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170

Bring back the classic Inspiron keyboard layout

170 points posted to Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Inspiron products, Latitude products by devwild 06/26/07

The keyboard layout long used on the Inspiron series and C/D series Latitude notebooks is one of the most well regarded layouts in the marketplace for ease-of-use. The new layout for the Inspirons hops on the bandwagon generated by other designers, splaying the special keys around the sides of the keyboard in a completely non-standard orientation, and further displaces the keyboard layout by bringing the arrow keys tight into the keyboard itself.

I always understood this move in the ultraportable market, as not only does it save space, but in general Dell has been utilizing OEM products with less say over the design. The standardized main Inspiron and Latitude series however are given much more thought, and I think deserve to maintain some of their best assets through the generations.

Improvements to the keyboard should focus on functionality which provides tangible usability, such as backlighting options, rather than sacrificing usability for (minimal) aesthetic improvements.

sqlguru
06/26/07		 Hear, hear! I agree whole heartedly. I use an external keyboard with my laptop whenever possible / convenient because I don't like the layout of the laptop keys. It's the same reason I won't change my external keyboard to some of the newer designs. I *LIKE* where my keys are and don't want them to be moved around. I can't find the home, end, page-up, and page-down keys very well and I use them for Web navigation extensively.

Layne
pell
06/27/07		 Just a question.
As far as I understand a rectangular keyboard is somewhat cheaper than non-rectangular one. As far as I understand by breaking one-of-the-best keyboard layout in the market you Dell just reduced price of Inspiron notebook. It upsets me but it's only my feeling.

A question.
What about your future Lattitude? Should we expect that Lattitude keyboard layout will be broken too?
_dorian_
07/18/07		 I agree. I'm looking to replace my 9200 and I'm disappointed by the new keyboard layout

I hate having the touch pad off to the side -- I'd either have to site to the side or risk carpal tunnel. I never use the number keypad. I've been using computers since my TRS80 model 1 in 1977 and I've never used a freaking numeric keypad. I'm an engineer -- I use various CAD packages and write software -- I don't do numeric data entry. I would have preferred to keep the symmetry and add more function keys to both sides, if anything (actually WHY NOT A REAL SCROLL WHEEL! instead of a virtual one -- that is truly the one thing that drives me to use a mouse over the touch pad).
tholap
Apr 12		 I never understood why the majority of keyboards have this utterly stupid layout with cursor/editl keys right of backspace/return. It makes no sense at all.
The old Inspiron layout was - I kid you not - one of the main reasons I first bought a Dell laptop - and did several times since then.
I was already planning for my next laptop to be another Inspiron when I noticed the layout change. This alone makes me look at alternatives.
Bring back the good layout - it's one of the reasons I kept recommending Dell.
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