CM Storm Trigger Keyboard Review
Conclusion
Published: 13th July 2012 | Source: CM Storm | Price: £94.99 |
Conclusion
There are a lot of things to like about the CM Storm Trigger, and a couple of issues that keep it from really shining.
The most important aspect is, of course, how well it types. Given that it has the excellent Cherry Black MX switches at the centre of it then it's not a surprise at all that it's a joy to use. Every key has a reassuring tactile feel to it, and you know that it will put up with extraordinary amounts of abuse without flinching. The whole keyboard is very well put together with enough weight to keep it planted on your desk, but not so heavy you don't want to take it with you when you're off gaming.
The customisation options are plentiful, with five dedicated macro keys and the ability to modify the whole layout to suit your preference it really can be all things to all people. You can either use the software to create them, or do them on the fly. Either way it's a very simple process. Even the lighting is nice, with variable levels of brightness. We thing a whole keyboard 'breathing' would be distracting, but the option is there if you desire it.
Speaking of the software, that's the first area that could do with improvement. It's enormous for a start. A 400mb file for something that many other companies have trimmed to sub 30mb is just too big. It works well enough, but has a few quirks that go against how you'd expect it to work. When your FAQ has to include a manuals worth of hints and tips, you know that it's time to go back to the drawing board.
The only other major complaint is the price. By any measure it's an expensive keyboard, coming in at around £100. If you just want an array of macro options you then, as we've just said, the Corsair Vengeance K90 provides better build-quality, better software, and far more macro options for the same money. If you just want a seriously rugged keyboard with Cherry Black switches, the SteelSeries 6Hv2 is all of those things and £40 cheaper.
If we were reviewing in a vacuum then the CM Storm trigger ticks all the right boxes. If you have your heart set on a red keyboard with the CM Storm branding and accept the software has a few foibles then we can highly recommend it. But, when compared to the competition, that very middle-of-the-road design ethos that covers all the bases ends up leaving it either a lot overpriced or a bit under-featured. Better software and a price cut and it would be Gold, but at this price we're afraid it's only Silver.
Thanks to CM Storm for supplying the Trigger for review. Discuss in our forums.
Most Recent Comments
like the power input in the back though for the USB connections, something i could use on my old G15 would make my desk tidier
As a future purchaser of the Stryker, it really would have been great to have a white keyboard and mouse. I can't help but feel that it's a tremendous oversight to not have at least a choice between white and black keyboards and mouses.
I can only live in hope that manufacturers start including greater variety in terms of colour down the line. We have every kind of keyboard & mouse under the sun...why not more colours to choose from?
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Originally Posted by Rattlehead5000
Looks good, but I don't understand why manufacturers don't offer a greater variety of colours, instead of the traditional black.
As a future purchaser of the Stryker, it really would have been great to have a white keyboard and mouse. I can't help but feel that it's a tremendous oversight to not have at least a choice between white and black keyboards and mouses. I can only live in hope that manufacturers start including greater variety in terms of colour down the line. We have every kind of keyboard & mouse under the sun...why not more colours to choose from? |
Mouse began flashing blue which is odd because my default setting is red on always. Then after a few seconds my keyboard went bzzzzzzzz and now there both dead.
edit
forgot to add do not use a external power supply to the unit. They do no include it for a reason. It obviously leads to a defective product.
I will update this thread to see how RMA handles me which will end up supporting my suspicion or negating it.
My response from RMA team..
one moment
http://livehelp.coolermaster.com/ima...e_left_top.gif
my apologies for the delay
http://livehelp.coolermaster.com/ima..._right_top.gif http://livehelp.coolermaster.com/ima...eft_bottom.gif http://livehelp.coolermaster.com/ima...ght_bottom.gif
We don't recommend that you use an ac adapter with that.
http://livehelp.coolermaster.com/ima...e_left_top.gif
You can rma that keyboard here
I am glad they are owning up to it but... Wtf.........
This stupid keyboard could have taken out my entire rig...
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The latest in a long line of CM Storm peripherals is the Trigger keyboard, a mechanical number with macro support.
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