ageinggracefully

A

ageinggracefully

Member
Am trying to buy my first laptop, as a middle-aged person, doing lots of research, I have always been a professional touch-typist. Am moving from an old desktop PC (very slow) to an up-to-the-minute laptop. The keyboard is ESSENTIAL for me, I love the Sony Viao keyboards which are quite large (which is what I want) keys are nicely spaced and a good, positive action. So thought I'd made my decision and was going to buy a black Sony Viao with quite a high spec. Then just read a review that said the battery on these laptops is completely finished after 18 months, and Sony classes it as a consumable. A new battery is £118. Can anyone give any help. Help!
 
L

LFFPicard

Godlike
I think the bets people to advice you on this would be laptop owners or Mods.

I know Pez has a laptop on these forums so I will send him a private message and ask him to come answer your question in regards to the keyboard on the PCS laptops.

Hope this helps.
 
Meds

Meds

Moderator
Moderator
The Optimus II may be of interest. Fair enough, it's graphics card could be classed as "over the top" but the keyboard seems to fit the bill. We have a video of the laptop here which has close ups of the keyboard.
 
pez

pez

Well-known member
Hey folks. got the message thanks Picard :D

So, AG, you're asking about the laptops. Hard to say with the others, but let me give you a run down from my experiences so far, and hopefully this would help *shrugs*

I've had various laptops through the years and various desktops with various different keyboards. Over the last 2 years, I've primarily been using one type of laptop, an IBM Thinkpad which I picked up cheap. It started to get a little unhappy with life last year, so I picked up a cheap Dell from the office on the cheap. It wasn't long before I found a way to sort out the IBM and get it back up and running. The main reason, was the keyboard on the Dell was horrific.....for me. Didn't like the feel and the comfort factor. It's a weird one really. Keyboards and layouts are a very personal thing - I've thrown away keyboards that "click" to much :D (Sound like the old Commodore 64 keys :D)

Now, I've just taken delivery of the VortexII 17" Model. the keyboard is segmented, which I have to say I've always loved the look of, but was never quite sure how it would be actually typing. I average around 65 WPM - semi touch typing - and I'm very pleased with the keyboard layout.

It's no "Big Desktop Keyboard" - but then, we've all used those for many many years so the familiarity is already there.

I would suggest going to PC World or somewhere like there, and checking out the keyboards. It's always going to be a little hit and miss when you can;t physically touch the keyboard. If you live near Holmfirth, and it's a big investment for you, I would definitely speak to PCS and swing by and physically touch the keyboards.
 
A

ageinggracefully

Member
pez said:
Hey folks. got the message thanks Picard :D

So, AG, you're asking about the laptops. Hard to say with the others, but let me give you a run down from my experiences so far, and hopefully this would help *shrugs*

I've had various laptops through the years and various desktops with various different keyboards. Over the last 2 years, I've primarily been using one type of laptop, an IBM Thinkpad which I picked up cheap. It started to get a little unhappy with life last year, so I picked up a cheap Dell from the office on the cheap. It wasn't long before I found a way to sort out the IBM and get it back up and running. The main reason, was the keyboard on the Dell was horrific.....for me. Didn't like the feel and the comfort factor. It's a weird one really. Keyboards and layouts are a very personal thing - I've thrown away keyboards that "click" to much :D (Sound like the old Commodore 64 keys :D)

Now, I've just taken delivery of the VortexII 17" Model. the keyboard is segmented, which I have to say I've always loved the look of, but was never quite sure how it would be actually typing. I average around 65 WPM - semi touch typing - and I'm very pleased with the keyboard layout.

It's no "Big Desktop Keyboard" - but then, we've all used those for many many years so the familiarity is already there.

I would suggest going to PC World or somewhere like there, and checking out the keyboards. It's always going to be a little hit and miss when you can;t physically touch the keyboard. If you live near Holmfirth, and it's a big investment for you, I would definitely speak to PCS and swing by and physically touch the keyboards.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this Pez, I will do a little more research.
 
pez

pez

Well-known member
Pleased to help. Let me know if you want any other information :)

(From someone who is certainly NOT ageing gracefully :D)
 
A

ageinggracefully

Member
pez said:
Pleased to help. Let me know if you want any other information :)

(From someone who is certainly NOT ageing gracefully :D)
Click to expand...

Sorry for delay in replying, life took over, yet again! Did you mean you are not ageing, or not being graceful whilst ageing?

Since I asked my initial question, I have been trying to get to see the Optimus II, so I rang PCSpecialist - first time, they were waiting for the next batch to come in. 2nd time, sat waiting on the phone with awful music playing in my ear for about 20 mins, then gave up, since then havn't been able to get through at all. So still waiting to get my new laptop.

Most people just go out and buy a new laptop, not messing about, I seem to have been too 'fussy' about it, still it's a big purchase at between £600 to £700.

Someone mentioned their Vortex had a good 'separated' keyboard too, any ideas?

HELP!
 
A

ageinggracefully

Member
Hi Meds
I'm still struggling and trying to get to see the Optimus II physically, but PC Specialist havn't had them in since I wrote. I think someone mentioned that the Vortex II has a similar keyboard, do you know if it's the case. At last I have a title for this type of keyboard, Pez calls it segmented, I've been trying to explain it to retailers for ages!

ageinggracefully
 
R

renegade0304

Member
ageinggracefully said:
Hi Meds
I'm still struggling and trying to get to see the Optimus II physically, but PC Specialist havn't had them in since I wrote. I think someone mentioned that the Vortex II has a similar keyboard, do you know if it's the case. At last I have a title for this type of keyboard, Pez calls it segmented, I've been trying to explain it to retailers for ages!

ageinggracefully
Click to expand...

Officially its refereed to as a "chiclet keyboard"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top