The keyboard's mode switch, in the top left, is used to switch the Strike TE between its three profiles, each of which is indicated by a different colour backlight for the button. As with the Rat TE, all your custom settings are stored directly on the keyboard for easy transfer between PCs. Mad Catz also has a library of pre-made profiles for over 25 games on its website.
Custom key settings can be applied to two areas, the first being the two of seven M keys up top. These aren't the best position for macro keys, requiring a bit of a stretch to reach and they're all flat too – it's easy to hit the wrong one in a hurry, but a bit of practice should suffice. Next to this row is a plastic switch to lock the Windows key, although we found it odd that the orange indicator means the key is active. Maybe we're just weird though.
Click to enlarge
The second area is the cluster of five C keys which surround the arrow keys. We don't typically use this position ourselves but if you do use the arrow keys in your games you'll find these easy to reach. However, we found that they just made it difficult to locate the arrow keys without looking and hadn't realised how much we relied on the space around them to do this. This may not bother everyone but we do a fair bit of data entry and use these keys quite often; if that applies to you then you're also likely to find this layout rather jarring.
Click to enlarge
The software has the same drag-and-drop interface as we saw with the Rat TE, which makes it easy to apply standard shortcuts and media functions to the M and C keys (standard keys cannot be reprogrammed). Note, however, that you can't assign shortcuts to your own files or programs. You can create custom macros though, using the same interface as with the Rat TE again. The Strike TE is capable of holding a maximum of 36 macros (12 buttons, three profiles) each with up to 255 keystrokes, which can include mouse clicks and delays too. The Settings screen simply gives you a different means of controlling the three zone lighting.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
However, the core mechanical experience, which is what you're really paying for, isn't up to scratch. The Kailh switches, while still far better than any membrane keyboard, are simply not as satisfying as Cherry MX ones. That squeaky spacebar and the low quality materials on the wrist rest also don't help. If the price wasn't as high, these issues might be easier to forgive, but as it stands you can definitely do better with £100. Again, though, US customers are much better served by Mad Catz' current pricing – if you can get it for less than $80 the STRIKE TE is a decent option.
Custom key settings can be applied to two areas, the first being the two of seven M keys up top. These aren't the best position for macro keys, requiring a bit of a stretch to reach and they're all flat too – it's easy to hit the wrong one in a hurry, but a bit of practice should suffice. Next to this row is a plastic switch to lock the Windows key, although we found it odd that the orange indicator means the key is active. Maybe we're just weird though.
Click to enlarge
The second area is the cluster of five C keys which surround the arrow keys. We don't typically use this position ourselves but if you do use the arrow keys in your games you'll find these easy to reach. However, we found that they just made it difficult to locate the arrow keys without looking and hadn't realised how much we relied on the space around them to do this. This may not bother everyone but we do a fair bit of data entry and use these keys quite often; if that applies to you then you're also likely to find this layout rather jarring.
Click to enlarge
The software has the same drag-and-drop interface as we saw with the Rat TE, which makes it easy to apply standard shortcuts and media functions to the M and C keys (standard keys cannot be reprogrammed). Note, however, that you can't assign shortcuts to your own files or programs. You can create custom macros though, using the same interface as with the Rat TE again. The Strike TE is capable of holding a maximum of 36 macros (12 buttons, three profiles) each with up to 255 keystrokes, which can include mouse clicks and delays too. The Settings screen simply gives you a different means of controlling the three zone lighting.
Click to enlarge
Conclusion
£100 isn't a terrible price to pay for a fully mechanical keyboard with a fair amount of custom functionality, but it's still a hefty amount of cash. There are some quality issues here that need to be overcome for the Strike TE to be in with a shot at an award. In many ways, it's on the right tracks – the three onboard profiles and twelve macro keys offer lots of customisation, and the white lighting is pleasant and easy to work with.
Click to enlarge
However, the core mechanical experience, which is what you're really paying for, isn't up to scratch. The Kailh switches, while still far better than any membrane keyboard, are simply not as satisfying as Cherry MX ones. That squeaky spacebar and the low quality materials on the wrist rest also don't help. If the price wasn't as high, these issues might be easier to forgive, but as it stands you can definitely do better with £100. Again, though, US customers are much better served by Mad Catz' current pricing – if you can get it for less than $80 the STRIKE TE is a decent option.
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