The Cherry DW 9100 Narrow is a high-functioning, minimalist keyboard-and-mouse set highest for total use, particularly in a house administrative center. At $99, it is somewhat priced for a classy, dependable, wi-fi keyboard with nice keys. Plus, it comes with an identical wi-fi mouse that makes use of the similar USB receiver, saving you a USB port. This keyboard gives some creature comforts that make it stress-free to make use of for the lengthy haul: a long lasting fee by way of a USB-C cable, AES-128 encryption for safety, a complete quantity pad, and quiet, low-profile keys. It is an improve from the Cherry Flow Wi-fi Keyboard, our Editors’ Selection select for funds wi-fi keyboards, which handiest is available in black, has a extra elementary design, and makes use of detachable as a substitute of integrated batteries. No longer everybody wishes to interchange each a mouse and keyboard on the similar time, however in the event you do, the DW 9100 Narrow is a superb choice.
Typing Like a Clean Operator
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You’ll be able to choose between two fashionable colour schemes: white and silver, or black and bronze. Our evaluation unit is the primary choice, which has white keys set on a silver plate. Throughout the field, you’ll be able to in finding the keyboard, the mouse (with the wi-fi dongle saved in its base), directions, and a USB-C to USB-A charging twine.
(Credit score: PCMag/Cherry)
Sooner than you move to any extent further, be aware that this keyboard isn’t Mac well suited. It really works handiest with Home windows. (If you are a Mac consumer, take a look at our listing of perfect Mac keyboards.) The Satechi Narrow X3 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard is similar value as this Cherry set, and it is in a similar way low-profile, minimalist, and is wi-fi. Cherry additionally has a Mac-compatible narrow keyboard with a just about an identical glance, however it is corded.
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
The keys have a cushy, padded really feel with simply sufficient chew to meet hungry typists, in contrast to delicate pc keys. Operating or surfing for more than one hours at a time is comfy and simple. This isn’t a surprise, as Cherry is legendary for its mechanical key switches, the infrastructure under the button that dictates how a lot effort it takes to press down (“actuation drive”) and the way the ones presses really feel.
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
Those don’t seem to be mechanicals, although. This keyboard makes use of scissor switches, that are identified for being low-profile, correct, and simple to press. When compared, some mechanical keyboards just like the MSI GK71 Sonic require extra drive to press and make a heck of much more noise. The Cherry DW 9100 Narrow is quiet, even if vigorously typing, and may not disturb the ones round you.
The keyset is complete. Along with the standard suspects—Caps Lock, Get away, Print Display, Web page Up/Down, arrow keys, and serve as row—there is a complete quantity pad and 6 further keys with some to hand shortcuts. If you need to program your individual key and mouse assignments, obtain the Cherry Keys instrument(Opens in a brand new window). You’ll be able to handiest assign particular keys and serve as keys, no longer they all.
The keyboard has restricted key-rollover fortify, handiest detecting 3 key presses at a time. Until you might be purchasing this keyboard for gaming, which might be not going for a productivity-focused keyboard, that should not be a subject matter.
The keyboard is a little bit wider than some competition are, at 0.2 through 17.3 through 5.1 inches (HWD). When compared, a keyboard with a extra restricted keyset, just like the Microsoft Fashion designer Compact keyboard, spans handiest about 11 inches. It additionally weighs greater than some keyboards of identical period, clocking in at 1.5 kilos. The Apple Magic Keyboard, which additionally has a complete keypad and is set 16 inches vast, is not up to a pound. Nonetheless, it does no longer really feel heavy in any respect. The additional weight contributes to a sturdier-feeling board, if anything else.
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
There is only one factor lacking with regards to the keys: backlighting. Whilst Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, and Num Lock have tiny LEDs that remove darkness from when decided on, the remainder of the keys don’t remove darkness from. This reduces visibility in low lighting fixtures and looks like a leave out given the moderately increased value. When put next with the Cherry Flow Wi-fi Keyboard, the cheap wi-fi keyboard from the similar emblem that still does no longer have backlighting, including the lighting could be a good way to tell apart this as higher-end product. Different options do distinguish it, then again, comparable to a chargeable battery as a substitute of the usage of depending on disposable batteries.
Alongside the keyboard’s easy, white again, you’ll repair the integrated magnetic bar to boost the again through part an inch. The bar spans all the period for balance, and it does no longer slip misplaced too simply. It is a welcome adjustment that makes the keyboard really feel a lot more straightforward to kind on. (If I sought after completely flat keys, I would stick to my pc.)
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
This keyboard isn’t essentially the most ergonomic choice available on the market, although. Wrists hold freely whilst typing at the Cherry DW 9100 Narrow, which gives necessarily no fortify in trade for a blank, minimalist design. However in equity, it does not fake to be in a different way. If you are searching to maximise ergonomics, take a look at the Razer Professional Sort Extremely ($159.99), which comes with an integrated wrist leisure.
