New Recoil Series Laptop 15" keys unresponsive

[cookiedude]

guys, I posted recently about some BSOD occurances I had that was promptly fixed with some AMD chipset drivers I was told to install so thanks! But another issue I have had since receiving the laptop is the keys. They are listed as "mechanical" which is new to me. Im not an expert on mechanical keys but I assume they are.... "semi-mechanical??" as they are built in to the laptop. They are really nice and have good bounce etc. however I am coming from a previous Dell laptop that had rather flat and thin keys that were very sensitive, and my desktop which uses a regular large form factor keyboard (non-mechanical) that I'm used to 'tacking' away on. This laptop however, often as I type fast, will result in missing letters or spaces etc. I'm wondering if one of three things is occuring: 1) I'm just not used to these keys yet and I need to 'get gud'. 2) There maybe some kind of driver based solution I'm missing. 3) The keys themselves are faulty.

I'm going to type a sentence as i would normally, three times to show you guys what I'm referring to:

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fx jums over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,
The quick brown fox jums over he lazy dog.
Thequick brown fox jums over the lazy dog.
Th quick brown fox jums over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Things like the space bar needs to be pressed very central and with intent or it wont register. the same with some peripheral keys. What do you guys think?


Thanks for reading!! My specs are as follows:

Chassis & Display	Recoil Series : Screen LED matte 15,6 inches 165 Hz sRGB 100 % QHD (2560 x 1440)
Processor (CPU)	Processor 8 Core AMD Ryzen™ 9 5900HX (3,3 GHz, 4,6 GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)	32 Gb Corsair 2933 MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 16 Gb)
Graphics Card	NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3080 - 16 Gb RAM video GDDR6 - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive	1 Tb SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500 Mo/R, 3300 Mo/W)
Memory Card Reader	Integrated SD Card Reader
AC Adaptor	230 W
Power Cable	1 European power cable 1 m (C13/14)
Battery	Integrated 94 WH Lithium ion battery Recoil Series
Thermal Paste	THERMAL PASTE ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME CONDUCTIVITY
Sound Card	High Definition Audio 2 channel + plug MIC/headphones
Bluetooth & Wireless	GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ WI-FI-AX 1650 M.2 GAMING + BLUETOOTH 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options	1 PORT USB 3.2 (Type C) + 3 PORTS USB 3.2
Operating System	Windows 10 Family 64 bits
Operating System Language	UK - English
Windows Recovery Media	Multi language restore image Windows 10 - USB key

 

[ubuysa]

That looks like a keyborad fault. I would contact PCS.

 

[Vergaro98]

Hi, I have the same device but didn't notice this kind of problems. The first few days I had to get used to it because the keys needs a little more pressure that a non-mechanical keyboard but now it's perfect.

 

[cookiedude]

Thanks for the response. Ok sure. I will send give them a call and see what they say! Will update the thread soon. Thanks!!

That looks like a keyborad fault. I would contact PCS.

 

[cookiedude]

Hi, I have the same device but didn't notice this kind of problems. The first few days I had to get used to it because the keys needs a little more pressure that a non-mechanical keyboard but now it's perfect.

Yeah its hard to tell if its just me or the keys themselves.
Its not like if i intentionally press the 'a' key for exanple 100 times, it wont give me 100 'a's. Its just when actually typing it seems semi u responsive. Like if i could increase its sensitivity....

Anyway, thats for the note. Ill update the thread after Ive called them.


Question seeing as you have the same model. How are you dealing with the power cable? My power brick is quite heavy and the shorter end of the cable is the end that plugs into the laptop. The longer end is the wall plug. It should have been the other way around i.m.o. It means we lose a lot of maneuverability.

 

[Wessexelectricnut]

Hi, I have the same device but didn't notice this kind of problems. The first few days I had to get used to it because the keys needs a little more pressure that a non-mechanical keyboard but now it's perfect.

Not just me then! I must admit, the first few times it took some getting used to, as I don't use my recoil V very much, it still gets some getting used to. I'm not a fan of the keyboard I admit, not because its bad, its because it gets you to think the exact opposite of a laptop keyboard as the key travel is a lot longer. I've used lots of keyboards in my time on laptops, from some that are literally calculator keys (rubber toughbook keyboards anyone) to rather nice mechanical keyboards. This one does my head in.

