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The Logitech G19 Keyboard's highlight is its tilting, colour GamePanel – an LCD screen capable of showing a variety of important game data, including VoIP communication information, CPU and RAM usage, server statistics and data specific to dozens of popular games, including World of Warcraft.The Canadian Press

Keyboards are traditionally about the blandest of PC peripherals, but the Logitech G19 Keyboard is enough to set any gamer's heart aflutter.

The highlight is its tilting, colour GamePanel – an LCD screen capable of showing a variety of important game data, including VoIP communication information, CPU and RAM usage, server statistics and data specific to dozens of popular games, including World of Warcraft.

Other gamer-centric features include a dozen programmable buttons on the left side of the board, the ability to enter multi-key commands (handy for players who don't want to waste time moving their hands across the board to reach less-used inputs), and a game/desktop toggle that disables Windows command keys while playing so that errant keystrokes don't launch you out of the action. Gaudier gamers will also appreciate the ability to customize the G19's backlighting effects.

There are perks for non-gamers, too. A pair of powered USB ports gives you an extra spot to plug in flash drives and power up your phone, and dedicated media control buttons – including an extra-wide volume dial – make playing back movies and music a snap. All this, plus whisper-quiet keys that are heaven to tap.

Our only beef? It requires power, which means we needed to make space on our already overcrowded gamer-den power bar.

Its stratospheric price keeps it out of reach for most players ($249.99; www.logitech.com), but that's what makes it such a great gift.

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