Logitech Releases new "GamePad" G13

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RanceJustice

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Hey guys. Thought you might be interested in this.... http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/mice_keyboards/devices/5123&cl=us,en

It has been a long time since there has been a top-quality gamepad, in my opinion. My N52 was great, but the N52te was a horrible flop because of driver issues. Now, Logitech has come out with a new pad that not only includes tons of buttons, but comes with the GamePanel open source LCD, just like the G15! Now you can switch to another keyboard without giving up your LCD.

Preliminary reviews look good too.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/handson_with_logitechs_g13_gameboard

Only problem is that it is nearly impossible to find in stores online, as of yet.
 
It LOOKS really well done and comfortable but I can't really think of any uses for this. I had a G15 keyboard and never touched the macro keys =/ Only thing I can think of is to macro some spells in World of Warcraft and that's about it.

It's also quite amusing how this thing is like 1/6th the size of a G15 but costs just as much.
 
Theoretically it should come down to the $50-60 pricepoint. I assume that most of the cost is directed to the LCD and macro function - if someone just wants a backlit keyboard (albeit, with one color instead of many) there are many cheaper options. I think the main use for any of these "gamepads" is thumb-based movement for FPS/MMO, which frees up WASD for binds and whatnot. Also, if you do a lot of complex macroing, it can help. While I've never quite found one of these boards that work for me thus far (some were too small or not set up correctly), I believe the key spacing and arrangement is supposed to be superior. Of course, someone without a G15 keyboard will find the LCD twice as useful.
 
I'm considering it, I have not used a gamepad to this date, but considering it now..

I'm one of those oldies that uses arrow keys still, but switch to WASDs for Elderscrolls and Fallout3. A gamepad would easily solve that problem.
 
I've never liked gamepads, it just seems like a gimmick to me. I'm sure they're great for some people, but it just seems like they're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. I've never had a game that I played where I said to myself, "gee, this sure would be better with a gamepad." I'll stick to the good ol' keyboard, it's never failed me yet.
 
i'm thinking about it because i'm currently gaming on a laptop. i might do it for when my get my desktop rig online so that i can game on the couch and use my tv as a monitor
 
I've found gamepads spectacularly useful for strategy games. Any game where you have to hit the sites of the screen to move around and click through menus the build stuff is a lot easier when you can do both with the pad and leave the mouse for important stuff. Still, I don't see any shift kind of key, which is one of my favorite features on the belkin n52.
 
That's ugly as hell.

Mind you I'm not a fan of the G15 keybaord either, poor build quality and looks naff
 
I have a g15 and love it, but the lcd is really unnecessary...I actually leave it collapsed a lot of the time because its distracting. There's few, if any, useful applications for it.
 
wow the last two posts really surprised me.
1. i have no idea how you can say that this gamepad looks ugly, i think they did a great job on the design and color.
2. i constantly use my lcd for gaming, monitoring pc temps and fan speeds and for music.

just a difference of usage and opinion i guess.
 
Between the CyberSnipa, and Zboard, I and my oversized fingers have become accustom to large butterfly style WASD key layouts. Too bad the quality of the two I just mentioned are not so great.

I like the looks of it, but it looks like it would not be a very good fit for me.
 
spicey said:
That's ugly as hell.

Mind you I'm not a fan of the G15 keybaord either, poor build quality and looks naff
Click to expand...

Poor quality? My 2nd gen G15 is nearly a year old and would look brand new if it weren't for the face of the wsad and space bar keys rubbed shiny.

I use to use a N52 game pad back in my everquest days to assist playing a bard and dealing with the rather complex hotkey requirements. It took me a while but I got use to it and actually miss the layout, sadly it died a bad death of drowning in coke.
 
Logitech makes decent stuff, gamepads are great for those games you can't really play well without one (moto gp, driving games etc) ;)
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Nanan said:
Poor quality? My 2nd gen G15 is nearly a year old and would look brand new if it weren't for the face of the wsad and space bar keys rubbed shiny.

I use to use a N52 game pad back in my everquest days to assist playing a bard and dealing with the rather complex hotkey requirements. It took me a while but I got use to it and actually miss the layout, sadly it died a bad death of drowning in coke.
Click to expand...


Yes, poor quality. My space bar started to stick and the palm rest never fitted properly from day one. The gap would collect dust. The backlight was also weak and uneven. I must have had a duffer
 
techminster said:
Logitech makes decent stuff, gamepads are great for those games you can't really play well without one (moto gp, driving games etc) ;)
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Click to expand...

My Logitech Rumblepad is great but sadly it seems to lack support in the latest games. Prince of Persia and GTA IV to name but two.
 
Thanks for the info. I might finally upgrade my old N52 I've had for going on 4-5 years now. Hopefully the software is better than the 52te
 
Wrench said:
Thanks for the info. I might finally upgrade my old N52 I've had for going on 4-5 years now. Hopefully the software is better than the 52te
Click to expand...

What's your beef with the N52TE? I was an original N52 user and after the initial bugs were worked out I like the TE even better.


That new pad looks pretty sweet and if I didn't already have an N52 I would probably buy it.
 
Snotrocket said:
What's your beef with the N52TE? I was an original N52 user and after the initial bugs were worked out I like the TE even better.


That new pad looks pretty sweet and if I didn't already have an N52 I would probably buy it.
Click to expand...

Everything I've read on it says crappy drivers. Practically every review I read said if you have the original don't upgrade. That's primarily the reason I've passed it up. Granted I haven't looked into it in awhile.

