罗技(Logitech)的游戏部门(gaming division)最近一直在努力工作，发布了一些新的外围设备，包括新的机械游戏键盘(gaming keyboard)。这一次，他们使用了自己的机械开关，所以我们真的很想知道键盘有多好。我们已经对其进行了一段时间的测试，现在我们得出了结论。阅读这篇评论，了解罗技 Orion Spark(Logitech Orion Spark)为您准备了什么：
罗技 G910 Orion Spark RGB 机械游戏键盘(Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard)拆箱
Orion Spark的盒子名副其实。猎户座是一个星座，盒子上绘有星空背景(starry background)，上面是键盘本身的大图。在正面，您会看到键盘的完整名称以及罗技(Logitech)为其使用的机械开关。但稍后会详细介绍。
将盒子翻过来，您会看到多语言的技术规范列表。
一旦你打开盒子，你会发现……嗯……另一个盒子。实际包含键盘的那个。一个浅蓝色的盒子(blue box)，上面有一个黑色的盖子和一个罗技(Logitech)游戏部门的蓝色大标志。(blue logo)我们必须承认，这个盒子看起来很时尚。罗技(Logitech)，演示文稿做得很好！
提起盖子，您会发现键盘的所有美丽。
除了键盘本身，包装还包含第二个掌托(palm rest)和常用的文书工作：多语言设置指南和(setup guide)安全、合规和保修(Safety, Compliance and Warranty)单。
就包装而言，就是这样。现在让我们谈谈技术方面的事情。
硬件规格
当您可以使用自己的开关时，为什么还要使用著名的Cherry MX开关？(Cherry MX)这似乎是罗技(Logitech)在制造G910时的想法。该键盘使用罗技专有的(Logitech proprietary) Romer-G开关，他们声称它的驱动距离(actuation distance)比其他开关更短，从而使打字和演奏更快（至少在理论上）。显然，这些开关是与日本公司Omron合作开发的。所有按键都单独背光，并且这些开关估计具有 7000 万次击键的耐用性。G910 _有九个宏键，标记为 G1 到 G9、一个宏录制键、三个配置文件键、一个打开和关闭背光的键、一个禁用Windows 键的(Windows key and multimedia keys)游戏模式按钮(gaming mode button)和用于媒体控制的多媒体键。它不是一个小键盘，在您的桌面上占据了相当大的空间：9.6 x 19.9 x 1.4 英寸（宽 x 高 x 深(Width x Height x Depth)）。那是 243 x 505 x 35 毫米。G910重3.3 磅（1.5 千克）。键盘通过 6 英尺 (1.8m)的USB 电缆连接(USB cable)，并且键盘支持Windows 8、Windows 8 .1 和Windows 7。这个键盘的一个有趣的补充是ARX 底座(ARX dock)为您的智能手机。稍后再详细介绍。您可以在此处找到此键盘的全套规格：Logitech G910 Orion Spark - 规格(Logitech G910 Orion Spark - Specifications)。
使用罗技 G910 Orion Spark RGB 机械游戏键盘(Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard)
使用Orion Spark(Orion Spark)时，您首先会注意到的是键帽的不同寻常设计。与大多数键盘上常见的经典圆形键帽不同， (round conformation)G910上的键帽是棱角分明的。每个键帽的左右和顶部都有一定程度的凸起。从理论上讲，这应该更容易避免误点击，但在实践中我们发现它不舒服。它在游戏中是一个相当不错的补充，但在任何类型的非游戏活动中，它都会让人感到不舒服。不过，这可能只是个人喜好，所以在接受我们的话之前先试试吧！背光是可配置的，您可以为每个键定义特定的颜色。
九个宏键对于玩很多MMO(MMOs)的人来说绝对是方便的，宏录制键使录制宏变得非常简单。还有三个配置文件切换键，总共有 27 个可编程按钮，对于大多数用户来说应该绰绰有余。我们总是很欣赏添加游戏模式按钮(gaming mode button)，它可以在游戏期间禁用Windows 键(Windows key)。媒体控制(Media control)也很好，播放控制对于播放、暂停、跳过曲目和控制音量非常有用。
但是，音量轮(volume wheel)有一个相当奇怪的行为，我们希望有所不同。当您旋转它时，它没有任何反馈或典型的滚轮(scroll wheel)“颠簸”，因此您在使用它时必须非常精确，否则您将旋转它或多或少超出您的预期。整体打字和弹奏体验都不错，但按键手感与大多数机械键盘有很大不同。由于操作距离(actuation distance)较短，您经常会感觉到您没有完全按下按键。发生的情况是，较短的致动距离(actuation distance)使致动点更近(actuation point closer)到触底位置，这让你感觉有什么东西挡住了键，无法一直按下。从积极的方面来说，键盘一点也不吵，如果你不喜欢嘈杂的反馈，你可能会喜欢它。G910最烦人的就是左Shift键(Shift key)和Z键之间(Z key)反斜杠键(backslash key)的定位。
这使得诸如Ctrl+Shift+T之类的组合键真的很不舒服，而且我们经常最终按下键而不是Shift。我们真的不理解这个选择，从我们的角度来看，这是一个很大的负面影响。ARX 坞站(ARX dock)是一个有趣的想法，让您可以将智能手机或平板电脑(smartphone or tablet)停靠在那里，并在您的移动屏幕上进行外围设置。当你在游戏中时很有用，但在其他情况下不是很有用。如果扩展坞确实有充电端口，我们将不胜感激，这样您就可以在保持配对的同时为手机充电。不幸的是，它只是一个塑料托盘。更多关于这在软件和驱动程序(Software & drivers)部分。
