Why the hell companies provide a number pad in 15.6" or 16" laptop?

[Aroan Smith]

When I try to type on those keyboard, it almost feels like I'm using only 12" of the screen. It feels very disoriented. 

Companies can easily you the space for some better quality speakers. 

[Levent]

How the hell does the keyboard make you feel like you are using a smaller screen? I would consider 15.6" the borderline minimum size for a device with numpad and I would also much rather have a numpad on my work computer than "better speakers".

[Mnky313]

9 minutes ago, Aroan Smith said:

When I try to type on those keyboard, it almost feels like I'm using only 12" of the screen. It feels very disoriented. 

Companies can easily you the space for some better quality speakers. 

Idk, I've never had an issue with 15.6" laptops that have numpads (I also haven't had a thin bezel 15.6" machine, the last one I had was 4+ years ago.). But I would 100% take a numpad over better speakers, I almost never use speakers.

It's all down to preference, they probably determined more people wanted a numpad or more likely it was cheaper to not invest time and money into designing the laptop to fit better speakers and they already had a keyboard with a numpad ready to go.

[KGGaming]

11 minutes ago, Aroan Smith said:

When I try to type on those keyboard, it almost feels like I'm using only 12" of the screen. It feels very disoriented. 

Companies can easily you the space for some better quality speakers. 

Also the number pad is extremely usefule depending on the work you are doing, for example coding. But it really depends on how you type, if you type like me where you wrists are terrible end up using the middle of your screen. And who needs speakers with a good pair of headphones

 

[manikyath]

because some of us need to type a lot of number values, and then a numpad is an absolute must.

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

I reject the premise. Quality speakers vs numpad is a false choice. These are not mutually exclusive. The presence of one does not preclude the other, and the absence of one does not facilitate the other.

[FliP0x]

It depends what you need and what the laptops target audience is.

 

If you want a laptop with good speakers, there is a market for that.

If you want a laptop with a good keyboard (with or without numpad), there definitely is a market for that.

If you want a complete package, there are such laptops too.

 

Personally, my old laptop did not have a numpad so I ended up using it with an external keyboard for gaming. 

[Moonzy]

I honestly would take a laptop with numpad over one without

 

Y'all probably never had to deal with lots of numbers before, ay?

[lafrente]

My computer's screen was 18" so I bought a cheap large keyboard. Now my screen feels much bigger.

[Commodus]

There should be a selection of laptops both with and without numpads, but I'll agree that they're unnecessary for most users.

 

Yes, coders, accountants and people in some other fields can benefit from a numpad... but why make everyone else deal with them on laptops that are clearly aimed at mainstream users? Most people do need a comfortable keyboard; they don't need to churn through a programming kit or spend all day in a number-heavy spreadsheet.

 

If it were up to me, I'd include numpads mainly in work-first laptops, while general-purpose machines would have centred, pad-free keyboards.

[rikitikitavi]

I wish ortholinear keyboards would go mainstream, or at least an option with laptops.

Best of all worlds: small footprint and functionality - the numpad right under your fingertips (on the home row).

 

Edit: very peculiar experience you have there btw

[Aroan Smith]

On 3/31/2022 at 6:03 PM, Hairless Monkey Boy said:

I reject the premise. Quality speakers vs numpad is a false choice. These are not mutually exclusive. The presence of one does not preclude the other, and the absence of one does not facilitate the other.

You're right. But I find numpad very irritating. Right now, I have laptop placed on my thighs and my eyes are centered on the screen but to counter balance the numpad I need to shift my hand left side. It feels very disoriented. 

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

1 hour ago, Aroan Smith said:

You're right. But I find numpad very irritating. Right now, I have laptop placed on my thighs and my eyes are centered on the screen but to counter balance the numpad I need to shift my hand left side. It feels very disoriented. 

Yeah that's fair. Everyone has preferences. Numpads just get in the way for some people, but other people need them.

 

On the bright side, your next laptop won't have a one!