Further Impressions and Conclusion
I've been using the Logitech G510 and G700 together for over two weeks both for gaming and every day tasks.
G510 Gaming Keyboard impressions
The G510 keyboard replaces rev 2 of the G15 which caught some flak from fans of the original that felt it wasn't as good as the one it replaced. I want to preface this by saying I have been using the original G15 keyboard on my main system for over four years. Is it a perfect keyboard? No, of course not, but it's a nice gaming board with a great feature set that has withstood years of daily abuse with the only noticeable issue being that the blue key backlight has started to die over the past year or so.
Back to the G510, there are several features that carried over from the original that I like, such as the full complement of macro keys, the LCD screen, backlight and dedicated media controls. The aesthetics have been polished a bit to look more modern, but the color scheme and general layout remain the same.
Digging in a bit more specific, the LCD panel is now in a fixed location and is smaller than the original. The overall display quality is improved and you can change the color of the display (and keyboard backlight), but the fixed panel presented a problem for me. My desk sits a bit higher than most, meaning the angle of the screen from my vantage point wasn't optimal and the very bottom of the screen wasn't viewable unless I sat up straight. Also, the backlighting isn't terribly bright and could use a boost. With the keyboard sitting in front of three LCD monitors, the backlight was virtually washed out, even in low light situations. Users with a single display may have better results.
I like the fact that Logitech has placed the media keys on the right side of the keyboard just above the number pad. The volume scroll wheel works great. I also like the integrated headphone and microphone jacks, though I feel they could be placed in a better position. I do, however, miss the two USB ports that were on the G15. While these weren't USB 2.0 ports and they weren't powered, they were extremely convenient for plugging in a mouse or flash drive.
Typing on the G510 felt a bit different than my old G15, but this could easily be attributed to my G15 being several years old and broken in. Overall typing on the G510 is pleasant with all of the keys in their correct placement.
My final observation with the G510 has to do with the wrist rest. The G15's wrist rest tapered nicely, starting out with very little slant and gradually building up to meet the bottom edge of the keyboard. The G510 is totally different; much bulkier and actually raising your wrist above the base of the keyboard, resulting in a different angle and experience. It's not bad, but will certainly take some time to get used to for me.
Wireless Gaming Mouse G700 impressions
As mentioned earlier, the G700 has taken the place of my Logitech MX Revolution for the past few weeks.
From a sheer aesthetic standpoint, the G700 is one of the sexiest mice on the market in my opinion. The black on black motif looks stunning and fortunately there aren't any gaudy chrome accents, excessive lighting or other gimmicks to dull down the mouse.
The G700 has plenty of programmable G buttons which makes it great for MMORPG gaming. The buttons and their layout are all very natural and within easy reach during usage, however I do wish the G buttons had a more distinctive label on them. The tilt wheel is easy to operate but the clickable scroll wheel requires a bit more force to depress.
The G700 was a natural in both games and everyday use. The general shape is very similar to the MX Revolution which has been my personal favorite for years, so the G700 felt great under my hand. The Hyperfast scroll wheel features a gear that you need to manually engage/disengage to operate - a stark contrast to the automatic gear on the MX Revolution.
The wireless system on the G700 didn't present any problems for me during testing. I didn't get exact numbers but I only had to charge the mouse twice over a two week period. Keep in mind I used the mouse every day on either my main system or a secondary gaming system and didn't turn it off at night.
Recharging the mouse requires you to simply plug the USB cable into the front of the unit. You can still use the mouse wired by removing the wireless USB dongle. The four feet on the bottom of the G700 allowed it to slide around with ease on my Roccat Sota mouse pad. There were no issues with tracking from the gaming laser, which is good for up to 5700 DPI.
I may have sounded a bit harsh on the G510, but that is only because I am comparing it directly to the original G15 which is my all-time favorite keyboard. I know I'm not alone in this situation so hopefully my perspective will present you with valid views on how these two compare.
The G510, despite its few flaws, is a great keyboard for anyone looking for a multi-feature gaming keyboard. If you have an original G15 that you love and have no problems with, I certainly encourage you to keep it, however if your old keyboard is showing its age and you didn't want to move to the second revision of the G15, here's a great solution. If you are upgrading from a standard keyboard or your previous aftermarket keyboard isn't cutting it anymore, the G510 is well worth a look, granted the $120 price tag doesn't scare you away.
The G700 is perhaps the mouse I have been looking for to replace my aging MX Revolution. It feels great under my hand, is wireless, looks amazing and has more programmable buttons than most people will have uses for. The high quality 5700 DPI rating and 1000 MHz polling rate make it perfect for hardcore gamers as well as casual enthusiasts. I have no problem recommending the G700 to anybody looking for a top notch mouse. Had it been ready in time for our 12 mouse round-up, it very likely would have taken top honors. Its only downside? A steep $100 asking price.