NP9262 / D901C - Can the keyboard be replaced?

I've been up in the air between the NP9262 / D901C and a decked out HP HDX.

I just found out that the HDX simply will not do what I want to do in regards to television, and I'm now best off getting the NP9262 / D901C as well as a new HDTV (my sole television was manufactured in 1986. It's shining feature is that it is stereo).

The thread I was discussing all of this is here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=169232&page=42
(if anyone cares to read it)

One of the very few things that drove me away from the NP9262 / D901C is that infernal design on the keyboard where the "-", "+", and "ENTER" are not on a separate far right column on the 10-key keypad. STUPID STUPID STUPID design!!!

So, my question is this:

Is there ***ANY*** way to get a DIFFERENT keyboard for this notebook?? Or am I just stuck with having to use an external keyboard? If the "best of the best" offerings (for what I was comparing) are these two designs (the HP HDX and the NP9262 / D901C) -- and just learning the HDX will certainly fall short of what I'm really trying to accomplish, leaving the Sager/Clevo with that showstopper keyboard (to me, at least) -- I'm starting to think, "screw the entire notebook idea", and start shopping desktops.

Please tell me there is a way to replace the keyboard in the Sager/Clevo!!

 

as far as i know there is no other keyboard that will replace the oem one. im sure there may be one somewhere if you looked mabe from china or somewhere like that but figuring out which one would work imo would be almost impossible.

clevo does not offer a different layout for the system though

btw i have to agree i do notlike the clevo keyboard myself. personally even my toshiba one is better..

 

I agree that the keyboard has an odd layout, but unfortunately you are stuck with it as zfactor noted. Notebook keyboards are proprietary.

 

damn, damn, and GOD be damned!

 

No kidding. I've made up my decision to just buy a decent HDTV, a decent 24" LCD monitor, and just beigebox the thing myself.

For what I wanted to spend, I can build bigger, better, faster, and nice displays for the same budget.

Not sure how much longer I'm going to frequent these forums, but zfactor, Chaz & Antebios -- thanks for your input.

Well, Antebios, thanks for saying precisely what I was thinking!

I honestly don't go out to LAN parties, hell, I really don't like associating with people (hence why I play EQ and WoW alone on my own server) -- I guess I just wanted an "all-in-one" solution. If I was going to spend the money, I'd want it perfect. That keyboard on the Sager/Clevo is a stop dead showstopper for me.

Again, thanks for all of the help!

 

I would be interested to know if the Keyboard layout issue has ever been raised with Clevo by Sager (or the re-sellers XoticPC, PowerNotebooks etc) and what the response was ? Can a more traditional layout be expected on future models ?

 

you will learn to adapt with the layout and it will not bother you. i was the same way about it not being a true full size keyboard but in the end it turned out just fine for me.

they will have to do a style refresh by either eliminating the side speakers on top or a new design which i doubt will happen anytime soon.

i would prefer they put their efforts into a lighted keyboard like the competition has for now.

 

My "ultimate" layout that I had in my head was this:

The notebook (Sager/Clevo -- or the HP HDX) would pretty much be close to permanent on my coffee table. Moving into another room from time to time (to hook up to some HAM radios). I was really wanting to totally replace my television and entertainment center.

Right now on my current setup (a Dell Inspiron 8000 -- P3 1.0GHz, 256megs RAM, 32meg dedicated ATI something-or-other {plays the original UT, Alice, Anachronox very nicely} 14" that does native 1600x1200 (VERY beautiful screen) as well as video output (yellow video connector, red and white audio))

I play tv shows and movies through the laptop to the television I currently have. I've since migrated from the laptop to the Playstation 2 and just stream movies/television shows through my network.

I was HOPING the HDX (with the HDMI) I would be able to pipe in HiDef, On-Demand, and the likes from my cable company to the beautiful 20" screen of the HDX (sitting on my coffee table). After learning that HDMI (and the HDX) just didn't behave that way, I went back to my first choice -- the Sager NP9262 / Clevo D901C. And deck the unit out for some GOOD gaming (I never play online) and I didn't want to have to even THINK about upgrading ANYthing for years to come.

For the same budget I had allotted myself to totally splurge for a new computer, I can deck out a beigebox myself, get a NICE 24" monitor (maybe a 22") to sit on my coffee table, and just get a 42" - 50" HDTV to replace my television -- and treat it as a dual-monitor system.

I used to own a retail computer store -- but that was back in the mid to late 90's (the P2-350MHz just came out when I sold my shop). I've really been "out of the loop" of computers since then. Hence my dated knowledge of various technologies.

The keyboard on the Sager / Clevo -- I'm sure I could "get used to it", but if I'm dropping that kind of cash, second to the screen, the keyboard is what will be used the most.

When I do play games, I reconfigure the controls something fierce. I play with the mouse left-handed (why can't ANYbody make a DECENT left-handed ergonomic mouse?? For the same price of the cheap right-handed ones?!?) And I use the 10-key keypad for gaming. I've got a seperate 10-key keypad that is USB I use currently on this Inspiron 8000. I don't want to deal with that stuff anymore.

I also do some numbers-crunching -- if I am getting a notebook with a so-called "full sized keyboard", then the "-", "+", and "ENTER" should be where they were designed to be.

I know it is stupid to completely rule out a purchase because of something this moronic -- but yeah, ditch a couple of speakers (the thing is sitting in front of you -- you're better off using external speakers or headphones anyway) and put in a keyboard that is standard.

The one thing on the HP HDX that *REALLY* irked me was the micro-sized right SHIFT key.

Why do manufacturers keep screwing around with tried-and-true designs???

So, monitor, HDTV, and I'll just build the machine myself. I still have about a month before I'm ready to start dropping cash all over the place. A monstrous desktop (without those idiotic clear side panels {cases are made of metal for a reason -- RF shielding. Had a friend bring his rig to my place once, all "modded" out with plexy and whatnot -- he was shocked to hear all of the RF noise coming out of his computer from my ham radio gear TWO rooms away (about thirty feet). You were able to discern individual components in his computer. Each of his three hard drives, high processor/RAM activity, and two of his five fans -- all across the spectrum from HF to UHF})

But I have to admit -- he as a damn pretty computer!

Not to mention, with a desktop, I should be able to get standard serial ports without using adapters.

For a laptop, I think I'll just get some $500 - $700 cheapie to replace this Dell Inspiron 8000 that is certainly on its last legs.

I would also like to say "thank you" to EVERYbody on this forum. I've been lurking around for a few months now, but in all reality since I'm not even going to be shopping/pricing/spec'ing out a notebook (I'll just pick something up cheap on ebay) -- I probably won't stick around the forums longer than another few days or so.

So, thank you everybody for the advice, the comments, and the absolute non-condescending attitude. I've learned a *LOT* from these forums, and I'd like to thank everybody for that.

Kindest regards,
--Alex (aka: xanlexian)

 

Just in case you're still here, the 5793 DOES have a standard serial port...

And again, I hardly even noticed the 'unusual' numpad layout...It didn't even cross my mind as a disadvantage

 

eh, you'll learn to use it, especially since you are already aware of the issue. I also was not thrilled at the fact that the 5793 did not have dedicated home, pgpu, pgdn, and end keys; but this is a minor problem in relation to how well my 5793 satisfies every other requirement.

 

Hey Antebios, careful what you say. Some people on this forum are very sensitive. Paladin44 got all upset because I once said "D@mmit". I thought it was funny, just a warning though.

Xanlexian, do you really use those keys so often that their placement means that much? You know that there are 2 programable buttons on the left side that could possibly substitute for any other keys you want. At least I think they can, I have never tried programming mine. Just suggestion.

 

Yes, I really do use them that much. If I'm number-crunching, or gaming. ESPECIALLY for when you start flying on the number-crunching.

That far-right column was designed that way for a reason. The PG-UP/PG-D/HOME, etc... keys -- those aren't that too big of a deal to me and I can certainly live without them. But a 10-key keypad? Leave the design alone!!

I view it akin to when IBM got the idea in their older keyboards to split up the F-keys and put them in two columns on the left, then two more on the right. That came right back around and bit them in the a$$.

If I'm dropping over 4 grand for a single "all-in-one" computer -- I want it to be what I want. And that 10-key is very important to me. I've read everybody's comments, reviews, editorial reviews, tech reviews, dismantelings, everything -- nobody seems to like the layout of the keyboard, the manufacturer seems to turn a deaf ear to the people's harkings about it.