OTOH, the fact its got per key LEDs is quite nice, great for colour coding keys.

@cookiedude - just wondering, what bench are you getting on yours?

 

[Vergaro98]

Yeah its hard to tell if its just me or the keys themselves.
Its not like if i intentionally press the 'a' key for exanple 100 times, it wont give me 100 'a's. Its just when actually typing it seems semi u responsive. Like if i could increase its sensitivity....

Anyway, thats for the note. Ill update the thread after Ive called them.


Question seeing as you have the same model. How are you dealing with the power cable? My power brick is quite heavy and the shorter end of the cable is the end that plugs into the laptop. The longer end is the wall plug. It should have been the other way around i.m.o. It means we lose a lot of maneuverability.

For the power cable I use an extension cord 😅. But for me that's not a problem because I use the laptop mainly on my desk.

 

[Vergaro98]

Not just me then! I must admit, the first few times it took some getting used to, as I don't use my recoil V very much, it still gets some getting used to. I'm not a fan of the keyboard I admit, not because its bad, its because it gets you to think the exact opposite of a laptop keyboard as the key travel is a lot longer. I've used lots of keyboards in my time on laptops, from some that are literally calculator keys (rubber toughbook keyboards anyone) to rather nice mechanical keyboards. This one does my head in.

OTOH, the fact its got per key LEDs is quite nice, great for colour coding keys.

@cookiedude - just wondering, what bench are you getting on yours?

Before this recoil I had used a XPS 15 and a macbook pro 15 and I have to say that now I can't go back to these keyboards because I've got used to this mechanical keyboard and I really like it. That's not properly like an external mechanical keyboard but for a laptop I think it's really good or at least is good for me 😂.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Before this recoil I had used a XPS 15 and a macbook pro 15 and I have to say that now I can't go back to these keyboards because I've got used to this mechanical keyboard and I really like it. That's not properly like an external mechanical keyboard but for a laptop I think it's really good or at least is good for me 😂.

They make a huge difference on a laptop. I’ve got an old DTR which is a about as good as laptop keyboard get, before they released these mechanical style keyboards.

 

[cookiedude]

For the power cable I use an extension cord 😅. But for me that's not a problem because I use the laptop mainly on my desk.

My issue though is the other end of the cable! From Laptop port to power block its like at most 80cm. just touches the floor if I'm using the laptop in bed. Guess I gotto just hit the gym to make it more easy to handle

 

[cookiedude]

Before this recoil I had used a XPS 15 and a macbook pro 15 and I have to say that now I can't go back to these keyboards because I've got used to this mechanical keyboard and I really like it. That's not properly like an external mechanical keyboard but for a laptop I think it's really good or at least is good for me 😂.

And funily enough I had the XPS 15 also!! I loved that keyboard although there wasnt a numpad. My fingers were sliding all over the place! I'm sure I would have made Mavis Beacon proud.

 

[cookiedude]

Not just me then! I must admit, the first few times it took some getting used to, as I don't use my recoil V very much, it still gets some getting used to. I'm not a fan of the keyboard I admit, not because its bad, its because it gets you to think the exact opposite of a laptop keyboard as the key travel is a lot longer. I've used lots of keyboards in my time on laptops, from some that are literally calculator keys (rubber toughbook keyboards anyone) to rather nice mechanical keyboards. This one does my head in.

OTOH, the fact its got per key LEDs is quite nice, great for colour coding keys.

@cookiedude - just wondering, what bench are you getting on yours?

I think thats it. Its just the key travel. Its a pain in the ass as I dont use it mostly at a desk. I don't get the whole mechanical keyboard thing. It is a nice keyboard and like you said the RGB control is really nice, just that key travel does my head in also. I'm sure its just me and I have to get used to it. Thanks!

And also, I'm quite litterate with PCs, but one thing ive never properly done is bench either this laptop or my tower. Is there anything you'd recommend for that? Afterburner or something?

 

[Wessexelectricnut]

My issue though is the other end of the cable! From Laptop port to power block its like at most 80cm. just touches the floor if I'm using the laptop in bed. Guess I gotto just hit the gym to make it more easy to handle

You'll want my Acer Aspire 9920G for that! That was a monster to carry and gave you a workout while you did it. Great specs for the time, I mean like 7.7KG with battery, even more with a power supply and took up an entire table on a train in first class. Oh, it also had a 20.1in screen.

