All E-Series Keyboards The Same?

Does the E6400 use the same crappy keyboard as the Dell E4300 that I'm returning?

 

I wouldn't call the keyboard 'crappy' at all. Without seeing a E4300 in person, I have no idea if they use the same keyboards.

 

It's not crappy, but it's not awesome either. It doesn't feel as responsive as the D-series or the T61 keyboard that's right next to me. The keys seem shallower, and more spongy compared to the D-series. As a result it doesn't type as easily as the D-Series/T61.

 

The E6400 and E6500 keyboards look very similar so they may be the same. However, the smaller E series have a different keyboard. One difference is the position of Pg Up and Pg Dn keys.

My E6400's keyboard may not be perfect but it is the best I have used in recent memory. The travel is very good. Maybe it is less on the smaller E series.

John

 

I loved the keys on dells D series laptops.

If your keys are crapping... Does that mean when they crap and when you type your tapping your fingers on key crap

 

The keyboard is not the same. I think that the E6400 keyboard is excellent. Very quiet, and better than any other keyboard I have used for any length of time. (that doesn't include a D-series nor Thinkpad)

Greg

 

The keyboard on the D820 I had at work sucked. The E4200 I'm on now is great, as is the E6400 I got for someone at work. Even the Inspiron 910 has a pretty good keyboard as compared to the D820...

 

Manufacturers between the keyboards must differ. My D820 kicks ***. It's comparable in feel to the T61. I clock speeds of up to 150 wpm very comfortably. Quiet, quick response, not spongy like the E4300 keyboard. I guess I got the worst laptop of the E-Series.

In terms of how I'd rank the keyboards I've tried from best to worst. I'll make a sound recording of my E4300 at work and let you compare for yourself, the quality of it, compared to the D820.

Dell D820/Latitude T61
Dell E4300
Vostro 1400
XPS M1330

 

Yeah, Dell switched in the middle of production on the D820. The initial keyboard was horrible. I dumped coffee on mine and replaced the keyboard about 6 months ago and it was a HUGE improvement; it's now very similar to the E-Series.

 

Probably the moral is that early adopters get screwed.