[ale] OT Asus laptop stinkin' key legends coming off the stinkin' keys

[Ron Frazier (ALE)]

Hi all,

This is off topic, but some of you might have had a similar experience.  
I've had this Asus laptop that I'm typing on for 8-9 months.  I'm pretty 
active on a few mailing lists such as this one and a couple of others.  
I type a lot, and I type fast and aggressively.  It's hard to type fast 
without being aggressive.  I have some fingernails, but they are minimal 
in length.  I'm having a problem where the painted on legends on the 
keyboard keycaps are coming off.  E, S, C, N, and the down arrow are 
currently gone or leaving.  If the trend continues for a while, I'll 
have a keyboard that I cannot see, and, while I can touch type, I don't 
have all the special keys and symbols memorized.  Memorized or not, it's 
nice to have labeled keys.  I had bought the 2 yr extended warranty from 
Best Buy.  I went in and discovered that the warranty doesn't cover 
broken screens (was wondering just in case something happened) and it 
doesn't cover "cosmetic" damage.  The guy said the keys would still work 
even if I couldn't see them.  I tried the threatening to never shop 
there again trick.  He offered to send the computer in, but said they 
might charge me for repairs if nothing was "wrong" with it.  I offered 
to pound it with a hammer, but he said that wouldn't be covered.  Giving 
him the benefit of the doubt, his hands are probably totally tied in the 
matter.  He suggested I contact Asus.  I did contact Asus, and was 
basically told the same thing.  So, I could send the computer in, pay 
one way shipping and be without it for 5 weeks, and they MIGHT fix it.  
If they concluded I had abused it or that it's not a factory defect, 
they would not only charge me for the repair, but also charge me return 
shipping.

It seemed that I had either bad choice A or bad choice B.  In the end, I 
decided to buy some keyboard stickers from an online vendor and just 
stick them on.  This particular vendor seems to have a large selection 
of stickers and appears to be good quality.  They also have things like 
stickers for special computer program applications, or other languages.  
I don't have the product yet, but we'll see how it turns out.  There are 
other similar vendors.  I still don't feel that I should have to solve 
this particular problem after owning the machine for 9 months.

http://www.4keyboard.com/

As a side note, the specs for the computer say the "chicklet" style keys 
make it easy to type.  I don't think so.  The best keyboard I've ever 
typed on was an electric IBM Selectric typewriter I used in typing class 
in high school around 1982.  They only had one, the rest were manual 
Royal typewriters if I recall.  I was much happier when I got to use the 
IBM.  The keys conformed to your finger, rather than being flat, had a 
reasonable amount of travel, and great tactile response.  I haven't felt 
anything nearly as good since.  The old IBM PC keyboards would be a 
close second place, and the keyboard I had in my old IBM Thinkpad 
computer would probably be third place.  I'm not a blazing fast typist 
like some professional secretaries, but I could do 60 - 70 wpm on a good 
day.  I don't miss typewriters, but I do miss that keyboard.

The laptop keys, non conforming, non tactile, shallow travel, make my 
fingers hurt after a while.  By the way, all the new ultrabook style 
computers have chicklet style keys as far as I know.

Sincerely,

Ron


-- 

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new messages very quickly.)

Ron Frazier

770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
linuxdude AT c3energy.com