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Cherry makes a slim comeback with its mouse and keyboard after years of taking a back seat
After over three years of inactivity in the consumer space Cherry has released a new keyboard line-up, with the Evolution Marlin the flagship offering.
It's a wireless mouse and keyboard package with a 10m range. A USB dongle is provided and must be plugged in at all times, which is a shame since some competitors, such as the Logitech's Dinovo Edge, offer Bluetooth-based keyboards.
Pictures of the keyboard give the impression it has a metallic finish and blue backlit media keys. This is not the case though. The silver material is actually matt plastic and media buttons just have a blue-coloured outline. However, it's certainly not bland.
The keyboard is a slim-line device with keys that only have 2.5mm travel and use a scissor-action similar to that of a notebook. While we found it easy and quiet to use, some may prefer the deeper and clunkier feel keys found on conventional keyboards.
There are the obligatory 10 media and program buttons, as well as drop-down legs to give the keyboard a small amount of tilt.
The keyboard works well and, thanks to a five-year guarantee, the Evolution Marlin represents good value for money.
The mouse is made of plastic and rubber, and features a high arch making it very comfortable to use for prolonged periods of time. Thanks to a laser diode, as opposed to a less accurate infra-red sensor, it has sharp and accurate movement. Seven programmable keys are placed strategically around the mouse and it comes with two rechargeable AA batteries along with a USB lead for charging.
A word of warning to those considering buying a cheaper Cherry keyboard though: We've also had our hands on a Cherry Stingray that didn't perform quite as well.
Although the keyboard is identical, it uses a cheaper mouse and a different transmission type for wireless operation. In our office, it was completely unusable due to interference. Although the keyboard worked in a noise free environment, the response was slow and it is a very poor product in comparison.
The Marlin suffers none of these problems because it uses pre-defined, encoded wireless channels to avoid interference.
Pros: Comfortable mouse; slim and manageable keyboard;
five-year warranty
Cons: Plastic finish is disappointing; not Bluetooth enabled
Overall: The low profile won't please everyone but both
keyboard and mouse perform accurately and the mouse is especially comfortable
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Toyota or Lada?
I purchased this keyboard and mouse set in August 2007. The keyboard is quite nice to use - it reminds me of an Apple Powerbook in feel and response - though it's ergonomics have something to be desired. It is very flat and only useable when the feet are extended. It would also be more useable if a caps lock light had been installed. Overall, though, the keyboard is good - the fit and finish is excellent and the responsiveness of the keys is a joy when compared to the usual keyboards that come with a computer. The mouse is a different beast altogether. While the keyboard feels like something that has been carefully considered and thought through, the mouse feels like a cheap child's toy. The finish and fit are particularly bad - lines do not meet and panels sink and bulge where they shouldn't. Prior to this I had used a Microsft Optical mouse for a number of years and it is like comparing a Lada to a Toyota! In addition, the Cherry mouse is hand-specific, making it unusable by left-handed people. Perhaps, the most disappointing thing about the mouse, though, is the fact that the main right button doesn't work properly. It clicks but nothing happens. I've found that if I hold the right button down for a few seconds the menu appears, most of the time. This is a fairly expensive product; I bought mine for £47 from Scan. Unfortunately, I cannot find the receipt and have tried to deal with Cherry directly. I have yet to receive a response from them.
Posted by Steff Walters, 01 Dec 2007