Keyboard and touchpad quality, 6314w

Hi guys,
I'm looking for a high-spec laptop not needed for gaming (maybe will do sometimes) but mainly for surfing, watching dvd, running OpenGL (Beryl + XGL on Linux etc). I want it high-spec because I like the speed and also because I'd like to have it for at least 3 years.

I come from an Acer TravelMate 800LCi which has a superbous keyboard, and this is really important for me. What you think of the keyboard on your 6214/6314? Does it sound cheap? Actually I have other two lappys, a very cheap Amilo L7300 and a Latitude D600. The first needs the power of Terminator to press the keys, the second one is simply crappy. I'm ashamed of what the keyboard on the Znote could be. This seems to be a gamer laptop, so I would assume keyboard quality is not a required bit, as well as the touchpad.

I don't want to spend useless money on a Lenovo (I know they have the best keyboards) nor on a Macbook (they have crappy Intel GMA950 integrated graphics), and I think the Znote 6314w could be a good value for money.

What I look for is:

- good keyboard, if not excellent
- good touchpad
- 14.1" WXGA
- good nVidia card NOT integrated, i want dedicated VRAM

I was looking at the Asus A8Jn or A8Js but Zepto offers better spec and possibility to customize it at a lower price.

Is this a right choice for me or would better go to another brand?



Thanks,
Fabio

 

Touchpad: sensitivity is ok, but it's rather small, not the screen ratio and (on the 6214) in the same material as the palm rest, so you easily miss it. But I hardly use it - ever tried photoshop with a touchpad?

Keyboard: pressure is ok, but my keyboard has some flex in the lower right, which makes the keys particularly noisy in that area. Wasn't too happy with the lay-out either (of the azerty, now getting a qwerty).

All in all not the Znote's strong points. But wouldn't know what other brand to advise.

 

Here is the review we have on the 6214W (the black version of the 6314W).

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=70217&highlight=6214W+review

 

Thanks for your replies, is there anybody who owned a high-quality keyboard notebook such as Thinkpad or 80xLCi Travelmate and can compare it with the Zepto? As far as I see here there are mostly gamers but maybe I can catch as well somebody who is more sensitive on keyboard and touchpad build quality..


P.S.: do you think Asus offers better keyboard and touchpad? Actually I was even looking to A8Jc/n/s series or maybe HP Pavillion..

 

The HP business line is said to have very good keyboards.

 

I can't get any HP business line notebook since their prices are out of budget. Said that, I've found another interesting HP notebook, quoted at 1250 euro with interesting specifications:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho/WF06b/21675-38187-38191-38191-38191-12724292-77965753.html

While it doesn't feature a strong GPU (but, as far as I'm concerned, I don't play games) it has good ram size and respectable CPU.

Also I've heard of the keyboard to be pretty good, as well as the screen which seems to be comparable to the one of the VAIO series.

Any comment? Sorry if I'm asking these info in the wrong forum

 

What's the price on that one?

 

As I said, 1250 euro. T5500 cpu, 2GB RAM, GeForce 7200 128mb TC, the rest of the spec can be found on that HP web page.



Fabio

 

That's not too bad a price. It's hard to keep track of the different prices in all the different countries. I know you guys end up paying more for a lot of things.

This may come out to be more expensive, but it's a far superior deal in the UK. If you can squeeze this into your budget, it would definitely be worth it--the nc8430 is an excellent machine.
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Hewlett_Packard_NC8430_Student_Laptop_RH433ES/version.asp

 

I can afford it, but I'm looking for 14/14.1" and nvidia gpu... (need OpenGL under Linux, better avoid ATI after my previous Radeon experience).

I will be in Philadelphia next months, but with my credit card I won't buy anything in the US and wire transfer would take too much, and I will be there for work just for a few days. I need to buy something in the UK or IE..



Fabio

BTW the Zepto 6314 would attract me if even would have a better screen (I've read the screen angles are *bad*, which is unaccettable) and better touchpad/keyboard. But seems that manufacturers in the late times prefer to give more CPU/GPU muscles instead of better usability. And it's a pity, honestly.

 

Unfortunately with notebooks you have to compromise somewhere. I'm personally very high on the 6214W/6314W. If it were available in the US, I'd probably buy it.

Perhaps the ThinkPad R series?

 

I'm very high as well, maybe I will go for it. I'm just very uncertain. It's weeks that I decided between HP, Asus, and now Zepto. IBM/Lenovo are left alone since they offer poor specs at higher price.

I really don't know..