Logitech G710 Keyboard with Cherry MX-Blue Keys $69.99

[Docjon]

I've found that proper typing style/form is more important than keyboard layout. If you have to hit the keys too hard for them to register then that's what can really cause problems.

The $20 discount for the G910 at Fry's doesn't work, probably because it's in backorder status. Guess I waited too long.

<sigh>

I made an acct at Fry's, entered all my info, had the link directly to the g910 on my desktop, and I knew EXACTLY when the on-line sale was to start - 9:03 AM Central. I went to the page a half-hour before the sale and started refreshing it periodically. Five minutes before it was scheduled to start, I began hammering the F5 key with pneumatic speed and regularity. When the sale went up, I kept trying to put one in my cart. Kept getting a gateway error or time-out. After a half-hour of this shit, the site showed they were out of stock. All this is why I've been referencing the price of the g910 as being $90 and not $80.

What fun that was. I got mine at Amazon. Fuck Fry's.

Newegg currently has it for $99.99, but it's out of stock.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... a54b2af251

Like Paladin said, maybe Amazon or Best Buy will have it again on Monday.

[Larva]

If this goes on sale again I'll probably pick it up. Perhaps the day after Christmas?

I ordered a new Zboard. I figure I'll use it ONLY for gaming to that it doesn't wear out as quickly as my others have. And when I get my other new keyboard, it'll give me time to transition all my key bindings in all my games over to it. I've been using a Zboard for about 10 years now - my fingers are hardwired to it after using it for so long. They don't make them anymore and they are getting harder and harder to find. One day they'll be too rare and expensive to be practical anymore, so I'm going to have to move on at some point.

[Paladin]

Naaa Larva, you should just get away from the zboard man. It does not take that long to get wired to another.
I used to like my Zboard as well but, like anything, after awhile it became annoying so I stopped using it.

You will adjust to no matter what you use.

I was using a G13 for years until recently. My second one started acting up a bit and took up extra space so I weened myself back to a normal keyboard. Doc, Lexx and I all got the Logitech - g910 Orion spark's now. Better than the 710.

[Docjon]

Read this carefully, don't just skim over it. Z-boards suck. They SUCK, Larva. How can you not FEEL how bad they suck? Is this the only keyboard you use? Or maybe you just use this and those little chicklet keyboards on laptops. The buttons on the gaming overlays (not keys, BUTTONS) are hard to press, and because of their odd shape, if you press them in different spots, they require different activating pressure, varying from hard-to press to very-hard-to-press. I found them painful to use in short order, and I don't even have RSI. I used silicone grease and oil (safe for plastics and rubber) to help the buttons move more smoothly, but it didn't do enough. And if by chance, you're not using the gaming overlays, THEN WHAT'S THE POINT? Then it's just a stiff keyboard with uneven activation force. It doesn't even LOOK cool.

They're an ergonomic nightmare, yet another in a long line of cool ideas that didn't work so good in practice. Notice how they didn't take off, despite their very cool idea and gfx? Notice how no one tried to copy them, no one from China tried to make a cheap rip-off, or how better keyboard makers didn't come out with their own, 'better' versions? They suck.

I'm not even trying to sell you on the fancy pretty RGB mechanical keyboards Pal, Lexx and I got this Black Friday. You'd be better off with any reasonable rubber-dome keyboard. I'd use any rubber-dome keyboard with about 6+ key rollover rather than a zboard. I was GIVEN a zboard, and it wasn't long before I passed it along to someone else.

In summation: maybe not so good

[Larva]

I've used them for a long time and am aware of their shortcomings, some of which you missed. They wear out quickly. Their quality is a joke. I know they suck. The idea of a keyboard configured for gaming is a great one but the implementation was an epic failure.

The only thing I like is the arrangement of the butterfly keys on the left hand side of the keyboard for gaming. They helped save me from RPI because of the arrangement alone - that and a more important ergo-keyboard I bought for work. It literally saved me from an operation.

That being said, I think I can wean myself off of it without hurting my wrists, elbows and shoulders again. The MOST important key to preventing RPI/CT is proper typing technique (using the home row and not pounding keys too hard). You're right that they keys require more pressure to press than most other keyboards, but I used to hit keys much harder than I ever needed to. I only hit them as hard as needed now.

So think of it as a crackhead weaning himself off of crack slowing. That's why I'm getting TWO keyboards: one for gaming and one for work. With USB now it's just as much work switching out a keyset as it is to switch keyboards.

Eventually what I might do is find something like a fang or nostromo to supplement my G710 or whatever quality solution I decide upon as my long term replacement.

[Docjon]

I've used them for a long time and am aware of their shortcomings, some of which you missed.

Noooo, I do believe I mentioned that they sucked.

They wear out quickly. Their quality is a joke. I know they suck. The idea of a keyboard configured for gaming is a great one but the implementation was an epic failure.

The only thing I like is the arrangement of the butterfly keys on the left hand side of the keyboard for gaming. They helped save me from RPI because of the arrangement alone - that and a more important ergo-keyboard I bought for work. It literally saved me from an operation.

That being said, I think I can wean myself off of it without hurting my wrists, elbows and shoulders again. The MOST important key to preventing RPI/CT is proper typing technique (using the home row and not pounding keys too hard). You're right that they keys require more pressure to press than most other keyboards, but I used to hit keys much harder than I ever needed to. I only hit them as hard as needed now.

So think of it as a crackhead weaning himself off of crack slowing. That's why I'm getting TWO keyboards: one for gaming and one for work. With USB now it's just as much work switching out a keyset as it is to switch keyboards.

Eventually what I might do is find something like a fang or nostromo to supplement my G710 or whatever quality solution I decide upon as my long term replacement.

I guess the spacing and key arrangement trumps the difficulty in pressing the keys for you. Your RSI will tell you what you need. I couldn't take it though. Found it getting painful halfway through a gaming session - I was pushing the keys harder because sometimes the press wouldn't register, because I'd hit the button where it required more force.

I was really disappointed, as I thought this was the coolest keyboard ever when it came out.

[Paladin]

The only thing I like is the arrangement of the butterfly keys on the left hand side of the keyboard for gaming.

I actually agree Larva. That is what i loved about them. At first anyway.. Then, as Doc said, that advantage started being overshadowed buy the sticking keys etc... I did not use it more then a year I think then got sick of that.

That is why I switched to the G13. Maybe you should check out something like that. A dedicated pad for the left hand just for gaming. Then use whatever keyboard you want for normal every day typing. I loved my G13 and while my first one had issues after awhile my second one still works well overall. I have had issues with it but I am unsure it is the device, I think it was more the connection.

Man I wish I knew how to make hardware etc... I have two GREAT ideas for controllers.