Page 5: Use, Conclusion
Use
You can add as much extra functionality to a peripheral as you like, but all of that is useless if the peripheral is uncomfortable to use normally. You aren't going to worry about macros or DPI settings if you can't find comfort using basic mouse functions.
With that in mind, the Spawn is actually somewhat hard to peg. The design of the mouse is very well thought out, but it takes a long time for it to feel natural. In particular, the groove inserted into the right side of the mouse is a really neat idea once you get used to it. However, it does take a while to get used to it. The problem specifically lies in when you move the mouse.
When holding the mouse still, the shape of the mouse and how your hand fits around it feels fine. However, when you move the mouse around, there is a feeling at the back of your mind that something about the process is odd. It doesn't really feel uncomfortable, but it doesn't feel quite natural either. This feeling goes away after extended use, but it comes back somewhat every time you use a mouse with a more traditional design.
There was one other niggling issue that popped up during our testing. The raised shape and position below the scroll wheel of the DPI buttons (the one for raising the DPI in particular) made accidental pressings while scrolling a common occurrence, especially when trying to "throw" the scroll wheel. Furthermore, the button for raising the DPI has a different shape than the one for lowering it. Rather than being a small trapezoid, the upper DPI button continues from its spot and wraps around the scroll wheel. While much more rare than pressing it when scrolling, there were occasions caused by this design where it would be hit accidentally simply when trying to use the normal mouse buttons.
Conclusion
The Cooler Master Storm Spawn is a great mouse. All of the buttons have a strong backing and just the right amount of resistance. The design is ergonomic and very comfortable once you get used to it. The software for the mouse is fairly powerful, and the mouse can be customized enough for the majority of uses. There are some minor issues with the design, but nothing that is really a deal breaker.
There is a problem with the mouse that is somewhat insurmountable, though, and that is the price. At a $50 MSRP, the Spawn represents a pretty good value as far as gaming mice go. As we go to press, the CM Storm Inferno is also available for around $50 (Amazon Link), and it MSRPs for only $10 more anyways. And at the end of the day, there really isn't much of anything that the Spawn does that the Inferno doesn't already do better, and the Inferno also does a lot more in addition.
There is always a danger in trying to introduce new products when you already have successful ones on the market, and the Cooler Master Storm Spawn just comes up short in the things it would need to do to differentiate itself. For that reason, we at ASE Labs cannot really recommend the CM Storm Spawn. However, if you are in the market for a good mouse, and the CM Storm Inferno doesn't appeal to you, the CM Storm Spawn is certainly worth a try.
ASE Publishing would like to thank Cooler Master for making this review possible.
You can add as much extra functionality to a peripheral as you like, but all of that is useless if the peripheral is uncomfortable to use normally. You aren't going to worry about macros or DPI settings if you can't find comfort using basic mouse functions.
With that in mind, the Spawn is actually somewhat hard to peg. The design of the mouse is very well thought out, but it takes a long time for it to feel natural. In particular, the groove inserted into the right side of the mouse is a really neat idea once you get used to it. However, it does take a while to get used to it. The problem specifically lies in when you move the mouse.
When holding the mouse still, the shape of the mouse and how your hand fits around it feels fine. However, when you move the mouse around, there is a feeling at the back of your mind that something about the process is odd. It doesn't really feel uncomfortable, but it doesn't feel quite natural either. This feeling goes away after extended use, but it comes back somewhat every time you use a mouse with a more traditional design.
There was one other niggling issue that popped up during our testing. The raised shape and position below the scroll wheel of the DPI buttons (the one for raising the DPI in particular) made accidental pressings while scrolling a common occurrence, especially when trying to "throw" the scroll wheel. Furthermore, the button for raising the DPI has a different shape than the one for lowering it. Rather than being a small trapezoid, the upper DPI button continues from its spot and wraps around the scroll wheel. While much more rare than pressing it when scrolling, there were occasions caused by this design where it would be hit accidentally simply when trying to use the normal mouse buttons.
Conclusion
The Cooler Master Storm Spawn is a great mouse. All of the buttons have a strong backing and just the right amount of resistance. The design is ergonomic and very comfortable once you get used to it. The software for the mouse is fairly powerful, and the mouse can be customized enough for the majority of uses. There are some minor issues with the design, but nothing that is really a deal breaker.
There is a problem with the mouse that is somewhat insurmountable, though, and that is the price. At a $50 MSRP, the Spawn represents a pretty good value as far as gaming mice go. As we go to press, the CM Storm Inferno is also available for around $50 (Amazon Link), and it MSRPs for only $10 more anyways. And at the end of the day, there really isn't much of anything that the Spawn does that the Inferno doesn't already do better, and the Inferno also does a lot more in addition.
There is always a danger in trying to introduce new products when you already have successful ones on the market, and the Cooler Master Storm Spawn just comes up short in the things it would need to do to differentiate itself. For that reason, we at ASE Labs cannot really recommend the CM Storm Spawn. However, if you are in the market for a good mouse, and the CM Storm Inferno doesn't appeal to you, the CM Storm Spawn is certainly worth a try.
ASE Publishing would like to thank Cooler Master for making this review possible.