4k

This is not helping the development of my Clan Lord projects.

Gaming Gear

I broke my last keyboard (the G key was permanently depressed) as well as my mouse (the scroll wheel would not scroll), so I went out today and dropped $100 on some new Logitech equipment: I treated myself to a G105 keyboard and a G100s mouse.

I've always like Logitech and I have had good experiences with their gear (with the exception of G330 headset: there was some interference with the volume knob, so I often heard static – but I digress).  I bought the keyboard and mouse at a local computer store, and while I stood in the checkout line I saw something troubling printed on the bottom of the boxes: the system requirements for both peripherals was Microsoft Windows system 7 and up – no mention at all about Macintosh compatibility.  I was feeling lucky and took a gamble (or I was too lazy to leave the checkout line, pick one) and made the purchases anyways, with the thought that I could return them if I was unable to use them.

Before opening any of the boxes or breaking any of the seals, I went onto the Logitech website and, much to my delight, discovered that – at the very end of the list of operating systems supported for their gaming mice and keyboards – was the Mac OS X download link.  I now have a programmable keyboard and mouse, and I can record keystrokes on-the-fly and save them to a hotkey.  This has some wild and awesome potential for me when I am running spur-of-the-moment invasions.

There are two features missing from this keyboard: (1) it lacks USB ports.  This is unfortunate, and it was a feature that was on my "must have" list (which I completely forgot to check while shopping).  And missing feature (2) is the Macintosh command key.  It's a Windows keyboard, so I must instead use the Windows key when I want to command-click or command-key something.  This Windows key is in a different layout position than what I am accustomed to using, so I find myself ascending a bit of a learning curve (the Mac keyboard layout is, from left to right, control, option and then command; the Windows layout is control, Window and alt).  So I need to remember if I want to type option-G, then I need to instead type alt-G – using the third modifier button instead of the second button.

But boy, does it feel nice to have working equipment again.  Now that I know that much of the Logitech gaming gear is supported on the Mac, I almost regret not buying the super-deluxe versions of both keyboards and mice (one mouse had 20 customizable buttons, while another had small weights which could be added as to customize the feel of the mouse).

I suppose I now have something to look forward to when I break the new equipment!