why are hp trackpads on the left side of the computer?

[kipito]

i have a dv5000 (made in 2006). the trackpad is centered, equal distance from the left and right sides of the computer. all older models i have found had their trackpads centered.

i was thinking of a new laptop. but on your website, all the models i'm interested in have the trackpad on the left side. i don't mean slightly to the left - one edge of the trackpad lines up precisely with the center, and 100% of the trackpad is to the left of that edge. at bestbuy, it was very awkward for me to reach and use the new hp trackpads, because i am right handed (fun fact: the majority of humans are right handed). to be specific: i type with my right fingers on the right side of the keyboard, so if i want to push the "enter" or "delete" button, i use my right hand, never my left hand; if i plug in a mouse, i place that mouse on the right side of the computer, never on the left side.

so a few questions -

1. are you primarily marketing your laptops toward left-handers?

2. with the new laptops, how long will my right wrist last before i develop carpal tunnel?

3. seriously, can i special order a laptop with the trackpad on the right side?

[Huffer]

If the trackpad is to the left it leaves more room to put your right hand on the palmrest. Seriously, you are the first person I have ever known to complain of this. I think the answer to all your questions is no except #2 and you will have to explain to me how the location of the trackpad contributes to carpal tunnel. I also think the models that have the trackpad offset are 17" screen models where the right part of the keyboard is the numerical keypad so the trackpad is actually centered on the true keyboard part.

[kipito]

if i'm the first person to complain, maybe i'm just crazy. who knows, but using that off-center trackpad is very awkward for me. it takes me longer to reach the things i need, and my wrist felt weird after just fifteen minutes. 

i was half kidding with question #2. but seriously, i see that the heel of my hand is on the "palmrest" (otherwise known as the computer). what i mean is i have to keep my right wrist bent to reach the trackpad. but long-term tension and bending of the wrist actually does cause carpal tunnel. the prescribed way to prevent repetitive stress injury is to "Keep your wrists straight and elbows in a 90 degree angle" (http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/ergonomics/qt/preventingcts.htm). is this even possible for a right-handed person with a new hp laptop? that's my serious question, and i think the answer is no. 

i agree that the offset trackpads are from 15.6" or 17" models, and it does seem they want to position it under the spacebar (which on the DV6Z is also off-center to the left, even subtracting the number pad).

the 12" or 13.3" ultraportables like the DV2Z have the trackpad centered, where it should be. but there is no CD/DVD drive on many of them. so maybe i will endure a small screen and an external drive. or more likely, i will get an offset trackpad and carry a mouse around everywhere.

i think you led me to a revised question for HP: why would a user want the trackpad to be centered under the spacebar?

on a desktop computer, do YOU keep the mouse centered under your "true keyboard" part? i'm in a room with 25 people using desktops right now, and not a single person has the mouse under the spacebar.

[Huffer]

I would like to imagine that they did a massive amount of ergonomic research and focus groups and after exhaustive analysis determined the precise, optimum placement of the trackpad. Yeah, right. They winged it.

[evanspatti]

I think the complaint is valid.  My husband is looking for a new laptop and in the 17" displays, the annoying numeric keypad addition has caused you guys to move the track pad off center.   Please tell me that HP intends to make 17" laptops without the numeric keypad - please!  The off centered placement makes the screen out of symmetry and is distracting.  It also makes it awkward if you are typing with the laptop on your lap instead of on a table.

[kipito]

hp finally made a new laptop i like, with the trackpad centered. the g62 series. it has a 15" monitor, not ideal but big enough. i bought it last month, it is beautiful and symmetrical, and i endorse it enthusiastically.

there are still no 17" with a trackpad in the center. most people seem to tolerate the asymmetrical trackpads. they are all the rage for all major manufacturers. that won't change until people start to complain about wrist pain.

and i agree about the numeric keypad, have no use for a bunch of numbers on the right side, either. waste of space. i'm buying a computer, not an adding machine (if i were an accountant, i might love the extra numbers, who knows).

[Kalt]

Seriously?  Complaining about the number pad is useless.  The size of the screen isn't going to change...so if the number pad wasn't there it'd just be a waste of space.

[kipito]

you misunderstand. that point was the numeric keypad makes the "real" keyboard off-center, and if the keyboard is off-center, hp puts the trackpad off-center, too (which makes my wrist hurt, maybe you don't care).

wasted space? by that logic, why not add a second row of function keys (F13-F24) at the top of the keyboard? there's plenty of wasted space there, right? well, they don't do that because nobody wants to use those keys.

notice that apple's macbooks (http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/news/index.cfm?newsid=24227 ) keep it all centered on a 17", and have no numeric keypad. gasp. this means they can put higher-quality speakers on the sides, and they also space out the keys a little - instead of crowding in everything and the kitchen sink. never heard a macbook user complain about the lack of extra number keys.

hp sells all sorts of hardware add-ons (webcam, blu-ray, old-school modem, etc.). if somebody wants extra numbers, fine, that should be your option. also, there are dozens of models! why not sell at least ONE without a numberic keypad?

i don't use them. and i'd be happy to "waste" that space by keeping the spacebar and typewriter keyboard in the center of the computer, so i can actually type without feeling crooked and strained.

as mentioned, for now, i bought a hp g62 15" with no numeric keypad and a centered trackpad. i'm satisfied. but until hp changes this, whenever i need to buy a 17", i will save up for a macbook.

[evanspatti]

You are right, Kipito, my point was the 10 key numeric keypad makes the "real" keyboard off-center, and if the keyboard is off-center, the trackpad off-center.  Having it off center is NOT ERGONOMIC.  Humans are symmetrical therefore using an asymmetrical laptop keyboad is NOT ERGONOMIC.  Try putting an off centered keyboard model on your lap and trying to type text - you have to hang it off the right side of your lap if you want to type normally - that's uncomfortable.  I predict that over time, this will change back.  What a useless addition of little used hardware.  Only accountants and engineers would use this, if at all - and even they use calculators!   Check out Sager's 18" NP1821 for gamers - it has a 10 key numeric keypad but the "real" part of the keyboard is centered on the monitor.  That's the right way to do it.

[evanspatti]

In my last post I meant Sager NP8120, not NP1821.....