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Inspiron 8600, synaptics or alps touchpad - Page 2

post #21 of 50
9/29/04 at 12:08pm
I know I have used Alps and Synaptics, but I must speak. The Synaptics absolutely slams the Alps one. I am already having software/driver problems with the Alps, and even reinstalling the drivers hasn't helped.

Never had a hitch with the synaptics. Unfortunately Dell puts the Alps in the 8600. Still love this laptop though.
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post #22 of 50
9/29/04 at 6:20pm
No i've never used another trackpad other then the one on this 8600. I find it very precise though... as it is, i have my mouse speed slider set all the way up to the max. I also dont even use the "enhance precision" option and it's still feels flawless to me. Its just hard to understand how it could be different.
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post #23 of 50
9/29/04 at 7:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjb
No i've never used another trackpad other then the one on this 8600. I find it very precise though... as it is, i have my mouse speed slider set all the way up to the max. I also dont even use the "enhance precision" option and it's still feels flawless to me. Its just hard to understand how it could be different.
go try out a synaptics touchpad, i bet you your view will change after that
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post #24 of 50
9/29/04 at 7:35pm
my old hp zt3000 and compaq x1000 had the synaptics. When I got the 8600 I noticed right away that there was a difference in performance between the two. The Alps isn't precise and sometimes doesn't respond instantly. And the surface is also a little rougher than the synaptics. The surface seemed almost frictionless on my hp and compaq.
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post #25 of 50
9/29/04 at 11:05pm
yah I have sensativity maxed so i barley have to glide. I'm interested in trying a syna...something... one. I do admit it is not the smoothest pad in the world, i get friction going upward... =(
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post #26 of 50
9/29/04 at 11:16pm
So... NOW I know why I don't really like this thing and I can't seem to get it to respond like I want it to... great.
Is it possible to get the Synaptics touchpad? Or am I just stuck with the Alps?
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post #27 of 50
9/30/04 at 12:23am
I think it take a little while for the pad to wear in. Because I found it hard to use when I first got it but now after 6months or so its great. (it didnt take 6months for it to improve, its just thats how long ive had it)
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post #28 of 50
9/30/04 at 12:51am
it took me 2 weeks to get used to it ><
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post #29 of 50
9/30/04 at 1:01am
perhaps? but when i get my other dell laptops with synaptics they never had a "break in" time
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post #30 of 50
9/30/04 at 2:35am
I'd be skurd to try synaptics, i might dread using my own laptop.
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post #31 of 50
9/30/04 at 9:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjb
I do admit it is not the smoothest pad in the world, i get friction going upward... =(
I get that too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lirianna
Is it possible to get the Synaptics touchpad? Or am I just stuck with the Alps?
I think we are stuck with it. Unless the D800/M60 uses the Synaptics, in which case you could do the case swap and get the synaptics.
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post #32 of 50
10/1/04 at 3:05am
I just got my 8600 and its got an alps. This is the first time I've use a laptop, so I have no other pad to compare it to, but I seem to be having a few problems. Sometimes when I move over something it selects if for me, when I don't want it to. Also at times it doesn't recieve small movements very well. I've played around with the settings but it just doesn't seem right no matter what. any ideas?
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post #33 of 50
10/1/04 at 9:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MitchellO
I think we are stuck with it. Unless the D800/M60 uses the Synaptics, in which case you could do the case swap and get the synaptics.
The D800 uses the Alps. We got one at work and that's when I learned it's something I actually need to be concerned with when buying a laptop. It never even occured to me that a touchpad could suck until I used it. My older Dells, the IBMs we use at work, my wifes iBook, all have nice usable touchpads. Everyone we put the D800 in front of, the first thing out of their mouth was, "what's wrong with the mouse?"
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post #34 of 50
10/1/04 at 12:11pm
Bummer. My dad is ordering one, and I was hoping that it would have Synaptics. You'd think Dell could use some bbetter parts in the model that you pay a huge premium for compared to the 8600.
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post #35 of 50
10/1/04 at 12:36pm
Touchpads aren't the only way to control cursor movement... mice work well, too. I'm a fan of the touchpad (it's amazing that it can do everything in such a small area), but still use a mouse.
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post #36 of 50
10/1/04 at 8:02pm
I've got the Alps touchpad on my D800 and, although my last touchpad was a Synaptics one on an Inspiron 8000, I've found the Alps fine.

Just make sure you've got the "Enhance Pointer Precision" option turned on, I've always had it switched on but after reading the comments here I tried it off. My cursor then acted as if it was drunk.
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post #37 of 50
10/1/04 at 9:01pm
You can just order the synaptics touch pad from Spare Parts.
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post #38 of 50
10/3/04 at 1:53am
I concur with some of the previous posters. There is nothing wrong with Alps touchpads in current Dell's offers. Just set the driver's properties right and wait until the surface wears out.
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post #39 of 50
10/3/04 at 3:27am
if you order the synaptics from spare parts... how easy would that be to replace? seems tricky to me.
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post #40 of 50
10/3/04 at 6:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmnstrunr37
Touchpads aren't the only way to control cursor movement... mice work well, too. I'm a fan of the touchpad (it's amazing that it can do everything in such a small area), but still use a mouse.
I use my BT500 Bluetooth mouse when I am at a desk, but a lot of the time I am not at a desk, but sitting on the lounge or on my bed, and you can't use it there. I don't use it at school either. I use the pad most of the time, and it is a bit of a pain . MY last one (the Synaptics on a i5100) was great, and never skipped or anything.
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