Numeric touchpads on future Asus models

I found something interesting today that may be one way to make smaller notebooks more useful to some people. Those that input a lot of numbers typically prefer the numeric keypads of the larger desktop keyboard, and some of the larger 17" systems out there. What I dug up was the use of something similiar to what toshibia is using on some of their models. I'm not sure when they'll appear, but based on previous features I've seen, like the V1's full docking station, the W2's HD-DVD, and the V2's 3G wireless, it should show up on at least one model this spring.

 

If this is common knowledge I apologize, but what is Toshiba using? I took a quick look at their site but didn't see anything different.

 

Well, I thought it would be, but maybe not. It's like an OLE touchpanel... basically the backlight changes to represent numbers or media functionality... I haven't used anything like this, but have seen an article or two. I'm sure Asus' will be be done up nicer than what toshiba is offering (I think it's on the Sat P105 range. You can see this sort of touchpad on Synaptics website... they've listed them for almost a year now as "dual mode" pads.

http://www.synaptics.com/products/dualmode.cfm

 

If you look at the bottom of the link that I put up before for the f9f, I think thats what you are referring to?

An extra mode for the touchpad wherein it acts like a numeric pad?

<a href>http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=5&l2=75&l3=480&model=1499&modelmenu=1[/URL]

I think its not a bad idea, though not a substitute for a real numpad

 

Yep... it's actually less information than I wrote this thread up with, but that's it. Basically the touchpad on/off switch will be made into an on/off/num pad switch and when it's in that mode there will be some sort of backlight.. Since Asus uses synaptics stuff, we can obviously tell from synpatics product pages what it's all about. Apparently Toshiba is using it for media controls.... Asus wants to use it for a number pad.

I never realized how much I use a number pad until this morning. Now, I swap from notebook to notebook and a workstation to docked notebooks, and never noticed. It's almost like I used the number pad when at a desktop and have no use or urge to use it on a notebook. I hooked up a new logitech diNovo keyboard to one of my systems and it doesn't have a numpad and I seem to miss it.

 

NM...I see. Looks cool.

 

Hi!

(Sorry for my bad english...)

I have a Asus G1S.
Wondering if it is possible that this feature can be enabled by software, for example on my G1S?

Thanks in advance.

/Pa

 

Theres no feature for the G1S of that nature.