If your saying the driver issues are fixed. I might have to look into it more. Trust me I love my N52 and the TE looks even cooler.

My old N52 is just worn out showing it's age. Lost the pads for the base a long time ago. All the buttons are worn out. It's had a lot of use. Still it's a tank.:D
 
Agree with Spicey. Not entirely happy with my G15 either. Had it for less than a year and I'm having ongoing issues with it randomly powering off completely, then coming back on a few seconds later. I could be in a middle of an online match when this happens, or playing a single player game. Not consistent at all. That and my L key randomly decides to die at times. Hitting it a few times, didn't work, finally punched the keyboard intending to break it and the L key kicked back on. Very frustrated with this.

I swore by Logitech input devices until the G15, thinking about switching to Microsoft devices.
 
I use the Belkin Nostromo N52te. I've been using the Nostromo's since the N50 was new, many years ago. I could never go back to a keyboard for gaming, that's for sure.

After some more research, this could possibly convince me to switch. ;)
 
I used nostramos but I didnt like the same thing they did to this keyboard.. weird keys and angles. I know its supposed to fit my hand better, but really... just make me a mini half keyboard and I would buy happy.
 
I would def want to try in games before I bought this thing but all in all it looks nice just a little pricey
 
This looks like a real alternative to the Belkin Nostromo Speed Pad N52 and N52 Tournament Edition game pads. I'd really like to give this thing a try. I prefer a gamepad like this for FPS games as keyboards are uncomfortable to me because WSAD don't line up like they should. I hate the diagonal movement between the S & W keys.

If the price is right I'll look into this.
 
Dan_D,

Any chance of a [H]ard review? These models are a bit hard to get a hold of now, but maybe Logitech can send you one? I'm sure the price will come down a bit at the major online retailers (the Egg and whatnot), but for now maybe logitech can set you up with one for review purposes. I'm sure lots of people are interested in its more "advanced" functions, running G15 apps on the screen, response and "feel" during gaming and whatnot.
 
Xaeos said:
Dan_D,

Any chance of a [H]ard review? These models are a bit hard to get a hold of now, but maybe Logitech can send you one? I'm sure the price will come down a bit at the major online retailers (the Egg and whatnot), but for now maybe logitech can set you up with one for review purposes. I'm sure lots of people are interested in its more "advanced" functions, running G15 apps on the screen, response and "feel" during gaming and whatnot.
Click to expand...

Well as far as the [H] goes in terms of reviewing that you'd have to talk to Kyle.
 
SPARTAN VI said:
Agree with Spicey. Not entirely happy with my G15 either. Had it for less than a year and I'm having ongoing issues with it randomly powering off completely, then coming back on a few seconds later. I could be in a middle of an online match when this happens, or playing a single player game. Not consistent at all. That and my L key randomly decides to die at times. Hitting it a few times, didn't work, finally punched the keyboard intending to break it and the L key kicked back on. Very frustrated with this.

I swore by Logitech input devices until the G15, thinking about switching to Microsoft devices.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should try RMAing it. I've had my G15 for over a year with no problems at all. Logitech has great customer service, give em a call.
 
Unless that joystick on the right side is removable/able to be moved to the other side this one'll have to be a pass for me... lefties boned again. ;)
 
I'm a huge user of the Nostromo n52. I'm really gonna give the G13 a try with the LCD screen and alternative key layout. Logitech's website says it will be out this month, but I can't find it here in Canada.

I have the G15 (v1) and use it just for the LCD screen. I use it with Everest for all my stats. But it's huge and takes up a lot of desk space and the key spacing for typing is a little far apart which is great for gaming but not great for a lot of typing.
 
What do you "pad" users do to switch weapons, as opposed to the number keys on a regular keyboard? I kinda want to try this thing, but with no keys above the movement keys, I'm not sure it'll work for me. Plus, it looks like the spacebar equivalent is pretty tightly placed where my thumb might feel a little cramped.
 
I would just get the X-6 keyboard instead, take off the numpad and play with that. Basically the same and cheaper(?) too. :p Sure it doesn't have the screen or the stick but who needs 'em?
 
prtzlboy said:
What do you "pad" users do to switch weapons, as opposed to the number keys on a regular keyboard? I kinda want to try this thing, but with no keys above the movement keys, I'm not sure it'll work for me. Plus, it looks like the spacebar equivalent is pretty tightly placed where my thumb might feel a little cramped.
Click to expand...

As a numpad player I use the arrow and the block of keys above them for my weapon hotkeys in most games. I use the numpad for other action, inventory, character sheet, ect. I've been doing to so long I can hit any of those keys in an instant without thinking about it.

this thing looks close to what I'd want in a seperate pad, but I'm not sure it would do anything for me. the main thing it would help is that some games get released with the numpad hardcoded for other uses. I was hoping to use the sidewinder keyboard for this, but you can't set the numpad to repeat keystrokes when it's in macro mode.
 
tuaarita said:
I would just get the X-6 keyboard instead, take off the numpad and play with that. Basically the same and cheaper(?) too. :p Sure it doesn't have the screen or the stick but who needs 'em?
Click to expand...

the numpad has to be connect to one side or another of the keyboard.
 
spicey said:
That's ugly as hell.
Mind you I'm not a fan of the G15 keybaord either, poor build quality and looks naff
Click to expand...

Build quality has been vastly improved with the G13. This sucker has some heft to it thats for sure. Plus i can't say enough about the color choices. ;)
 
I use all the G keys on my G15 for abilities in WoW... I've been wanting a new keyboard, but couldn't live without those. This may be my answer... hmm.
 
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