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The Challenger Pro is kitted out with a variable brightness backlit keyboard. There are three settings which are accessible from the top left of the unit or via the software.
The images above show the software options for the brightness levels, 100%, 75% and 25%. You can also turn the backlighting off completely if this isn't your thing, but it can be useful in darkened situations.
On the Pro keyboard the Tt light can be toggled on and off within the software panel, there is an ‘on' and ‘off' setting top right. Its a very ‘Alienware' design, which is certainly appealing.
At the top of the board are various lights which indicate the macro setting you are using, as well as coloured buttons to notify of caps lock, scroll lock etc.
We aren't normally big fans of back lighting as it can often look gaudy, uneven and ineffective. On top setting the effect on the Challenger Pro is very attractive and in a darkened room the keys are really easy to see.
Each of the keys on the side of the board can be configured with various macro settings to suit a variety of games, we didn't experience any problems with the software, it was stable, looked great and worked exactly as Thermaltake said it would. Once macros are configured they are uploaded via the USB connector to the onboard memory and then the macro keys work as expected. Painfree and remarkably straightforward.
“Im sorry Dave I can't do that”. Yep, this shot reminded me of the death of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey. This is actually the underside of a key after its been removed with the supplied tool.
You can give your keyboard some wacky and weird colour schemes if you really are feeling bored.
Shooting people in the head has never been easier. Let the fraggin' commence. Red keys are quite pretty next to black keys, aren't they?
Very interesting review thanks Zardon. looking forward to seeing the prices.
my brother would love the lit keyboard, that looks quite wicked. not my thing though 🙂
Good review thanks,
Very good review, quite funny in parts also, thanks for your hard work.
interesting to see Tt take a new direction
Some of that photography was great in this review, not often I say that.
I like the ordinary board more, all those lights irritate me, but I guess gamers at night might like them. I never look at the keyboard when gaming however!
On my new ipad here and the site is perfect on it good job !
Oh yes the keyboards. They look good, but not for me personally. I am not a hardcore enough gamer to need a hand fan, I would love to know how many people buy this just for the fan to try it out? 20%? anyone else?
Hahah, a hand fan, seriously Thermaltake, WTF!
Its inventive thats for sure, all we need now is a cup holder and a pizza cutter and we are ready to frag!
Well those are interesting. loved the testing page, gave me a right ole chuckle 😉
Without pricing info its hard to nkow if they are good value, but if the lit board is 60 quid and as good as zardon says, seems a good buy
Very good review, nice pictures and text was well written as always.
Im interested to know why Thermaltake are suddently releasing so many great products, they were never so good in the past? Company management changeover?
very good looking products from thermaltake, nice to see more competition emerging in this sector. I think we will start to see more like these from Thermaltake in the future. The company has been very active in trying to appeal to a much more educated audience lately which we like.
I agree zardon, its always good to see more competition arising in markets like this. its a problem with the graphics card sector, with only two big players, its not as well priced as it could be.
Great keyboards, great review! However, on the bottom of page 4, it looks like the black ‘up arrow’ key is broken in the pic with the red ‘down arrow’ and the red ‘left arrow’ key changed to red . . . what’s up with that?
ooooops – I meant to say “right arrow” instead of “left arrow” – I’ve had couple beers, so sue me! LOL
One thing not mentioned was whether the keyboards were audibly clicky if so how loud?