Shallow keys may be the Achilles heel of the new Z series

According to a review in Trusted Reviews, the keys of the new Z series offer very little travel. It says: ‘the key feedback on the keyboard is too shallow. The keys are well-spaced, feel nice and offer a decent click, but it takes some getting used to how little travel they offer.’

Sony VAIO Z Laptop first look - Dock cont., Screen and Battery Life - Trusted Reviews

If true, this may be a bigger problem than people realise. Here’s why:

The importance of key travel on computers is often underestimated. But it is critically important if you do lots of typing. This is because key movement provides a calibrated response for your fingers. Sometimes your fingers may barely touch the keys, while at other times you will really hammer stuff out. So you want to feel that your keyboard is responsive to the depth of your input – much like a piano. But if the keys feel too flat or shallow, there is less tactile feedback, which creates a tension. You won’t notice it for quick jobs, or internet browsing, but you will notice it the longer you type.

Which brings me back to the new Z. This is clearly a beautifully designed and crafted machine, and will delight many people. It is a tribute to all that is best about Sony.

I fear, however, that the Sony designers have become so blinded by the success of the Apple Macbook Air that they felt compelled to make the Z as thin as possible. So thin that they compromised on keyboard travel.

All the other compromises I could live with, such as the Z’s lack of internal GPU and optical drive. But the reality is that you connect to a computer with your eyes and your fingers. So no matter what else you do, make sure the screen and the KEYS are OK.

 

The price seems pretty low...

 

I suppose it's fine if you can't effortlessly slide your finger across the keyboard without feeling any bumps......

 

they probably made it shallow so it wont have the problem of touching the screen...that would be the "achilles heel" for me because I'd rather put a cloth in between than having to deal with no tactile feeling(I play the piano).

 

did you really need to make a new thread? why you couldnt talk about it at the main new z thread?

 

Thats just stupid. Laptop keyboards are lowered a little into the body and the rest of the chassis o the sides is raised up. In this way, no matter how high your keys are, they are sufficiently lowered into the chassis so that they never touch the screen. The keyboard never touches the screen.

 

^Clearly you've never owned a Z. It's been one of it's "quirks" for the last 2 generations.

 

Well it was more severe of an issue for the VGN-Z than the VPC-Z, but the screen issue still creeps me out occasionally. However, I believe the issue is caused by the fragility of the screen, rather than than the screen hitting the keyboard

 

The key stroke on the new Vaio Z is about 1mm, which would make it about half that of earlier Z series - which were already rather shallow.

 

I use a Vaio AW, which has 2mm travel on the keyboard. But it's way too bulky for travel, so last year I bought a Vaio X.

When I got the X, which has just 1.2mm travel on the keyboard, it was undeniably awkward at first. But after about 2-3 days, I became used to it.

I use both the AW and X on a daily basis, and now have no trouble switching between the two keyboards. My typing speed and accuracy on the X is only slightly less than that when I type on my AW.

Of course, some people may have more difficulty in adjusting to a keyboard with shallower key travel. Like how some pianists who have only ever played on one brand of pianos has difficulty playing on another, with stiffer or looser keys; but a pianist who has played on a wide range of pianos can more easily adjust to whatever piano they play on.

And yes, I plan on getting the new Z. It will carry some of the workload I put on my AW, and replace my X altogether.

 

what kinda travel does a MBP 13 have?

 

I don't own a MBP but I own an apple keyboard, an I'd say it's somewhat greater (only slightly) than the VPC-Z1's by the looks of it.

 

Does the new "Z" seem not "Z" like at all? One of the hallmarks of the Z has always been hybrid graphics. The new "Z" no longer has that. The GPU has been regulated to an optional external doc. Thus the new "Z" is just another ultraportable. I rather have a Thinkpad X.

 

Have you even tried the keyboard? Why are you complaining about something you haven't even tried? A really good rule for acquiring laptops, cars and mistresses, try before you buy.

 

^I tried it. I can't say I typed that much on it but I really didn't notice the travel being strange at all. I am pretty used to chicklet keyboards, though.

 

The Z2 is a couple of mm thicker than the X so hopefully there will be a bit more travel. The X's keyboard felt awkward for about 2 weeks. Once you've fully adjusted it's absolutely not an issue. It feels as natural as any other keyboard after a while, so I wouldn't factor this into your decision about the Z2 to be honest.