The Enermax Briskie:
The above is a quick shot of the entire combo. Celebrating the launch of the first keyboard and mouse combo from Enermax, Briskie includes a “3-in-1″ mouse pad. In addition to doing normal duty as a mousing surface, it can be applied as cleaning cloth and as a screen protector for notebooks. It is made from a cleanable anti-bacterial microfiber material with a slip-proof natural rubber base. Interesting in concept, but, given the tendency for mouse pads to get a bit scungy after prolonged use, especially if you’re in the habit of using your machine while eating or your hands are otherwise prone to being sweaty or having a bit of dirt on them, the screen-cleaning feature is apt to be the first one to fall by the wayside.
The keyboard has a basic layout with nothing special on it. It is a slim design so the keys will be a little closer than standard keyboards, but still more spacious than a netbook or laptop’s.
The keyboard is equipped with a battery indicator to let you know how the battery life is doing on the single AAA it requires.
On the back, you will have the option of using the two flip-up tabs to give you keyboard a different angle for typing. It really depends on what you like as to whether you would use this option.
This should give you an idea of how slim the keyboard is, making it easy to take anywhere, since it will be very mobile with its wireless technology.
The mouse, as mentioned above, is ambidextrous, giving all users the ability to use it without any awkwardness. Just behind the scroll wheel is the DPI button, which allows you to easily change the DPI to any of the four pre-sets. The wireless receiver is really as diminutive as it looks. This may or may not be a problem, unless you are prone to losing things.
On the bottom of the mouse there is an On/Off switch as well as the wireless receiver storage area. That latter bit is particularly clever if you find yourself moving the mouse among several computers or using it for travel.
Usage:
For testing, we decided that there was no better way to test it than to install it and type this review with the keyboard/mouse combo. Since it is geared toward portability and ease of use, we did not do any serious gaming on it. We all know wireless is not always the best gaming solution. The keys were very responsive while typing this review and the mouse, while taking a little while to get used to, worked great as well. With the on-the-fly DPI changes, we were able to control the mouse speed and find the perfect movement speed that suited us. The mouse is very light and somewhat on the small side (or maybe we just have big hands), but it was comfortable despite being designed for use with either hand. We never lost the signal with either the mouse or keyboard while typing, which was good. We put the keyboard in our lap under the desk to see if it would mess with the connection, and the connection stayed strong with no interference. [Editor's Note: It didn't improve or hurt the author's typing accuracy, nor his penchant for putting things in his lap, however.]
Conclusion:
Overall, the Briskie combo worked well for its intended use. The Briskie, set at an MSRP of $24.99, does what all keyboards/mice on the cheaper side need to do. It took our keystrokes without any problem and the mouse accepted our clicks and scrolls without complication. The wireless ability of the Briskie will make this an option for HTPC users as well, with the slim design of everything. The Briskie would also make a nice replacement for laptop users needing a break from the touch-pad and cramped keyboard. With the membrane keystroke technology, this combo will be with you for a long time to come.
The Briskie combo performed great in our testing and we would happily recommend this as an option for someone looking in this price range for their next purchase.
The Enermax Briskie receives the TechREACTION.net Gold Silicon Award!
For more information on the Briskie and other Enermax products, please visit their website.
Pages: 1 2
