Question about I8600 keyboard

Question

While typing, the area of keyboard with keys q,w,e,a,s,d,z,x,c, sounds noisy, as if keyboard was not properlyseated (clunky). All the other keys of the keyboard have a more solid feel to them. I find this sound and feelannoying. Is this perhaps just a hollow sound as the keys I am describing are located directly above PC Card slot where keyboard does not have enough support? I am a heavy typist. Would some of you I8600 owners please try this on your notebooks and let me know if this is isolated case or if this is normal? Merry Christmas to all.Ratz

AtlantaJOE · Answer

Now that you mention it, it does seem as though that part of the keyboard has less support underneath. However, the difference in the amount of noise is insignificant to me.

RP-L2 · Answer

This has been an issue with older 8500 systems. I thought Dell already addressed this issue with the 8600 since both the 8600 and 8500 are almost identical. I think the solution for this problem with the 8500 was to replace both palmrest and keyboard since Dell has come up with a new design for both. Maybe it could work for the 8600.

Papa Smurf · Answer

to ratz:

i am a recent new owner of i8600 (refer below for my spec)

the keyboard is fine for me... although for my laptop, it's the middle-right region of the keyboard (around 7 8 9 keys) that seem to depress more when pressed. but i don't notice this at all when doing heavy-duty typing.

i don't know about others, but the keyboard works fine for me... i don't know that the fuss is all about, but then again, this is my first laptop

season's greetings to everyone.

??-----Inspiron 8600-----??

Intel Pentium-M 1.6Ghz
1Gb RAM
60Gb 7200rpm HDD
ATI Radeon 9600 PRO TURBO (whatever that means)
Win XP Home (soon to be Pro)
Dell TrueMobile 1300 WLAN
etc etc etc

xfile · Answer

No.

I have stated the same situation for my new I8600.

Two things bother me the most - the keyboard and screen. If it's an old problem, Dell really disappointed me.

As a consultant, I know my recommendiations to Dell from now on.

HMKrieps · Answer

I don't really know if they changed the keyboard or palm rests, I compared an older i8500 with my newer i8600: they added foam stripes under the right side of the keyboard, so it doesn't rattle anymore. However it still flexes on some models on the left side (like on my i8600, a friend's i8600 is fine) so I added some foam stripes under the left side of the keyboard and now it is fine.

Ratz · Answer

HMKrieps, could you please describe the procedure for adding foam strips in some detail, as this sounds like a
solution to my notebook's problem. I do not know how to lift a keyboard and I do not want to break anything, but
if it is a simple job, I would like to give it a go. Can you point me to some guide how to lift a keyboard???
Thank you
Ratz

Ratz · Answer

It's OK I found the guide. Thanks

xfile · Answer

Hi: Where can I find the guide? I wish to give it a try also. Thanks in advance.

RP-L2 · Answer

xfile, Here's the guide that you need

xfile · Answer

Thanks, looks scary and I will try it at later time.

Ratz · Answer

Thanks HMKrieps for your solution. I now have a happy keyboard. Ratz

bksf · Answer

Hey folks, thanks for the good advice. A Dell tech actually echoed the same solution, but I have one more question. What sort of strips did you use, and where did you get them? The Dell tech said to be careful that the strips were thermal-something or other or high temperature... but there is virtually no place around here with anything like that. Seems like a big deal since the left side of the keyboard covers the CPU and the circulation channels for the CPU. Those of you that fixed their flex problem with extra strips, could you please post where you got them, and any other advice in general?

Thanks much-

bk

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