G-Series Gaming Keyboards

[awx]

Hi, I've got my G710+ today and I thought this is great keyboard until I plugged it in under (Debian) Linux: Every time I plug it in, it starts to "type" on it's own 234561666666666666666666666666666666666... (and so on).  Still, the keyboard accepts key presses as usual and while I type, it stops spamming sixes for a second, but then continues.

Confirmed several times, on different computers, and the keys are not stuck. Works fine under Windows.

Found this forum post that describes the same problem; so I can probably exclude a hardware failure.

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=153752

I don't know of any keyboard that doesn't work under Linux, so I wonder if that's a flaw of the G710+.

[kgober Logi Guru III]

it sure sounds like a flaw in the G710+.  maybe a bad HID descriptor.  or maybe the linux HID descriptor parser has a bug or makes an unwarranted assumption.  could you try the keyboard on a Mac or a BSD system and see what happens there?  I know that it's possible to run at least one of the BSD variants straight from a USB memory stick so you wouldn't have to make room for it on your hard disk.

unfortunately I don't have a G710+ (or access to the appropriate USB/HID tools) to figure out what the problem is myself.

-ken

[awx]

Thank you for your reply. I don't have a Mac or a BSD, but I'll download some BSD live cd and try that. And I think I've read somewhere that it does indeed work on a Mac.

Meanwhile I've found a "workaround": When I press one of the 5 media keys on the top it stops spamming "6" and the keyboard actually becomes usable! But now I have to do that on every boot and every time I plug in the keyboard, this is still unacceptable...

*edit*

I've tried DragonFlyBSD and it seems to work fine (hotplugging doesn't work, I had to boot with the keyboard plugged in, which I suspect is an OS limitation).

[awx]

I've felt impelled to return the keyboard today. There might of course be a bug in the Linux driver that can be fixed or the keyboard hiccups on some data it receives (could be worked around). This keyboard was simply too expensive to sit and wait for a possible fix (and I certainly don't have the knowledge to do it myself).

[kgober Logi Guru III]

sounds like a reasonable decision.  if you're interested in a mechanical keyboard not designed for gaming, check out one of these:

http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB40P4A

http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB4044A

you can also request a custom-built keyboard  (choose your color and your key layout -- US Linux is an available option) here:

http://pckeyboard.com/page/KBDCFG/KBDCFG

they're not backlit, and they don't have media keys, but otherwise they are very good.

-ken

[awx]

Thanks again, Ken. I would totally get one of those custom keyboards; unfortunately, living in Europe, my options are less inviting. I'm contemplating an order at a European reseller. Prices are steep here, though.

[ksm123]

Are this problems resolved?

I'm Linux only user, and I'm looking on keyboard built on MX Brown. Can anyone confirm if problems with G710+ are resolved, is so, the is firmware update needed or solutions involve modyfing udev rules?

[Pau2108]

Hello ksm123, 

The G710+ was designed to be used on a Windows based computer, therefore it is not supported on Linux. For more information you can take a look at the G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Technical Specifications.

I hope that you find this information useful ksm123, best regards.

[ksm123]

Thank you for your answer. It does not solve my problems, but it gives me feel
of corporate politics behind it.

I understand that Logitech does not support their PC gaming hardware outside
Windows ecosystem.  On the other hand, this is the first keyboard Windows only
keyboard I know of, and I know of many Logitech Gaming products that are
marketed as Windows only, and work perfectly well on Linux (my G5 mouse and
Extreme 3D Pro  included).

Did anyone recently test G710+ on Linux, and can write whether the problem was
resolved on the Linux side by the community, or any firmware update resolved it
"by accident" without being specifically targeted at this problem by vendor?

To Paulina, the Support Specialist: I would like to give you something to pass
to your boss about marketing niches in Central East Europe.

I do not need gaming keyboard. I would be perfectly satisfied with good quality
mechanical keyboard, classical 104 key loayout, no flashy features, just quiet,
tactile switches. But I became interested in G710+ because I can buy it in
Poland. It is the only keyboard based on MX Brown switches I can buy in Poland.
There are cheaper MX Brown keyboards out there. But if you include shipping
from Germany or UK to Poland, add money exchange costs, they become as
pricey as G710+.  Logitech distribution network is far superior to that of your
competition, use it as your advantage.  Add some marketing, target it at those
who earn their living with keyboard: writers, translators, programmers.

[ichthys]

TLDR: The G710+ works great on linux.

I found this page looking for specific linux drivers for my G710+, in order to use the M1/2/3/R macro keys and configure G1-G6 keys.

Besides not having the extra functionality of the M and G keys, the keyboard is working great on Ubuntu 12.04

Linux  3.2.0-38-generic #61-Ubuntu SMP Tue Feb 19 12:18:21 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux