tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post4359515840582363727..comments2023-10-31T14:04:04.105+02:00Comments on Rambling around foo: The stupidest trend in laptop design is...eddyphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13986125106284142716noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-20599560394243171132015-11-28T14:20:59.961+02:002015-11-28T14:20:59.961+02:00To me the worst trend is that it seems all laptops...To me the worst trend is that it seems all laptops, no matter the brand, have terrible keyboards. These horrible chiclet keyboards are the worst trend by far. Personally I wouldn't buy one without a mumpad. I can't find a single laptop anymore without one. I would love to have a 17 inch laptop with a real keyboard with numpad and no track pad at all. I always use a mouse instead and the pad just gets in the way of the keyboard. What I really wish I could find is an MSI 17.3 inch laptop with a built in Microsoft comfort 5000 keyboard.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00868457039344969265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-57675878142413558562015-10-25T02:19:42.334+03:002015-10-25T02:19:42.334+03:00@Anonymous: Learn to touch type.
@Blog Owner: A...@Anonymous: Learn to touch type. <br /><br />@Blog Owner: Absolutely correct. <br /><br />I'm shopping around for a new laptop. The 10-key is a deal breaker. Even my desktop keyboard doesn't have one -- though that's because I like to sit "Indian style" and put it on my lap. Very ergonomic -- keeps my wrists very straight. Same deal there. If the keyboard had a 10-key, it wouldn't fit in the crook of my lap, and it wouldn't sit centered on my lap stably.<br /><br />I spend about 99% of my time entering text. Keyboards should be optimized for entering text, not ruined for that other 1%. The number row is fast if you know how to touch type. USB 10-key pads are cheap and small if you have seriously special needs. $13 bucks.<br /><br />Also, chiclet keyboards are great. I've liked them since my first Powerbook 12 in, some 15 years ago now. Then I moved on to an Acer netbook, a 24 inch iMac with compact wireless keyboard, and now an old Dell laptop and a custom desktop with compact keyboard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-677985124322516922015-08-24T12:30:18.439+03:002015-08-24T12:30:18.439+03:00Many of these "accounting" posts are rid...Many of these "accounting" posts are ridicolous.<br /><br />The keyboard should be center aligned. Numpad removed (the number line above WASD is actually faster than your ridicolous numpad brainwashed idea). The touchpad has to be in the middle or to the right hand side IF ANYTHING. Most people's dominant hand is the right one. So it should either be in the middle or to the right hand side.<br />And get this through your head. Numpad is a terrible idea and have always been on desktops and laptops, erase what else you might think.<br /><br />I will tell you why.<br /><br />If you use 6-10 fingers for typing. You should get used to using the number line, as it is right above the letter-keys. It is faster and more efficient, as you can use all your fingers and do not have to move your hand to the right hand side of the keyboard.<br /><br />Get this through your head. Numpad was made because of casheers using a somewhat similar layout and ATM's. Numpad was made to save space on smaller terminals.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02981308973955977601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-34244889677605173322015-08-20T17:55:34.720+03:002015-08-20T17:55:34.720+03:00I agree with you, I spend a lot of time programmin...I agree with you, I spend a lot of time programming software with my laptop ( HP g6 1304es with no numeric keypad) and I'm thinking in changing for a newer one. And again, same as 4 years ago, almost every laptop in the market have this annoying numeric keypad. If somebody find a 15.6' laptop with no numeric keypad, please let us knowAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-26593458181709283412015-06-03T01:17:37.701+03:002015-06-03T01:17:37.701+03:00I totally agree. I have only just discovered this ...I totally agree. I have only just discovered this problem. I need a laptop as I often use it on my lap. So I can't use another keyboard. My 2008 laptop was perfect but sadly now needs replacing and I'm stumped. I cannot believe there are no laptops without the number pad. I thought John Lewis had one, it was a good bargain, saw the pic on line and thought hurray! No numpad. Better check in the shop before sending off for it,.....and guess what? They had put up the wrong picture. I could perhaps go down an inch, but I really like the big screen, and I want something with dvd player if poss. Completely maddening. Penny<br />Pennynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-25064068088499011112015-05-06T01:15:12.304+03:002015-05-06T01:15:12.304+03:00Sorry, I think just the opposite: the stupidest t...Sorry, I think just the opposite: the stupidest trend is to remove the numeric keypad. The numbers across the top are almost useless, as you can never remember where you are up there. And my posture is just fine, and the numeric keypad has NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-64925992048785642952015-04-06T10:33:26.589+03:002015-04-06T10:33:26.589+03:00It makes playing browser games a nightmare in wind...It makes playing browser games a nightmare in windows 8. Your hand slowly move to the centre of the laptop in line with you vision which means your using the right hand side of your track pad which is where the stupid gesture swipe thing that you can't turn off is. You'll be playing one second then the next staring at the metro background!?