The chiclet keyboard trend

Is anybody annoyed by this chiclet keyboard trend that is infesting all brands regardless of price range. All manufacturers seem to adopt the chiclet keyboard now.

My question is, why are all manufacturers going to chiclet keyboards now? Are they cheaper, more durable?

Also, I have a desktop chiclet keyboard, that does look like a normal desktop keyboard and it is ok. It just that these new laptop keyboards are weird with their spaced out keys. I constantly do errors with these new laptop keyboards and also using while writing this where I made many errors. Even short texts are annoyingly difficult to write now.

 

what is a chiclet keyboard...never understood the difference.

 

Chicklet keyboards are what's popular right now and that is the reason that manufacturers use them i'd say. Most people seem to like them and that is good enough for the manufacturers.

@Hopelessly, a chicklet keyboard is like the keyboards currently on the macbook pros, a thinkpad T420 keyboard would be an example of a non-chicklet style keyboard.

 

The keyboard on the sager np9130 is a chicklet and I hate it!!! It's way to spaced out and miss key strokes all the time now. Key combinations I used to be able to hit no issue I am having trouble doing now. I have larger hands and loved my dell XPS m1530 keyboard but this new styles spacing sucks. You do get positive return when you hit a key you know it.

 

At least for me, what matters more is not the spacing but rather the shape of the keys themselves. I have no problem with my X120e's chiclet keyboard, since the key surfaces are shaped exactly like the keys from traditional keyboards.

Spoiler

A properly-designed chiclet keyboard (from a Thinkpad):


A not-so-good chiclet keyboard (this one from a Toshiba):

So, chiclet keyboards as a whole don't bother me. In terms of feel, flat keys and flexing keyboard backings are the greater issues to me.

 

whats wrong with toshibas? I have a g51j and a samsing series 3 netbook..i think they both are chiclet and i dotn see the difference from my rosewill keybaord

 

As I mentioned, I dislike the flat surfaces of some chiclet keyboards. I just used the Toshiba as one example, but there are many more as well. Neither of my Thinkpads' keyboards are as good as my Das Keyboard, but they're both equally good in their own right.

 

alright yea i noticed both my laptops have them and the only real different i see is that they are flat...i honestly dont understand the difference in typing but then again i dont use homerow....my brain is retarded and could never get it lol.

 

There's 2 kinds of chicklet. 1) one that is found in cheapo laptops, absolute rubbish, no feedback, keyboard flex. 2) one that is found in mid range/high end, it really breaks down to if you like it. The Lenovo styled chicklet is okay. Apple's is too mushy, same with ASUS, HP, only thing I can ascertain is the backlit function makes it mushy. My brother's Clevo W860CU has a firm chicklet with no mush, but I don't feel like I could type fast on it. Still can't be _60/61 generation ThinkPads though.

 

I like Apple's chiclet's. Toshiba's are indeed awful. I make mistakes all the time on my brothers' Satellite.

 

I have used chiclet keyboards that I enjoy (the MacBook Pros have wonderful ones, my old DM3z was good too), and I have used chiclet keyboards that were awful (Toshiba and Asus).

The most important things when it comes to keyboards is if the keyboard has flex or not, the keystroke action, and the sound it makes, rather than the type of keyboards.

 

my samsung has a nice one i think....i agree about asus...the keybaord bents when typing but it doesn't bother me that much.

 

I've already expressed my hatred of chiclet keyboards in the design fad thread Indrek linked to. I absolutely despise the typical chiclet keyboards, and so far I've been lucky enough to not buy a computer with one yet, desktop or laptop. The key travel isn't very good, I have an occasional problem of missing keys (I don't miss keys on traditional keyboards), and above all it's some stupid fad that your average Joe and Jane Customer is buying into because it "looks pretty".

I tried a Toshiba at BestBuy with the flat keys. It sucked, bad. Tried numerous MBPs; ditto. Tried the X120e keyboard and it wasn't nearly as bad due to the curvature and decent key travel, but those two qualities are lacking on the majority of keyboards today.

I won't say that I'd pay extra to keep the traditional layout (because that'll be an incentive for OEMs to nickel-and-dime us for useful features), but hopefully I'll be able to keep my W520 running for long enough to outlive this fad.

 

I love the chiclet keyboard on my Clevo P150HM

 

I don't mind them, although I don't use them on a daily basis I'm used to the short throw because I've been using a laptop for 3 years where I actually paid attention to what I used. I never did like standard keyboards, I can only type on scissor switches now.

 

I've used scissor switches in all of the computers in the house (well, I'm not sure what our old eMachines desktop came with. It's one with those taller keys, but not mechanical). Never had a problem with them, and while I've heard good things about mechanical keyboards I couldn't justify the expense. Maybe some other time when I have disposable income.

 

I thought about getting a mechanical board, but I didn't feel like spending $100+ for one for something I wasn't sure if I'd like, got the Logitech illuminated board for 55 and couldn't be happier.

I haven't seen any decent chiclet desktop boards aside from Apple's own, and they don't make a wired backlit version, so no sale. I have a spare one I got off newegg as a backup but it's only 20 dollars.

 

Well, it's not necessarily the switch type that is the problem. I have problems with some keyboard layouts. The macbook 2010 keyboards for example have some questionable choices regarding the enter key and arrow keys for example which are just too darn small. Sometimes, it's a lack of space, but sometimes it's just questionable design choices. Look at the G73's keyboard vs the G75's keyboard, the G75's keyboard makes good use of the laptop's width while the G73's doesn't. I have no problems with the key spacing on my G73 though, it took a while getting used to it, but now, it's no longer a problem.

As for the switch type, if you like scissors, i'm not certain you'll like mechanical keyboards, but that's kind of off-topic.

