keyboard quality on Sage NP8651?

I'm looking seriously at this laptop, really like the specs, cooling, and accessibility. However, I do a lot of writing so I'm very picky about my keyboards and cannot stand any keyboard flex. I was almost sold on the Sager NP8651 but the xoticpc video review shows what appears to be a LOT of flex. Unfortunately, it appears they don't use a fully stable surface so it's hard to tell if it's actually flex or just the whole laptop moving. It's also hard to get any information on tactile feedback (key travel, bounce, whether there's a "bump"). HTWingNut's review says the keyboard is solid and no flex, so I'm confused.

Can any owners comment on how the keyboard on the NP8651 compares to other comparable machines, say like the MSI GS60 or Razor Blade?

For reference sake, the laptops I've used with best keyboards are Lenovo X220 (though a bit cramped) and Razer Blade 14 (2013). I currently have a Razer Blade Pro and there's no flex but the key action is mushy and rather disappointing after the RB14.

Thanks!

 

It is really hard to judge the flex based on the video reviews. I do press down on it pretty hard to almost make it flex. During normal typing you should not have any issues and there have not been any common complaints about it. There is always the 30 day Sager return period for a full refund so if you don't like the flex you can take advantage of that.

 

Thanks for this, and I agree that it's hard to judge by the video reviews (I've watched a lot of them now!). I do get easily annoyed by any flex or bounce, however slight, and just because people haven't complained doesn't mean that it doesn't exist - it could just as easily mean that people don't mind or that they are more focused on other things. Very few reviews of gaming laptops actually talk about keyboard quality as compared to reviews of business class laptops, hence my request for feedback from actual owners.

 

Happy to help. Maybe some owners can jump in with their opinions, you can also check out the owners lounge here http://forum.notebookreview.com/sag...-se-sg-sager-np8650-51-52-owner-s-lounge.html.

You can always get an external keyboard if you'll be using it at a desk most of the time. Once you use a nice mechanical keyboard you'll never go back .

 

Good point. I've used a mechanical keyboard for years with my desktop but I'm planning a transatlantic move and I need to downsize, so the fewer peripherals the better! An external keyboard might be an option in a year or so, but for now it needs to be good "as is." :thumbsup:

Maybe it's just my own thing, but I really feel you can tell a lot about the overall quality of a laptop by the attention paid to the keyboard (and display, for that matter). A lot of laptops have similar specs on CPU, graphics, and memory, but it's all for naught if the basic ways you interface with the laptop are neglected.

 

I agree with you there. We have many brands that offer the same CPU/GPU but they are definitely not all equal computers.

 

My keyboard is quite comfortable, no flex under normal pressure even when i'm angry because of a sniper or simply because something is blocking me while I'm working ^^..

 

There is little to no keyboard flex on that laptop. But if you press really really hard, it'll flex but very subtly

 

Normal typing and gaming there is non flex. Like others said you can make it flex if you want to power it down, but for regular use it's solid as a rock.

 

Awesome, thanks for those replies! I appreciate the help. That's reassuring news about the keyboard.

 

Just tested one to chime in, and can confirm with others; there's no apparent flex under normal use. It takes quite a bit of pressure to produce even a little bit of flex. The tactile feedback is good, also, although I'm not sure what you meant by "bump."

Comparing to the GS60 is very subjective, (as would be comparing the Razer Blade, but we don't have any of those). If memory serves correctly, though, the GS60 keyboard yields virtually no flex since it's built into the top case assembly.