Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Jun 2012
- Posts
- 5,951
A few words from me after finding a few spare minutes to type up some thoughts:
Brief review of the CM Novatouch Storm Topre mechanical keyboard.
Usage - casual web browsing, general use and moderate gaming.
I make no secret of the fact I signed up for the trial of this keyboard simply to try the Topre switches as I am/was considering a HHKB but didn't fancy dropping £170 on something I couldn't try first.
First off, I love the Topre switches, better than the various Cherry switches I've had in the past and will make it hard for me to go back to my current daily drive keyboard which is a customised Poker with a cast alu case, cherry blacks and thick PBT caps. The Topre switches make for a much more pleasant feel and sound IMO, the resounding 'thud' rather than the 'clack' of a cherry makes for a much sturdier and higher quality feeling KB to me. If I worked on a PC for a living, typing day-in-day out, then something like this would be a no-brainer.
Build quality feels nice and sturdy, it neither has the feel of a really high end bomb-proof KB nor is it flimsy like the cheaper stuff, nicely occupying the middle ground. I'd prefer the main body to be made from something with a better quality finish though, as it picks up finger marks instantly even from the cleanest and most grease-free fingers, if you're the type to eat and type/game the main body will look a mess in no time at all.
Aesthetically I am a big fan of minimalism so the lack of any RGB Carlos Fandango LEDs and OTT branding is a massive plus, I'm too old for peripherals aimed at 12 year old boys so the Novatouch wins extra points from me here.
For the price though I'm still a little disappointed with the quality somewhat, the key caps feel cheap and nasty and the lack of any lock LEDs, whilst not a make or break issue, is certainly a drawback. Also as mentioned in previous reviews, the 90 degree micro USB plug is a bit of a fail. On the face of it the keycap issue doesn't seem to be a big one when you see the plethora of after market caps available, until you realise you need ISO layout which means you'll need to get creative with the individual keys you'll need on top to match whichever set you go for, plus the extra cost brings it into line with a couple of other better quality KBs which takes the shine off somewhat.
I'm still undecided on the TKL layout, I've always had 60% boards because I found myself with no use for the extra TKL keys (Home, INS, arrows etc..) and never really missed the F keys. But there is something nice about having a more substantial board on my lap, yes I said lap because I don't have a desk so PC use is from an armchair with the KB on my lap for all tasks.
Conclusion - The Topre switches are a revelation for me, combined with the aesthetics and the sturdiness of the build quality makes for a nice package. Unfortunately the keycap issue, the finish of the plastic of the main body and the angled plug are too big to ignore and write it off as a product I'd potentially own. Hopefully CM will develop their Topre line further and introduce a couple of variants.
Thanks to CM for the loan, great idea!
Brief review of the CM Novatouch Storm Topre mechanical keyboard.
Usage - casual web browsing, general use and moderate gaming.
I make no secret of the fact I signed up for the trial of this keyboard simply to try the Topre switches as I am/was considering a HHKB but didn't fancy dropping £170 on something I couldn't try first.
First off, I love the Topre switches, better than the various Cherry switches I've had in the past and will make it hard for me to go back to my current daily drive keyboard which is a customised Poker with a cast alu case, cherry blacks and thick PBT caps. The Topre switches make for a much more pleasant feel and sound IMO, the resounding 'thud' rather than the 'clack' of a cherry makes for a much sturdier and higher quality feeling KB to me. If I worked on a PC for a living, typing day-in-day out, then something like this would be a no-brainer.
Build quality feels nice and sturdy, it neither has the feel of a really high end bomb-proof KB nor is it flimsy like the cheaper stuff, nicely occupying the middle ground. I'd prefer the main body to be made from something with a better quality finish though, as it picks up finger marks instantly even from the cleanest and most grease-free fingers, if you're the type to eat and type/game the main body will look a mess in no time at all.
Aesthetically I am a big fan of minimalism so the lack of any RGB Carlos Fandango LEDs and OTT branding is a massive plus, I'm too old for peripherals aimed at 12 year old boys so the Novatouch wins extra points from me here.
For the price though I'm still a little disappointed with the quality somewhat, the key caps feel cheap and nasty and the lack of any lock LEDs, whilst not a make or break issue, is certainly a drawback. Also as mentioned in previous reviews, the 90 degree micro USB plug is a bit of a fail. On the face of it the keycap issue doesn't seem to be a big one when you see the plethora of after market caps available, until you realise you need ISO layout which means you'll need to get creative with the individual keys you'll need on top to match whichever set you go for, plus the extra cost brings it into line with a couple of other better quality KBs which takes the shine off somewhat.
I'm still undecided on the TKL layout, I've always had 60% boards because I found myself with no use for the extra TKL keys (Home, INS, arrows etc..) and never really missed the F keys. But there is something nice about having a more substantial board on my lap, yes I said lap because I don't have a desk so PC use is from an armchair with the KB on my lap for all tasks.
Conclusion - The Topre switches are a revelation for me, combined with the aesthetics and the sturdiness of the build quality makes for a nice package. Unfortunately the keycap issue, the finish of the plastic of the main body and the angled plug are too big to ignore and write it off as a product I'd potentially own. Hopefully CM will develop their Topre line further and introduce a couple of variants.
Thanks to CM for the loan, great idea!
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