[Various] Corsair Lapdog Gaming Control Center Review - Game Comfortably From Your Couch!

CasualCat · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

A few years ago, Ryan reviewed the Couchmaster. It was a simple keyboard and mouse holder that suspended those parts above your lap, much like a computer chair, but at your couch. It was a cool concept, but at the time, living room PC gaming hadn't gained much popularity. While we don't all suddenly have living room PCs, the concept has gained some steam. We've seen recent launches of devices like the Corsair Bulldog - a rather beefy DIY living room PC meant to handle enough hardware to support living room gaming at up to 4K resolutions. This left a bit of a gap in Corsair's lineup. They make keyboards, mice, and now a living room PC, but where do you put those peripherals while sitting on your couch? Enter the Corsair Lapdog:

PCPer

Quote:

Even so, considering we were not hunched over a table, we were not fumbling about, and everything was made so simple for us, the LAPDOG Gaming Control Center will pay for itself in enjoyment in no time at all. If you have a PC in the living room and do not favor console controllers, even if you don't have one now, the LAPDOG is something that leaves you with no complaints. There's no reason not to be as precise as you ever were on a desk, and doing all of this from your favorite spot on the couch or the most comfortable chair in the house. Denying a product like the LAPDOG is hard. We never thought we truly needed such a device, but that was until we used it, and now we can't be without it in our living room.

Tweaktown

Ganf · Jun 7, 2016

Really?....

About as practical and dignifying as a TV dinner tray....

I already game on my PC from my couch. Just buy a hard mouse pad and be done with it. They last 10 times as long as a cloth pad anyways unless you get one of those useless anodized aluminum jobs.

I also use a full HOTAS setup from my couch. Now if Corsair were to make a cockpit chair that was as comfortable as a Lazy boy while having enough swinging arms and extensions that I could keep my HOTAS and keyboard handy at all times they'd be on to something....

lynxxyarly · Jun 7, 2016

Is this for use exclusively with their keyboard....? That 120 dollar price tag seems a bit high, as well.

CasualCat · Jun 7, 2016

I've been waiting for this or the Sova honestly. The hub is a big plus as now rather than having a cord for the keyboard, mouse, and game pads (or perhaps a HOTAS) going across the living room, there'll be one cord to the keyboard with the rest coming off the keyboard itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynxxyarly

Is this for use exclusively with their keyboard....? That 120 dollar price tag seems a bit high, as well.

Yes it is compatible with their K65 and K70. I'll add a pic or two from one of the links.

Ganf · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynxxyarly

Is this for use exclusively with their keyboard....? That 120 dollar price tag seems a bit high, as well.

Given that it fits like a glove and I haven't seen two keyboards yet that had identical dimensions, I'd say yes.
Quote:

Originally Posted by CasualCat

I've been waiting for this or the Sova honestly. The hub is a big plus as now rather than having a cord for the keyboard, mouse, and game pads (or perhaps a HOTAS) going across the living room, there'll be one cord to the keyboard with the rest coming off the keyboard itself.
Yes it is compatible with their K65 and K70. I'll add a pic or two from one of the links.

Bit of advice. Put the PC near the couch either behind it or in a corner stand beside it, then run your HDMI or DP cable to the TV.

iARDAs · Jun 7, 2016

I will be honest with you. I like the idea.

But I am done with the TV gaming that's a different story.

SwishaMane · Jun 7, 2016

Living room PC? lol, just say HTPC.

TV tray is about right...

lynxxyarly · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasualCat

I've been waiting for this or the Sova honestly. The hub is a big plus as now rather than having a cord for the keyboard, mouse, and game pads (or perhaps a HOTAS) going across the living room, there'll be one cord to the keyboard with the rest coming off the keyboard itself.
Yes it is compatible with their K65 and K70. I'll add a pic or two from one of the links.

This wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for an exclusive keyboard. However, 120 dollars + a keyboard I don't already own means 200+ easy and that seems............high.

iARDAs · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynxxyarly

This wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for an exclusive keyboard. However, 120 dollars + a keyboard I don't already own means 200+ easy and that seems............high.

This concept is kicking in though. I expect to see other brands in the future. However the build quality of the lapdog needs to be top notch really. There should be some weight in it for stability but at the same time does not hurt our feet.

CasualCat · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ganf

Bit of advice. Put the PC near the couch either behind it or in a corner stand beside it, then run your HDMI or DP cable to the TV.

