Finnish company SVEN is known in Russia for a long time as a producer of audio devices and computer peripherals. And if these days we pay stable attention to the first scope of activity of the company in our project «Кристальный звук» (The Pure Sound), then the segment of peripherals we did not deal with for a long time. Today we’ll meet a lack by three devices at once: SVEN RX-500 Silent wired optical mouse, SVEN Comfort 7400 EL wired multimedia keyboard and SVEN RX-525 Silent Wireless optical mouse.
RX- 500 and RX-525 Mice
Despite of the fact that these mice have similar model numbers, their designs differ drastically. SVEN RX-500 wired «tiny» has a symmetric case with Soft Touch covering, but it is a little bit glossy and less smooth by touch. There is only DPI shift switch of controls on it in addition to two buttons and rubbered scroll wheel, the switch allows changing the sensor resolution from 800 to 1600 dpi.
Theoretically, the compact size of the mouse supposes its active use with mobile PCs; however, thin 1.5 m long cable without braiding hardly will last out for a long time in mobile conditions. Nevertheless, when working with a «stationary» notebook, which is rarely taken outside, this problem hardly will trouble you. Left and right mouse keys are practically silent when clicking them, but it is impossible to say about DPI switch and the scroll wheel.
Because of its symmetric case, the mouse will be easy-to-use for left-handed persons as well. Due to the size, an adult can operate a manipulator with claw-shaped grasp only, with his wrist on a table. Teflon legs of small area together with small mass allow moving the mouse easily with two fingers.
Actual average price of SVEN RX-500 mouse is $8.
A bigger elder model allows placing the whole palm. In this case, the base set of controls are added not only with DPI switch, but side buttons as well for a thumb.
Soft Touch plastic is used on the main black panel; the silver scroll wheel has a rubbered insertion. There is a switch slider, compartments for pair of batteries and receiver on the mouse bottom.
Besides USB-receiver and accompanying papers, the pair of AA batteries are included. The weight in the above specifications was measured taking into account their weight: SVEN RX-525 turned out almost three times heavier than SVEN RX-500.
Similar to a junior model, SVEN RX-525 keys are silent when clicking them. But it is true for all buttons of this model, except for the scroll wheel button.
In user’s manual, the producer pays attention, that after the mouse use it is necessary to turn it off with ON/OFF switch to save the charge of batteries. We did not do it, but during several working days there were no problems due to discharged batteries. The radius of accurate and reliable operation was approximately equal to two meters (with an adapter inserted to the rear socket of a system unit, in the absence of obstacles).
Swift switching to a sleep mode is another feature of SVEN RX-525, approximately after two minutes at rest. In this case, the reconnection with a receiver takes approximately two seconds, and that can annoy users who are often distracted from their workplaces on trifles.
Actual average price of SVEN RX-525 is $19.
SVEN Comfort 7400 EL Keyboard
The keyboard has a membrane-type key mechanism typical for cheap versions. Low «notebook-like» stroke of buttons, quite smooth for such type of keyboards, is a distinctive feature of the model. The reason of it the keys are sunk in the keyboard body and have several ribs to contact the membrane.
The keyboard has an American layout with long left Shift key and single-staged Enter key. Fn key is placed between left Alt and Ctrl keys. In combination with function keys it is able to control a media player, to call e-mail client, a browser homepage or bookmark menu. The keyboard keys have nonskid coating and least noticeable concavity, what has a positive impact on typing.
The top glossy black panel is designed to increase the keyboard attractiveness. But looking at numerous stains collected by the manipulator during its use, we express cautious doubts that such a decision increases its attractiveness.
A silver rim connects the top glossy panel with lower mat panel:
There is a pair of extension plastic legs on the lower panel distant edge from a user, and there is a pair of rubber legs on the near edge to prevent sliding. The keyboard cable length is approximately 1.4 m.
LED Illumination button is located in the right top corner of the keyboard. Its long holding in pushed position switches on/off highlight, short pushing switches the color from blue to green. Buttons are highlighted evenly and not too brightly, and that can be added to advantages of the manipulator. SVEN Comfort 7400 EL shown its worth: this article and some others were touch-typed with its help without any censures.
Actual average price of SVEN Comfort 7400 EL is $23.
Conclusion
All three discussed SVEN manipulators cannot boast about any design «frills», we have modest workhorses, which do not claim to exclusiveness. But they execute their base functions properly adding to this some accessible levels of sensitiveness, noiseless mechanism of button pushing and convenient highlight. So if possibilities of the discussed SVEN peripherals coincide with your needs, it is worth to pay attention to this trinity.