the Logitech Wave. Overall, I have to say I’ve always been impressed and admiring of Logitech products. Aside from the products themselves, their customer service is also excellent (found out first hand when I had a problem with a gaming mouse). The G19 is without a doubt an excellent keyboard. The keyboard is solidly built but the wrist extension is plastic and on its own seems flimsy. But when put onto the keyboard it provides a good amount of support for your wrist. Typing on the keyboard, if you’ll be doing some of that aside from gaming, is a nice experience in and of itself. I enjoyed the keys on the wave but the keys on the G19 are a bit different yet wholly functional. They go down softly and are moderately quiet.

  The LCD screen is great, it will probably take some time to get used to it but there are quite a few applications it can run, including videos, which make it a nice additional feature that no other keyboard has at this point in time. Controls for the LCD are fairly simple to figure out, overall just a very nice set up. But, this also means that, as pointed out, you will need to connect the keyboard to both a USB and an outlet. Having a bunch of wires running around the keyboard (you can also include the two USB ports that are located on the keyboard itself) is not fun but it is practical and gives you an additional USB port aside from the one the keyboard itself takes up. The wires running from the keyboard are quite long so that the keyboard does not have to be stationary but, obviously, it isn’t as comfortable as a wireless keyboard. On the other hand, there’s a reason for that, the response time on this keyboard is excellent when compared to my wireless wave which at times lags when I’m typing quickly.

  The customization options for this keyboard are great. 12 programmable G keys multiplied by three, each of the three can have a different color configuration for the keyboard itself (A LOT of choices as to colors) so when you switch between games you can program different colors for different games, hopefully that will help you remember which color applies to which game and thus which key configuration you’ve set up.

  In the end, a great keyboard. But does this justify the price? Honestly, if you can remember all of what this keyboard offers and put to use the lcd and all of the other features offered, then you’d probably agree that the price is justified. If you’re like me, someone who probably won’t use half the features of this keyboard but likes to know if they’re there just in case, then the price is a bit too much.
• 

  Michael D. Briggs
  July 25th, 2009 on 5:22 pm

  Rating

  **Update: One Year Later**
  
  What a difference a year makes? I and many others are now having problems with this keyboard. There appears to be several different problems, but all are due to how the keyboard interacts with newer technology. The problems range from the type of Motherboard in your computer, what USB2.0 devices you plug into the keyboard to interference from having an iPhone too close to the keyboard.

  Because the Keyboard itself is not “defective”, Logitech customer service is not being very helpful. They have posted on their message boards that “they are aware of the problem and are looking for solutions”, but until that solution is found, you might want to take this into consideration when buying this keyboard.

  Mine has been having problems off and on for a week, the good news is that it is the “extras” that are affected (LCD monitor, back-lighting, Macro keys) and it still functions as a keyboard. But those extras is what makes this a $200 keyboard. When all that stuff fails, it has less functionality than a $20 Wal Mart keyboard. For the last 2 days, mine has functioned properly, will it last? I don’t know.

  ************************

  This is a very nice keyboard, and not just for gamers.

  First of all it is Logitech! You know how they say “you get what you pay for” and they mean “if the price is too cheep, so is what you’re buying”? Well that applies to the other end of the spectrum too, you get your moneys worth with this keyboard.

  It is hard to explain, but it just has a better “feel” than any other keyboard I have ever used. It is very receptive, I had one that could not keep up with my typing speed and have used other that I was afraid it would break if I typed too hard and don’t get me started on keyboards with those vinyl covers to “Protect them”!

  While the LCD screen was designed for gaming stats, it also syncs with your media player, and if internet radio has replaced AM/FM for you, this is a very nice feature. You can also view your movies and even You Tube on it. And if you like to turn the lights down while on your computer, the back lit keyboard allows you keep typing in the dark.

  There are 2 USB 2.0 ports on the top of the keyboard, which is great if your PC doesn’t have enough for all the USB accessories out there today or if you keep your mainframe in an out-of-the way location.

  And as with all Logitech devices, it is very easy to set up, configure, update and get help if you need it. Is it expensive? Yeah, but I bet it will outlast my last four keyboards and then some.
• 

  Christopher McLean
  September 14th, 2009 on 2:50 am

  Rating

  I had to talk myself into spending the money but in the end it was well worth it.

  I have been using all the features this beast has on a daily basis. Once I figured out the youtube apps I have a list of links to videos that I can copy on the fly and they pop up on the screen instantly. Plus I have been adding more and more movies to my hard drive to add to the movies folder for instant access as well. The quality of the LCD screen was surprising. I actually enjoy having the videos playing on the screen while I am playing something. It is small but for downtime in the MMO’s I play it is a life saver =)

  My only complaint is the lack of a printed manual. I had a somewhat hard time finding the settings to change the color of the back lights for the keys. Other than that this keyboard has been worth the money and is working flawlessly.
• 

  Allen Cain
  October 7th, 2009 on 7:45 pm

  Rating

  I struggled with the cost of this keyboard but found Amazon to have the best price plus the free shipping. I am not a heavy duty gamer but was looking for a solid keyboard with good back lighting of the keys. I had tried the Razor from Microsoft and was extremely disappointed with the lighting which comes more from around the keys than through them. Also, the feel of the keys was too “weak” for my tastes.