Won't work in my room setup. I will occasionally roll my main PC into the living room, but the only space for it is to the right of the entertainment center, and the entertainment center is a good ~10ft from the couch. So then I have USB from the PC across the room to the couch and HDMI to the receiver which is on the left side of the entertainment center. Honestly it is part of the reason I put a dedicated HTPC in the entertainment center. Only thing left is to get a better single card (hopefully later this year) that can drive 4k for most titles. Well that and eventually replacing the projector with a 4k one.

CasualCat · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynxxyarly

This wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for an exclusive keyboard. However, 120 dollars + a keyboard I don't already own means 200+ easy and that seems............high.

Maybe, but honestly it'll be one of my cheaper living room components and it meets a need I've had for a while.

hokk · Jun 7, 2016

So nobody said in product development this was a bad idea?

Malinkadink · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by iARDAs

I will be honest with you. I like the idea.

But I am done with the TV gaming that's a different story.

Yeah... TV gaming is pretty awful for anything remotely competitive. Even playing console games i found that i performed substantially better on a small 1ms TN monitor than a large TV.

iARDAs · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malinkadink

Yeah... TV gaming is pretty awful for anything remotely competitive. Even playing console games i found that i performed substantially better on a small 1ms TN monitor than a large TV.

Yep

Higher input lag
Distraction (I prefer my monitor on my table 50cms away)

They all kill the buzz for me.

Sucks because I wish I could take advante of my Harman Kardon setup connected to my TV. Oh well!!!

Monitors for me all the way even for my upcoming PS4.

CasualCat · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by iARDAs

Yep

Higher input lag
Distraction (I prefer my monitor on my table 50cms away)

They all kill the buzz for me.

Sucks because I wish I could take advante of my Harman Kardon setup connected to my TV. Oh well!!!

Monitors for me all the way even for my upcoming PS4.

There are low input lag TVs now (both Samsung and Vizio have <25ms options), though I'm sure the receivers are inserting additional latency in the chain as well.

Cryosis00 · Jun 7, 2016

$16 at walmart.

Profiled · Jun 7, 2016

KyadCK · Jun 7, 2016

I'll take one if I'm honest. I already prefer Corsair's keyboards anyway, and this will let me play comfortably on the 100" projector with the big speakers. Headphones be damned, when I'm playing non-comp games, I want the explosions to rock me.

For the record, desk and PC are behind the projector screen, and can not move.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryosis00

$16 at walmart.

You go right on ahead and try that. I'm certain I know how it'll go, but let me know how it works out for you.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Profiled

If I wanted be be certain I'd never hit anything I'm looking at again in my life time I think I'd rather use either an xBox controller or shoot myself in the head with a crossbow. Both are more appealing options.

PhRe4k · Jun 7, 2016

It's a bit pricey IMO. But I'd rather play on my Plasma TV than any current monitor any day
Quote:

Originally Posted by iARDAs

Yep

Higher input lag
Distraction (I prefer my monitor on my table 50cms away)

They all kill the buzz for me.

Sucks because I wish I could take advante of my Harman Kardon setup connected to my TV. Oh well!!!

Monitors for me all the way even for my upcoming PS4.

Honestly, sucky contrast ratios/black levels, inferior motion handling, worse viewing angles (compared to plasma, cant speak for LCD based TV's) kill it for me much more than any sort of input lag. Plus my 90's tower speakers absolutely destroy my Klipsch Promedia's

Cryosis00 · Jun 7, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyadCK

I'll take one if I'm honest. I already prefer Corsair's keyboards anyway, and this will let me play comfortably on the 100" projector with the big speakers. Headphones be damned, when I'm playing non-comp games, I want the explosions to rock me.

For the record, desk and PC are behind the projector screen, and can not move.
You go right on ahead and try that. I'm certain I know how it'll go, but let me know how it works out for you.
If I wanted be be certain I'd never hit anything I'm looking at again in my life time I think I'd rather use either an xBox controller or shoot myself in the head with a crossbow. Both are more appealing options.

Was sarcasm my good man, at the joke that is the price tag for some rigid plastic with a USB hub. To each their own

[Various] Corsair Lapdog Gaming Control Center Review - Game Comfortably From Your Couch!

CasualCat

Ganf

lynxxyarly

CasualCat

Ganf

iARDAs

SwishaMane

lynxxyarly

iARDAs

CasualCat

CasualCat

hokk

Malinkadink

iARDAs

CasualCat

Cryosis00

Profiled

KyadCK

PhRe4k

Cryosis00

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