Replacing keyboard on ASUS N73JN

Hi,

Just bought an ASUS N73JN and am happy with it...except for the keyboard. It is probably the worst keyboard I've ever used on a laptop.

So, I'd like to see if I can replace it with a better keyboard. I tried to call ASUS and the ASUS estore with no luck. The laptop is very new, so they tell me they have no info on it.

Does anyone know if there are any keyboards that are compatible with the ASUS N73JN? I'm hoping someone has already done the leg work to find this out.

Thanks!
Paul

 

From the pictures of the machine, I can see that it has the same 348mm isolation keyboard that my N71JQ has. It seems in the recent times ASUS is using same standard 348mm isolation keyboard on many different models.

I wonder why you did not like it. I personally found it better than the old non-isolation keyboards from ASUS.

You can ask at the Asusparts.eu.

It could be that they still have some of the previous generation 348mm keybaords in stock which were used on the older ASUS notebooks.

 

Yep, I can confirm that the backlit version of Asus keyboards are much nicer than the non-backlit version.
Go on ebay and find the backlit keyboard for Asus G51/72/73, and it should fit you N73.

 

I wonder if N73JN is going to be supporting backlit keyboard by default. The N71JQ does not support it by default.
That is why I did the backlight mode, the link for which is in my signiture.

I also saw some difference in the responce with the isolation backlit keyboard than the one without backlight, but the difference is not that much.
On the other hand I found the backlight function that I implemented a very good addition to the notebook.

 

Thanks so much for all the replies.

So, if I replace it with a backlit keyboard, will I actually be able to get the backlit part to work? Will the N73 have the right connections?

I really like the chicklet keyboard which the N73 does not have. The N73 keyboard is "very" flexible and no fun to type on.

Thanks,
Paul

 

I am not sure if the backlit function is implemented on the N73.
On N71JQ it is not implemented. So I had to do a hardware mode in order to make it work. You can have a look here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...ight-keyboard-implementation.html#post6567857

 

I don't see myself doing that. If I don't care about the backlight feature, can I just plug the new keyboard in? Or, will the connectors be different.

 

The main keyboard connector is the same.
For the LEDs backlight there is a separate connector and it could be left open if you don't use that fuctionality.

 

Thanks for this info! I'll definitely be switching out for a chiclet keyboard too - the N73JN-x1 keyboard is annoying. I managed to fix the flex with thermal tape, but the keys are still too close together.

 

Hi laptopper333. Did you manage to install the chiclet keyboard on a N73JN ?
I'm interrested as I would like to do the same on a N73JQ. Thanks

 

I too am interested in knowing if the above mentioned keyboard swap works, i just bought a N73JQ and i absolutely love it with the one exception of the overly flexible and "spongy" keyboard, i also did the foam/rubber tape "fix" but i'd prefer a better keyboard, i just can't believe ASUS would put such a cheap crappy keyboard on a $1,300 notebook.

 

BTW, I could compare side by side a N73JQ and a G73JW. I can tell you the chiclet kb on the G73 is not that rigid (just a little more than that of the N73). Sure you get the chiclet look and feel, and maybe the backlight (with some glue), but I think a rigidity fix would be welcome too.
Both my 8 years old ASUS L3800, and my 5 years old Acer Ferrari 4000 have good old metal based keyboards... can't compare with today's cheap plastic things. But I guess that's why new devices are so cheap, in regard with performance, and CPU prices.