I personally have the MSi GT80 Titan SLI-253. Same configuration as yours except mine has the SLI nVidia GTX980M as opposed to your 970M in SLI. I like it, it's quite powerful.
Any idea, even in the most rough sense, of when the refresh will come? This laptop is amazing except the non-upgradeable cpu and the 1920 screen. Hoping and praying the refresh is sometime early next year with a couple of improvements...
Our configuration is roughly $4k due to having four 512 GB M.2 drives. This alone is well over $1k, so the GT80 does start at much lower prices.
A palm rest as wide as the notebook itself is indeed included and it helps a lot in terms of comfort!
A replaceable Cherry keyboard would have very likely increased thickness even further. For the target audience, MSI has told us Brown keys are in better demand. This may change in the future.
I'm not impressed with the ergonomics of this laptop. Two things:
1) Keyboard should be closer to the screen (like other laptops) - therefore allowing for a wrist rest which would help with touch typing - especially important considering this laptop is all about that unique mechanical keyboard!
2) By doing Point #1 above, then this will allow for a touchpad to be positioned in the normal position underneath the keyboard, and therefore people have the option to use either their left or right hand for the touchpad, whereas at the moment it's inconveniently located on the far right of the keyboard. This would also allow more allowable width for the keyboard which would allow the space for a proper Numpad - again something that should be the focus of this laptop considering it's unique mechanical keyboard.
Crazy that they've focussed so much on a unique premium mechanical keyboard but neglected an ergonomic layout of that keyboard and it's associated track pad - absurd!
i mean it has good hardware; Broadwell is really showing its potential, 970M SLI cards are more than enough to handle most games (given that they support it with their SLI profiles) and the upgrade path MSI is providing with the 2 gen graphic card upgrade and by god that keyboard is the best thing i've ever seen on a laptop. Hmmm they should probably also offer it with MX Blues and Reds to suit more people maybe?
honestly now that i look at this config of the laptop, i, in my opinion, think its actually kind of a worthwhile DTR to get. Obviously the price is still a massive barrier but for those who have the money it, hell go for it. Also a good workout machine if you decide to lug it around :p
it's this my suggestion design for Keyboard? last 2 years i already post this idea. yeah. MSI u are the 2nd Manufacture design keyboard in this position to allow us avoid from hot pan palm rest. but the thickness do not more than our normal keyboard is very important.
Larger than life. Where else can you find an 18.4-inch notebook with integrated mechanical Cherry keys? We revisit the GT80 with upgraded Broadwell specifications.