总而言之，使用G910的体验还不错，但并没有给人留下深刻印象。
软件和驱动程序
罗技 G910(Logitech G910)几乎立即被Windows 8.1检测到，但这确实不是您应该使用它的方式。罗技游戏软件(Logitech Gaming Software)实用程序是罗技(Logitech)用于连接和配置其所有游戏外围设备的软件中心，它确实使定制变得容易，尤其是对于游戏键盘和鼠标。(software hub)启动程序后，它会鼓励您单击可编程按钮并为其定义功能。
宏易于定义，罗技游戏软件(Logitech Gaming Software)允许您配置各种组合键。
接下来，它允许您为每个键定义单独的颜色。
您还可以将背光设置为具有各种效果，例如呼吸、星光效果(star effect)、颜色循环(color cycle)、颜色波浪(color wave)或按键。他们玩起来很有趣，所以一定要试一试，看看你最喜欢哪一个。该软件还为您提供交互式按键热图(key press heat map)，让您知道您按键最多的按键。
这款键盘的独特之处在于ARX 底座(ARX dock)和ARX 软件(ARX software)。这是一款适用于Android和 iOS 的移动应用程序，可通过Internet 连接与(Internet connection)Logitech 游戏软件(Logitech Gaming Software)配对，向您显示有关系统的信息，并允许您控制音量和播放(volume and playback)，并让您无需离开游戏即可更改Logitech 鼠标的(Logitech mice)DPI级别你在玩。
它还向您显示宏键的参考，以便您在ARX 扩展坞(ARX dock)中方便地使用它们。
总而言之，该软件对于这样的键盘来说是一个非常好的补充，我们强烈建议您使用它，以便您充分利用G910。
判决
罗技 G910 Orion Spark(Logitech G910 Orion Spark)是一款质量不错的游戏键盘，具有许多自定义选项，非常适合需要宏键和多个设置配置文件的用户。我们建议您在购买之前对其进行测试。如果您对Romer-G开关的尴尬感觉感到满意，并且发现ARX 扩展坞(ARX dock)很有用，那么Orion Spark是一个不错的选择。
Reviewing The Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Logitech's gaming division has been hard at work lately, relеasing some new peripheralѕ, including a new mechaniсal gaming keyboard. This tіme, they've used their own mechanіcal switches, so we were really curious to see how good the keyboard was. We've tested it for a while and we're bаck with our conclusions now. Rеad this review to learn what the Logitech Orion Spark has in store for you:
Unboxing The Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The box of the Orion Spark lives up to its name. Orion is a constellation, and the box is painted with a starry background on top of which resides a big picture of the keyboard itself. On the front side you'll see the complete name of the keyboard and a mention of the mechanical switches that Logitech used for it. But more about that later.
Turning the box over, you'll see a list of technical specifications in multiple languages.
Once you open the box you'll find… well… another box. The one that actually contains the keyboard. A light blue box with a black cover and a big blue logo of Logitech's gaming division on top. We must admit, the box looks quite sleek. Good work with the presentation, Logitech!
Lifting the cover you'll find the keyboard in all its beauty.
Aside from the keyboard itself, the package also contains a second palm rest and the usual paperwork: a setup guide in multiple languages and the Safety, Compliance and Warranty leaflet.
That's about it in terms of packaging. Let's get down to the technical side of things now.
