LG E500, R500 available

Cool, they took the whole thing apart.. pity that i dun read korean...

 

I don't understand a word of Korean :$ but thanks

 

I'm using a LG E500 right now and now I understand my question about the colors doesn't seem to make sense. Even though all pictures available online that I've seen seem to indicate that the keyboard area is white (and shiny and smooth), truthfully it is grey and "grainy" in its feel (just like LG P1). So it's not tricolor, but bicolor. Grey and black.

My first impressions is that the screen is quite nice. I'm having a bit of a hard time adjusting to this type of keyboard (with numeric keys), though. I keep pressing the wrong key when I want to press right shift (as it is shorter) and hit enter instead or the up arrow... I'm hoping this is just a question of getting used to it (I think I'll have to become "bi-keyboard-apt" as I will be using daily two different types of keyboard!). The keys are a bit hard, meaning they show some resistance when pressing... not bad, just different from what I'm used to. Maybe it is this different feel they mean when they talk about their new LG keyboards?

Windows Vista Score gives it 3.4 because of the GPU (Intel X3100), but as for the rest it is quite high: around 4.5 and 4.8.

As for pressing the back of the screen I hardly see any ripples, but it doesn't seem very resistant, I agree, compared to other laptops I've used.

For professional use it seems to be a fine laptop. I'm just dreading the keyboard adaptation as just writing this post has been a bit difficult and it feels a bit awkward to be writing in a position more at the left side of the computer...

Here are the main specs for this model: Core 2 Duo 1.8Ghz T7100, 2GB Ram, 120GB HD, Intel X3100, Vista Home Premium.

 

I've been playing around with the E500 that was on display at my local dealer's store, and I have to agree with most of the things bluesyrio said. To be honest, the LCD lid isn't too tough - it seems about on par with the lid of the HP Pavilion series, but is certainly better than the Acer Aspire and Toshiba Satellite series. I think the keyboard will be easy enough to adapt, because even as I type this message I notice that my keyboard is slightly to the left of me to be directly in front of the monitor (that is to say, the letters section is to the left of me but the keyboard overall is right in front). The keyboard color isn't too dark, it's still fairly white. I would imagine pure white wouldn't be too good of an idea because dirt will eventually accumulate on there, taking away from its aesthetics.

Just a note, though, I may have made the build quality sound bad - the rest of the notebook seems well built, I lifted it up (somewhat supported with another hand) by one corner and heard no creaks nor observed any flexing of the case.

 

Just realized, why does it say 8600M GS DDR3? I thought DDR3 is only on 8600M GT models. The specs sheet my dealer had said DDR2 as well.
I'm very impressed with that review, it's a pity I can't read korean. It certainly seems very indepth - literally, too.

 

I've just realised that the right shift key is a lot smaller than the one in the S1 and P1. For instance choosing the ? is quite difficult in this keyboard... I've put a pic in attachment.

What were they thinking?

 

I somehow never use the right shift key. I mean, I do type properly, but it's always my left pinky doing the shift function.

 

I use the right pinky or ring fingers and that's my problem. :| Such a small key and so far-left makes it very hard to use those two fingers on the right hand. The whole hand position in the keyboard is not ergonomic. After four hours writing I was a left with a bit of pain in my right hand (superior) tendon.

 

Ah, well I guess sacrifices must be made to fit a numberpad onto a 15.4" chassis..

 

Hmm, but S1, P1 and R500 are all also 15.4" but with a better keyboard and they all include numberpad as well. I don't think it can be explained by that regarding the F1 and E500 not being so good. Maybe there is a reason but right now I'm not able to understand why they are differentiating keyboards on their 15.4" models. I know F1 and E500 are low end, but this difference can't be justified by the chassis size.

I'll try to see if I can adapt (it's not being easy), otherwise I will return it and get some other model with the same characteristics. But if I do change this one for another it's a pity because I'm pretty pleased with the rest of the laptop.

 

I just dun like how the E500's keyboard springs up when u enter a key. Other than that, the format is ok...

 

Does anybody have the R500 yet ?

I ve still seen no review of it anywhere, and it still somewhat of an outside contender for my next possible nb ...

 

It kept getting delayed, now it should be in my hands in the next two or three days. I'll give a few comments on that when I get it.

 

Lunateck, now that I've used the keyboard for a bit, I've become easily used to the way the keyboard springs up (the keys are hard when you press it) .

As for the right shift, I'm trying to adjust to it, though lucky for me I haven't had to do heavy writing with it lately (won't be always like that though). But the adaptation is also going ok. I've started using the right thumb to press the shift. It's awkward but it works. I also called LG support (very quick to pick up the phone and very nice) to ask if there could be any chance of replacing the keyboard for other of another model, but they said it would not be possible, because they are very specific (motherboard wiring, etc). In this case the most alike would be the P1 but it has a few differences in the F keys (volume in LG E500 is controlled with F7, F8 and F9, while in P1 the case has its own volume keys).

I guess the LG E500 is made especially for people who work with numbers, even though I still think that the solution used in P1, S1, R500 is the most sensible one and fits everyone's needs. The main reason the right shift is campred in LG F1 and E500 is because the numeric pad is larger (standard size). In the other models they made it thinner, meaning they didn't have to compromise the normal keyboard layout.

 

Guys, i will really appreciate if anyone might let me know how much approx. is the E500 and if anyone knows an online store that ships internationally outside USA and CA.

 

bump...any new news?

 

Hey im new here great forum!

I recently bought a E500 SP18P for a very good price

Now i have a problem when i boot with my external USB disk (sata) ON windows vista doesnt appear, after LG logo, screen gets black and nothing happens. But with my PEN Drive windows vista boot without problems... :S weird!

I believe the only way to fix this is with a BIOS update (not avaible).
I have tried to enter in the BIOS to see if i find something but nothing!

What do u guys think?

Thanks in advance,
FiShBuRn