M15x (i7) - Keyboard flex issues

I read through all the different threads on the forums (a total of 1000+) pages and finally took the plunge. My M15x arrived 5 days ago and so far I've not had any issues. I'm aware of the throttling problem as well but it's probably not going to give me any issues in the next 6-8 months (fingers crossed). The single thing that irritates me about the M15x is the keyboard flex. I've read that many users on other threads have the flex. Here is a short video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk48WXtSllI

My question to all of you is, what have you guys done about it? Has anyone ordered replacement keyboards? Does that solve the problem?

 

watched that video and tryed it mione doesnt do that at all, i think the throttle issue is way overblown.

 

And you'd be foolish to think so. When you start experiencing throttling in some new AAA quad core title, don't come crying on these forums.

 

haha lol damn.. I just called about this as well.. after troubleshooting my touchpad and mentioning this they wanna send me a new system..
clearly this problem will continue :S

I stuck some cardboard or cut plastic the thickness of a credit card and it fixed it pretty good. I dunno what else to say.

Hows ur touchpad? Does it run smooth?

Do you have msn or aim btw? Could u pm me? Thx

 

I wouldn’t be crying, i duplicated your finding, and also tested all my games you name the game that can make it happen i own it! Only in the occt test did i see this throttling happen. Not even running CPU and gpu folding made it happen. No games have made it happen either even crysis which isn’t a very well made game anyway. I agree it needs to be addressed and I’m sure it will be. And when the time come that a bunch of games cause it to happen it will be time for a new laptop anyway. I understand the concern, I’ve been a computer technician for 15 years and i think this is a minor fixable issue at best. sorry to go off topic.

 

I appreciate everyone's input. It appears like the keyboard flex is a frequent but not very common issue. I think I would be calling alienware CS and see if they are sending a replacement keyboard or not.

On a side note

@DeeX
I use the windows default drivers for the touchpad and it works. I wouldn't say that it is flawless but it's bearable. Most of the time, I would be using my mouse anyway. The mouse will remain shaky (even after the drivers are fixed) due to the fact that the surface is textured and your fingers shake in b/w the troughs and crests

 

OK, I just got off the phone with a dell CSR. At first he said that he was not aware of any issues with the keyboard. I pointed him to the youtube video and he put me on hold for 10 minutes (I guess he was showing it to someone else)

Then he says that the flex is not a defect but rather the keyboard was designed that way. I was like TOTALLY BS! Well anyway, I told him about notebookreview forum posts and also about the comment on the youtube video.

Then he said that he is going to send a replacement keyboard tomorrow to the tech. The tech should be at my place on friday. I will keep you guys updated.

Anyone else with the same issue should also come out and talk to dell about it.

 

infrequent would be a more accurate description

my build and fit is exceptional and no keyboard flex at all

 

Watch the tech guy closely make sure he knows what he's doing they contract out this work to alot of small computer places. My company does these repairs from time to time and i make sure i'm the one that goes out to do them. Sometime they send out some real green guys.

 

All the more reasons to believe that it this a Quality control issue. Wonder how many people in the "users lounge" thread actually had the issue and got it fixed.

 

what part of the word "infrequent" was unclear?
Unlike you, I read all the pages in the user lounge to know that your flex issue is the exception.

 

I'm sorry if I meant frequent but I do remember some posts earlier in the threads which mention a slight keyboard flex. Anyway if my case is an exception, then hopefully the replacement keyboard will fix the issue. If not, then I'll send my M15x back and ask for a complete replacement.

 

I have the same issue, and it's like the right part of the space bar is abit more elevated than the left part, and thus i have some flex :< gonna get me a replacement keyboard, hope it fixes it!

 

The tech just came to my place, opened up 4 screws below the battery, removed the top touch sensitive panel, removed the old keyboard and replaced with a new one. A total of less than 3 minutes of work.

I did notice that the old keyboard had a slight bend on the lower right corner, right where the flex was. Anyway, I'm glad to say that the flex is almost completely gone now with the new replacement.

Here is a before and after video for everyone to compare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VygDCyMOC7U

(just uploaded it, might take some time to process)

 

Well that's just good news, hope it goes the same way for me ;>

 

I've got the same issue and I just received mine on the 16th......so I would say its not an uncommon issue

 

pick up the phone and ask for a replacement.

Just observed another thing, I've been reading that some people noted the right side of spacebar slightly elevated than the left side. If you look closely, the entire center portion of the keyboard is slightly elevated than the edges (like a gentle convex curve). I think it is the way it was designed.

 

I had a pretty bad keyboard flex issue where the left bottom corner actually rattled when keys pushed. The rep asked me to take it apart to check for issues before they sent a tech I guess. I've never seen laptop keyboards unattached, but it sits on a super thin metal sheet that bends/flexes insanely easy. They keyboard will bend on it's own weight if held at one end. Saw a slight bow to it and just bent it back. Lied to the rep and said it fixed itself rather than have them send out a tech to put in a new keyboard. Solid as a rock now.

 

Mine has bit of flex, have to push fairly hard to notice it, so I'm guessing mine didnt come broke .

 

I've thought about doing that, but I've been hesitant because it looks like quite a few components need to be removed to get to the keyboard. Was it an easy process?

 

pretty easy to take keyboard off. Just take off the 4 screws behind the battery, than use your finger to pop open the top piece of the power botton and touch stuff. under that is 3 more screws and thats it. disconnect any cables you wish. sorry i'm not very good at describing technical stuff.

 

Yeah... the sheet is very thin... but I always assumed that the body of the M15x is too tough to allow for any flex of internal components. Anyway, I got a replacement and it works fine.

Replacing is a fairly easy task. Remove the 4 screws behind the battery and then pull the touch panel plastic off, you will see another 3 sets of screws over there, remove them and the keyboard can be pulled out. Very simple. Keep in mind that the keyboard is attached to the MOBO through a connector with a very thin cable (I don't know the technical term for them)

 

There are 4 screws under the battery, but you only need to take off 2. Forget which ones so do em all. He also had me take off the back panel, but I'm pretty sure you don't need to. Then pop off the touch-sensitive panel from the top. It pivots around the bottom.

 

Thanks for the help! It'll be nice to get rid of that flex...

 

Just pulled the keyboard off, messed with it a bit, and the flex disappeared. Thanks again guys!

 

Sometimes a little fiddling around with your laptop fixes things. lol

 

Haha no doubt!