Foreword

With the G15, the Swiss specialists of input device from Logitech landed a direct hit in the Gamerszene in the summer of 2005. Key illumination, macro recorder, and the display as a “Killer Feature” made the G15 to the model of success. Reason enough, a year later to bring a cheaper version in the form of the G11 on the market. This budget model suffers but until today the design that corresponds to the G15 (in the UR) with a provisionally implemented Control Panel for Media Player instead of the game Panel.

To workaround, Logitech recently sent the G110 in the race, which promises new features in modern packaging. We looked closer the G11 successor.

Overview

Technical data:

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 505 x 25 x 190 mm (235 mm with arm rest)
• Weight: approx. 0.9 kg
• 105 Keys + special keys
• Cable length: 1.8 m, USB port
• Material: Housing made of black and grey plastic; Keys made of transparent plastic, painted black
• Extras: adjustable backlight, twelve macro keys, macro recorder, USB 2.0 port, integrated sound chip, audio ports, multimedia keys

Scope of delivery:

• Keyboard, palm rest, software CD, quick start guide

Externalities

The design of the G110 has independent than its predecessor, modelled on largely that of luxury keyboards G19. The space at the top is forcibly different, because here at the G19 the color display and its control are. Also characteristic elements such as the role regulators for the volume were taken over top right or the model graphic on the arrow keys. The choice of materials is commendable: the smooth satin black key area is bordered by a matt-grey frame and the black, slightly structured basic corpus. A little high-gloss plastic, which is little fingerprint at risk but the location can be found only in the middle of the top. At the keyboard, Logitech in the tip box waives experiments. The writing area is unobtrusive but appealing.

The various additional functions are quite practicable around arranged to the keypad. So far left the G and the M keys to change the macro level and for the macro recorder can be found. When the number of macro buttons, the G110 is located between the six of the G15 “Refresh” and the 18 keys of the G11. In the middle of the keyboard, served the headset and the key lighting is switched. In between, the optically slightly inappropriate game mode slider to shutdown the Windows keys is to find. The multimedia section with volume control and player controls is located right on the number pad finally. The roller control for the volume is original, is however not too practical.

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Of the macro keys block, the buttons for headset and lighting
and the control panel for Media Player

The macro and function keys are higher than the write keys. As with Logitech usual the – without lighting low contrast-labelling of keys except for the G and F keys is more filigree. With light, you can better see the characters. The color of the lighting is, however, depend on own taste and the other brilliant periphery. To note is that red notes sound much more intensively than blue.

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The lighting in red, blue, and the mixed sound Lila

The palm rest is a very limited in the design. Even with removable pads has may seen elsewhere much more favourable solutions than this. The design is narrower than the body of the keyboard, includes nowhere flush down and open sides make the sight also not beautiful. Since the solution of the predecessor liked much better.

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The G110 with wrist rest

The black base plate is made of plastic. Fortunately it has thought again when Logitech of channels, which allow to clean the keyboard to run the cables to the devices attached to the top (such as a headset or mouse) and lifting the front or on the sides. Also, here you can see the trace holes for liquids.

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The underside of the G110

Technology

How many other keyboards of the player is based on the principle of switching mats the G110. The key buttons resting in the corpus and press when on small domes in a silicone mat. This form is simple and robust. Anti ghosting technique is not explicitly mentioned by Logitech, is it for the WASD keys but implemented, so that the common shortcut keys with up to five simultaneous inputs in this field work. The color of the key illumination can be adjusted individually at the G110 in key Profiler. The colour spectrum is however limited to red, blue, and the resulting mixed tones. The lighting seems by the mats and transparent key body through.

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Key management and mats

It is, that the blue lighting is relatively faint and the caption regardless of the chosen color part is adequately illuminated. Some users will know this problem already by other G models. So, the superscript symbols from the perspective of the user shine, for example, in the series of numbers not completely. The angle between the eye and button plays a role here. You can see directly perpendicular down looking less illumination gaps as an angle of front. The high buttons could be a cause for the poor otherwise.

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Detail the key illumination

The G110 provides a USB port at the top. This is fortunately able to extend an existing USB 2.0 connectivity with high-speed (max. 480 Mbps) to the PC. In the test with a Western Digital my book Home Edition 1TB (WDH1CS10000E) we measured medium reading at 29.5 MB / s directly on the test system, as well as through the G110 Using the built-in sound card declined the transfer rate only to good 1 MB / s. Unfortunately, the low-power connector delivers maximum 100 mA. An external 2.5 “we could not use hard drive and an OCZ Rally2-USB-stick 16 GB on the keyboard, a micro worked X Pro 4 GB of CnMemory against it.”

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USB and audio ports

In addition to the USB 2.0 port a USB stereo soundcard is integrated in the G110 as a unique selling point so that a headset with 3, 5 mm jack plugs directly at the keyboard can be connected without a calculator. The sound card is set up on the PC under Windows independently as “USB PnP sSound Device”. The installation is easily and independently of the Logitech software. The sound quality is a simple onboard chip. For use with a normal headset it enough completely, on better headphones you will fault the sound. Audio output and reception can independently on key and be off.

Software

The Logitech software runs on Windows XP, Vista and 7, as well as on Mac OS X from 10.4. The Logitech G-series key Profiler was included in version 3.03, we have tested with the current version 3.04 under Windows 7.