I also don't understand the need for all of the speakers in laptop. The HP HDX, okay, I can understand that. But for a laptop with a 17" screen? Sure it may be the fastest and latest and greatest -- but don't forget -- it **IS** a laptop!! I've ALWAYS kept GOOD headphones, or GOOD external speakers. A laptop's speakers will NEVER compare to what you can hook up externally. So, stop trying to polish a turd and calling it gourmet. They are LAPTOP SPEAKERS!! They're good for the occasional MP3, maybe an episode of SG-1 or something. But cramming more speakers into a confined space -- a FIXED space that will be in FRONT of you -- I've always thought that was a stupid design as well. Put in straight stereo speakers, decent ones, and leave it at that.

I've never really used internal laptop speakers for much more than the linux/windows beeps and bells and boops. When I play a game, watch a movie or whatnot, I break out the good headphones.

Back to the keypad -- I just can't stress enough that this is just a design of epic fail proportions. A 10-key keypad was designed that way many, many decades ago for a reason. When entering in numbers, adding, subtracting -- your fingers don't have to move far at all (specifically the reason I game with a left-handed mouse, and use the 10-key almost exclusively. If the game requires more controls than I can do with the 10-key and a mouse with two buttons and a wheel -- then I set up "SHIFT" commands to the keypad. I used to be pretty damn good at Mechwarrior 2 -- using just a quad-shifted 10-key)

Anyway, for the money I was going to spend on this laptop (or the HP HDX, which just doesn't do what I wanted to do), I'm just going to get a decent HDTV to replace my aging (yet still flawlessly working) 19" RCA from 1986. Get a 22" - 24" monitor to sit on my coffee table, and get a GOOD keyboard. Probably something backlit, or I may dig out one of my hoarded IBM Northgate XT-style keyboards with metal keys and springs (when I start flying with my typing, it sounds like a machine gun going off). I type fast, and I type hard (due to learning to type on a manual 1944 Royal typewriter).

The 10-key was designed BY and FOR accountants. I'm not an accountant, but I do enter in a LOT of numbers, I add a lot a numbers, I subtract a lot of numbers, and I 'equal' ("ENTER") a lot of numbers.

Those two "gaming keys" on the left-hand side -- those are cool and all, but EVERY time I was looking at pictures of this machine (which is badass, no doubt in my mind about that!!) -- I kept thinking, "what in the hell would I use those for?" Wouldn't it make more sense to move them up above the keyboard and use them as "hot keys"? This Dell Inspiron 8000 I'm on now has a couple of those, but I never, ever use them. The power button is the only "button" on the laptop that I use. Oh, and the hardware volume keys. Those are nice.

I don't know if I mentioned it here, or over in the HDX forum, but as far as games go, I really wouldn't be putting anything more graphically intense than "Oblivion" (I've been really itching to play that game!! I'm a Morrowwind / Elder Scrolls junkie). And whatever decent RPGs that may come out. I want the juice and power there if I do decide to see what all the hub-bub is about with Crysis or some such. But I don't have the reflexes that I used to have, so I can no longer play the games that I used to love (and rock at!).


Again, I'm just rambling and getting out the thoughts in my head...

But that 10-key??

 

That's good to know about the serial port, however, I just decided to beigebox a screaming desktop on my own and dual-monitor with an HDTV and a decent LCD monitor.

For serial ports, for what I'm going to be using the serial ports for, I don't need much horsepower at all. I've got some of my medical equipment and my ham radios using serial ports. I've got a 486 dx2/66 Gateway Colorbook with a grand total of five serial ports on it controlling everything, and for my greenhouse, that's monitored and controlled wirelessly to this Dell Inspiron 8000.

I can certainly understand the phasing out of serial ports. So long as I can always get one back (via USB --> 9pin RS-232), I'll be fine.

Now, as far as desktops, time to start researching this "3-Way SLI" stuff and see if it is worth it.

I do honestly appreciate everybody's replies, suggestions, and comments.

*edit* -- Also on just a technical standpoint, I personally think Bluetooth is the best freakin' thing to happen to serial ports in a VERY long time!! Those RS-232 --> Bluetooth adapters are a godsend!