M15x & M17x Touchpad cursor movement & polling rate problems

As creator of this thread I approve.

 

I asked BatBoy to change it.

 

Ok, so my thread was closed and I was told to continue my rant about the AW touchpad here. So does anyone here have any update on any fixes on this issue? Is Dell doing anything about it? I mean its a $3500 laptop guys...this is embarrassing. Another silly thing I notice, which might not bother anyone else is the lack of a mute key in the touch sensitive media bar above the keyboard. I mean c'mon...would a simple mute key be too much to ask?

Anyways, so yeah...whats your opinion on the TP issue...is it hardware or software related?

 

No word back from Dell engineers about the touchpad, yet. They've been made aware. It's been 2-3 weeks now. The issue is software related, but is likely at the Windows driver level. I think Microsoft may need to update their i8042 controller driver for this to get fixed. Could be (somewhat) out of Synaptics' hands.

As far as mute.. Fn-F3 will mute. I know it's 2 keys, but it's better than no option at all.

 

Whoa...ok...thanks a ton. That was useful. I was wondering if I could bind some key to act as mute but I guess Fn-F3 will do for me now.

So how long will we have to wait for the fix? Actually, I have my laptop on the bed most of the time so I use the touchpad quite a bit unlike most people here. Thats why its bothering me more than most people I guess.

One more thing, do the media keys light up when you touch them? Mine light up very slightly and then very abruptly dim down again. Its not a smooth lighting up and smooth dimming down like the SXPS 16. Its very abrupt.

 

I never use an external mouse. It bothers me a lot, too. Luckily the built-in MS drivers do a slightly better job than the Synaptics ones.

I never noticed mine light up and dim until you mentioned it. Very subtle on my machine. It's just brighter then immediately slightly dimmer again like yours, though.

 

Yeah same with mine. Its so funny that I kept complaining about my crappy Studio XPS 16 for a year and badly regretted the decision of not buying an AW. Now that I finally got it, I miss those silly little things my SXPS 16 had. Stupid, I know. The AW is no doubt very powerful but if ur lookin for a "laptop" then its not the way to go. Its more of a desktop...hence the desktop replacement category I guess.

 

Totally hear you on that. My ideal laptop would be the power of this AW, but the form factor of a Mac Book Air. Maybe in another 10 years haha.

 

Welcome to the Matrix

 

I never use an external mouse either. I started using this laptop at work with an external mouse and I don't even bother taking it home to game on anymore. So it's pretty much a giant paperweight.

If it wasn't for the fact that this is a replacement laptop, I would certainly return it over this issue.

 

Same here man....its a replacement for me as well.

 

Well, I stand corrected. I checked my EeePC, and the touchpad on that is also Synaptics, and is connected via PS/2, as well. I checked the refresh rate on that, and it came back ~80Hz. So, Microsoft is not to blame on this one. It's either the drivers or the BIOS at this point.

 

Its gotta be drivers.. My work laptop has synaptics and it works just fine. Come on dell.. fix it!!!!

 

I think it's Dell's BIOS at this point. I found Vista Synaptics drivers that even have a setting for low or high polling rate and that setting changes *nothing* on the M17x, but does adjust on my EeePC.

 

For me, I am able to use the track-pad by really increasing the sensitivity of the track-pad, and by speeding up the mouse pointers.

I have left the palm check set to almost maximum.

Not a perfect solution, but very usable.

I use the track-pad daily.

Hope this helps.

 

Then why would it be ok in Linux? If it was a bios issue wouldn't it display the same behavior on both operating systems.. I mean there is even a change to the windows default driver.

 

Linux may be able to override whatever the BIOS is setting for such a low polling rate, and the new Windows drivers may not be able to (keep in mind, the Synaptics drivers still sit on top of the stock Windows ones).

It's all speculation, just what I think is going on. I think Dell may need to just bump up the default polling rate in the BIOS and it would solve it across the board.

 

Dude...wherever the problem may lie...Dell better fix it. Its just embarrassing to see a such a high end laptop built especially for people who are willing to pay premium for quality and performance to have such pathetic little issues. Although, I have no evidence to support my opinion..but I dont know why my gut tells me its a hardware issue and not a software one. Well whatever it may be...they better fix it soon.

 

If I was really bored I'd disassemble my M17x and EeePC and temporarily attach the EeePC touchpad to the M17x connection and see what it does. I'm not that bored right now, though.

 

So guys, any update on the trackpad? Has Dell fixed the problem yet?

 

Negatory..

 

It's been almost a month since my original call and "escalation to engineering" I think we all need to start calling again, maybe with a bit more stern of a tone. Either they're looking into it and have horrible communication as far as keeping us informed, or they're just BSing us that they've even escalated it at all. Either way, a month is long enough for at least some initial evaluations of the issue and I expect to hear something back, even if it means calling AW support every couple days until I do.

 

I'll inquire.

 

It's been almost a month since my original call and "escalation to engineering" I think we all need to start calling again, maybe with a bit more stern of a tone.
* It won't help. The front lines won't hear aything until I do.

Either they're looking into it and have horrible communication as far as keeping us informed.
* Well, I am not going to post unless I have something.

or they're just BSing us that they've even escalated it at all.
* We don't BS. It's Hot Issue #44 submitted on 4/28/10.

