Bring Back Physical 3-Buttons Below Touchpad / Trackpad

Question

Dell:

Ironically, despite naming the model the "Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 7780", there is no engineering thought to ensuring precise use.

Specifically, I am on the 3rd year of ownership of a "7760" model with a dedicated 3-button set-up below the touchpad / trackpad.

Since then, virtually all manufacturers have gone to the "Click-pad" set-up; whereby the bottom of the touchpad is depressed to replicate a separate and dedicated 3-button set-up.

The problem: for sensitive and "precise" mouse control and movement, pressing on the lower perimeter of the touchpad/trackpad causes the index-finger that controls the mouse cursor to move -- because the flat plane of the touchpad/trackpad panel is indented at the bottom when pressing on the bottom to activate a mouse 'click.'

Please bring back separate and dedicated 3-buttons for mouse 'clicks' that leave the index-finger free from movement as the 7760 last did.

The last -- and only -- notebook computer in the USA that has physical 'click' buttons below the touchpad/trackpad is the "HP ZBook Fury 16 - G10."

I have been exclusively using Dell notebooks since 1999 -- over 25 years!

I will leave Dell for HP if there no longer are any notebook models that have separate 2/3-buttons below the touchpad/trackpad.

The Dell XPS series have haptic touchpads/trackpads that merely require a 'tap' that does not alter the angle of the touchpad/trackpad as a 'click pad.' However, there are no borders to the flush haptic touchpad leading to confusion and disorientation by the users as to where their haptic touchpad confines / limits / borders are?

Bad substitute for 'old school' dedicated 2/3-button 'clicks' that have been tried-and-true technology since the inception of Windows 95.

Chino de Oro · Answer

You may also want to send your request through this feedback form portal  https://www.delldesignsystem.com/contact/feedback/

heikkuri · Answer

@Chino de Oro Thanks. I did send a feedback. I also miss the good old arrow key layout. These small up and down keys are stupid. Dell Precision 7540, 7550 had a good keyboards. These had also separate page up and page down keys.

24thAlchemist · Answer

... yeah, I've used M4800, 7750 and now 7780--really missing the three mouse buttons on the 7780.

Any ideas for replacing the mousepad on the 7780 to get the three buttons? I looked quickly at similar, older models, and it doesn't look like the pad and buttons from the older models will fit in the space of the 7780 mousepad.

schmalec · Answer

I am having this issue as well on my Precision 7780. It makes it impossible to navigate any 3D program without a dedicated mouse (usually when I'm traveling or forgot a mouse doing a simple task). Looks like none of the new Pro Max lineup has the option for a 3-button feature on the track pads either. Has anyone come up with a solution for this? Does the 7760 3-button track pad fit the 7780 models?

tomdee · Answer

I have this issue as well. Unfortunately for Dell, I purchased an HP Fury G11 WITH separate mouse buttons, which I would have preferred to buy a Dell again as I have for the last 16 years, but their Short Sightedness will cost them many customers. I paid $4700 for the HP which could have been spent at Dell.

I also called Dell sales a week or more ago, and the woman could barely understand English, and I asked for someone in the USA that did understand English, and she said someone would call me back, but never did, so today I bought the HP Fury.

Dell, you better get your <Prohibited word or character substitution used. See the Forum Code of Conduct. DELL-Admin> together or you will lose more and more customers.

Cheers

Hawk73ku · Answer

Totally agree for the exact reasons you describe!  The virtual buttons are simply frustrating for those same reasons.  I end up buying a wireless mouse just to get those physical buttons.  The Dell laptops with physical buttons were wonderful but these buttonless laptops are horrible.

tomdee · Answer

Well Dell, you lost a sale and a future customer to HP. I bought a new HP Fury G11 WITH the physical mouse buttons and I love it. It was an almost $6000.00 I got for $2800.00

It was worth every penny!

Maybe Dell will start making what customers want, instead of what they THINK we want?

If you want one at a great price like I got, call...

Joshua Saporta
Small and Medium Business
Account Management
<To protect you, your private information was removed from public view. All private data was saved to your private Case. DELL-Admin>

Cheers!

Hawk73ku · Answer

Same here.  I loved the physical button Dells but they abandoned me.  Now I just purchased the HP ZBook Fury G10 16' and hope my experience is as enjoyable as you describe.

user_4f9aaa · Answer

Why all companies removed physical buttons... :( that's a misunderstanding

AirbusA318 · Answer

@Chino de Oro​ This link for feedback does not work for customers who are consumers; it appears strictly for enterprise users (businesses / 'organizations').

AirbusA318 · Answer

@24thAlchemist​ The only option now is the 'haptic' touchpad made by Sensel.  That is on the XPS 16 and 7680 models.  However, the XPS 16 was criticized for lacking any physical borders / perimeters for their touchpad -- which they brought back in a refresh dubbed the 'pro max plus' 16'. Nonetheless, physical buttons are the most precise -- and the elimination of them is purely a cost-savings / maximize manufacturing efficiencies decision.  Just as cars now have dispensed with knobs and dials in favor of push-buttons and touchscreens. In 1995 I bought my first notebook computer when Windows95 was released.  It was made by Japan's Fujitsu -- and was the epitome of engineering excellence as it had a thumb-wheel on the side / edge of the computer for volume.  Componentry was modular -- the floppy drive and CD-ROM drives could be detached from the computer.  Ethernet card and hard drive, along with memory modules were user accessible.  Finally, so too was the battery. All gone for the sake of maximization of profits -- at the expense of quality products.

AirbusA318 · Answer

@schmalec​ Short answer -- no.  Worst still, it is a 'clickpad' which causes the touch surface to move when clicking where a traditional left/right mouse button used to be placed. Only the HP ZBook Fury 16 continues to have physical mouse buttons -- https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-zbook-fury-g1i-16-inch-mobile-workstation-pc-wolf-pro-security-edition-p-c3fk4ua-aba-1?jumpid=ma_back-to-business-sale_product-tile_mobileworkstations_9_c3fk4ua_hp-zbook-fury-g1i-16

AirbusA318 · Answer

@user_4f9aaa​ Capitalism: maximize profits for short-term gains.

sarmata · Answer

Please bring back the 3 physical buttons below the touchpad. I am willing to pay extra for this option. I really don't want to switch to HP just because it has those button. 3rd fan for SSDs that HP ZBook Fury G1i utilizes is a very nice touch and I would wish Dell could borrow it. Also, please provide better speakers, looks like they have not really changed since Precision 7510. I would also be happy to pay extra for better sound.

Precision Mobile Workstations

Bring Back Physical 3-Buttons Below Touchpad / Trackpad

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