 

[cookiedude]

You'll want my Acer Aspire 9920G for that! That was a monster to carry and gave you a workout while you did it. Great specs for the time, I mean like 7.7KG with battery, even more with a power supply and took up an entire table on a train in first class. Oh, it also had a 20.1in screen.

Lol jesus christ. I admire the commitment to a mobile entertainment system! I got this one for that reason exactly. I have a custom tower at home that is beastly, and I regularly take the train from France to England to visit family and am just sitting there for 2 hours with civ 6 running at low specs. I had had enough! Gone are the days of me being bored on a train. 🤝🤝🤝

 

[Rairun]

I have a new 15.6" Recoil too, and I really like the rest of the laptop, but the keyboard is by far the greatest disappointment. I also have a PCSpecialist Vortex from 2014, and its keyboard is so much better.

The problem isn't that it is a mechanical keyboard - I use a separate mechanical keyboard on my desktop every day. And the Vortex's keyboard keys have just about as much travel as the Recoil's, except they feel very firm and precise. I think the main problem here becomes apparent if you detach one of the keys: it is held together by a single metal wire on top of the mechanism, which means the keys are very wobbly. If you gently press the corners of a key, you'll notice there's quite a bit of play there; and if you fully press a key from the top corners, it will often not register a keystroke because of the way the key is held together on top of the mechanism.

I also find the keys stiff in a way my standalone mechanical keyboard just isn't. They don't get stuck per se, but they feel a bit unresponsive.

I'm not convinced the keyboard is malfunctioning, it works just "fine". It's just badly designed. If PCSpecialist offered an alternate keyboard that could be fitted into this model, I'd pay for it in a heartbeat. It makes me kind of sad that a laptop that is otherwise so nice (and that I'm going to use for at least half a decade) has such a silly design flaw.

 

[Rairun]

I've just tested the keyboard properly again, and the issue isn't the metal wire across the mechanism, I don't think - the keys are actually held in place by 4 little pins in the middle. Other than the wobbliness of the keys, the main issue is that the keystrokes are extremely unreliable unless you press the bottom half of the key. if you press the top half, you still get the tactile/audio feedback, but it won't actually register the keystroke 80% of the time. I'm not hard to please and can get used to most things, but I don't think I could use this keyboard to actually work for extended periods of time. All the tracking back to fix my "mistakes" really slows me down and ends up hurting my wrists.

 

[cookiedude]

I've just tested the keyboard properly again, and the issue isn't the metal wire across the mechanism, I don't think - the keys are actually held in place by 4 little pins in the middle. Other than the wobbliness of the keys, the main issue is that the keystrokes are extremely unreliable unless you press the bottom half of the key. if you press the top half, you still get the tactile/audio feedback, but it won't actually register the keystroke 80% of the time. I'm not hard to please and can get used to most things, but I don't think I could use this keyboard to actually work for extended periods of time. All the tracking back to fix my "mistakes" really slows me down and ends up hurting my wrists.

Its exactly that and as youve said in your previous comment. Each key has to be hit on the lower half or directly in the center. Bit of a poor design... The back tracking is what kills it for me. Constantly reviewing the text. This comment took me about 3 minutes to write lol.

Is there any kind of mod I can do to increase the sensitivity?

 

[Rairun]

I don't know of any mods. If anyone has any idea what we could do, that would be great. To further illustrate the issue:

I think pressing the bottom half of the key works because of the metal bar across the mechanism. Whatever force is applied there is transmitted to the centre by the bar. But the top half of the key makes no contact with the bar, and so it always pushes the mechanism at an angle.

I've sent a message to PCS and linked them to this thread. I'll let you know what they say.

 

[Rairun]

 

[Rairun]

Still waiting for their reply, but I popped off one of the key switches, and now I know exactly what the problem is. My previous explanation was close:

The metal prong (circled in red) closes a circuit when it's pushed down and results in a keystroke. The small plastic piece protruding from the top (circled in blue) is pushed past a tiny metal flap that produces a distinctive "click". This is why pressing the top half of the key cap produces a click, but the click doesn't translate into a keystroke - these are two independent mechanisms that aren't activated at the same time depending on how you press the key.

Bad design. I am miffed.