M15x & M17x Touchpad cursor movement & polling rate problems

well since you got linux do you have a dual boot with win 7.

im asking as when i had win 7 and linux on my system i would have to reformat due to the boot loader so any help is appreciate.

i know its off topic so....

The M15X touchpad is so amazing on linux compared to windows. I used it instead of my mouse it was that much of a change.

 

I was just using a live usb but you can just go ahead and partition the hard drive in windows by going to start, right click computer and select manage, then go to "disk management" in the left pane. There you can partition the hard drive.

And yes, the touchpad is flawless in linux.

 

I have a strong gut feeling this touchpad issue will never be fixed for win7 users... we will have to deal with it...

I lost hope already...

 

Yea, its sad. I just installed windows 7 on an old 1501 and then installed the synaptic driver from synaptic.com and it works flawlessly.. Just wish ours would work like it should..

 

I think it will be fixed, I doubt the reps on here would blatantly lie to us / tell us a fix is coming if it geuninely was not
Added to that, they seem to have identified where the issue "is" (i.e needs a Bios update) ..........

Also if you guys say it's fine under Linux - that just confirms it's not a HW issue

I am hopeful
the only thing I do question is the "priority" this has been given (you can see my essay of a post a few pages back which I've not had a reply to .. ) but there again I have no clue what is involved . .

meh , hopefully my M17X will arrive soon , in which case will start making calls myself ........
joshmcx did you get anywhere calling AW support ?

 

^^ Not a HW issue, High Priority - let's be patient.

 

Well it could be something we are not thinking of.. something that if the bios is altered the drivers can remain the same.. perhaps something they discovered.. or perhaps the rep was confused. .. I dunno felt the need to say that.

 

Although I'm not overly impressed with the ETA of July + the update at the last second saying another month etc (as detailed in my post a few pages back) .........I honestly dont think this rep is confused; (or misleading etc) the (few) people at dell I seem to be getting any sense out of have also told me a BIOS update is needed

I have no idea how this works on a technical level - like many others I assumed we would need new drivers, (more so given it works fine under Linux) but hey what do I know about such things

I just hope this ETA of Mid-Late Aug doesnt slip :-\
*crosses fingers *

 

Linux is probably using an in built mouse smoothing setting to smooth the inputs from the touchpad.

At least a better one than the default windows drivers.

-Ash

 

What I meant was.. hes not directly fixing the issue so perhaps there was a communication issue .. there might not be .. I was just saying a possibility. I know for a fact the reps are not misleading.

 

Its not about mouse smoothing. Touchpad in linux has a higher polling rate while synaptics and windows have a polling rate way below than half of the acceptable rate.

 

i think he means that using smoothing can emulate the feel of a high poll rate, but i have to agree, it definitely is a higher poll rate in linux.

 

If Linux also smooths the mouse, I think thats just %5-10 of the difference while atleast %90 of the difference is caused by Linux's better generic drivers and Microsoft/Symantec's ill drivers.

 

Bios A07 for M17xR2 doesn't fix it.

 

Well A05 doesn't fix it for R1. I think we are stuck again i don't think Dell is gonna update another bios any time soon.

 

I'm not suprised yet

 

They already stated this wasn't a bug fix release, only adding support for new processors. They said the next one would have touchpad fixes.

 

Chris and Brian will let us know when the fix is out. I don't know why people got their hopes up with this release. Neither announced this as the fix we are looking for.

 

New processors? What sort of new processors are we talking about?

 

Yes this is correct I can confirm, this is not the fix.. there are many engineers working at Dell/AW and others are working on other issues.

 

afaik
Intel® Core? i7-610E Processor (4M Cache, 2.53 GHz) with SPEC Code(s) SLBRZ, SLBXX
Intel® Core? i5-520E Processor (3M Cache, 2.40 GHz) with SPEC Code(s) SLBP6, SLBXK
Intel® Core? i3-330E Processor (3M Cache, 2.13 GHz) with SPEC Code(s) SLBQC, SLBXW

these are embedded, however the mobile version should be the same or similar

 

Oh ok! Thanks

 

i'm so curious what the new cpu's will be. about the mouse rate issue.... arrrrrgh need more RAGE! i think i'm going to carve a hole where the touchpad is with my fingernails it's soooo frustrating.

 

lol I know the feeling but it wont make it happen any faster. I suggest getting a new game and getting wrapped up in it. LOL
All in due time. . .

