5720 Elantech Touchpad

Well I just got my Sager NP5720 yesterday and have spent just about every one of the last 24 hours setting it up. There are good things I like about it, but I'll save that for some other time... right now I'm at my wits end about this POS touch pad.

The problem is that if you set the pointer speed high enough to be suitable to a large (17") screen the precision goes to crap and you can't zero in on anything.

There are other threads, but I thought I'd start a new one solely focused on this issue.

Uninstalling the KTP Ware (Elantech) drivers and using just the bare XP drivers with pointer speed set to max and "enhanced precision" checked is the best solution I've come up with so far. But the pointer is STILL to slow for my taste, maxed in XP is about 65% of max with the Elantech drivers installed.

I tried the latest Synaptics drivers, they installed, but were effectively disabled and resulted in identical performance to the bare XP drivers.

So, with the Elantech drivers uninstalled and just use the default XP drivers I get far better usability, albeit still slow, and yes scrolling does work in FireFox.

The elantech drivers have an option for "dynamic motion" or "dynamic precision" or something that you'd think was similar to XP's "enhanced precision" but it seems to have little to no effect in actuality.

Anyway word on when Elantech / KTP ware might update there drivers for enhance pointer precision?

This is going to be a deal breaker for me. If I can't get this to be "acceptable" in the next few days my brand new beautiful 5720 is going back to Sager.

 

Let me ask you this - when you go into the Control Panel and open up the Mouse, have you tried going to "Quick Setup" and adjusting the pointer from there? I was able to adjust my speed just fine, it is now very fast.

Be sure to do a Windows update, sometimes that may give you the latest touchpad drivers.

 

I consider the touchpad to be the poorest implemented feature of this notebook and I blame the Elantech software for this. IMO Clevo should find a new OEM to replace this crap. I don't think Sager has a choice in this but I may be wrong.

I use a mouse 99% of the time and the other 1% I just deal with it.

 

you have 2k for such a lappy and dont have 30-50$ for decent mouse, thats weird. touchpad is the worst think to use on any notebook not just this one no matter how precise it is. what are you using it for? photoshop, 3 d max, cad.... get mouse, games .....get mouse, office work....get mouse, internet....get mouse, watching movies....dont really need the mouse

 

I've adjusted the slider bar in the XP "Mouse" control panel to maximum and it's still too slow. I don't recall a "quick setup" function in the standard control panel, but I'll looks again.

Like I said, the problem is the precision when the speed is set high enough in the KTP/Elantech control panel... I found some interesting reading.

http://www.google.com/search?source...06-04,GGLG:en&q=elantech+"dynamic+resolution"

Although, I'm guess Google cached these pages, and Elantech removed the original PDF's because I can only get to the HTML versions. I especially like how they compare themselves to synaptics...

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache....lvttech.com.tw+ktp5&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache..."dynamic+resolution"&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache..."dynamic+resolution"&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2

 

That's a bummer. I guess it's not the kind of thing you'll just get used to over time?

 

I personally think that returning the 5720 for the touchpad is ironic.

Why not just get a mouse or travel mouse?

 

90% of my computer use is done at home on the couch. It's impractical to use a mouse when the laptop is actually sitting on my lap.

For 5 years I've exclusively and happily used the synaptic touch pad on my HP it's what I'm used to.

I refuse to spend the next 5 years choosing between dragging my finger across the touchpad five times to get from one side of the screen to the other or being able to line the pointer up correctly in the corner of a window to re-size it. Right now I have to choose betwene one or the other.

Note, it's not a matter of using the touchpad for detailed graphics work, or some particular application, unless you count "windows".

 

Have you thought about getting one of those Lapdesks?

 

get a laser mouse (Logitech G5)...it'll track fine on the couch

 

Ive had my 5720 for about two weeks now, and i havent had a problem with it. For the most part I use a mouse, like when it comes to graphics designing or gaming. The only time I use the touch mouse is when I'm on battery power away from home or, like you, sitting on my bed or on a couch. I havent really tried to tweak with the settings to the touch mouse because of it. In my opinion, if it really does bother you that much that the mouse moves too slowly, you could maybe try just putting a coffee table in front of your couch and using the computer on that with a real mouse. If that still isnt to your liking you could try making your browser screens a little smaller, so you dont have to go as far across tbhe screen. I wouldnt prefer that personally, but it may help. Anything else i could tell you is to use a real mouse.

