Logitech G710+ Mechanical Keyboard and G600 MMO Mouse Review
by Dustin Sklavos on October 9, 2012 12:01 AM ESTIn Practice: Work
I've actually been using the Logitech G710+ keyboard and G600 mouse while writing up this review, and hammering out something detailed while having to check specs and so on gives both peripherals a good working over in productivity setting. I'm particularly familiar with the G600, which has been out longer and in my hands longer, and I've tried it in quite a few different environments.
For typing, I have to say that at least by my experience with the G710+, I'm not a fan of Cherry MX Brown switches. While I personally enjoy the feedback and clickiness of the MX Blues the best for typing, they really are inferior for gaming to all the other switches, so the MX Browns are at least an attempt to balance things. The problem is that the Browns feel like they have higher resistance than the Blues, Reds, or Blacks even though they're actually specced to have the least resistance. They may actually be bottoming out faster, but either way they put vastly more stress on my wrists than the other switches do. I'll have to see how the Rosewill keyboard I have in house with Cherry MX Brown switches plays out, but I can tell you the G710+'s feedback feels more like stiff membrane keys than the other mechanical keyboards I've used. This is all subjective, though; undoubtedly you'll be able to play with the G710+ in retail and feel for yourself.
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Meanwhile, the G600 has a very smart design that felt incredibly intuitive in my hand. Feeling out the hot button array on the left side was easy enough to do (I preferred using the lower array instead of the upper), but fair warning: this is not a mouse for small hands. This mouse will probably be very comfortable to users who either like big mice or have big hands, but if you have small hands like I do, it's liable to stress your wrist and hands a bit more. I found my wrist cramping up after about a half hour of using the G600, but your mileage may vary.
In Practice: Play
I tried a few games with the G600 and G710+, but the one that got the most attention (and the one that's been dominating my attention span over the past couple of weeks) is the closed beta of MechWarrior Online. I could go on and on about how awesome the game is even in its current, somewhat buggy and slightly unbalanced state, but suffice to say pretty much everyone I know has made a concerted effort to get into it and either lucked out with a beta key from registering or actually bought into the closed beta with a Founder's Package, and griefing heavy mechs with my idiotic little Streak SRM Commando has been a delight.
The same resistance, size, and weight issues I experienced in day to day use with both peripherals unfortunately still apply in gaming, but the MX Brown switches used by the G710+ still remain superior to the Blues for games and certainly a valid option. I still think the Reds or Blacks are ultimately preferable in either productivity or gaming (I probably give a slight edge to the Reds), but the Browns are perfectly serviceable.
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On the other hand, I think the G600 is an absolutely killer gaming option for users who are built to enjoy it. A friend of mine with larger hands found it incredibly comfortable and intuitive to use, and the ability to configure a DPI shift (similar to Corsair's sniper button) to the third surface button for precise aiming is incredibly useful. Likewise, as a MechWarrior Online afficionado I can't help but appreciate the potential of using the button array to control the various firing patterns.
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jigglywiggly - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
who wants browniesgive me cherry mx red
Tasslehoff - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Another red switches keyboard? Are you kidding?Almost 80% of mechanical keyboards use linear switches, most of them use red ones...
A new brown or blue switches keyboard is really really welcome!
althaz - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Are you crazy? Browns are probably 1000x times nicer to use than Reds. Reds are popular, but only with manufacturers, not the people who actually have and use mechanical keyboards. You'll be seeing more and more browns I suspect as from what I've read on forums and seen from people who have tried them, almost everybody likes browns. Reds are better than blacks, but that's about it.Blues are a bit too clicky for me and don't feel as nice to game on (amazing for typing though), but I can see the appeal for some folks (non-gamers especially, I have thought of getting something with blue switches for work, but my workmates may not like it :))
Still, all that said, I don't think I'd buy a Logitech keyboard almost regardless of reviews, there are just better quality units out there and I'm not a big fan of keyboards that look fancy :).
sking.tech - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Actually Blacks are the most common, reds up until recently were extremely hard to find. Of course after I paid 150 bucks for my hard to find cherry red - they started popping up everywhere <grumble>.MX browns are actually one of the least desirable switch types.
kepstin - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
As a Model M user who was looking for a quieter mechanical keyboard that still had a bit of feel to it, I ended up settling on the browns. The unfortunate thing is that they really do have low resistance; I end up bottoming out the keys with every press. I'm actually modding the keyboard with rubber o-rings to soften the landing a bit...What I'd actually love to find is a Cherry "Clear" switch keyboard - bigger tactile bump, more resistance. But there are so few keyboards with them...
Mr Perfect - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
The clears are definitely hard to find. Off hand, you can check Ebay for the Cherry G80-8113 or Cherry G80-8200, though you have to be careful since both models also come available with browns. A heavily used POS board of clears feels lighter then a board of new clears, but still far more tactile then the browns. Beyond the POS boards there was a limited run of Leopold FC200Rs with clears in them, but that was about a year ago and you'd have to pick one up used. The other option would be to get a board and swap clears into it. With PCB mounted switches, like those found on the Cherry G80-3000, it's pretty easy. Switch swapping on boards with plate mounted switches leaves you a lot of soldering to do.dcsquare - Saturday, October 13, 2012 - link
I actually have a clear switch Cherry G80-3000LQCEU-0, bought six months ago from Germany. While it's very nice to type with, it's not a very good choice for gaming. At least for me. On Diablo 3 it consistently did not register some key presses.Impulses - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
You're making way too big a deal out of the difference between browns and reds... I have keyboards with both types (K90 & a Rosewill) and to me they feel almost identical. The tactile bump on browns is very very subtle, to the point that it's imperceptible while typing quickly if you're not used to it (a little more noticeable while gaming).Vast majority of people that can deal with brown could deal with red,and vice versa. A lot of it's very subjective tho, if you've been using browns a long time then you'll be more used to the slight bump... At the same time, if you've been using reds a while it's not hard to get used to the key travel and avoid bottoming out while typing, even without any tactile feedback.
Blue's tactile click is world's apart IMO. A lot of people describe browns as an in-between reds and blues but to me browns feel much closer to reds. There isn't a best or better switch tho, there isn't even a better switch for typing or gaming, it's all subject to personal preference.
There's also plenty of variety on the market at this point, it's kinda silly to argue whether X manufacturer's model should use Y switch or Z switch based on what else is on the market. You've got tons of choices between old standbys like Das, Filco, Ducky, and even Rosewill's rebrands and newer entrants like Coolermaster, Corsair, Monoprice, and now Logitech.
Impulses - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
Many of those manufacturers also make models with multiple switch options too.Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - link
This is pretty much the first time I've heard someone say that the difference between browns and reds is subtle to the point of irrelevant. I'm looking for something that's good for typing (light weight, not too prone to accidental keypresses, some feedback to keep you from bottoming out) and also for gaming (again, light weight and not prone to unintended presses, but also smooth and responsive).The browns seemed like the obvious choice as a compromise. Were I only looking for a typing board, and wanted something with real audio/tactile feedback, I'd probably go for a Unicomp over something made with blues, but I don't really feel like either would be ideal for gaming. Well, definitely not the Unicomp, which is 2KRO.
Are you really arguing that browns just aren't that different from reds? I'm not challenging you, I'm genuinely curious. I don't need something with a transition as obvious as that of a spring buckling, but I would like some noticable tactile feedback.