Logitech's G13 gameboard turns it up to level 80
By Thomas Ricker 
posted December 10th 2008 5:07AM
posted December 10th 2008 5:07AM
Check it PC and Mac gamers, Logitech just announced its G13 Gameboard. With a trio of game modes, built-in 160 x 43 pixel LCD for stats and messaging, 25 programmable keys, and a programmable joystick, Logitech says that the G13 "offers up to 87 ways for you to control your game." It comes with pre-configured settings for World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to name a few. Otherwise, you can setup custom button-profiles as you please and even create macros on the fly without having to pause your quest. Available in US and Europe sometime this month for $80.
Maybe in the easter egg of excel 97?
If you can connect to the server.
Wait wait! It's preconfigured for Burning Crusade? Damn it! I was gonna buy it but I have Wrath of the Lich King... guess I'll have to find another unnecessary gadget to blow my money on.
I don't think it's meant for messaging like that, I think they meant "messages". Why would you only type with your left hand anyways??
Wait... what? A built in screen for stats and ... messaging? It has 25 programmable keys... English has 26 letters... which means in order to type a message I'll either have to move to my keyboard, or forgo a letter... hmm!
I suppose if I just don't type "H" that H-Bouya kid won't have any problem with it.
The screen is more for voice messaging apps and shows you who is in the channel or who is talking. This product is great as a cross between the G15 anf the N52 as the G15 doesn't work on a mac.
I don't do much PC gaming but i use a Belkin n52 for Photoshop. I would really like to see a device like this custom built for PS.
While I do like the LCD (what's not better with an LCD?), I believe the N52 will still be the pad of choice. The contours on this thing combined with the key layout make this thing seem like it would be rather uncomfortable to use.
This looks so much more comfortable than the n52 and if it weren't $80 I would find it a lot easier to be excited about.
The LCD screen is kind of a waste. You have to take your eyes away from the action too long to see the stats on it. They also should make the LCD screen a little more user friendly to customize yourself.
I got my N52 for $15 shipped when it first came out because someone didn't like it. More like didn't take the time to figure out how to use it. My win.
This looks like it has a lot of potential, but it's going to be a hard sell to get me to switch from the Belkin n52te. This looks more like a sectioned out piece of the keyboard with added buttons at the top more than an ergonomic game controller. I play mostly FPS games, but I think for RTS and MMO players this might be a good choice given the key layout, LCD, and extra buttons.
2¢
"It comes with pre-configured settings for World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to name a few"
Woot, 2 out-dated games!
On the logitech.com home page they're showing a picture of this along with what appears to be a new "G18" Gaming Keyboard as well. No info on the keyboard anywhere else on the site though.
So the finally brought it out... this thing is going to be great, I've been missing the gamer panel since my g15 broke. If it runs the same then programs made for the g15 will work with it, also www.lcdstudio.com should run on it, which is one nice bit of kit (e.g http://www.g15forums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=969 )
I dont even know what this does, but I can't get over the fact that the picture is fuzzy.
I like the looks and LCD etc, but the only thing that concerns me is the thumbstick. I had the saitek version which had a thumbstick and it broke after a while since in WoW pvp I guess I tend to put a lot of force on it. The nostromo n52 and n52te I have have never had a problem since the force goes down instead of across so less chance of breaking.
I'll most likely buy this one b/c I love these types of controllers and I'll see how it holds up.
Not enough thumb and pinkie controls. And the joystick placement looks like ergonomic hell.
Why do all peripheral makes hate on lefties ?
Off topic but I would love to b able to use my G25 wheel with my Xbox 360
I use my N52.te with adobe premiere, makes the editing job a heck of lot faster with recordable macros and such.. but not sure if this will replace it :o
The N52-TE video on YouTube with the Korean Guy from Belkin still kicks ass!!!
Don't bother with the N52-TE it looks nice with the shiny blue and such.. but the software sucks can't even use macros :/ and a few keys can't be rebound.. worse £50 I ever spent ._. I'd get the N52 ... or this (which i plan on doing)
This gaming pad is so much better looking and seems to be easier to use that my nostromo speed pad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostromo_SpeedPad_n52
As a Nostromo N52 user this looks real good. I'll probably give it a try once it is finally available. The pre-configuration for WOW and the ability to store macros on the pad itself are welcome upgrades. I currently use a windows PC as my main gaming computer but play a bit on my Mac laptop as well. This will make switching between the two much easier.
As someone who took part in designing the original n50 and n52, I feel cheated... this is a direct copy of the work we did.
On the positive side.. that was almost 8 years ago, and I guess there is something to be said about a device that was so kick ass its still replicated today, and still is the best there is.
This looks pretty sweet. I've tried all these gamepads at one time or another and by far the best is the Belking Speedpad. The new tournament edition one is like one of the greatest periphals ever invented imo. Ya, and wtf is a mac gamer!? People using underpowered overpriced Macs!? That's cute. :) Anyways back to reality, if Logitech can bring it with the quality of Belkin's device, i'd def have to check it out first hand. But I love Logitech's hardware and i'm sure this will be top notch. The software has to be good to, i love the Speedpads interface. Mac... lol, that made my day.
I have a Nostromo N52TE an never will i go back to a keyboard , those things are great . Takes about a week to get the hang of it but when you do , it rocks . Ill buy the G13 juste for the hell of it to see if it's better than the N52TE but i think it's all the same thing , exept the little screen you dont have to look at when you are fragging :p
At first i thought someone was coding assembly on that thing.
Don't know if I need the complex macros, but it looks like it'd be pretty schweet for FPS gaming.
Firstly the brilliant n52 is no longer in production.
As an owner of the better looking but inferior n52te that belkin made with the sub standard razer software and useless thumb pad have been waiting nearly a year for the elusive V3 drivers that will supposedley make it work properly.
Add to that that all my other peripherals are logitech and are all top quality and all i would ever like to use this is definetly top of my want list.
I personally will NEVER buy an inferior Belkin product of any kind ever again.