The red-hot Cherry Stream Desktop keyboard-mouse combo beats all wireless competitors at $58. Among its great features: rugged construction, an excellent typing experience, and a great mouse. While not ideal for keyboard junkies or Mac users, its quiet key presses offer great value for those pulling a nine-to-five in a shared office.

Competitors to the Cherry Stream Desktop

The Logitech MK520 or the newer MK545 both sport features on par with the Stream Desktop. They're both available for around $60 to $85 and include similar hardware and software.

Cherry's offering beats both, mostly by virtue of its superior construction. But it's not a great option for Mac users (and neither are Logitech's keyboards), its mouse is less ergonomic, and its membrane switch is a bit louder and a fair amount stiffer to press down. But the Stream Desktop mouse's variable DPI feature puts it over the top.

Cherry's Reputation

For many keyboard enthusiasts, Cherry's brand is pure quality. Cherry made its reputation among keyboard enthusiasts through its 1984 modular mechanical keyboard switch patent. Up until its MX switch patent expired, Cherry was the big name in the industry, rivaled by none.

If Logitech is best-known for its low-cost rubber-dome input devices, then Cherry represents the opposite: high-cost and mechanical. And that's why it comes as a shock that Cherry now manufactures membrane rubber dome keyboards, aimed at capturing the office productivity market. Technically, the Stream series of keyboard isn't anything new. What's new is its wireless capabilities.

Cherry Stream Desktop Keyboard and Mouse Specs

• Mouse DPI: Variable DPI mouse, up to 2,400 DPI
• Mouse buttons: left, right, middle, forward, back and DPI switch
• Mouse Weight: 115g with AA battery
• Keyboard Noise generation: 55 dBi at 42 dBi ambient
• Software: Keystroke customizer software
• Battery life: 36 months of battery life for keyboard; 18 months for mouse on replaceable AA batteries
• Keyboard Switch type: Rubber dome with scissors mechanism
• Keyboard Switch actuation force: 56.5 grams of force (65 cN advertised)
• Keyboard weight: 813g with 2 AA batteries
• Backplate: Steel plate
• Extra keys: Media control keys, hotkeys, programmable keys
• Wireless: 2.4GHz dongle
• Cost: $58

Rugged Construction Quality

For the money, no keyboard-mouse combinations offer the same level of rugged build quality as the Stream Desktop, particularly the keyboard. There's a steel plate behind the keyboard circuit board.

While some might not enjoy the weight, steel generally improves typing stability and experience, owing to its heavy weight. While personally, I don't mind an aluminum plate, a lot of folks out there prefer steel. (For the record, I type on a steel-plate keyboard and can't tell the difference other than in weight.)

Excellent Typing Experience

The typing experience is excellent. The SX switch inside of the Stream Desktop keyboard caters to typists who like a bit of resistance when bashing out emails or memos. Unlike butter-smooth linear mechanical switches, the rubber-dome scissors of the Stream Desktop feels more like popping bubble wrap. During key presses, there's a high amount of initial resistance. But that gives way after the dome collapses at around 56.5-grams of activation force.

Whereas other keyboards might provide a more linear actuation curve, the SX switch feels more crunchy, as far as rubber-dome switches go. After all-day writing sessions, my fingers felt tender and sore. Although, that's because I normally use ultra-light 35-gram linear switches.

Cherry's SX-Scissors Technology

Instead of using its trademark mechanical switches, Cherry selected rubber-domes combined with a scissors-switch design. Scissors switches mostly appear on laptops which prioritizes thickness over typing experience. But they're a step up in quality compared to Logitech's lighter and softer-weighted rubber-dome switches.

Cherry also put about 2.5mm of travel into the SX scissors switch, which feels comparable to most generic office keyboards. For comparison, a mechanical keyboard usually has about 4mm of key-travel distance, before bottoming out. A laptop, with its slimmed-down chiclet-style keys, offers around 1mm of key travel. While key travel is often an apples to oranges comparison, a crude summary is that longer travel distances translate into a more satisfying typing experience for touch typists.

More or less, the Stream Desktop keyboard feels like something between a mechanical keyboard and a laptop in typing experience. In comparison, most Logitech keyboards also use rubber-dome switches, although with more linear activation. In other words, the difference between the Stream Desktop and Logitech's MK series is how much "crunch" you feel. While rubber-dome keys have a reputation for lacking a distinct feel, Cherry's scissors-switch feels punchier and stiffer compared to the average keyboard.

The Stream Desktop Is as Quiet as a Mouse

Like most membrane-based keyboards, the Stream Desktop keyboard produces little noise. Compared to Logitech or Microsoft's rubber-dome keyboards, however, the sound production is a little bit higher than you would expect for a keyboard designed for office productivity.

The silenced mouse clicks register at 55 dBi and mouse buttons register at 60 dBi when pressed from six inches distant from the recording microphone, with ambient sound being 42 dBi. Overall, the mouse and keyboard are relatively silent and don't pollute shared offices with too much extra noise.

Stream Desktop Mouse

The Stream Desktop mouse is, first and foremost, designed for office productivity. While it drops the ball on ergonomics and lacks any textured rubber coating (as Logitech uses), it keeps pace with the competition by offering six customizable and silenced buttons as well as premium build quality. While the competition from Logitech's MK545 includes superior fit and feel, as well as six more months of advertised battery life, the Stream Desktop mouse wins out in the end with its variable levels of sensitivity and great design.