Hardware Specifications
Why use the famous Cherry MX switches when you can use your own? This seems to be the thinking Logitech did while building the G910. This keyboard uses the Logitech proprietary Romer-G switches, which they claim to have a shorter actuation distance than other switches, making typing and playing faster (at least in theory). Apparently, the switches were developed in partnership with the Japanese company Omron. All the keys are individually backlit and the switches are estimated to have a 70 million keystrokes durability. The G910 has nine macro keys, marked G1 to G9, a macro recording key, three profile keys, a key that switches the backlight on and off, a gaming mode button that disables the Windows key and multimedia keys for media control. It's not a small keyboard, taking quite a bit of space on your desk: 9.6 x 19.9 x 1.4 inches (Width x Height x Depth). That's 243 x 505 x 35 mm. The G910 weighs 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). The keyboard connects via a 6 ft (1.8m) USB cable and the keyboard is supported on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. An interesting addition to this keyboard is the ARX dock for your smartphone. More about that later on. You can find the full set of specifications of this keyboard here: Logitech G910 Orion Spark - Specifications.
Using The Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The first thing you'll notice while using the Orion Spark is the unusual design of the keycaps. Instead of the classical round conformation of keycaps that's usually found on most keyboards, the ones on the G910 are angular. The right, left and top sides of each keycap are raised to a certain degree. In theory, this should make it easier to avoid misclicking, but in practice we found it uncomfortable. It's a fairly good addition in games, but in any kind of non-gaming activity it simply feels uncomfortable. It might be just a personal preference though, so give it a try yourself before taking our word for it! The backlighting is configurable and you can define specific colors for each key.
The nine macro keys are definitely handy for those of you who play a lot of MMOs and the macro recording key makes it extemely simple to record macros. There are also three profile switching keys, which make for a total of 27 programmable buttons that should be more than enough for most users. We always appreciate the addition of a gaming mode button, which disables the Windows key during games. Media control is also good, the playback controls being extremely useful for playing, pausing, skipping tracks and controlling the volume.
The volume wheel, though, has a rather weird behavior which we would have liked to be different. It doesn't have any kind of feedback or typical scroll wheel "bumps" when you spin it, so you have to be very precise when using it, otherwise you'll spin it either more or less than you intend. The overall typing and playing experience is decent, but the keys have a very different feeling from most mechanical keyboards. Because of the shorter actuation distance, you often get the feeling that you're not pressing the key all the way down. What happens is that the shorter actuation distance brings the actuation point closer to the bottoming-out position, which gives you the feeling that there's something blocking the key from being pressed all the way down. On the positive side, the keyboard is not noisy at all, which you might appreciate if you're not a fan of noisy feedback. The most annoying thing about the G910 is the positioning of a backslash key between the left Shift key and the Z key.
This makes key combinations such as Ctrl+Shift+T really uncomfortable to make and often times we ended up pressing the key instead of Shift. We really didn't understand this choice and from our point of view it's a big negative aspect. The ARX dock is an interesting idea, allowing you to keep your smartphone or tablet docked there and have your peripheral settings on your mobile screen. Useful when you're in-game, but not very useful otherwise. We would have appreciated if the dock actually had a charging port, so you could charge your phone while keeping it paired. Unfortunately, it's just a plastic tray. More about this in the Software & drivers section.
All in all, the experience of using the G910 was decent, but not impressive in any way.
Software & Drivers
The Logitech G910 was almost instantly detected by Windows 8.1, but that's really not the way you should be using it. The Logitech Gaming Software utility is Logitech's software hub for connecting and configuring all of their gaming peripherals and it really makes customization easy, especially for gaming keyboards and mice. As soon as you launch the program, it encourages you to click the programmable buttons and define functions for them.
Macros are easy to define and the Logitech Gaming Software allows you to configure all kinds of key combinations.
Next, it allows you to define individual colors for each key.
You can also set the backlight to have various effects, such as breathing, star effect, color cycle, color wave or key press. They're fun to play with, so make sure to try them out and see which one you like best. The software also provides you an interactive key press heat map, so that you know which keys you press the most.
The unique thing about this keyboard is the ARX dock and the ARX software. This is a mobile app for Android and iOS that pairs with the Logitech Gaming Software via your Internet connection and shows you information about your system and allows you to control volume and playback and enables you to change DPI levels of your Logitech mice without leaving the game you're playing.
It also shows you a reference of your macro keys so that you have them handy right in the ARX dock.
All in all, the software is a very good addition for a keyboard like this and we highly recommend using it so that you make the best of the G910.
Verdict
The Logitech G910 Orion Spark is a decent quality gaming keyboard with lots of customization options, which makes it great for those of you who need macro keys and multiple settings profiles. We recommend testing it before you buy it. If you're OK with the awkward feeling of the Romer-G switches and find the ARX dock useful, then the Orion Spark is a good candidate to consider.
