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    Dv7t, Dv7z, touch pad position?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by Andy Griffith, Dec 31, 2008.

  1. Andy Griffith

    Andy Griffith Notebook Guru

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    I'm really close to pulling the trigger on one of these models (or the dell 17") but one thing is bothering me which will probably seem minor to most of you but it is important for me in how the laptop is used.

    I am concerned with the positioning of the touch pad to the left of the keyboard. I understand that they probably did that to center it between the alpha part of the keyboard, but there sure doesn't seem to be much palm rest real estate to the left of the touch pad. Most important for me is a standardized full-size alpha keyboard. The numeric key pad next to the alpha is a nice to have for sure, but not if it comes at the expense of a full-sized laptop keyboard. In addition, I have largish hands that make full use of the palm rest real estate.

    I use the laptop on my lap and do a bunch of word processing, spreadsheet, data manipulation work using the touchpad. Turning the touchpad off, or having inadvertent document changes because of accidental swiping of the pad during typing is not acceptable.

    I was wondering if anyone with these models has experienced any trouble from prolonged typing/data entry in this regard?

    I really like the idea of the 17" screen for viewing pictures,movies, multiple documents etc, but I am concerned about this potential touchpad location ergonomic issue. Maybe I'd be better off with one of the 15.4" machines. My wife has a 15.4" HP that has a full 5" on either side of the touchpad.

    For those of you who own the Dv7, how wide is the distance between the left side of the touchpad and the left side of the keyboard? I've not been able to find one of these to look at in person so all I have to go on is the pictures on the internet.

    Thanks
    Andy
     
    Andy Griffith, Dec 31, 2008
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  2. Ed C

    Ed C Notebook Enthusiast

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    4.25 inches from the left of the notebook to the left edge of the touchpad. I don't have any difficulties with the keboard--it's near full sized. I like that this notebook has a full sized right shift key. the dv9000 had a letter sized shift key on the right side and I always hit the up arrow as a result.

    Touchpad has a lock button just above it to deactivate/activate
     
    Ed C, Dec 31, 2008
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  3. Andy Griffith

    Andy Griffith Notebook Guru

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    Thank you. Excellent point about the shift key, I had not considered that.
     
    Andy Griffith, Dec 31, 2008
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  4. BreakItDown

    BreakItDown Notebook Enthusiast

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    they put it to the left cuz the laptop has a full keyboard (with the number pad). i really dont get bothered by it. i actually really like it like this.
     
    BreakItDown, Dec 31, 2008
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