Its left and right-button clicks feel adequate, similar in experience to just about any other mouse that's out there. Aside from the six buttons, which includes the standard left, right, middle, there's also a forward and back button along the left-side of the mouse.

Variable DPI

The star of the show is the mouse's variable Dots Per Inch (DPI) button. When pressed, the DPI button cycles through three varying degrees of accuracy, going as high as 2,400 DPI. The overall impact of pressing the button speeds up the movement of the cursor. Lower DPIs make the mouse cursor move quicker, which is useful if you need to jump between different cells on a spreadsheet.

Great Design

I can't help but note the USB pairing dongle stores internally on the mouse using a magnetic storage mechanism. In other words, there's no flimsy storage bay under the battery cover. On top of that, the bright red coloration of the dongle makes it easy to spot if dropped. It's a design win for Cherry (which uses red as its corporate logo) both in terms of branding and design.

Battery Life

The Logitech MK520 also includes a reported 3 years of battery life on two AA batteries and 18-months of battery life for the single AA powered mouse. It also sports 15 programmable hotkeys, although Logitech's SetPoint utility seemingly hasn't been updated in quite some time. It does function as advertised, although I prefer Cherry's software by leaps and bounds.

Programmable Buttons

The Stream Desktop includes compatibility with the Cherry Keys program. Cherry Keys (which comes in 32 and 64-bit versions) can program all of the function, media, and quick launch buttons on the keyboard, which comes out to 24 keys in total. The software allows for the following:

• Run a specific program
• Open files
• Open a specific webpage
• Record a macro or timed string of key strokes
• Paste a text block (such as a signature)
• Perform a media playback function

On the downside, the software isn't available outside of Windows. And that means Mac and Linux users can't customize the programmable buttons on the Stream Desktop.

Furthermore, if you use the keyboard with multiple computers, you've got to install the software on each platform. This means the customizations are not installed on the keyboard, but rather are implemented by the software.

Sustainability and Repairability

The Stream Desktop input system offers both eco-friendly design along with excellent repairability.

Warranty and Repairability

The Stream Desktop comes with a solid three-year warranty. In comparison, Logitech offers the same warranty on budget devices, but I've returned Logitech products well after the warranty's expiration. I don't know if Cherry offers the same flexibility.

If something does go wrong, the replaceable AA batteries and uncomplicated repair process score big here for saving the environment. If you ignore the whopping thirteen Torx T9 screws, the keyboard pulls apart easily. Thankfully, all the screws are of the same dimensions, so there's no chance of forgetting each screw's positioning.

Unfortunately, there are two hidden screws: one, behind the battery compartment, and another tucked away behind the manufacturer's sticker on the rear. But they disengage just as the other screws do.

After removing the screws holding the ABS plastic casing together, running a spudger along the plastic seam separates the two shells, revealing Cherry's engineering wizardry. The steel backplate is bonded to the plastic case, which means the individual keys can't be serviced. Overall, the construction quality is excellent.

Durability

Cherry rates its membrane-bound switch at 20-million presses before failure. That's about halfway to the durability of a mechanical keyboard. While claims of millions of key presses may seem like hyperbole, this is Cherry we're talking about. My guess is that the keyboard really is suited for a long lifespan.

In Germany, the keyboard achieved the Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) certification for eco-friendly manufacturing. The Blue Angel certification takes into consideration the lifespan of the product along with the pollution it generates, from production to destruction. In other words, the Stream Desktop meets the highest consumer electronics standard for environmental safety.

Major Criticisms

While the Cherry Stream Desktop mouse and keyboard is universally good for a $58 device, it's not perfect.

Ergonomics: The ergonomic styling on the Stream Desktop mouse falls short of the Logitech MK520 and MK545. But overall, the Cherry Stream Desktop package beats Logitech's offering both in quality and typing experience.

Weight: A lot of typists prefer heavier keyboards for typing stability. Even so, the Cherry Stream Desktop keyboard weighs 58 grams more than the MK520 keyboard.

Too many Torx screws: Like many of Logitech keyboards, the Stream Desktop keyboard and mouse are both designed to resist tamper. Unlike Logitech keyboards, Cherry chose to use Torx screws. And not just a few, no less than 11 screws attach the two halves of the keyboard case together. While these likely make the keyboard more durable and harder to damage when dropped or flexed, they also make it difficult for the user to replace components on their own.

High actuation force/stiff keys: With a reported actuation force of 65 centinewtons (cN), the Stream Desktop takes quite a bit of force to activate its keys. Over a marathon typing session, the wear and tear on your fingers adds up.

Personally, I prefer the smoothest and lightest mechanical switches. However, mechanical keyboards aren't for everyone, particularly for those prone to eating or drinking around their keyboards.

No palm rest.

The mouse only supports one AA battery.

Should You Buy the Cherry Stream Desktop Wireless Keyboard and Mouse?

The Cherry Stream Desktop dominates at its low price point for non-mechanical keyboard and mouse combos. It's particularly great for the shared-office productivity market on account of its ultra-low-cost, long battery life, serviceability, and quiet switches.

On the downside, the stiffness of its key presses makes it difficult to use for those pulling overtime hours. We've covered a variety of the best wireless mouse-keyboard combos and the Cherry beats them all in terms of its price-to-performance ratio.