  On this keyboard the lighting comes only through the keys and you can change the colors. This combined with a solid feel with I type makes me very satisfied.

  I found the installation to be a breeze with the included software. Really, this is a plug and play unit once you have installed the software which gives you some utilities to control the features.

  If you want a solid feeling keyboard with backlighting and can handle the extremely high price, this is a keyboard that you will not regret buying.

  Now to load the WoW software that my daughter talked me into trying and then will learn how to use the macro keys!
• 

  Aimee Pi
  December 16th, 2009 on 10:53 am

  Rating

  Love, love, love the customizable backlit keys. It is pretty much my favorite upgrade about this keyboard. Mine are purple, and glow beautifully in the dark. Of course, it also has other redeeming qualities: keys are very responsive, programmable keys are great, layout makes more sense than the G15, media controls don’t get in your way…

  I should add that like the G15, this did not work with my KVM.

  Like any new keyboard, there will be some time required to get used to this layout, but once you get used to it, you won’t ever want to go back…
• 

  Doc Beech
  January 19th, 2010 on 10:14 pm

  Rating

  I have used probably 100 different keyboards working in the medical field and in the military over the past couple years. Within perspective this is a wonderful keyboard. It’s fairly quiet, the screen performs flawlessly, and it types softly. Granted its not a Das Keyboard or IBM click board but the functionality and customization is wonderful. If you don’t use RSS feeds or you tube, or game it might not help you much, and it would be nice to be able to do a you tube video search, but other than that its a great keyboard. A Dvorák version would also be nice but thats also within perspective. I see a lot of reviews about how people think the keyboard over priced or doesn’t perform like it should, but I have had it for a little bit of time now and it’s worked flawlessly. Keep in mind the screens resolution is actually really good and it can’t be cheap to build. you pay 300 dollars for a cell phone with this resolution of a screen on it. It took me less than 5 mins to have the keyboard set up, the macros on it and up and running.
• 

  Mark J. Withey
  February 13th, 2010 on 12:15 pm

  Rating

  I don’t not review to many item but this keyboard is outstanding. I pwn two G15 keyboards and I really like them but this keyboard WOW !!!!. I really like the feel of the keys. It got the powered 2 USB like the G15, but if you are going from a keyboard that does not have USB’s in it, it sure is nice when you want to plug in a thumbdrive or whatever. I love the way you can change the color of the backlighting. The LCD is WOW it like Ipod Screen and you can watch movie’s & U tube movies on it. I just bought a Alienware and spent many $$$ and why use a 20.00 keyboard, I think there is a lot of user out there that spent 2k, 3k ,4k on there System and are using $10, $20, keyboard on there system, they just don’t know what they are missing on a keyboard like this. Once you use this great keyboard like this one I think you will love it as I do. I have not found any thing about the keyboard that I don’t like so far, it would be nice if it cost little less, and as time goes on there will be more app’s for it.
• 

  Scooter
  March 20th, 2010 on 7:23 pm

  Rating

  This is an awesome keyboard and I think all others have already done a good job point out it’s features and what it is capable of.

  However one thing that should be mentioned that is with all keyboards there can be manufacturing issues, but Amazon can lay fears to rest.

  My keyboard was shipped and many of the keys did not work. I had it on a Vista system, so I conneced it to my wife’s XP system to ensure it was not an OS or driver issue and it was not. But with Amazon one click, fill out an online form and a new one was on it’s way immediatly. When that one came there were no issues. I definitely praise Amazon’s hassle free replacements and returns.

  It was unfortunate that the first keyboard had issues, but I do have several friends that have gotten this keyboard with no issues.
  
  Maybe some will say I am too unforgiving to the fact that there was a manufacturing issue. But those things do happen and Logitech has a very good reputation and I will stand by them and with Amazon having my back when these things happen its all good.

  I still rate this a 5 because of the features and ease of use.

  I had the original G15 and unlike others I actually prefer the smaller footprint at teh expense of some of the G keys. Eighteen keys X 3 modes (54 macros) if the G15 is more than what most people need and the 12 X 3 modes is more than sufficuent for my needs as well as many others. also the fact you can change the back lihgt color based on mode is very helpful when switching modes very fast in a game. There is no guessing or accidentally thinking you are in a different mode for the macros.
• 

  Howard B. Gusoff
  March 31st, 2010 on 7:31 pm

  Rating

  I got my G19 earlier today and I already love it. It replaced my G15 which I had purchased earlier in the week and plan on returning. The built in LCD display gives useful and convenient information while playing games such as Battlefield Bad Company 2. It also plays videos from your computer and youtube. My only problem was that it doesn’t tell you you have to have the latest version of macromedia flash player installed on internet explorer, no other browser is sufficient (i use firefox and had the lateset version of flash on that, but the display needs it installed on internet explorer, once it’s installed you can continue to use your browser of choice). To stream videos from your HDD you need to have the latest version of the codecs available. I used CCCP (just google CCCP and codecs and you’ll find it) and ALL my avi’s wmv’s mp4′s play with excellent quality and the sound plays through your current speakers without disrupting anything at all.

  The macros are easy to create and you have plenty per profile, the media controls are well designed and work perfectly.

  The G19 is the truly the best gaming keyboard available today.