Keyboard and Monitor advice needed
By
Back_Blast,
Posted on: 2010-04-09 20:18 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
Quote:
I think it's very difficult to suggest a keyboard because there are many aspects to be considered. I would go to a store that sells them and try them out. My personal choice was the Logitech G11.|
Originally Posted by DarkEther
I've got a new computer in the works, so now I'm searching the world over for a new keyboard and monitor. I'm hoping some folks here might have a few recommendations.
For a keyboard, I don't normally care about all those extras, but do want a nice wrist rest. But I was looking at a Saitek and the Logitech and had a question about the latter one - for something like the G-19/15, is it possible to have selected in-game stats appear in the lcd? Also, I'd prefer USB to wireless. For a monitor, I'm used to 1920x1080, and am looking in the 20-24" range, quick response time, and HDCP would be nice to have for future-proofing any movie watching. I'll be running a 5870 vid card, fyi. I have a few I've been reviewing, but can't find one that just really fits the bill so far. |
When it comes to a monitor I'd say anything below 23" is too small. Actually 24" seems to be small when I look at it. Check out the LG Flatron W2453TQ or the Samsung SyncMaster P2450H.
I've been quite please with this monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009212
As for keyboards... as strange as it seems, an old apple keyboard (bond-blue imac era) is the best I've ever had. Crisp and responsive, has worked perfectly for years. Of curse you can't just go back in time to a CompUSA or whatever >_>
I personally use the Sidewinder X6 keyboard from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/ga...s.aspx?pid=102
I love it. I have not had any issues with it since I got.
It does not have a heads up display on the keyboard itself but then again I barely even look at the keyboard when I play so any display would need to be near my monitor for me to use it.
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Well, I'm currently using a 17" widescreen laptop at home, and a smaller laptop at work, so anything will seen larger to me. 
I guess given that I'm used to laptops, I'm not going to be as happy with a keyboard that clicks with each key press. I understand it's more of a personal taste, but was just curious about those lcd displays and how they can work with the game, if they even can.
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Quote:
Those look really close to what I'm wanting - the only drawback seeming to be the lack of adjustment for height/tilt. The Samsung has tilt, it seems, the LG has nada.
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Originally Posted by Myriad
When it comes to a monitor I'd say anything below 23" is too small. Actually 24" seems to be small when I look at it. Check out the LG Flatron W2453TQ or the Samsung SyncMaster P2450H.
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Originally Posted by Myriad
I think it's very difficult to suggest a keyboard because there are many aspects to be considered. I would go to a store that sells them and try them out. My personal choice was the Logitech G11.
When it comes to a monitor I'd say anything below 23" is too small. Actually 24" seems to be small when I look at it. Check out the LG Flatron W2453TQ or the Samsung SyncMaster P2450H. |
Been looking on the net for quite a while today. It seems that Samsung is about as close as I'm going to get.
Anyone have this one for a quick review/yea or nay?
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I don't personally own a Samsung, but I do know others who have them. Samsung is very high quality currently. Both in televisions and monitors. They've really stepped up their game over the last few years. I would say you're probably looking at getting a decent monitor from them.|
Originally Posted by DarkEther
Been looking on the net for quite a while today. It seems that Samsung is about as close as I'm going to get.
Anyone have this one for a quick review/yea or nay? |
If you wanted to find reviews for that specific model, it's fairly easy to do a search in Google for reviews. You should find plenty
We'll see....
I have an Ideazon Merc. I believe the brand has since changed to SteelSeries. I absolutely love it. It has a basically standard keyboard layout for typing with a gaming keys area on the end for games.
This is the new/current version of it. http://www.steelseries.com/int/produ...rc/information
Give it a look.
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Quote:
For the G15 you can use the COHLCD software along with Herostat to get your in game stats appear on the LCD. It's a very nice little software and it works very well.|
Originally Posted by DarkEther
For a keyboard, I don't normally care about all those extras, but do want a nice wrist rest. But I was looking at a Saitek and the Logitech and had a question about the latter one - for something like the G-19/15, is it possible to have selected in-game stats appear in the lcd? Also, I'd prefer USB to wireless.
|
Example of things that can be displayed:
1- hp/end bar
2- Amount of influence
3- XP earned and XP left to level
4- Chat logs ( global, channel, private messages)
and I might be forgetting some.
