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This evaluate first appeared in problem 343 of PC Pro.
Cherry is well-known inside the gaming group for its mechanical keyboard switches, however any long-time reader will affiliate the German model with high-quality keyboards as properly. Maybe, I’d dare to enterprise, keyboards that lean in the direction of the ugly.
Not so the KW9100 Slim. Whereas its sq. edges, sq. keys and plain black end received’t attraction to all, this wi-fi keyboard will lend any desk a wise, skilled look. It’s a stable piece of kit, and Cherry claims every key has a service lifetime of 10 million actuations. I can’t think about the important thing labels will final that lengthy, however they need to survive the 2 years of guarantee.
The important thing motion makes use of Cherry’s SX scissor swap, which is shallow however satisfying. I want the motion of Logitech’s MX Keys, however the KW 9100 Slim is a fraction quieter. What you don’t get is the Logitech’s backlighting, with the one signal of sunshine being indicators for the Num, Scroll and Caps lock keys.
The upside to this lack of illumination is battery life. I discover myself recharging the MX Keys each week, however I believe the KW 9100 Slim would maintain going for a few months between fees. That is simple to do, with a USB-C port on the rear, subsequent to a swap that means that you can flick between Bluetooth and the nano USB receiver equipped within the field (this mannequin solely helps Home windows, however there’s a Mac model).
Don’t instantly throw the field away, as hidden inside is a magnetic foot that attaches to the rear of the keyboard. So in the event you like your keyboards to have a raised angle reasonably than lie fully flat, you have got the choice. It snaps on with vigor, so I used to be by no means anxious it’d fall off as I shoved the keyboard round my desk.
There may be nothing fancy about this keyboard. It doesn’t have the backlight of its Logitech rival, nor the flexibility to flick between Bluetooth companions on the press of a button, and its “extras” quantity to shortcuts to the default net browser, the Home windows calculator and quantity controls (though you may program the keys utilizing Cherry’s software program). Its seems are equally subdued. However in the event you’re searching for a dependable, quiet keyboard for an workplace rollout or your individual setup, it does the job and may final for years.