OK, before you lot start whinging DROP your preconceptions and watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYT3eIFETqY First impressions: Functionality wise - excellent, but in the style department I still feel it falls into the overzealous trying too hard category. What made me step back though is actually how many people LIKE how it looks - not only from the YouTube replies but from whenever I speak to TT they seem to be selling a shed load. Are we just a bunch of minimalist old school funny-duddies? Or have I gauged it completely wrong and it's something people will like to see? Case design is a very personal thing, so our comments might never reflect your own opinion. We've been offered one for review, and I want to know whether there is genuine interest or if people are going to read the title and jump at me with pitchforks shouting in tongues.
like the idea of the HD rack an a few other bits they've done but overall i wouldnt buy one myself but can see why there popular. as for the looks its nothing a tin of filler some plexi an a can af paint wouldnt sort out...lol
Some nice features I'd like to see in other cases too... Other ones that wouldn't look so stupid. Can I pleasepleaseplease dislike the outlooks a bit more? I have no clue what's the point of making almost-doors that almost cover the possibly ugly-looking optical drives and such, but instead just make using them that much harder! If I'll ever get my hands on one, I'll propably either salvage the HDD-rack and the mobo-tray or just rivet a solid piece of aluminium to the side panel
Whilst I wouldn't buy a nice looking case if it had no kinda of functionality and was made badly (but still looked nice), I wouldn't buy a very functional case if I couldn't stand the looks. I assume nearly everyone else is in the same boat on this.
I like the integrated WCing stuff, but apart from the fact is is really ugly, its HUGE! and that is a lot of fans too...
That's exactly what I wanted. At least now I can email TT this thread and it's not just me saying it's a knee jerk statement.
lol. I think there's a virtual line between the 'backwards baseball cap LAN gamer-type' people who buy stuff like that (although it's too big for LAN use, but I digress) and the modder people like the folks here on Bit-Tech. That may be simplifying it way too much, but still. (Disclaimer: No offense intended or implied on any backwards baseball cap wearers on Bit-Tech or anywhere else. ) Functionality-wise, yeah the side fan is good n' all, but it's nothing new or innovative. Integrated W/C stuff, yeah. But as a modder I like solving problems and coming up with solutions myself, not using stock 'pre-modded' cases like this. HD racks is kinda cool. I actually like the control panel/power button area up top. Sorry, Thermaltake...but I can be counted in with the 'minimalist old school funny-duddies', as Bindibadgi put it.
i have never been a fan of thermaltake case, and this does nothing to change that for me, it looks to cheap and fiddely for me, the only plus side i can see is the top arangement, which is a nice comcept, byt looks half hashed. and that stonking fan in the side of the case, is good. its about time that case manufacturers who want to add liquid cooling support, started to cater for those of us who require 120.3s
I beg to differ. I think that a review would be appropriate given the community's initial negative response. Here are my opinions based only on the linked youtube video. The handle at the rear seems a bit redundant. At first I thought it was a case carrying handle, but just to slide out the mobo? It won't get much use in that respect unless someone swaps out hardware or does maintenance very frequently. They showed cold cathods on the inside - I sincerely hope that this was not done as a design feature - if there's extra space, then yay, if there's extra space just for cold cathodes that's just lame. When the mobo tray came out, there was a HUGE gap between it and the top of the case. I imagine that this could fit a radiator in line with the PSU. Slide back panel? What could that be used for. Is it only for refilling a reservoir, or can it be used to open up an extra fan vent, etc. The modular nature of the case seems very exciting, but how well does it hold up to use. I just received a CM 690, and am immediately disappointed with the sliding HD trays. They seem extremely flimsy, unlike those that came in Antec Super Lanboy four years ago. Instead of progress, new designs are backwards in both reliability and efficiency. The window looks very nice and curvy - very aesthetic. The top portion of the case is just fugly. I think that's what others have issue with too. But maybe it serves some sort of functional purpose? I really think that you need to take an objective step backwards and analyze the case from all points of view. From an air cooling perspective, water cooling, and look at its design as if you were 13, and then 33. As a young adult (24), I don't know if I'm completely turned off by these looks. I just took another look at the video, and the window bothers me a little now. The (laser-cut ?) grill on the window is plain dorky and ruins the otherwise calm and pleasing window. Also, it looks like there are support rails at the top of the case which suggests you can stash quite a few things up there such as a res, rad, cathode power boxes, microcontroller circuitry, etc. Anyways, as a 24 year old, I would not be completely embarassed to own one of these. But... it's only midway between a Sonata and a flashy gamer case, which is probably why it's not entirely appealing. I think that you should do a review on it - view it more as a challenge to see if its function outweighs its looks. For example, put yourself in a woman's shoes. What could they possibly see in any non-Brad Pitt, sweaty, hairy, smelly man? See... women overlook appearances and focus on function. If women can do it, so can you! And if you don't want to do the review, PM me - I'd gladly provide an objective critique on the form and function of the case.