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-53254289670499581312015-03-19T19:05:38.164+02:002015-03-19T19:05:38.164+02:00For health reasons (as OP states) I can't use ...For health reasons (as OP states) I can't use a laptop with an off-center trackpad (essentially all those w/ numpad). I can't understand either why this speeds things up - on my current laptop (which sorely needs replacing, but alas, there are zero options for me) the row of numbers is placed above the qwerty keys and below the function keys. I find this much easier to use than any numpad but maybe that's just me. As an author though I can't type on a numeric keypad without affecting several health issues (mostly to do with posture and RSI) so once my current laptop breaks, I'm essentially out for good. Hate that essentially all laptops are made this way now, I can't find even one decent laptop that hasn't been affected by this trend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-39147896553162026372015-03-06T19:12:17.137+02:002015-03-06T19:12:17.137+02:00Both sides of this issue have a point. I wish App...Both sides of this issue have a point. I wish Apple offered a computer with a built in numeric keypad (as a a sideline to all the other smaller, lighter ones that are more popular). I use my numeric keypad a lot at work (physician recording dates and doses) and with another computer at home (stock market analysis) Typing off center was odd at the beginning. I like a big screen for spread sheets. I would like both sides of this issue to have a choice. (And accountants are not stupid by the way. )<br /><br />PHCookeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-49211161163828843572015-02-12T00:06:22.072+02:002015-02-12T00:06:22.072+02:00I own a Lenovo Y510p and what I can only say is th...I own a Lenovo Y510p and what I can only say is the keys are too small.<br />I do some coding and the most common thing I do is hitting ' instead of ;. Hitting UP instead of SHIFT. It do affects typing speed too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-25553541826180373082015-01-26T00:38:40.452+02:002015-01-26T00:38:40.452+02:00Agreed. My Macbook Pro doesn't have a number p...Agreed. My Macbook Pro doesn't have a number pad, but it seems all the PC laptops 15.6"+ do have one, a likely cause of injury--forcing users to twist their torso and eyes to the left continuously while working.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-67899081360336801682015-01-02T23:28:33.290+02:002015-01-02T23:28:33.290+02:00The biggest buying point for me on my current lapt...The biggest buying point for me on my current laptop is that there is no numeric keypad. All the other large laptops in the store had offset keypad and mousepad. I found this Compaq, so I bought it.<br /><br />But that was a few years ago.<br /><br />I went shopping today for a new laptop and I am really disappointed. All the large laptops have the offset keyboard because of the numeric pad. Except for the Apple Macs.<br /><br />I thought that the laptop industry would have gotten over this fad by now. I agree with all the points in the article and more.<br /><br />The people who buy Laptops for home use, use them for leisure. When has this involved inputing large amount of numbers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-45153936048240653622014-11-06T00:00:19.070+02:002014-11-06T00:00:19.070+02:00I LOVE numpad keyboards just for entering phone nu...I LOVE numpad keyboards just for entering phone numbers, zip codes, etc. If you've ever learned to use a 10-key, it's handier on the keyboard for much more than accounting.<br />BUT I HATE chiclet keyboards! Get rid of 'em!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-87255874392430377362014-11-05T09:23:10.835+02:002014-11-05T09:23:10.835+02:00My pet peeve is this stupid offset touch pad. I a...My pet peeve is this stupid offset touch pad. I am right handed and often use the laptop on my LAP, a novel idea. The most used thing is the darn touch pad...yet it is over on the left side of the bleepin computer. sigh. Keep the number pad, it helps with bills...but put the touch pad back in the middle!CandF4YHWHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10980225783325338607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-84324516629778931302014-10-25T05:58:52.257+03:002014-10-25T05:58:52.257+03:00Time to replace my lenovo y530. Last time my y530 ...Time to replace my lenovo y530. Last time my y530 broke, I just ordered a refurb so I could swap my ssd and keep going. A new prob with the refurb and time to start looking for a nice new one..all 15's have numerical keypads and those crappy buttonless touchpads that jump all around.. My choice was limited to an xps (with new buttonless trackpad) or Alienware 14 for the standard button touch pad. I shouldn't have to chose. My decision? Another y530 refurb for $250. I'll figure it out when Windows 10 comes out. It's just not worth it...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-47884349386116012932014-08-30T13:38:46.172+03:002014-08-30T13:38:46.172+03:00Completely agree with your article. This is by far...Completely agree with your article. This is by far the most annoying trend. I agree with other commenters on certain other trends, but none have such an impact on usability as this.<br /><br />It should be a matter of choice. The only segment unaffected by this trend is the high-end one. For example, my last two laptop purchases, 3 years ago and, respectively, 3 weeks ago were both xps 15 Dells. One of the main reasons for my choice, beyond the specs and build, was that these were the only 15" non-Apple non-numpad laptops I could find.<br /><br />I thought I was the only one annoyed by this. Hopefully they will come to their senses and give consumers at least a few laptop models with uncluttered keyboards. Given the health issues you pointed out, theoretically, every model of notebook should come in two variants (with and without numpad), so that one may choose ones closest fit for keyboard and touchpad. This should be a regulated matter.