 

I usually see Rosewill's mechanical keyboard on sale for $80, though I've usually skipped on the deals to spend on other things, like college-related stuff or gas. I've tried out a friend's Das keyboard and the keys felt nice, but then again I'm happy with my W520's keyboard and see no need to spend on something that expensive. I'd rather throw the money on performance upgrades, like the Intel 330 I just bought.

 

I bought my VAIO F11 two years ago specifically for the chiclet keyboard. I'd been looking at 3 machines and hated that the Toshiba I had my eye on had "standard" keys. I'm much more accurate in my typing with a chiclet keyboard. While keeping my eye on a gaming laptop that I'm hoping to get later this year, a chiclet keyboard is my very first requirement.

 

Well, to me it's down to the feel of the keyboard and the layout. If the key spacing is good and the key size is good as well. However, there are some chicklet keyboard with bad spacing between the letters that can throw people off. I can't exactly glide my hands on the G73 keyboard like i used to on my previous notebooks, but i just had to change the way i lifted my fingers, the key spacing was ok, so i they layout didn't throw me off.

Here's the french layout for the macbook pro keyboards, don't mind the letter placement, but take a look at the enter key:

It's not a matter of shape, it's a matter of width, it's at least half as wide as an enter key of that shape should be to be easy to hit.

 

The US enter key is different (wide but one row height) and when they convert the layout to European layout it seems that they cannot get it right. This is really strange because I have several older laptop where they have managed to create a full sized European enter key. Maybe the chiclet design cannot handle bigger enter keys?

 

I've never had much trouble adapting and going back and forth from chiclet to non chiclet. I have a XPS 15 which has a chiclet keyboard that I use pretty heavily at home and a HP8440 at work with a non chiclet.

The only keyboard that I had trouble adapting to was the reduced size netbook keyboards.

 

I have an XPS 15 too and the keyboard is nice--it has almost no flex at all and pretty good feedback. I will say, though, that there is a little too much distance between the keys for my taste--for just straight typing. That's why I'm looking for a traditional keyboard on my ultraprotable companion to the XPS 15 (which is a desktop replacement and doing a nice job of that)

Anyway, in my view, the chiclet style keyboards have a tendency to have spacing issues which leads to more typing issues. I find keyboards like those found on really old Dell Inspirons to be pretty comfortable to type on.

 

Sorry all, I know this thread is two years old but I thought I would add a contribution. I think many have gone to island keys to copy Apple. I think Apple went to them for three reasons. The first being style. Apple of course wants to be a trend setter. However, that is not the only reason. The second was ease of assembly. Think about the assembly of a laptop. Most of the parts are inserted from the back. Why flip the thing over to put the keyboard down. Good manufacturing says top down assembly. Well that is what we see with Apple. They put the computer face down then drop in the keyboard then the MB. It also saves them from having to put fasteners on the top side of the computer. Again both fashionable and better for manufacturing.

The last reason is actually the one that made me think "brilliant!" Island keyboard can be thinner yet rigid. Think about this for a moment, even if we have the same key travel and same cupped shape in the key, the island keyboard can be thinner. This is because the structure that supports the keyboard is between the keys rather than under. We all know the secret to a good feeling keyboard is a rigid support under the thing. Most laptop keyboards are very flexy when removed from the computer. Island keyboards on Macs and computers like the Dell M3800 hang from the web of metal between the keys. If you wanted to put a rigid web of metal under the keyboard you would have to add some space between the keyboard and the guts of the computer. An island style keyboard lets you put that web between the keys in otherwise wasted space.

BTW, that web of metal also makes the computer chassis stiffer. If you did a normal keyboard you would have a large whole in the computer chassis. With the islands you instead have a web that helps keep the chassis stiffer.

So if your goal, as Apple's was, is to create a no compromise, thin computer then it's important to take advantage of the extra strength offered by the webbing of chassis between the keys (no added thickness).

For the lesser computers, well fashion but keyboards on computers like my Thinkpad x120e still benefit. The keyboard is like a traditional laptop keyboard in that is can be removed from above. It could be replaced with a traditional keyboard. OK, so it still can be stiffer because Lenovo attached a frame to the keyboard between the keys. It's not as good as the metal frame on an Apple or the M3800 but it is a frame and does make the keyboard stiffer than say the traditional keyboard from my Dell M4400.

So, when done right, island keyboards are stiffer for a given installed thickness (keyboard+support structure) and make the computer stiffer by keeping the keyboard opening stronger. They also help top down assembly and finally they are fashionable.

 

I hate chiclet keyboards. They are uncomfortable and look ugly. I would pay extra for a good traditional keyboard without any doubts when ordering a new notebook.
p.s. my current notebook has traditional aftermarket keyboard, same imperfect layout as original but feels noticeably better.

 

I think its purely for aesthetics. I don't mind it- but I know people who hate it and have bought an external mechanical keyboard.

What I hate in keyboards especially laptop keyboards is the flex! Total no no.

 

I agree. I've used all types of keyboards. The keyboard can have a great feel, good key travel and comfortable, but if it flexes, that just kills it. I don't know why laptop manufacturers don't concentrate on fixing that more because that seems to be a very common and prominent complaint. Like my Vaio Pro 11. I love the little thing but the key flex is horrific and makes it so bad I hate using the thing and am ready to sell it just because of that. I ended up taking a piece of hard rubber and cutting it down to size so it sits under the laptop so that it's tolerable, but it defeats the purpose of having such a small, thin, light laptop.

 

The Chiclet keyboard on my HP ProBook was so-so. The one on my ThinkPad is darn good!

 

To answer the original question, the reason for chiclet keyboards is space. Your definition of chiclet is essentially low key heights and shallow depression. Well you wanted a thin laptop, you get a thin keyboard. You will need to learn to get used to them.