Quote:
COHLCD should work with any of the Logitech keyboards. However, Duck hasn't (it seems) continued the project, and for some strange reason I can't get it to work with my Vista machine. |
Originally Posted by ElectroHawk
For the G15 you can use the COHLCD software along with Herostat to get your in game stats appear on the LCD. It's a very nice little software and it works very well.
Example of things that can be displayed: 1- hp/end bar 2- Amount of influence 3- XP earned and XP left to level 4- Chat logs ( global, channel, private messages) and I might be forgetting some. |
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was about to edit my post but i'll just reply instead.
For some reason Duck lost the ownership of the original URL to download the program but someone on the board has uploaded the last version for us. check this post for the link: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showp...91&postcount=7
Also I've been using the software on Windows 7 64bit without issues. As long as you have the latest version of Herostat installed you should be fine.
Quote:
I don't have that model.|
Originally Posted by DarkEther
Been looking on the net for quite a while today. It seems that Samsung is about as close as I'm going to get.
Anyone have this one for a quick review/yea or nay? |
I have a 226BW (22" widescreen 1680x1050). The backlight failed after 2-3/4 years, still under warranty, and it was repaired very quickly at zero cost to me (they paid shipping both ways). However, since I absolutely could not be without a monitor (and didn't have a spare), I bought....
XL2370 which is a 23" 16:9 high def widescreen (1920x1080) with LED backlight. The monitor itself looks nice and has a great picture.
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I'm with Myriad on the G11. I had the G15, but found that I wasn't really using the LCD. The G11 still has the 18 extra G-keys like the G15....there was a model inbetween that had less keys, but I am spoiled with 18. I really love this keyboard.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ElectroHawk
For the G15 you can use the COHLCD software along with Herostat to get your in game stats appear on the LCD. It's a very nice little software and it works very well.
Example of things that can be displayed: 1- hp/end bar 2- Amount of influence 3- XP earned and XP left to level 4- Chat logs ( global, channel, private messages) and I might be forgetting some. |
What about the stuff from the Combat Attributes?
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Originally Posted by Flameshot
I don't personally own a Samsung, but I do know others who have them. Samsung is very high quality currently. Both in televisions and monitors. They've really stepped up their game over the last few years. I would say you're probably looking at getting a decent monitor from them.
If you wanted to find reviews for that specific model, it's fairly easy to do a search in Google for reviews. You should find plenty |
Surprisingly enough, the reviews aren't nearly as numerous as I would have thought. I've found several from customers, some of who say it's the best ever, and some who say it's average. One review site said it wouldn't play 1080p, despite being a 1920x1080 monitor, and I don't think it's a 1080i. though that's what he said.
Anyway, disappointed in the lack of reviews, so I was hoping someone here would have it to give me a game-play review. But I may be the first, if I go with it.
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Yeah, I'd looked at those. Their 7G was on my short list, due to the wrist rest and such. I'll give that other a look see...thanks!
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Originally Posted by Back_Blast
I have an Ideazon Merc. I believe the brand has since changed to SteelSeries. I absolutely love it. It has a basically standard keyboard layout for typing with a gaming keys area on the end for games.
This is the new/current version of it. http://www.steelseries.com/int/produ...rc/information Give it a look. |
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Originally Posted by Ironblade
I don't have that model.
I have a 226BW (22" widescreen 1680x1050). The backlight failed after 2-3/4 years, still under warranty, and it was repaired very quickly at zero cost to me (they paid shipping both ways). However, since I absolutely could not be without a monitor (and didn't have a spare), I bought.... XL2370 which is a 23" 16:9 high def widescreen (1920x1080) with LED backlight. The monitor itself looks nice and has a great picture. |
Ooh, I like that...quick response, HDCP, LED...nice.
Have you tried it with a blue ray disk? Does it play the 1080p HD stuff ok?
