The Skeleton is by far the strangest case we have ever seen. The first aspect of this case is the looks, and the Skeleton looks like it was designed by SkyNet. Industrial and utilitarian in design, the Skeleton is not for those who like lace and frilly things.
The use of plastic really helps to bring the weight down and it does not make the case feel cheap. No one likes a chassis that feels like it will warp every time you pick it up, the Antec Skeleton is in fact extremely rigid and this is a factor we like. One would use the word 'striking,' if you had to see a Skeleton at a LAN. You wouldn't dismiss it as just another case; in fact we can imagine the crowds jostling for a closer look with plenty of Ooh's and Aah's. The Skeleton's design is very radical and therein lays a problem. Without side panels dust will be a huge problem, and for those of you who live by the coast cross this one off your Christmas list, you'll be chiseling the corrosion off your motherboard before the week is out.
Practically however, the Skeleton just cannot be beaten. To access the motherboard and drives requires the push of two buttons, the main mounting compartment then slides out like a draw. This means that mounting the motherboard becomes child's play, and that's even before you remove the motherboard tray. To fill up your expansion slots requires the removal of the Perspex retaining bracket, simple and easy. While the Perspex does the job it does not feel that strong. Antec would have done well to make this bracket the same material as the rest of the chassis as it would have been stronger as well as make the rear seem more complete.
The open design will have neat freaks in a tizz as there is no place to hide the cables, but the open design does wonders for the thermals, and the placement of the 250mm fan means that it blows cool air all over the motherboard. The fan LEDs do little to harm the image of the Skeleton, however the fan has a rather unattractive looking power button and speed controller and this does harm the image. The lower level of the chassis has some extra space and would comfortably house a few water cooling parts such as a pump and reservoir.
Modders will surely find at least a dozen ways to make this case even more unique and somehow, deep down, we know that Antec actually made this for them. Something about the Skeleton says ‘build me up’ and truth be told we want to dust off the old drill and jigsaw and give it a go.
So should you spend your hard earned money on the Skeleton? The answer is a bit complicated. If you live far inland, have a trust fund and consume all sustenance at least 3m away from your PC then the Antec Skeleton is for you, if you are a normal person and don't plan to mod then consider something a little more traditional.
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