After installing two new icons in the taskbar found one for the key Profiler and one for Logitech LCD Manager, which is however superfluous with the G110. Also in the key-Profiler software options for the known to be non-existent in the G110 game Panel can be found in various places. Loveless.

The first time the profile software, it looks for installed games on the system. The pre-built profiles can be called even after the fact. The software itself is easy. In the select list of the profile you select the one you want, including can determined the macro mode and also the key illumination in this mode can be set.

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Many profiles are already prepared (here of mirror’s edge)

To assign a function, the user clicks corresponding G keys button simply on which, in addition, he sees the current occupancy. As for the G19, one can occupy 54 macro places through the combination of the twelve keys with the three levels; other keys such as, for example, the multimedia keys can be configured here. The factory each G key with the function of the F-button is (G1 calls to analog, for example, the assistance F1). A single press of a button, a macro, function as opening your default browser, a link, a section of text, or a LUA-script can be assigned to each key. Also, can restore the default or completely disables the button.

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The surface of key Profiler

A custom color can be, associated with each macro mode (M1 to M3) with the color range only between red and blue. Also, the brightness is controlled here. From bright red to pale purple, everything is possible. The G110 can only blue light without installed software.

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Setting the lighting

In the macro Manager can macros created, recorded or corrected. Mouse actions such as button clicks or even mouse wheel movements can be added to context menu, but not by macro recorder recorded. The user can decided whether the amount of time between the input is recorded with. The input breaks can be inserted but still later. Also can be selected whether the macro once played, for the duration of the touch of a button repeatedly or to run up to the new key as infinite loop.

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Macro Manager

Especially long macros with mouse actions become confusing quickly and are subsequently difficult to edit. Otherwise the key Profiler is but good can be operated and leaves hardly issues thanks to a large, decorated with tutorials help; to get only of some terms you must used only once.

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Help of key Profiler

Because a custom profile can be created for each application, the 54 programmable places for the most application scenarios should be sufficient. If this is however not the case, a profile change can be set up in the settings, so that you can switch between different profiles per hotkey.

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Profiler options

Ergonomics

The corpus of the G110 is quite stable and stiff, distorted unfolded preparers or when written to compliant documents and bending the keyboard is not much. Front the keyboard might be a little flat, but for most people the amount as pleasant should go through. The fine key caption appears grey, and thus provides little contrast to the black keys. With lighting, the caption is much easier to read, but the keys – as already mentioned – unevenly lit.

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Illuminated G110

On the layout of the G110, hardly any criticisms can be found; Fortunately, the keypad and the number block was implemented without unnecessary modifications. To find each key so where you expected it, and also in 2010 is the presence of pressure, roles and break not waived. The easily on bevelled lower edges of the control keys, which can be found in the entire G-series, no further disrupt. The different height of the buttons in the writing area and in the functional or Gamingtasten prevents the tippern. The M key and the media control block are very low. For a better tactile distinction caps the lower available are concave shaped convex, the other, however.

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The different key caps of the G110

But: If the G110 provides user layout little challenges, would we not too long to write also. The pressure point is still quite far to determine, but is he too far from the switching point, so that the hub as a whole too long is perceived as. In addition disturbs the shaky key management – specifically the control buttons as well as the macro and function keys are little secured against horizontal variations. Also, the caps are somewhat unfavourably shaped, because due to the sloping sides and the resulting gaps between the keys, hitting time in between. Also, the end stop is too soft. Here you want a clearer response. Authors will have on the G110 ultimately little joy for players and infrequent typos are the mentioned defects but less serious.

Acoustically, the G110 is rather one of the constrained types. Unfortunately, but some keys tend to clatter. A detachable palm rest is at the G110 included, but unfortunately leaves to be desired in practice in many ways. When unpacking, one dares to little piece plastic lightweight. Trying to construct, that she also can be used if the G110 stands on the feet of the shift, the Edition can be considered only partly succeeded. When folded preparers the three under size rubber rectangles on the condition sufficient hardly, to keep them on the spot. You slips and bounces back and forth, causing a corresponding sounds. The Edition cannot be used without a table or a fixed base. Anyway, the link between the two parts is preserved. Nevertheless one can recommend the G110 anyone, who wants to or do without on an Edition.

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The palm rest

Conclusion

Logitech’s attempt to develop the G11 from an improvised budget solution, to an independent and valued keyboard was successful overall. Positive of the usable onboard sound as a special feature, as well as the USB 2.0 port on the G110 clear layout, simple yet helpful cable management under the stable body. The feeling of the writing could be better, is for an Enjin.com but fine. The pretty clear key-Profiler software allows a fast basic configuration, allows also for more demanding applications. Just a shame that only the G keys can be customized.

In the specifications of the developers, a more even illumination of the keypad, a more robust key management, and a palm rest improved in nearly all respects should be for a successor, however.

The Logitech G110 is currently available from approximately 65 € and is thus on the level of the competitors such as the Microsoft SideWinder X 6 or the Razer Lycosa. The toughest competition however is homemade. So, the G15 in the new version already for just over 60 euros is available. She has indeed no USB sound, boasts on but with the game Panel. A further test of computer base will soon show whether the brand new SideWinder X 4 is also an alternative.

Ultimately, the G110 is not quite accurate, but solid and unique thanks to the sound chips – but still too expensive when compared to the competitors in our view.