 

Thanks for the status update!

 

Thank you for the update, Chris.

 

Thanks Chris

 

My AlienTouch died i think.. an error keeps popping up everytime I open it so it's unusable.. but trackpad works fine now.. but no scrolling on the side.. and it has pinch to zoom.. oh wait.. it doesnt have..

 

Just got my new m17x-r2 and I almost called for the return as I thought the touchpad was broken.

In its state with Synaptics drivers it's completely unusable. Windows drivers at least work so-so so you can actually click on the screen if you need. But it's a giant pain.

 

I'm actually going to try hacking something tonight and seeing if I can't get a temporary fix for us all until Dell comes up with a real fix. I just need to do my weekly backup tonight because there's a very good chance it's going to thrash my system instead haha.

 

laggy touch pad is annoying

 

Yep. Can't believe more people haven't complained, but I guess most people that use this M17x use it for gaming and USE an external mouse. Might be why it's not that 'hot'.

 

Enough people are starting to come forward now that they're not simply going to be able to ignore it.

 

I kind of noticed it as soon as I first started the computer. How could you miss it??? It took me a bit to click and enter my user name when you first run Windows.

I connected the regular mouse then. They should put at least TactX mouse in the box instead of the hat.

 

But you just wouldn't look as cool.

 

is this a hardware or software issue?

 

It works fine under Linux. So it can't be 100% hardware. We're still trying to determine the point of failure, whether it be part of a Windows driver, Synaptics driver, or possibly a combination of one of those and the way the BIOS initializes the PS/2 port. Regardless, since it works in Linux then there is *some* way to fix this without a recall.

 

ah thanks, was thinking if its hardware I doubt they would admit it as they would have to do a recall lol, but if it works with linux and not windows hmm, is it all variants of windows? including xp?

 

Oh i am having the same issue here... i know now why the touchpad is so laggy.. i just compared the sensitive of the touchpad today between my old XPS M1530 and the M17x R1.. and the difference is from heaven to hell... i hope Dell fix it becases.. well... it is their job!!!

 

It actually annoys the hell outta me. I am a 50/50 user of T-pad and USB mouse. So when I must use the T-pad, I am extremely annoyed.

However, I just uninstalled the synaptics drivers thanks to the OP and at least that comforts me a little.

Repped!

 

Bumping this. I've been using a 6 year old laptop that feels better than the M17x or M15x trackpad. Can't wait for it to be fixed!

 

I wish.. this issue has been brought up for months.. apparently many M15x / M17x owners notice the problem but it doesnt bother them enough to raise a stink..

Personally I cannot find a worse feeling touchpad tracking.. even a old 7 year old gateway feels smoother..

I would <3 to find a fix for this!

 

Yes its the driver... No dell will not fix it.. however they will replace ur touchpad over and over .. and ur motherboard ... ur AC Adapter... all in attempts to fix this. Even with mountain of proof of a problem.

Wow I guess this is problem #2 as the M15x Throttling issue is in their face and they won't fix that either.. and that is waaay more of a problem imo.

As much as I would love to see this fixed.. I would suggest getting used to ur external mouse, or just living with the low polling.

However surely some coder out there might be able to mod the drivers or something... dunno

 

Well it has been reported to them. If Chris or Bill would really put some pressure on them to speed up the resolution it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Ummm question Mr Dell guy... First off just curious about this "Hot Issue" stuff.. lat nov this was supposedly reported as a "Hot Issue" Yet its still not fixed after 3 bios updates..
2nd question about this... Why is there a "hot issue" from you on this but yet still nothing regarding the M15X throttling??????

I have found 2 students in my school... and my university professor purchased a M15x just to prove it throttled. All 3 experience the problem in WoW and with the UT3 Engine.... yet Dell/AW still does nothing.

So I have I high end laptop.. which the touchpad polls at 25Hz, this is the only laptop I can find that polls this low.. and its a gaming comp $3k+.
Plus when I play ANY of my favorite games my system throttles no matter what I do.

Is it me or does it seem that yes these are FAST POWERFUL comps but at the cost of cutting corners and become almost junk.. I really feel shafted..

And you guys brought up a really good point .. if these issues are not being massively reported they are considered to be non existent. An AW rep told me that directly.

Do any of you have a point of contact regarding the touchpad issue? I would like to start a case regarding this.. If I go to a random rep .. this case and you all's will not be connected in anyway and they will still say its not a common issue.

Thanks for your time in reading this.

 

This issue was reported to them back in December when JohnBDell was around.
It is not the first time this has been reported.

Like the Throttling issue it seems to become swept under the rug. I hope am wrong.

 

I've just emailed Bill and hopefully, this will get the due attention soon.

 

Chris is also fully aware of this thread. I touch base with him from time to time as this thread flares up when more and more people see it. Hopefully the more appropriate thread title draws more people in, too.

 

I just got a reply from Bill, he will try escalating the issue once again. First time it didn't get the proper attention.

 

The people vs Alienware lets see how this goes..

Edit: im not very clued up on this issue I dont even have my laptop delivered yet..but wondering if anyone has tried official synaptics drivers as opposed to dell?

http://www.synaptics.com/support/drivers