Keyboard

An elegant chiclet keyboard with backlight is fitted almost perfectly into the silver gray aluminum case. The contrast between the matt black top and the white bezel of the keys pleasantly stands out from the colorless monotony of the usual input devices. The edge length of 15 mm is the standard size for notebook keyboards. Only the flat arrow keys are slightly smaller. The layout is otherwise pleasantly compliant to standards. All function keys are located in their usual place.

The first stroke already delights with an exceptionally high-end impression. The medium pressure point has been perfectly measured and the agreeably long key drop, for a notebook keyboard, is noticed positively. In our opinion, the smooth surface could have used a bit more texture. However, the mechanics supply a clear feedback about every key stroke. Consequently, fast typing speed with low error rates is possible after a short period of getting used to. A clattering or jamming wasn't noticed at any time. This makes an extremely low noise level possible. Only few notebooks, such as the ThinkPad series from Lenovo, can serve with an equal quality.

Touchpad

Our verdict for the Elan Smart Pad in the 700Z3A isn't as positive. The generous area of 68x100 millimeters is separated from the surrounding wrist rest by a flat rim. It successfully prevents the fingers from slipping off the input area unintentionally. The gliding traits of the smooth coating convinces as long as the user's hands are dry - but this unfortunately no longer true for sweaty fingers in the summer. We notice that every input is recognized with a slight delay despite high accuracy of even small gestures. This creates a somewhat spongy feel, which rouses the desire for a USB mouse. Common multi-touch gestures are supported and can be disabled if necessary.

The mouse keys have been integrated in the touchpad's surface, as for example in the Lenovo U300s. The resulting problems can also be observed in the Samsung: Due to the keys' touch-sensitive surface, clicks are sometimes not properly executed. Moreover, it's hard to predict if a stroke has triggered the right or left mouse key when it's pressed in the center area. On the other hand, the mechanical quality is good; the pressure point is firm and well defined, and the noise stays in the background.