 

Honestly, this is not the best laptop for you. This is a fairly large desktop replacement and is not designed to be used on your lap. It's ideal for gaming and multimedia applications and is far to unweildy for carrying around the house and tossing on your lap while you watch TV or lay in bed.

The other problem is cooling. The 5720 has loud fans and creates a lot of heat. You need to keep the underside area near the fan openings free from obstructions to allow for proper cooling.

You may want to consider a lighter, lower powered laptop that gets much better battery life.

 

I agree with other posters who say it's crazy to give up on such a fantastic machine purely because of the touchpad.

If you're using it on your lap - DON'T! You'll make yourself infertile! Apart from anything, you need air circulation under this thing! If you MUST use it on your lap, then get yourself one of those Targus chillmats that power from the USB. It'll keep it off your lap and also keep it cooler, which will increase longevity.

You don't have a table in front of your couch? My advice would be to change your computing lifestyle and start using a mouse. I put up with touchpads for years before making the switch, and now touchpads seem so clunky and inaccurate.

If you're on the sofa with no table, the best other alternative would be to get a wireless trackball mouse. I use the Logitech one that has the left mouse button under the thumb - there's a small learning curve (expect to wonder if you'll ever get used to it for the first 3 days or so) but after that, these things are INCREDIBLE. I've been using mine for 3 months and now, a simple flick of the finger positions the pointer anywhere I want with 100% accuracy. Great for intricate graphics work like Photoshop or Fireworks. Plus, you can hold it anywhere you like - on your thigh, on the couch next to you. The only thing is it comes with a receiver which plugs into the USB so you'll have that thing trailing next to you - hardly a big deal though.

I like the increased desk space it's given me (no more moving the mouse all over the place) and as a classical guitar player who thinks A LOT about hand health, it's certainly taken a lot of strain from my right hand, which suffers a little from years of guitar picking.

 

You know... I "said" I used the touchpad / trackpad 90% of the time, but really it's 100% of the time. I don't know why I suggested otherwise.

I do use a lapdesk. It's two inches wider than the laptop, perfect fit but no room for a mouse. Besides I like having the touchpad in such close proximity to the keyboard... I can use my thumb to mouse around in-between typing. I wouldn't want to be reaching over for a mouse all the time.

I have have a table in front of my couch, but who wants to be bent over leaning forward all the time? I'm sitting relaxed with my feet up on an ottoman. I should also mention I use my laptop in a hammock as well... certainly no way to use a mouse in a hammock.

I simply want a self-contained laptop... no external mice... keyboards... monitors... etc....

Look. I love everything else about this laptop. I've even, mostly, gotten used to the offset keyboard to accommodate the numeric keyboard. That took a few days to get used to, I kept missing the enter key.

I completely agree with others that this is an incredible laptop. It's probably THE best desktop replacement on the market, I'm certainly happier with it than the Dell e1705 I looked at, but it's just not right for me unless Sager/Elantech/Clevo can come up with a solution to make this touchpad usable on this beautiful and huge screen. IMHO, ergonomics trumps everything else when it comes to laptops.

BTW, I HIGHLY recommend the SWXGA screen over the UWXGA screen. The SWXGA resolution took a few days to get used to, at first thought things were a bit small with standard 96dpi settings. I did get used to it and now I love it.

I tried scaling up to 120 dpi and it made most things on the screen look like crap, but 96dpi on a SWXGA monitor (1680x1050) is perfect.

 

Definitely a valid arguement. I recently helped my neighbor buy a computer - he is *completely* computer illiterate, but still wanted a laptop for that same reason.

Anyways, I'm glad you had a good time with the 5720. Really is a nice machine.

Yeah, WSXGA+ is perfect. I could have gone to the WUXGA on my 5320 . . but imagine that on a 15.4".

Wow, rambling . .

Chaz

 

Does anybody heve a suggestion how to turnoff this elantech mousepad. cant find it in the manual...

thanks in advance,
bvh

 

Fn+F1. The audio DJ controls will also be deactivated though.

 

elantech says Fn + F7, turns it on and off