The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Dell XPS 13 trackpad performance improvement

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by RobotDoctor, Apr 17, 2016.

  1. RobotDoctor

    RobotDoctor Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    156
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    41
    As with all of us, erratic trackpad performance plagues the XPS 13 Infinity. Recently I added a protective skin on the outside of my XPS 13 and the skin kit came with an option of ordering a skin for the trackpad. I thought I would give that a try at least for protection against scratching (due to work environmental issues). I applied the skin and now trackpad pointer movement has greatly improved. The two finger screen zoom performance was so bad I deactivated that. I reactivated this and tried it with the skin applied and now this is reliable. I have to believe it is the glass used that is causing the issues because trackpad performance with a skin applied how greatly improved. Just an FYI.
     
    RobotDoctor, Apr 17, 2016
    #1
  2. gametime10

    gametime10 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Do you have a link to purchase the skin?
     
    gametime10, Apr 17, 2016
    #2
  3. RobotDoctor

    RobotDoctor Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    156
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    41
    The link is:

    https://dbrand.com/shop/dell-xps-13

    I ordered the Titanium finish. I may have ordered a trackpad skin along with it. I don't remember. The trackpad skin is an additional $2.95.
     
    RobotDoctor, Apr 18, 2016
    #3
  4. didsip

    didsip Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Would you mind taking a few pictures, and comment on the general feeling of the material? :)
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2016
    didsip, Apr 18, 2016
    #4
  5. RobotDoctor

    RobotDoctor Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    156
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Here are the pictures of the skin I have on my computer (and a shameless plug for my favorite baseball team). :D
     

    Attached Files:

    RobotDoctor, Apr 18, 2016
    #5
    dan76 and didsip like this.
  6. JimmyCfl

    JimmyCfl Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Cool , I like the orange track back skin so I can see in the dark ..

    Thanks mate .. :)
     
    JimmyCfl, Apr 18, 2016
    #6
  7. dan76

    dan76 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    396
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Great post, thank you. How difficult is it to apply the skin?
     
    dan76, Apr 25, 2016
    #7
  8. didsip

    didsip Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    41
    I have a trackpad skin on right now, and can't say the trackpad feels any better. Not particularly fond of the texture either, but I'll leave it on for a few days to see. Looks nice enough, even though the fact that the touchpad is slightly uneven is a lot more highlighted now that it's not black on black.
     
    didsip, May 18, 2016
    #8
  9. Eason

    Eason Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    271
    Messages:
    2,216
    Likes Received:
    892
    Trophy Points:
    131
    I put a skin on my XPS 15's Trackpad and found it terrible. Much better without (though the XPS 13 has a worse Trackpad)
     
    Eason, May 18, 2016
    #9
  10. gametime10

    gametime10 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I also added the skin and it didn't make it any better. Strangely though, if I use my ring and pinky finger to do a two finger scroll, it works perfectly. Something about the angle of my hand maybe? It's reliable enough to make it worth holding on to the machine.
     
    gametime10, May 18, 2016
    #10