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RANT: Inspiron 8600 keyboard is horrendous! - Page 3

post #41 of 50
2/12/05 at 11:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
dell only sells laptops so cheap because they use cheaper products and labor. YOu can't expect a perfect laptop from dell t.
Kakarot,

I understand and acknowledge your point, but there is a flaw in your logic; the new keyboard I received was made by Dell as well and it works perfectly. I have decided that the new keyboard has at least 300% (guesstimate) more of a solid feel than the old keyboard. I'm going to keep the old one around in case of emergencies.

Quote:
and besides, the only reason I got a dell was because of my budge
Ditto. You wouldn't believe me if I told you how much I got my 8600 fully loaded for. You really wouldn't believe me. I'm not bitching about the computer itself, in as much as the keyboard.

Besides, I don't think "build quality" is the reason why the older keyboard sucks.
Dell's cheaper build quality is noticeable in its arguably dull grey and blue plastic (?) case. When my computer is out of its warranty, I'm going to take it apart and paint it black.
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post #42 of 50
2/15/05 at 5:43pm
I also love the i8600 but hate the keyboard.

Not the flex so much as the layout. And I'm always jambing my fingers under the opposing keys. But the worst feature of all is the rotten layout.

Compaq laptops have great keyboards, and useful layouts. HP is rotten basically, but has better feeling keys.

I realize that there are trade offs to make everything fit, but the key layout appears to have been done with no afterthought.

What I'd like? The Insert, home, pg up, pg dn, delete & end keys on the right side of the keyboard where the useless CD Rom keys are.

I have one of the newer keyboards and there is still too much bounce.

The keyboard is the ONLY weakness in Dell's design.
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post #43 of 50
2/16/05 at 1:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kakarot
dell only sells laptops so cheap because they use cheaper products and labor. YOu can't expect a perfect laptop from dell and besides, the only reason I got a dell was because of my budget.
Cheap, yes, but that doesn't mean of bad quality. The I8600 keyboard is half height compared to most other laptop keyboards, so it will obviously be more difficult to type in.

Dell laptops are durable, I haven't seen a single one to just suddenly die. Compaq laptops are junk, they usually fail for no reason. The same with most Sonys.
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post #44 of 50
2/19/05 at 7:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mich43L
Umm..I think I prefer the thanking

Like I mentioned in the refering thread, even if you're stuck with the bad keyboard, flexing it in a specific way will stabilize it (without braking it).
So the model number was the same as the old keyboard? Did you buy your second keyboard from Dell?
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post #45 of 50
2/19/05 at 8:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpitt916
So the model number was the same as the old keyboard? Did you buy your second keyboard from Dell?
In short yes (both are listed under the number 1M722) but look at the 5th post in this thread:
http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=63810

Where I discovered that my second system that came with the good keyboard had a different part number listed of the keyboard - 4M394. I need someone to order that part from dell, as a replament or brand new, to verify that this is the part number for the good keyboard.
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post #46 of 50
8/31/05 at 6:04am
Sorry for the late update to this thread, but I have a bit of new info.

I just received an 8500/8600/D800/etc. type keyboard that I'd ordered on ebay. It is the "good type" as photographed by mich43L. The part number, though, was not 4M394, but rather G1272.

I agree, this is FAR better than the "bad type". I don't think it flexes less, but then I had put a bunch of foam tape under my old keyboard. It definitely "pricks" MUCH less. The keys are a slightly different shape, with slightly smaller tops and wider "skirts".

Searching ebay for that part number will probably find a few of these. I got mine for $25. Hope this helps someone else!
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post #47 of 50
8/31/05 at 8:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sullivan
I just received an 8500/8600/D800/etc. type keyboard that I'd ordered on ebay. It is the "good type" as photographed by mich43L. The part number, though, was not 4M394, but rather G1272.
That's the one with the trackstick, correct? That part number is often sold and interchangable with other compatible part numbers, including the flexor 1M745. So when buying from ebay, I suggest asking the seller to make sure the part number is G1272.
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post #48 of 50
9/4/05 at 3:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mich43L
That's the one with the trackstick, correct? That part number is often sold and interchangable with other compatible part numbers, including the flexor 1M745. So when buying from ebay, I suggest asking the seller to make sure the part number is G1272.
Yes, it's the one with the trackstick.

The label on the back does not have a dell part number on it, so it may be tough for the seller to determine that it's really a G1272. The label does say "Model A025", and I think yours says "A234", so that may be a distinguishing point.

I'm going to correct something I said above: "I don't think it flexes less." But that's because I'd done the "tape mod." Holding the keyboard horizontal by one end -- by two fingers around the "caps lock" key -- and letting the other end droop, I can clearly see that the new one droops less than the old one.

I think a lot of sellers are not aware of these distinctions (type of "back", pointing stick or not), or just don't care, and therefore list incorrect or misleading info. The one I bought from was using a picture of a stick-less keyboard... *shrug*
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post #49 of 50
11/10/05 at 8:40pm
Thread Starter 
Sorry to dig up this thread, but my new keyboard "died" on me in class today.

I had my softcover textbook on it and when I moved the textbook up, the pages caught the M & N on the board and broke off the keys completely (all the way to the bottom!)

I've got my old flexing/pricking keyboard from Dell, but I need to order another one. ;(
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post #50 of 50
11/17/05 at 6:52pm
Thread Starter 
***********UPDATE*************

Quote:
The label does say "Model A025",
I got this exact model and it is the BEST Dell Inspiron 8600c keyboard, hands down so far.

I've owned the really shitty model, the "decent" model, and now this one.
It has the blue trackstick on it which sucks, but the keyboard feels soooooooooo much more solid than before.

Yay!
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