Logitech Gaming Keyboard G110

The Logitech G110 Gaming Keyboard is another solid entry. The illumination is offered in shades of Red, Blue, and Purple, with controllable brightness levels. Comes with headset and microphone inputs so you can run audio directly from the keyboard, with separate mute buttons for headphone and mic.

The G110 connects to your computer by USB 2.0 connection, but you don’t lose a USB port… it has a built-in USB connector directly on the keyboard, so you can pass another accessory (like your mouse) through. It’s worth noting, the USB seems a bit low-powered, so it’s not the perfect USB replacement port.

A feature gamers will like, the game mode switch allows you to turn off Windows-related keys. No more accidentally pulling up the Start menu, or interruption of game play. Also with gamers in mind, certain high-volume key combinations have been protected from ghosting. This means you can jam multiple keys at once and it will read them all simultaneously. You’ll see the effect mainly on the W, A, S, D keys.

The G-keys make this a true gamer’s dream keyboard. With 12 G-keys, and 3 modes each, you can program up to 36 macros… per game! The MR key (macro record) allows you to enter a macro on the fly while still playing. Push MR, push the G-key you want, and play the sequence of keys you want to record. Another press of the MR key stops recording mode and saves the order of keys you just entered. For keyboard intensive games with favorite or repetitive moves, this is a powerhouse option. Of course, the macro functions work for more than just games. Photoshop, for instance. Anything where you repeat a series of keystrokes over and over can be simplified with the G-keys.

The G110 measures just over 19 inches in length, but with all the extra keys, you’ll notice the layout is tighter than a normal full-sized keyboard, and the keys slightly smaller. With the G-keys being so close to the regular keys, it may take some practice to avoid hitting them accidentally. The keys are quiet, with a very soft feel to the stroke. Media control keys and a volume wheel add more functionality.

Comes with a wrist rest, which has mixed reviews. The wrist rest is lightweight plastic, snaps on or off. You also get software to run the G-Key macros. Works Windows XP, Vista, or 7, and also Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. You’ll need an available USB 2.0 port and 20 megs of disc space.

Final thoughts: Overall customer reviews put the Logitech G110 at 4 out of 5 stars. It may take some getting used to, but the features and quality are excellent. My only qualm is the price. If you’re going to use all the gamer features, then it’s a great keyboard at a great price. If all you want is an illuminated keyboard, there are less expensive choices without all the G-keys. The video below is actually by Logitech, so it does a good job highlighting the G110′s features.

Overall Rating:

Sale Price: $57.64

Step up your game. With the Logitech Gaming Keyboard G110 you can customize backlighting, get clear-sounding USB audio, and assign up to 36 unique keystrokes or macros per game.