<br /><br />M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-66300635661718154592014-07-26T06:29:32.150+03:002014-07-26T06:29:32.150+03:00I agree it's stupid! I am constantly mistypin...I agree it's stupid! I am constantly mistyping on the darn thing because I'm used to my keyboard and spacebar being centered with the screen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-43347670123990149812014-06-04T02:06:27.655+03:002014-06-04T02:06:27.655+03:00Great article. I had been searching the net high a...Great article. I had been searching the net high and low as well for a 15.6 without num pad. It sucks that laptop manufactures make all the assumptions they do. For those of you who stated that you would have to carry around a full sized keyboard with you, do you know that one can easily purchase a USB Num pad to attach to your laptop? I totally get why Accountant's and game players need to use the num pad. There just needs to be options with and without, something the laptop manufacture's won't do because they are more concerned about their bottom line than they are about we the consumers. :)Sparky Vastuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02515895865782421340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-13641970873731080152014-05-25T10:48:15.793+03:002014-05-25T10:48:15.793+03:00I just got a lenovo y510p. I am a long time lenovo...I just got a lenovo y510p. I am a long time lenovo fan but it is absolute garbage for all the reasons the author mentioned, those swine removed the trackpoint and now all thats left is this worthless buttonless trackpad. I do a lot number work in excel and spss even so, I hate this god damn 10 key. Using the standard laptop number bar is just about as fast when you get acclimated to it. maybe its ok for a mac to not have mouse buttons, they didnt even more than one button until 2007, but with a windows machine it is absolutely unnaceptable. Im trying to do buisness on this machine and its an exercise in frustration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-82445365218784251252014-05-20T11:33:32.043+03:002014-05-20T11:33:32.043+03:00this number pad thing really does seem like an epi...this number pad thing really does seem like an epidemic disease. Right now, my only acceptable option is a Dell XPS and it's twin M3800, or a Macbook Pro; which if I'm not looking for a Mac, leaves only two models. I guess there is about some millions of models out there, all for people who need a number pad. Who are these people?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02574822591917574088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-15237004020801214072014-05-12T04:48:45.672+03:002014-05-12T04:48:45.672+03:00Omg this is so fucking true... In order to differ ...Omg this is so fucking true... In order to differ from apple those idiots are ready to do the stupidest things - those numpuds and touchscreens in laptops is such an ugliness. Shame on Lenovo to follow this trend :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-52044472594939443672014-03-26T12:38:46.007+02:002014-03-26T12:38:46.007+02:00My words exactly. I don't understand why pract...My words exactly. I don't understand why practically every manufactures follows this insane trend to put number pad on every 15 inch laptop!<br /><br />The number pad not only makes the keyboard is off the center, but makes it cramped, forces unnatural position when typing, and doubles the distance from keyboard to external mouse.<br /><br />Another thing: who the hell decided to halve the cursor keys in modern keyboards?<br /><br />One of the most crucial features of a good laptop is a good keyboard. I'm quite unwilling to update my Dell Studio 15 bought '09, because every modern laptop has inferior keyboard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-62728598340610567832014-02-16T21:20:54.330+02:002014-02-16T21:20:54.330+02:00This is a very stupid idea. Another one is the cha...This is a very stupid idea. Another one is the change from 16:10 to 16:9. The screens are wider and not as high. That means much more scrolling on web pages and text documents. It is because of 16:9 change laptops is wider and less deep that has given the laptop designers the extra room for this horrible numpad on laptops.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-8664000681072373362014-02-10T12:04:03.000+02:002014-02-10T12:04:03.000+02:00By far and away the STUPIDEST design which seems t...By far and away the STUPIDEST design which seems to be afflicting ALL LAPTOPS that I can see, it the fact that the mouse is BELOW the keyboard, so you have absolutely no choice but to rest your palms on or near it. There is no such thing as "palm detection" it simply does not work. so many times I have seen entire paragraphs gone because of this feature. As an experienced user I use the keyboard far more than the mouse and frankly can do without the mouse most of the time. Surely a far more sensible position would be above the keyboard, so its not in the way of getting your real work done, but there if you need it, and cannot be accidentally activated. Other stupid things on mouse pads include "tapping" whereby a tap on the mouse pad is the same as a click - so when you are lifting your fingers on and off as you move around it starts clicking wildly. This and that other "hardware virus" which seems to be affecting an increasing number of laptops (sroll regions and "special" edge-of-pad areas) can only be designed to slow you down, so you spend more time correcting stupid-hardware-induced-mistakes as opposed to waiting for the machine and realising how goddamn slow it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1134723925265805427.post-13616608654873835552013-11-01T08:57:58.505+02:002013-11-01T08:57:58.505+02:00@last anonymous: I don't know about your keybo...@last anonymous: I don't know about your keyboards, but the ones I use on desktops are not bolted to the desk or the monitor, so I tend to align them so the space between keys G and H is centered relative to the screen. So no, the keyboard on desktop is not way to the left at all.<br /><br />Also most desktops don't have a touchpad, so I don't know how mousing with the middle finger and clicking with the thumb applies to desktop usage so people could be used to that. Maybe I didn't understood what you meant or you didn't made yourself clear enough.eddyphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13986125106284142716noreply@blogger.com