Did nobody tell them about the lockdown? Logitech releases new 'luggable' mechanical keyboard for LAN parties
- Reference: 1590740106
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/05/29/logitech_g915_tkl/
- Source link:
The intended target audience seems to be die-hard gamers, and the G915 TKL hopes to win over this demographic with its ultra-slender mechanical keyswitches and more RGB lights than you can shake a stick at.
The G915 TKL also emphasises portability. By forgoing the number pad, the keyboard is much narrower, making it easier to chuck in a backpack when you're off to a LAN party. It measures just 21.6cm across.
That's svelte compared to most mechanical keyboards. For the sake of contrast, the keyboard I'm writing this piece on (a Unicomp SpaceSaver) measures 45.5cm in length, which is more than double that of the G915 TKL.
It's thin, too, with a stated depth of 3.3cm. A major reason behind that is Logitech's use of its in-house GL mechanical keyswitches, which are designed to be low profile.
The overwhelming majority of mechanical keyboards on the market use Cherry's keyswitches, or some flavor of Chinese knock-off. While these are tried and tested, they were also designed in the 1980s. Industrial design has since moved on, and Logitech reckons it can produce slimmer keyswitches that feel equally pleasant to type on.
They're not far off. A couple of weeks ago, a G815 crossed my desk, packing Logitech's GL tactile switches. These are Logitech's closest approximation to the venerable Cherry MX Brown switches, themselves serving as a happy middle ground between the ultra-responsive "linear" Cherry Red switches, and the ubiquitous "clicky" Cherry Blue switches. For the most part, I was impressed.
Obviously, Logitech has bowed to the gaming peripheral cliché of filling the kit with RGB lighting. This is more style than substance, and clearly doesn't really make it easier to type. But if you're taking this thing to a competitive gaming party, this might be for you.
The G915 TKL also differs itself in a crowded market with the inclusion of wireless connectivity. While this isn't the solitary wireless keyboard on the market (there are excellent options from the like of Happy Hacking and Obins), it's fair to say that it belongs to a somewhat exclusive club.
Battery life is 40 hours with the RGB lights switched on and a claimed 135 days with it deactivated. The keyboard can be fully recharged with three hours connected to a power source, Logitech says.
At £199.99, the G915 TKL isn't cheap – even by the standards of wireless mechanical keyboards, which are a relatively scarce commodity. That said, the slender form factor helps differentiate this keyboard in an otherwise crowded market. If you're tempted, it'll be available next month in linear, tactile, and clicky variants. ®
Re: No numpad
Its not aimed at the desk though, would be tempted to get one for my mini pc connected to the tv but not at that price.
How Much?
It's around 30 years since I spent that much (of someone else's money) on a keyboard.
Re: But if you're taking this thing to a competitive gaming party
Would that be "my keyboard is so much cooler" competitive gaming party, or some other sort of competitive gaming party (e.g. perhaps one based on in-game performance, or some other unlikely metric)? :-)
I have a mechanical keyboard, with the RGB lights. However, not being a gamer (well, I am a gamer, but don't see the point in all the flashy LED stuff, and don't have a "rig" that cost me thousands of pounds, with glass sides), I have them mostly set to be white (makes it much easier to type), and I bought the keyboard partly because I needed a keyboard with lights, partly because it was on sale at Amazon for 60 pound (normal price is about 180), but mostly because I do a lot of typing and like a keyboard with a nice, positive action.
The fun of a wireless keyboard...
Is in plugging it into someone else's machine for random inputs and associated hijinks.
But... For £200... For something that lights up like a cheap nightclub? And using switches that I have no chance to test anytime soon....
I think I'll pass.
If you can live with wired and a white back light the Razer Blackwidow Lite is half the price.
If you can live with the other differences, you can have a brand new keyboard for under a tenner.
21cm across?
Not for me then, my hands, with both thumbs touching are 27cm
I need more than just the WASD keys from a keyboard
No numpad
No sale.