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I have the Samsung and I'm not unhappy with it. The only negative thing I can say about it, is the minimal tilt option (you can tilt the monitor but not by much). Well, and maybe that it seems to attract dust. |
Originally Posted by DarkEther
Surprisingly enough, the reviews aren't nearly as numerous as I would have thought. I've found several from customers, some of who say it's the best ever, and some who say it's average. One review site said it wouldn't play 1080p, despite being a 1920x1080 monitor, and I don't think it's a 1080i. though that's what he said.
Anyway, disappointed in the lack of reviews, so I was hoping someone here would have it to give me a game-play review. But I may be the first, if I go with it. |
Aaaaaand maybe that I wish I had the 27" version of it. 24" seems to be smaller these days than it used to be. 
If you have specific questions about the monitor feel free to ask. I'll try to answer any reasonable question as good as I can.
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Originally Posted by Myriad
I have the Samsung and I'm not unhappy with it. The only negative thing I can say about it, is the minimal tilt option (you can tilt the monitor but not by much). Well, and maybe that it seems to attract dust.
Aaaaaand maybe that I wish I had the 27" version of it. 24" seems to be smaller these days than it used to be. If you have specific questions about the monitor feel free to ask. I'll try to answer any reasonable question as good as I can. |
Only just curious as to how smoothly it plays in game, and if it will indeed (as one review site said) not play in 1080p for blue ray movies. They said it would only do about 1080i, which is more noticeable on larger monitors.
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I don't have a Blue Ray player in my pc, so I can't really answer that, sorry. And I'm not really sure what you mean with "smoothly". The response time is 2ms if that's what you meant.
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Originally Posted by DarkEther
Only just curious as to how smoothly it plays in game, and if it will indeed (as one review site said) not play in 1080p for blue ray movies. They said it would only do about 1080i, which is more noticeable on larger monitors.
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Quote:
Unfortunately the current build of the program was release before we had in game stats available. So it won't be able to display them.
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Originally Posted by DarkEther
What about the stuff from the Combat Attributes?
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Beats me. I don't have any HD sources to try it with.
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Originally Posted by DarkEther
Ooh, I like that...quick response, HDCP, LED...nice.
Have you tried it with a blue ray disk? Does it play the 1080p HD stuff ok? |
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Quote:
And if it's too wide for you (I have a v1 G15 as well,) look in to the G110. No LCD, 12 instead of 18 keys, and it fits nicely compared to a regular keyboard. (The G15 was wiiiiiide.)
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Originally Posted by Healix
I'm with Myriad on the G11. I had the G15, but found that I wasn't really using the LCD. The G11 still has the 18 extra G-keys like the G15....there was a model inbetween that had less keys, but I am spoiled with 18. I really love this keyboard.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ironblade
I don't have that model.
I have a 226BW (22" widescreen 1680x1050). The backlight failed after 2-3/4 years, still under warranty, and it was repaired very quickly at zero cost to me (they paid shipping both ways). However, since I absolutely could not be without a monitor (and didn't have a spare), I bought.... XL2370 which is a 23" 16:9 high def widescreen (1920x1080) with LED backlight. The monitor itself looks nice and has a great picture. |
The link on NewEgg went to the XL2370-1, and I found the just plain 2370 (no -1) in my local best Buy and several online review links. I'm looking to find what the difference is (new internals, fixed an issue, whatever) but haven't found anything as yet. DO you have any idea what the -1 version has different?
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I've got a new computer in the works, so now I'm searching the world over for a new keyboard and monitor. I'm hoping some folks here might have a few recommendations.
For a keyboard, I don't normally care about all those extras, but do want a nice wrist rest. But I was looking at a Saitek and the Logitech and had a question about the latter one - for something like the G-19/15, is it possible to have selected in-game stats appear in the lcd? Also, I'd prefer USB to wireless.
For a monitor, I'm used to 1920x1080, and am looking in the 20-24" range, quick response time, and HDCP would be nice to have for future-proofing any movie watching. I'll be running a 5870 vid card, fyi. I have a few I've been reviewing, but can't find one that just really fits the bill so far.
My Deviant Art page link-link
CoH/V Fan Videos