 

i got their attention when i made a mediocre review of the M15x on the alienware website.

This was their reply:

Dear Warren,
This e-mail is in regards to your feedback on Dell.com about the touchpad being sluggish. The Alienware engineering team is aware of this issue and is working to develop a driver or BIOS solution.
The expected touchpad polling rate is > 100Hz however it is currently reported on a few Alienware 15x as 15-25Hz. This problem is reported in Windows based operating systems only and does not affect Linux or other operating systems.
Sorry for the inconvenience. I shall keep you posted once the fix has been released.
Regards,
Krishna KRN
Dell | Social Media

 

Funny "a few".... i guess the keyword there is "reported".

 

Well atleast it has been recognized. Now just have to wait for a fix.

 

Wow hmm Where did you do that exactly? And interesting that they have a employee spacificly for social media. nice find!

 

Dear customers, thank you for your feedback concerning both the touchpad polling and throttling issue. We are working on a new BIOS to be released soon to address both issues. As soon as it is promoted, I will let you know.

Thanks, Adriana
Alienware Quality

 

Thanks for the update. People are mad because they are being told the issue is being fixed for a long time and when they call the phone support, they totally refuse the problem.

 

I am going to take this moment to really thank you for all that you have done to help make our experience with DELL/Alienware run smoother. You are helping us take care of 3 of the main problems people have with these computers and I imagine you have other projects on the side. You take all of our crap when we whine about it taking too long even though it is not your fault. The list goes on and on but thank you so much for you help and quick responses. It is nice to know that there is someone like you to help us out.

 

not to mention it seems dell is (was) trying to pull a jedi mind trick for a long time. even the most patient of all have limits.
thanks for taking the time Adriana and Chris for helping out with this issue (and others who i may not be aware of).

 

Given we are (almost) at Mid-Aug does anyone know if this timetable is still correct, or better still do we have something a little more firm on date(s) ?

 

Now technically mid-August. I guess we wait for late August now and see what happens...

All the while, tech support staff are still completely unaware of the issue.

 

Yeah, I'm getting a little anxious here. I'll need to start taking the laptop with me, and having the option to not take the mouse would be nice and/or be embarrased about the touchpad if someone asks about it.

But I guess hoping for it in the next week might be too much at the rate things are going.

 

Talking about the rate things are going why worry if you look at page 1 of this thread it was only started on 4/16/10 that is only 4 months and 2 days ago. Oh that's not fair of me the problem started a little before this post well maybe around the day they shipped the first one. Oh that's not fair of me either they must of tested it earlier during production, so to be fair we must conclude they don't give a DAM and they have proved that right here right now by shipping a defective unit that they knew was junk and don't care. And I am sure all the AW and Dell fan boys will come on and defend them, this situation is a JOKE and they should be ashamed.

 

As you say, we are 4months 2 days in - and Dell's own sales/support department are not aware of this issue . (how that can be - after 4months of engineering working on a 'wide' scale problem is beyond me..........I know tis true as I've called them myself and been told the same ..:-\)

The last posts I saw by a rep on this seemed vauge and "guessing" on fixes/dates (although I thank him for taking time out of his day to actually communicate something to us)

I don't even think the 'fanboys' (?) would try to defend this one (probably want the fix as much as anybody!)

 

I've been following this thread for a long time in the hope for a fix, and the longer it goes on the more I grow doubtful we'll ever get a fix.

don't know if this has been mentioned already, but could it possibly be caused by the embossed pattern that's on the touchpad?

I've not used too many different laptops, but all those that I have used have had a smooth touchpad.

 

It's not the texture of the touchpad. The polling rate is fine in Linux, showing that it is, in fact, a OS/BIOS/firmware/driver issue.

I don't understand why people keep trying to defend Dell on this issue. 4 months is a very long time to have to address an issue this serious and in reality, they should have addressed it before production.

The fact that they refuse to acknowledge the issue outside this forum and refuse to tell their tech support people anything about it makes me think that the overall official company position on the matter is still to ignore/deny. I can only assume they've been aware of it and maybe they're not sure they can fix it and want to give themselves an out by never officially acknowledging it.

This is a situation where either they truly never "found" the issue before we brought it up, which would put the state of their own pre/post release testing as absolutely laughable, or they knew about it and consciously ignored it, which is much worse.

 

We're still on track for an improvement, hopefully at the end of this month or early next month. Will keep you posted.

