Keyboards and Keyboard/Mice Combo Sets

[morriscode]

Just received my Keyboard in the mail today. Unforunately I have the same problem which lead everyone else here, (W + Shift + Space).

In my opinion I believe users have a reasonable expectation from Logitech to assume this keyboard combination works. I also believe it's well within reason that if you're not going to support a very common key combination. You should have to have a disclaimer on the keyboard.

I'm surprised no one has sued you for this yet. Keyboard is being returned to newegg.. 

How embarrassing..

[joelgbg]

Just wanted to say that this was the last time i buy something from logitech, blocking keys on a keyboard whats next earphones with only sound in 1 ear?

dont hang here much but can contact me on sweclockers.se (swedish) Joelgbg.

[Naekh]

Same, here just unboxed the keyboard, launched a game and... That's pretty stupid from you Logitech. I mean this is such a great keyboard and such an obvious mistake is not forgettable. This is not a 10 euros keyboard we're talking about... I'm wondering if I will take it back. 

I was so happy to finally buy it and now I'm so disappointed, I guess I will have to take a look at the razer Lycosa, there is not so many backlighted keyboards with laptop keys...

[AntonC · Accepted solution]

Again, I wanted to reiterate that this is a keyboard matrix design limitation not unique to Logitech. This keyboard was designed for general typing at home and in the office, so the key press combinations that the Illuminated Keyboard were designed and tested around were more for those activities. The key combination in question is not intentionally "blocked". The Consumerist comments thread that brought some of you guys here has a lot of great technical information on this. You can also find more information on this if you google "key ghosting".

For folks looking for illuminated keyboards suitable for gaming, the G110 has the same list price as the Illuminated Keyboard. This keyboard was built and tested around the needs of gamers, including complex WASD key combos. The G15 is also currently on sale with the same price as the Illuminated Keyboard. These G series keyboards, at the same price as the illuminated keyboard, will provide you with Illuminated keys and a key matrix optimized for gaming needs.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

[Naekh]

Sure Anton, thing is we expect always so much from Logitech  . I understand the matrix stuff and so on, but how come a very cheap keyboard will not get the same issue? Different matrix I guess but it may have been wiser in this case to put a different one in the Illuminated.

There are indeed others logitech products for playing, or gamers, however they're not as silent or comfortable as the Illuminated. I wanted a "laptop feeling " as well as backlight, and for those two things there are two keyboards, I trusted Logitech, shouldn't have. I personally don't feel ripped off or anything like that it is just I wasn't expecting this kind of issue, specially when a previous version of the same keyboard did not have this issue. 

Anyway if I'm not happy I'll bring it back, but in the future I'll definitely think twice before purchasing a Logitech product. I was a fanboy, I'm not anymore. I also warned all my fellow gamers pals so they're aware of this, not to prevent them purchasing from your brand but to reduce the deception. 

Finally this "decision" to use this specific matrix or whatever that is may cost you some sells... Let us know if you correct this in a future version

[AntonC]

Hi Naekh,

I definitely understand your concerns and I've forwarded this thread to the appropriate business units for consideration. While I can't make any comments regarding future product changes, I will do my best to make sure the community's voice is heard inside Logitech. I do appreciate everyone's honest feedback, and I will keep you updated if I have any news regarding this.

Thanks,

[Naekh]

Just one last thing, not all brands will be so considerate and reactive, I have to thank you for that. Specially on forums.

I love this keyboard so much I think I'll learn to crouch with shift and run with ctrl I think in comparison I'll end up disappointed with an another keyboard anyway. 

Anyway thanks again and let's hope the next Illuminated will be perfect.

Edit : I brought the Illuminated back and took a K800 instead, working perfectly. I don't like the "wireless" but you can plug it like any other keyboard so it is fine. Just one thing to be perfect : be able to use the same wireless receiver for both the K800 and the G700 I have, that would be awesome. Still as I said I use it mainly plugged so no worries there, just a thought.

[velis]

I have a Performance MX and it works on the same receiver Must say this unifying receiver stuff really rocks, especially the size of it.

Otherwise this is really something Logitech designers should think about. A $/€ 100 keyboard should not have this issue no matter what. It creates the feeling that you design a totally awesome keyboard only to use the cheapest possible crap matrix inside. what kind of reasoning would that be?

And how do you (the designers + marketing) think your customers feel when they get an awesome keyboard with crap matrix? Gee, I wonder what else they went cheap on? - this is what comes to my mind at least. Well, at least in my case, I know of at least one more things you guys went cheap on: key etching quality (see separate thread of mine - unanswered, of course). At least I was lucky to get a K800 with a "working" matrix.

[ClarkVent]

I don't have this keyboard but I did stumble upon this thread because I was thinking of buying one. Well, two actually. And in all honesty, I think Logitech's excuse that this keyboard uses a different matrix aimed at office users is a very poor one. A very, very, very poor one and it reeks of an excuse for just trying to save a buck on manufacturing.

"This keyboard was designed for general typing at home and in the office, so the key press combinations that the Illuminated Keyboard were designed and tested around were more for those activities."

Let's think about this for a second here. For general use, most of the time only a single key is pressed. Once every 100 keystrokes or so, two keys are pressed simultaneously (shift+key for instance). Then once every thousand keystrokes or so three keys are pressed (like shift+ctl+key).

Of course, I pulled those numbers (once every 100 keystrokes, once every 1000 keystrokes) from my behind because I have no idea what those numbers really are. But I think we can all agree that most of the time (more than 99% ot the time) only a single key is pressed and if more than one key is pressed, it's always in combination with SHIFT, CTRL and ALT. These keys are called modifier keys. No office application or other general use desktop application exists that requires pressing of two character keys for instance.

Now the original Illuminated keyboard had no problems whatsoever with these key combinations (one or more modifier keys + character key). And it had the added bonus that it did support pressing multiple character keys needed for gaming. So there was absolutely no need for this keyboard to be "optimized" for general use. There's nothing the new version of this keyboard can do that the old couldn't. They in fact crippled it and called it "optimizing". That's like saying "Yeah, this new Mercedes? It's actually meant for driving in the city so we 'optimized' it for city use by lowering it's maximum speed".

The only reason I can think of for this optimization is because the "new and optimized" keyboard is really the "new and cheaper to manufacture" keyboard.

Perhaps I am completely wrong and Logitech can explain what it is the new version of the Illuminated Keyboard can do that the old couldn't.

[rmiller501]

The problem with the gaming keyboards is the type face is so small and the backlite is so dim that you can't see the keys. Why does Logitech do that ?