Gameboards/Keypads

[digitalErich]

Has anyone owned or used either the Razer Nostromo or the Logitech G13?

I've been using this Steelseries for 1 & 1/2 years and while I was skeptical at first, I've come to love the idea of a gaming focused key layout. It takes some getting used to, but having WASD on a true grid is just awesome (W is directly over S). I've also found I can use many, many more buttons w/ no fumbling or looking down.

The problem with the SteelSeries is that the hardware quality isn't too great and I'm not a fan of some of the button shapes they chose for the game pad section. I'm looking to move back to a quality, regular keyboard and supplement it with one of these addon keypads.

So far I'm leaning towards the G13 just for the sheer amount of buttons, which is close to what I have on the SS Merc. I already run two monitors so the little screen isn't really a selling point. I'll probably kill the process that runs it anyway.

While we're at it, does anyone own any of the Razer keyboards? I've heard good things but I don't know anyone that owns one.

[DiBiddilyBop]

I have owned the G13 for about two years now and love it. I mostly just have the screen turned off, although I noticed in the Guild Wars 2 beta they are using the screen to display info so that's pretty awesome.

I found macro programming to be a little difficult, but for just straight keyboard mapping and build quality, it's top notch.

[digitalErich]

Awesome, I'll probably grab one soon. I'm not too into macros; I owned one the Logitech G KBs (with the same screen) and I never used that left bank of extra macro keys.

That screen can be useful, I used to love it when I had the Logitech KB with it, but most of the stuff I used it for was managing other apps in the background while having the game up, but running two monitors and all games in fullscreen-windowed negates all of that. Though I will say it was nice when WoW and other RPGs would display your stats on it.

[Rogue_hunter]

I have an old-school Nostromo, back before it was bought out by Razer. It was really good, even in the first iteration, the n50. Smooth key action, though the d-pad was like a platter on a pivot, so it didn't always work so well. I see the n52 from time to time in Fry's Electronics.

The macros were pretty easy to make, but you had to use one key to move to the next level of macros. There's the base 10 keys and the d-pad, but you couldn't use the d-pad for a macro switch. So you only had 9 keys and the macro switcher. And once you were on the second level of macros (which you had to keep the button held down), you needed a different key to get to the third level of macros.

I used it pretty consistently for 3 years, but never got around to installing it once I built my new system in 2008.

[Karak]

Both are great I have them both. But I like the G13 more.
I used a razor keyboard for some time but moved to a normal Microsoft backlit. The razor was good but I had a lot of problems with it strangely.

[digitalErich]

Thanks for the responses, G13 it is I think...eventually.

[Goronmon]

Just to add in my thoughts. I've used the G13 for close to three years now and I've been pretty happy with it. Works just as well as the day I got it. Haven't had many issues except for one.

The software works most of the time but I'm constantly running into issues like having to close and relaunch to get Windows to recognize the gameboard is working. Easy to fix but annoying to have to constantly deal with it.

[digitalErich]

One question I have for the people that own this: the two buttons by the thumbstick, does one of those act as Space or are they both locked as some kind of G-key modifier? I'd like to be able to map one to Space and one to C, is that possible with their software?

[Goronmon]

I actually use the lowest right key (G22) as the space, which I believe is the default. Those two keys you mentioned are just extra keys you map to whatever.

And yeah, you can pretty much map any key to anything you want.

[digitalErich]

Oh, that makes sense. I think I'm imaging this thing smaller than it actually is (no stores within 30 min of me sell this). If G22 sits a natural distance away from the WASD proxy keys, then that's perfect.

[DiBiddilyBop]

I have the two keys you're referring to mapped as space and esc. I think it depends a lot on the size of your hand and how you naturally have your hand rest. For me, it's more natural to map one of those keys to space, but I can see wanting G22 mapped instead.

But yeah, like Goronmon said, they're mappable just like anything else.

[digitalErich]

I got my G13 installed and have been playing the PlanetSide 2 beta with it for the last couple of days. It has some shortcomings compared to the gaming portion of the SteelSeries (which I've boxed up in lieu of the G13 and a HP wireless KB) but overall I like it a lot, thanks for the recommendations everyone.

It also runs nicely on the Logitech Gaming Software, which I think is the first time in history a Logitech software or driver hasn't been garbage.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by digitalErich

I got my G13 installed and have been playing the PlanetSide 2 beta with it for the last couple of days. It has some shortcomings compared to the gaming portion of the SteelSeries (which I've boxed up in lieu of the G13 and a HP wireless KB) but overall I like it a lot, thanks for the recommendations everyone.

It also runs nicely on the Logitech Gaming Software, which I think is the first time in history a Logitech software or driver hasn't been garbage.

I agree. My logitech mouse driver that I just got is amazing. The first time I can say that. Maybe they are learning.

[digitalErich]

What mouse do you have? I just changed out my SteelSeries MMO mouse for the G700. It's a decent enough mouse, little heavy, but it's one of like 2 Logitech mice that isn't using LGS yet. The prog it hasn't isn't too offensive, but it just kind of stinks that I have to run two programs for two devices under the same Logitech family.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by digitalErich

What mouse do you have? I just changed out my SteelSeries MMO mouse for the G700. It's a decent enough mouse, little heavy, but it's one of like 2 Logitech mice that isn't using LGS yet. The prog it hasn't isn't too offensive, but it just kind of stinks that I have to run two programs for two devices under the same Logitech family.

A new logitech wireless. Four buttons on the thumb, 3 under the middle mousebutton. I don't know the name, I am at work, but I will check.

I fucking love it. Has a nice little thing to adjust all the settings and buttons and has 3 different profiles so I can switch between my two characters on Secret World and have them handled the same.