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Mad Catz unveiled the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 Gaming Keyboard today. The thing looks like a behemoth. With multiple wrist rests, macro keys, a thumb wheel, a numpad, and a giant LCD screen, it seems like they tried to Frankenstein together everything possible to create the "ultimate" customizable gaming keyboard. Unfortunately, it'll set you back $300, and the most important part - the keyboard itself - is run-of-the-mill rubber dome.
The S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 has a total of five modules that can be swapped around - the keyboard itself, the numpad, a removable "function strip" with macro buttons, a wrist rest with scroll wheel and "action button," and a "control module" with V.E.N.O.M. touchscreen. Apparently Mad Catz doesn't fully understand how an acronym works and just wants to make the names of their products really annoying to type. Maybe V.E.N.O.M. stands for "Very Enormous Needless Optical Module" and S.T.R.I.K.E. "Self-Tailored Really Incredible Keyboard that's Expensive." I don't get it.
The lack of mechanical keys in a $300 keyboard makes me a sad panda. According to the product page, the keyboard has a "specially engineered membrane which mimics the tactile feel generated by the mechanical keys often preferred by gamers - without the resultant excessive noise." They admit that mechanical is the way to go on their own page. Yes, mechanical keys can be noisy - my keyboard has Cherry MX Blues that can be heard across town - but there are quieter options like MX Blacks available in addition to O-ring dampeners that reduce the sound made by a switch bottoming out.
