MSI GX680 - 1st experience, now starting to hate it

i just got myself an MSI GX680 i5 Sandy..

there are lots of good things about this laptop, specially the price vs performance ratio.. it's really bang for the buck.. but after just a few hours of using it, im already starting to hate it..

Performance is there, it's a given.. but the most basic/crucial usability that i'm acustomed to with Asus and other brands that follow good standards are just forgotten in this laptop..


First and formost.. the keyboard layout..

While im uber happy that they put the FUNCTION and CONTROL key in the right positions.. here are 2 moments i got


Back Slash key 260520111525.jpg
Why the hell put a backslash key by the right ALT and space bar keys??? was there really a demand for this?? i think not.. it's such a waste to space.. they could've made the CNTRL or even the ALT key bigger/wider and it would've made more sence.. sheesh

Delete, Home / End Key 260520111527.jpg
HOME and END keys are VERY COMMONLY used keys.. (Why the F) did they put it in an odd position and accessible only via the FUNCTION hook.. giving importance to INSERT key? like !!??

and the delete, well it's not that big of a deal but it could've been place in a better position..


Besides the key layout, i really gota rant..w/ the touchpad.. it's uberly pathetic.. 1st off using Sentelic type touchpad .. for a laptop as expensive as this is already, Synaptics would've been better, it's more popular, has more features/options, and is always been more stable..

things i really really hate w/ this touchpad is
1) it doesnt have SLIDE SCROLLING.. you have to tap to PAGE UP or DOWN but no SLIDE SCROLLING

2) multitouch scrolling on a synaptics pad is soo usable.. where i need not move my fingers to the side of the pad and tap the upper part or lower part.. i can just touch the pad w/ two fingers anywhere, and scroll up or down.. made my work so much faster..

3) dunno if it's just me.. but this crap touchpad doesnt respond very well i can honestly say 30% of the time there's no response .. i had to redo my swipe or tap 2 or 3 times sometimes, to get it to react..


gotten soo annoying i might get rid of this laptop and get another brand..


anyway I didnt signup here to rant .. (although i really had the urge/need to).... i came here to give my brand new laptop another chance..


the crazy keyboard layout (w/c is gona be worst on the Gx780 w/ the LEFT windows key moved near the RIGHT CNTRL key = trully) , i can probably fix w/ KEY REMAPPING software or registry tweaks..


but this touchpad is really something i have to fix .. (as per my 3 problems stated above)


can you guys suggest any solution 3rd party software? or use synaptics driver on this pad?

hope to get some help from you guys..

regards

TJ

 

Well, you definitely need to have the drivers installed for you touchpad. Then you can probably control these things.

You should have foreseen the keyboard layout being a bit odd. I mean, literally you can see the keyboard in photos. However, there is 3rd party software called SharpKeys which can help you with this.

No reason to make a judgement on a laptop based on things that are entirely personal preference. Its the hardware that counts

 

Bout the touch pad, well i did install the drivers, even the latest ones but they're just absolute crap compared to Synaptics.. I know im ranting, i just hate MSI for choosing to go w/ such a poor touchpad for a so called "gaming" upper-end notebook.. and besides the driver selection, i dunno if it's just me but the darn touchpad's sensitivity is nutty.. sometimes it detects slight touch , sometimes i have to really press on it ..arggg


as for the keyboard layouts, well i guess i should've.. all i really cared about in the pictuers was the NUMPAD.. i really didnt expect MSI to go NON STANDARD , and to an extent, (like the back slash by the left ALT key.. really??! lol

I do program AutoHotkeys and i've already been able to remap my keys
Pause - Delete
ScrollLock - Pause
Insert - Home
Delete - page up
Page up - page down
page down - END
and that stupid backslash by the Left ALT key - Left ALt

Yeah, i do respect the hardware+price to be honest.. it's really bang for the buck.. but to be even more honest, had I any other choice as per my needs, I would've bought something else..

i just needed a good notebook (>= sandy i5), ok gaming, but what i really really needed was a laptop w/ numpad on it, and under 16" Screen size Monitor w/ 1600x whatever resolution or higher as 1366 is really just too darn small.. oh and usb3..

I've been searching and waiting for months for a notebook w/ the above features (just right) and believe it or not, it's hard to come by.. i was even willing to go w/ Alienware m15x, but the darn thing dont have any numpad on its keyboard, but lots of wasted keyboard space though..

I wish i could go custom build laptops, but they're just not an option in my country.. Philippines.. sooo limtted options..

 

... i've adjusted to this laptop already, but i still dont feel that "satisfaction" with it.. i like it but feels im forcing it.. and i saw this samsung Qx410 and got to try it, and wow.. this samsung hsa SOOOO MUUUUCHH better touch pad than msi, and the keyboard layout is proper, it's got better viewing range/angle too.. now im torn to stick w/ this power house, or go w/ samsung i7 w/c looks much more solid (and the hinges feels more stable) ..

hmmmmmmm

 

doing ur research on a laptop goes beyond just looking at specs

 

Or having enough willpower and ambition to well, use a mouse a lot, OR install a new touchpad and LCD screen from another laptop.
Its up to you.