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
You’ve gotten two wi-fi connection choices: Bluetooth, and the two.4GHz RF dongle. There is not any stressed out connection, regardless of the charging twine. When you toggle Bluetooth on the usage of the keep watch over at the again of the keyboard, your pc must right away hit upon the keyboard’s presence throughout the 10-meter vary. A popup will seem at the display screen, which you’ll click on to put in the driving force. After that, the Bluetooth connection works flawlessly. In the previous few months of utilization, it has no longer as soon as failed to connect with my PC or my pc in any room of the home.
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
To allow the two.4GHz RF connection, you want to plug the dongle that is saved within the base of the mouse right into a USB-A port in your pc. Whilst each Bluetooth and RF paintings nice, RF is historically thought to be a more potent, extra safe connection. To safe your knowledge because it passes during the community from the keyboard in your pc, the keyboard has AES-128 encryption. That is might be the most important characteristic in the event you paintings with delicate knowledge in an open administrative center setting. It prevents anyone from hacking into your community and logging your knowledge (like passwords) as you kind.
At the most sensible of the keyboard, subsequent to the Bluetooth/RF toggle, is a USB-C port for recharging the completely put in 650mAh batteries. This can be a perk for somebody who considers incessantly purchasing and putting in batteries an inefficient bother. Whilst you plug within the twine to fee, an LED at the most sensible lighting up crimson till absolutely charged, at which level it turns inexperienced.
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
Cherry guarantees the battery lasts for “weeks of fee.” There is additionally an Off button to preserve energy. For my part, I’ve by no means grew to become it off and not charged it within the closing two and a part months of use. (I promise I am operating, boss!) The lengthy battery lifestyles is a significant get advantages. It should even make the keyboard value purchasing in itself in case you are no longer keen on including “flip off keyboard” in your to-do listing, however you continue to desire a wi-fi connection.
Do not Overlook the Incorporated Mouse
A large asset you might be getting for the cost of this keyboard is the accompanying wi-fi mouse. It suits the keyboard and has the similar low-profile feel and appear. It is nice if you wish to have a minimalist glance and wish to save house in your table, however it isn’t specifically comfy or supportive. If you are no longer in search of this sort of mouse, the $99 value would possibly deter you from this set. You can’t acquire the keyboard by itself. On the other hand, the mouse is available for purchase by myself in black(Opens in a brand new window).
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
Just like the keyboard, the mouse wirelessly connects by way of Bluetooth or RF, plugs in by way of USB-C to fee, and gives a button to show it off and preserve battery. For an RF connection, it fortuitously makes use of the similar receiver because the keyboard. That suggests you handiest want one USB-A port in your pc for the entire set. In case your pc or PC has a restricted choice of USB-A ports, this may also be crucial.
The mouse advantages from the device’s general very good wi-fi connection; the cursor is amazingly fast because it strikes across the display screen and scrolls up and down (the usage of a wheel at the most sensible). For any mouse, the DPI, or dots in step with inch, dictates the fineness of the monitoring. This type has a switchable DPI environment. Through urgent a button on most sensible of the mouse, you’ll toggle amongst 3 presets, with a max of two,400dpi.
Somewhere else at the frame, the mouse has two buttons at the facet and a complete of six instructions: right-click, left-click, scroll wheel, browser ahead, browser again, and DPI switching. The usage of the Cherry Keys instrument, you’ll customise what the 2 facet buttons and the highest button do.
(Credit score: Emily Dreibelbis)
The mouse is small within the hand. It essentially suits within the hands with out being lengthy sufficient to fill the palm house. In higher palms, it will really feel exceptionally small. I lately attempted the bigger Logitech G403 mouse, which is “designed for convenience” (i.e. gaming), and it suits a lot more snugly and with ease in all the hand. The Cherry mouse rests on the most sensible of my hand, extra throughout the hands than the palm.
Verdict: Every other Ripe Cherry
The Cherry DW 9100 Narrow is a handsome keyboard-and-mouse combo with a competent wi-fi connection, comfy keys, and a long lasting fee. At $99, it is the correct value—particularly in case you are in search of an integrated mouse, rechargeable batteries, and swish glance, that are the primary advantages of this set over different standalone keyboards available on the market. Maximum of our most sensible advisable wi-fi keyboards are greater than $100, and they do not include a mouse.
Essentially the most direct comparability to the Cherry DW 9100 Narrow shall we in finding in other places is the $60 Dell wi-fi keyboard and mouse set(Opens in a brand new window). Just like the Cherry DW 9100 Narrow, it is available in black and white and has programmable keys. On the other hand, it calls for batteries. If that is a deal breaker for you, and you do not thoughts the additional value for the Cherry—particularly because you’re getting some fine quality key switches—then you will not be disenchanted.
The Backside Line
The graceful, low-profile Cherry DW9100 Narrow is a cast general-use keyboard and mouse set with a competent wi-fi connection and lengthy battery lifestyles.
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