Cherry Stream XT

The humble keyboard is often overlooked when it comes to computer peripherals, but it’s actually one of the most important electronic devices most people own.

After all, which other bits of the computer are you in almost constant contact with when the computer’s in use?

A good keyboard is important, then, and Cherry’s Stream XT fits neatly into that category. It’s a standard desktop keyboard (though the USB connection means it can be used with any computer, Mac or PC, laptop or desktop) with a numeric keypad to the right-hand side.

There are a few buttons along the top that can be used to control music and video playback and volume, but otherwise there are no frills. It has a fairly low profile meaning the keys don’t rise far above the level of the keyboard, but despite that it was comfortable to type on. Key action (how keys feel when pressed) was pleasant.

Our one gripe is that the lights indicating Caps Lock and Num Lock status are small, so they look good, but unless you are leaning right over the keyboard it’s hard to see whether or not they're on.

It’s available for less than its RRP online, making it good value.