Touchpad: Synaptics vs Alps

Question

Dear all

I just acquired a 1530 and to my chagrin its got an ALPS touchpad! :-(((

I LOVE Synpatics eg my Inspiron 1100 that I've had for 4.5 years and decided to use it as a backup to my new 1530 before burning it up!

Based on my lovefest with the Synaptics; NEVER in my wildest dreams would I imagine someone wanting to use an ALPS, hence it didn't even occur to me to investigate this before I bought my 1530!

On Dells 'Specs' for these laps ( or any ?), the touchpad is not even listed :-(

Ironically I discoverd that ALPS is using a Synpatics driver ???? Go figure ???

Regardless, I've talked to Exec Tech Support to try and understand this scenario, and see if they were willing to put me in touch with the 'decision maker(s)' in regards to this to no avail.

Hence my post!

The ALPS has 'notched' ( my term ) vs the 'infinite' (my term) scrolling of the Synaptics. Can you imagine driving a car where the steering wheel was 'notched'? ;-)

e.g. When I'm reading a CNN web page, and you have to scroll down to continue reading, and with the ALPS, the screen 'jumps' ahead so many user set 'lines', and you have to figure out. 'where did I leave off' !? :-((((((((((((((((((((

CASE CLOSED!

Also the Synaptics has immediate access to 'long distance Coasting', and the speed and control of it is 'useable', whereas the 'coasting' feature in the ALPS is accessed only by clicking both left and right mouse buttons simultaneouly

, and the 'highspeed' nature of it is too fast/ not useful in that regard!

So this begs the question as to why anyone would want to use an ALPS?

Regardless, In speaking to DELL, I asked them to invest in having a driver written to 'give the option' to have both feature sets..........unless of course the ALPS hardware makes this impossible?!

And my rep said, 'this was NOT GOING TO HAPPEN' ! grrrrrr

I would have NEVER bought ANY machine, if I knew it had an ALPS.

I CAN return it, but I've so many hrs invested in software installs, PLUS I love the rest of it!

Dilemma................ ;-)

My hope is that some 'exec' from Dell with call me discuss, on the basis of 'PRIDE' in ones product!

Why release an XPS ; a Corvette with a Yugo Steering Wheel????? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very Sincerely

Matt Miller

PS I discovered on the WEB, that a Dell 8100 user, figured out how to replace his AlPS for a Synaptics. ;-)

At least I'm not alone ;-) !

Nicholas Poh · Answer

I too was surpised to find out that my XPS 1530 come with the Alps touchpad. My Lenovo 3000 G400 also come with Alps touchpad. The scrolling feature is terrible.

Really wish XPS 1530 comes with Synaptic toucpad. Even the cheapest brand "Acer" uses Synaptic.

MattMIller747 · Answer

Thanks for responding!   The one thing the Dell rep said that allows for hope, is that if enough users complain, then perhaps DELL will listen!   So please jump on board and chime in!

Nicholas Poh · Answer

Please vote at http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/10078334/User_Synaptics_touchpad_instead_of_Alps

defleron · Answer

My Inspiron 8200 had a Synaptic Pad...Solid Class...Never missed anything. I purchased a Latitude D830 and bought a fine machine with a big sore pimple on it. This Alps touch pad is junk. I will continue to buy Dell Lap tops Unless it has an Alps touch pad.....We don't pay for the same piece of junk twice !!!!

Nicholas Poh · Answer

I would suggest you return the unit for another model.

Koda611 · Answer

I just bought a Latitude D830... The gesters to move forward and back when surfing the web are gone. I have Alps touchpad with driver version 7.1.101.6. Support says 'sorry about your luck', they can't do anything. Does anyone have a suggestion?

grislander · Answer

I originally had a Vostro 1700 where the pointer using the touchpad would freeze randomly whether on battery or cord power. I could  free it temporarily by clicking the left button on touchpad or pausing my finger movement for a few seconds. It was extremely annoying & the Dell techs couldn't help me so they sent me a new one which did the exact same thing & I returned that one. I asked a salesperson if the Inspiron 1720 came with an Alps or Synaptics touchpad & he assured me it was a Synaptics after checking with a tech.  So I ordered the 1720 & you guessed it, it came with the Alps touchpad & had the same problems as the Vostro. The Techs had me do a reimage & driver update which didn't resolve the problem. They then sent me the new revision A01 power adaptor which didn't help either.   I have 2 other Dell Inspiron E1505's which have Synaptics touchpads which are a pleasure to use. Needless to say I'm very disappointed with my Alps experience. Any suggestions besides the obvious to return it would be appreciated.  Thanks.

supplystud1 · Answer

I agree fully. I just purchased a new Inspiron 1525 that came with an Alps touchpad. I have two Inspiron E1505's, a 1520 and a 1521. They all have Synaptics and are wonderful to use. The Alps is just plain inferior with no debate. I have played with all available settings and it is just inferior and infuriating! What can we do to stop this madness. I do not want to get another brand, but this is a big enough issue to me that I will have to go look somewhere else.

HELP!

PowerDrain · Answer

Another vote for Synaptics. Though I had previous Dell laptops (all with Alps), I was not aware how good Synaptic touchpads are until I used a relative's Inspiron B130 and wow, what a difference. Accurate, snappy, the scrolling functionality feels responsive and even provides visual feedback. With Alps scrolling is almost like tossing a coin; you only know if you were successful after you see the results. With Synaptics it works well enough that I don't even feel I miss a mouse wheel

Now my latest Dell laptop (1318) came with a Synaptics touchpad :) and from now on when getting a new laptop I'll check their drivers web page first to make sure it uses Synaptics

Dell, why don't you offer Synaptics touchpads in all your models? Clearly I'm not alone in this

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Touchpad: Synaptics vs Alps

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