Sony Z Keyboard Experience - Owners Please

I'm debating between the Dell E4300, X301 and the Sony Z. I'm familiar with the keyboard experiences for both the X301 and the E4300 having had a D820 as well as a T60 in the past. Superb obviously.

My question regards the Z's keyboard. How does it fare?

 

Love it. Maybe it's because I was already used to the Apple keyboards. Takes a couple days to get used to but you eventually become a faster typer I beleive.

 

I can give you some good advice I think, I come from using Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, LG ...

I've had my Z a little over a week, I've been critical about some things ... one of them was the keyboard ... at first try I liked it, then for whatever reason the first few days I didn't like it at all, I found myself wanting to go back and type on my LG...

Then I gave it a 'fair chance' after all I spent over $2k on it, lol ... long story short after a full few days heavy use on the Z keyboard that I ABSOLUTLEY LOVE IT

Given the chance the keyboard really is that good, you make make FAR less mistakes because it's more difficult to hit the wrong key, plus the keys have the perfect amount of travel in them, I find with the LG, Dell and a tiny bit on the IBM that it's easy to 'punch' the keys if you're typing fast, with the Z keyboard the travel is just right plus it's silent, it makes for very comfortable typing.

Hope that helps.

 

the keyboard is great.. not an expert though..

 

On sunday I went to a Sony store to use the Z. In the 30 minutes I was there, it didn't win me over. I guess I was comparing it to the Thinkpad keyboard all along, and I just didn't give it a chance.

I thought the keyboard was not that silent, and the keys didn't seem to give sufficient feedback for my liking.

But still I'm undecided between the Z and the X301... sigh. Screen vs Keyboard...
IMO.

 

It makes you flatten your finger slightly when you hit the keys at first but it gets quicker, I still prefer the old style though

 

I like the keys - and it does make me type better.

 

I'm a big fan. Had it for a week now. Keyboard was my biggest complaint on the SZ and this new one is great. Much better than my Dell m1330.

 

The keyboard is absolutely awesome... probably the best on any laptop I've ever used. I've used Gateway, Dell, Apple, Fujitsu, Acer, Asus, IBM and Lenovo and the Sony is really better than any of them.

 

I love the keyboard as well.
I've have slight problem typing initially, after a few days of usage now i can type in the dark with lesser mistakes as compared with prevous laptop lol..

it's either that or this keyboard suit asian hands better.. the spacing is well designed as well.. <3

 

I'll admit that my first impression was negative. I played with it at the SonyStyle store and it didn't feel comfortable.

That didn't deter me from ordering it though and now I love it. I'd say it took me about half a day to "re-train" my hands but now I can type as fast if not faster. I have medium sized hands.

Here's a list of things I like:

NO KEYBOARD FLEX - i think that's one of the things I had to get used to. My old VAIO S had some flex and I think I was just used to it. On the Z, it's solid (which is how it should be) and allows me not hit the keys as hard.

LESS MISTAKES - Sometimes when I try to type really fast my fingers will drift and I'll double-hit or stradle two keys and have to backtrack. I do that less now and it has improved my speed.

LOW KEYS - I find that I don't have to press down as hard compared to a regular keyboard and leads to faster key strikes and contributes to faster typing and a little less typing fatigue. Consequently, I find the typing sound to be not as loud as a regular keyboard.

One funny thing is that I'm starting to like it now more than my conventional keyboard used for my desktop system.

 

Ditto. I wish I could buy a Z-style keyboard to use at work with my desktop.

To be honest, in my experience so far (about a month of reasonably frequent use as a secondary PC), I think it's great. the Z's keyboard is perhaps the best notebook keyboard I have used. Definitely better than the Toshiba and Dell's that I've used and probably as good as my Thinkpads, although it's different to the Thinkpads which are closer to regular desktop keyboards.

 

Absolutely love it!!

FAR better than the SZ, and frankly is now my favorite keyboard...including my many desktop PC keyboards!

Most pleasing quality?
I do NOT have to think about the keyboard. It simply works.
I am an EXTREMELY fast typist...and on this keyboard...I am even faster. My fingers just fly on this thing.

In fact...my SZ was still functioning well...but the keyboard improvement ALONE would have been enough to make me seriously consider this upgrade. Now that I have the Z...I've also discovered the amazing usefulness of the high-res screen (1600x900). For photoshop and for simply having plenty of screen real estate...there is nothig like this kind of high res.

HIGHLY recommend this keyboard.
I've owned 7 different laptops including Dell, Sony, and several others.
This keyboard blows them all way. It's not even close.

Mark

 

I love it, too. You can write very good and fast ^^
I hate other NB keyboards but I love the Z keyboard

 

Okay so I JUST got my Vaio Z three days ago. Z590 CTO.

I dont like the keyboard!!!!!

I feel so frustrated sometimes because I LOVE the laptop! its GORGEOUS and POWERFUL and LIGHT.. but god I cant get used to typing on it!!!!

I keep missing keys because I think I am typing on my home comp - microsoft comfort keyboard (slanted design)

BUT i know it looks GREAT, others above obviously got over the normal design and like it so I am giving it a fair chance and not going to bash it. I reallllly hope I get used to it, but its a little scary since I am in love with the Z and whats the point if I cant type my hw on it