X301 Keyboard Flex?!

Hello

I'm interested in purchasing an X301, and since I'm have yet to find a retail store near me that carries them I'm forced to go off of online reviews and forums

I've heard different opinions about the X301s keyboard, that its perfect and there's absolutely no flex, each key is individual, and that it isnt as good as the reviews say (Q, P, and other keys noticeably flex)



I have typed on the new T400s keyboard, there is only some flex on the far right (DVD drive side), affecting the enter, backspace, and Pgup/PgDn buttons together when applying a little more than regular typing pressure (it also could just be the one I used).


To those of you who know the feel of the X301 keyboard, could you give me your impression of the keyboard, a reasonable threshold until the keys flex, certain sides or buttons that stand out, which keys seem mushier than others, the feedback, etc.



Thanks a bunch

 

This was discussed to death here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=375952

As I use my X301's keyboard pretty heavily, I'd say there is no flex if you use your keyboard for typing. If you start banging hard on your keys or intentionally press hard on an individual key, yes, it will flex, but what laptop doesn't if you do that. If you intend to do what you did to the T400s keyboard (and you won't if you're typing normally), then you shouldn't even get a laptop.

 

Given that I paraphrased the thread (Q AND P), I've obviously read over it.
That thread gives no information on the posters topic, it doesn't even answer his specific question.

No keyboard that I've ever typed on flexes from light typing, even the low-line Toshiba Satellites. That would mean every laptop keyboard is solid.
I'm asking about the thresholds of the different points on the keyboard, and how it differs from normal flex from medium-heavy typing/pressing

You obviously havnt even handled a T400s, applying a squeeze just over normal typing pressure on the far right side causes the Enter, Shift, Tab, and a little bit of the Pgup/PgDn keys to dip. Otherwise the keyboard is great! I found it really noticeable. Removing the keyboard reveals the carbon fibber matting that basically acts as a springboard over DVD drive, it isn't resting on anything solid. They even tried to use smaller clips that push upwards that are attached to the cage, which seems to be for reversing it, but doesn't do a thing.





Why dont you read over my post again, and try to give some actual constructive feedback this time.
...Any specifics?????
"certain sides or buttons that stand out, which keys seem mushier than others, the feedback, etc."

 

Well, I can't give you specific threshold figures (I don't have the scientific instruments to measure how much pressure my finger exerts on the keyboard), but here's some more detailed information I hope helps:
i) Keyboard is strongest with 0 flex on top corners and middle areas, weakest on lower right arrow keys where there is slight bounce as there is less support over the optical drive area. A sticky tape underneath the lower right area will fix this if you are sensitive enough to actually feel it.
ii) Keys are not mushy, you can feel individual keys being pressed.
iii) Keys click and do not sound hollow when you type (keyboards with poor support will sound hollow and bounce when you type. Not the case with this keyboard).
iv) Place 2 hands on the keyboard and assume normal typing position. 1 or 2-finger typing results in higher sensitivity to keyboard flex.

 

I'll say this, I used an X301 for a while and am now using a Latitude E4300. Relative to the X301, the E4300 keyboard is a trampoline.

groosam maybe if you could site laptops you have used in the past you'd consider to have perfect keyboards we could give a relative rating on how the X301 compares.

 

Well I've used the T400s
I was surprised on the feel of the HP minis
I thought the new aluminum macbooks have probably the best supported keyboard, but the chicklet keys arent my favorite

 

You should feel my T21 to type on, it's rock solid anywhere you press on the keyboard, it's even been jumped on a few times by a guy.

 

this is also on lenovo forum...

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/X301-Keyboard-Flex/td-p/153933

i wrote on that:

nah, no keyboard flex on my x300, its all very solid, even when using it on one's lap.

the key is stiff and clicky, it is responsive, the spacing is wide, so if you have large hands and type hard; this keyboards suits you. thinkpad's keyboard is much better than many windows notebook, however;

i somewhat prefer typing on macbook/macbook pro though. on the mac, i can type faster because the key is softer, also, the keyboard is incredibly stiff, this is done trough the use of full metal backplate, the macbook/pro doesn't have drain channel though, and if things go wrong (even if its only one key, and you want to get it fixed), you need to replace the entire topcase, which is expensive. so its really apple and oranges.