 

..and laughed at us..

 

Thanks again for updating us however your wording is worrying me.

Perhaps I'm reading into this too deeply but you state 'an improvement' - specifically what do you mean by this ?

The reason I ask is you posted this many , many pages ago

Now. . . I would not be making a point of this but the polling rate on the first page with the 'dell' drivers was around 21hz (yes windows drivers are better but I am sure you see my point .. .)

Obviously this means if this was DOUBLED , or even trippled - it would not be good enough to be on par with a budget laptop (and given some people have spent more on these laptops than you would a car ...this is unacceptable)

Please could you provide more information - what is an "improvement", I am hoping it is just a combination of poor phrasing and me over analysing - but I would of expected the word "fixed" or "resolved" to be used...

On the subject of phrasing . . .why do we "hopefully" have an improvement early next month (which again I am disappointed this has slipped again , but thanks for letting us know) .

After slipped ETA's, an outstanding issue that affects the entire userbase...................at what point do we get something more than "hopefully"? ............I notice since my post asking when we will have something official -still .. . nothing...
I call Dell , and nothing...

I suppose (the cynic in me thinks I will not get a reply to this post either...) what I (and no doubt others ) are looking for is

a) A ball park of what this "improvement" will be - what polling rate are we looking to see after the fix ? (roughly , I am not asking for a guarantee just an indication ) ... lets be honest 21hz is a joke - you would expect >70 at LEAST?...............is this in line with what this improvement should deliver?


b) why are we getting such wooly dates of release - "engineering are busy should be mid-late july" , "should be mid-late aug" , "should be late aug- early sept" . . . surely engineering work to firmer timetables than this ?
I think the frustration for most , is not that they keep slipping (although this is obviously a factor) but that the dates provided are 'sketchy' at best
again - as I've said in previous postings this doesn't scream at you that this issue is being taken seriously . . (This isnt a feature request- it is a fairly serious issue with the touchpad..)

c) Why when I or other forum members speak to Dell about this - are they blissfully unaware of this issue ? (not one I seriously expect you to answer - but perhaps you could feedback to the relevant people?)


I think point A> is the most important - and I'd appreciate any clarity you can offer here ?

Again, apologise for giving you a hard time on this , but you seem to be one of the few people who are actually acknowledging this issue.

Appreciate your time/help with this .

 

So are we going to move on to mid-late September once we hit the end of this month? Does Engineering work on such loose schedules, with no proper deadlines set for releasing fixes?

 

Don't you know? ETA is 2012.. M15x R2

 

I just got my m17x today. I've been so excited to get it because I've been using an Asus latop to play SC2 and it's time to upgrade. But after opening it, i noticed the terrible feeling of the touch pad. This is unacceptable!! I feel like i'm using my old PS/2 port mouse from 1996. Alienware?!?

On a good note, I'm happy to see that i'm not the only one with this issue. I thought i got a Lemon, and for me, that would be extremely inconvenient because i'm going to study overseas for the next year and i'm leaving in two weeks.

Now what to do?

1. Should I just return the laptop?

2. Wait for the new driver that's suppose to fix this issue?

I can't believe i paid over $4k for this laptop and have to deal with a crappy mouse.

what do you think i should do? Option 1 or 2?

 

I would wait as that's still an awesome laptop

 

Yeah what a crappy trackpad.. Even if it had no polling issues the rough material the trackpad is made of is terrible in terms of comfort. I have a m6400 covet which has a great trackpad, surface is smooth and comforting to the touch plus no polling issues (which it seems won't be resolved ever on the m17x).

 

I think we need to gather all AW m15/17x user and go to dell/AW tech center..do complain directly to them..push them to make a dateline about this problem..all those opinion, test, experiment on NBR forum bring there as a proof on whats is going on. If they fail to obey the dateline..we can sue them..this our right as a user..i know i talk like it easy to do..why dont we give it a try..i currently in malaysia, AW community in here not so big, not like in europe..so i am counting on you all..regards..

 

No.2 btw crappy Mouse?
Get a external mouse for it. I wonders will there be problem with those USB mouse too? :X

 

Return it if you are unhappy. There is no exact plan for a fix, and if the fix turns out to not satisfy you, you will then be past the chance TO return it. For me, I'm not placing the order until this is corrected. I use the touchpad a lot when mobile, and am not carrying a mouse around to deal with a design flaw.