Dell Inspiron 15 5548 (2015) - Keyboard

I also own this 5548 laptop and thought I would respond to some of your concerns with the design.

1 - Previous to this I owned a Macbook Pro. The keys are nearly the same size. I also looked at several other laptops and the keys are also nearly the same size. Within millimeters. My suggestion is to increase your typing precision rather than blaming a fairly standard keyboard.

The numeric keys are actually extremely useful if you do any actual work on your machine. having the 10key on the side of the keyboard was a big selling point for me and in fact was one of my search conditions when shopping. (the same argument could be made for the ethernet port, another 'older' feature that many power users find quite handy)

2 I have to agree that the touch pad has its flaws, most of which could probably be solved with a software that allows customization of the pad. Much like the Lenovo laptops come with. Adjust sensitivity and the areas that cause clicks/scrolls/etc. The trackpad does feel solid though and i like the texture.

3) This is not Dell. this is most likely your settings. You can generally tell the function keys whether te default to f1-f12 or default to media keys. The opposite then becomes the fn+(whatever). Usually the out of box default is to be function keys first (as that's what they are designed for) and media keys second. 

4) this sounds more like a personal problem, its a new laptop design, they are going to adjust the design accordingly. Maybe last time they got a bunch of feedback about the locations of these keys and chose to move them. I for one don't notice a problem, especially coming from a Macbook where everything was in custom locations anyway.

The 5548 has its issues, but none of them are ruining the laptop for me.

There is no doubt that the keys are small. 

They could have bigger keys.  I do like the travel depth , but the key size should have been bigger. 

It sounds as if it was designed for a small size tablet.

I would agree with you about the keypad.  You have to push down hard before you get a letter to appear on the keyboard and even then, it's hit or miss.  It takes me about 50% more to type anything because I have to keep stopping and going back to retype words because the letters didn't appear even after I pressed hard on the keyboard.  It seems like there is a lag or delay from the time I press on the letter to the time the letter appears on the screen.  Something is definitely wrong with either the keyboard or keyboard design. 

The track pad is a total piece of ***.  Dell has replaced the track pad once already and it's still broken.  There is no way to adjust the sensitivity.  It is constantly bringing up the charms bar on the side for Windows 8.1.  Clicking on the built-in "button" for the mouse click for the track pad is similarly hit or miss.

Dell support has been horrible.  I sent the laptop in for repair with a one page letter attached with all the problems on it.  The "tech" swapped out the hard drive and that was it. When I got the laptop back it is now throwing all kinds of errors on boot.  Then Dell sent an on site tech to repair the laptop.  They sent the wrong motherboard with the tech so my laptop now has no touch screen. They replaced the *** touch pad with another one that has the same problems.

The battery that I used to get close to 7 hrs on power saver mode in June is now down to around three hours.  I bought this laptop BRAND NEW in June and have had nothing but problems with it from the start.  Dell offered to swap my brand new laptop with a REFURBISHED laptop of the same model as a way to solve the problem.  I obviously said no since it's not going to fix what clearly appears to be design defects with the laptop.

I'm now waiting for Dell to set up another appointment to replace the motherboard with the one that is supposed to go in the laptop. 

It is astonishing to think that they could screw up on the most important laptop components.  A keyboard that is unresponsive and doesn't consistently take input from key presses. A track pad that is not precise in both movement and with clicks.  A battery that doesn't hold a charge.  And then Dell support dropping the ball again and again, wasting my time and costing me money.

This was my first purchase of a Dell laptop and from the experience I've had with Dell support thus far, it will be my last purchase. 

I agree with Zeddica, there's no problem with the kuy board but the touchpad is. It's too big or placed to the right hand too much, so, as I type the space key, my right hand touch the touchpad and this affect my typing. i must use a small cartoon to cover the pad when I type. If there is space at the right side to scrooll, don;t know why but the existing touchpad driver don;t le me do this, the problem will be resolved.

Hope Dell will resove it soon (with a driver could let the user make space for scrolling on the touchpad