Studio Illuminated Keyboard into XPS M1530? They look identical! - DOES NOT WORK!

I've been looking at pictures from both the Studio 15 and the XPS M1530 and the keyboard keys look identical and the dimensions seem to be identical as well. Is it possible to stick a Studio 15 keyboard into the M1530, install the drivers for it thus enabling the XPS M1530 to have a black illuminated keyboard?

 

I was going to try it with vostro once i can get the part number and compare the two parts

 

1) where's the power coming from?
2) Will the actual lights take up extra space underneath

 

We gotta wait till someone is willing to disect one

 

The lights dont take up extra space as they are embedded in the keys that for sure. It all depends on whether the connector is in the same place and the dimensions of the keyboard are the same.

Hopefully someone who owns a M1530 will be enthusiastic and motivated enough to attempt to do it. It would really make my day if it works.

 

I wonder if you could just call dell and try to order a replacement keyboard for the studio 15?

 

Yeah you can, but you have to be willing to pay for it.

 

ummmm ... if I had an m1530... I would pay for it and try it. And return it for full refund if it did not work. Same 30 day satisfaction guarantee applies to parts as well.

 

Yea that would be really nice if you could do that. I'd definately pay for that one.

 

I have looked at the service manual for the studio 15. The connector (well ribbon end) is the same and the location is the same.

I want to try this on my 1520 (or 1420) when they get on ebay.

 

But is the power the same across the connectors? I would think the non lit ones would use less power and maybe the connectors dont send the same wattage to the keyboard.

 

This is interesting. Wondering if this would work for the M1330 as well since they use the same keyboards.


Could really use the backlight working on flights instead of annoying my seat mates with the often too bright overhead lights..which is useless anyway since I got a glossy screen.....


side benefit, I could finally get rid of that ugly silver keyboard...

 

If one did this, would it void the warranty?

I'd love a Studio keyboard on my XPS...but if something goes wrong, I don't want to fight to prove that my modification did not cause it.

 

I don't think it'll void your warranty, The keyboard is pretty simple to replace. But even if you could get the keyboard in there, keep this in mind:

You'd have on way to control the LED's. Unless someone could develop software to control them, there's no point. The 1530 doesn't have an ambient light sensor (that I know of), so your keys would be on 24/7.

 

Omg I need this backlit keyboard in my vostro 1400 more than you'd beleive.

The black would match perfectly too.

 

You could put a toggle swith on it to turn them on or off.

 

There is confirmed a FN+Right Arrow Key here that turns it on and off. There are no physical switches to enable and disable illumination on the case to begin with external to the keyboard. The illumination is controlled from the keyboard itself so no need to worry about toggle switches and junk. If you can get the keyboard installed, you can turn illumination on and off with the keyboard itself.

As you can see from the picture of the keyboard itself (the Studio 17 is used, but the lighting is the exact same on the Studio 15)

http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/34436.jpg

The right arrow key has the function for the illumination that is activated by pressing FN+Right Arrow.

Literally, all you need is to install the keyboard.

 

Hooking the lights up to that stupid media direct button would be sweet.

 

mattocs, read my post above. Ive just confirmed the turn off and on feature is in the keyboard itself. No need to add any switches or mapping. Its just a matter of pressing "FN + Right Arrow Key" to turn them on and off. Thats how the Studio controls it.

 

I would still rather have it use the media direct button. At least it'd get some use.

 

Hi

I was wondering throughout the thread what the new illuminated keyboard looks like and is it worth the pain/dough?

Would it be possible for someone to post a pic of their's please

 

Heres a pic in my earlier post with the Studio 17 illuminated.

http://www.notebookreview.com/picture.asp?f=34446

If you got a M1530... mind trying it out? Many of us would love to know the result.

 

I dont have the balls to do that

also, I saw that pic earlier too but I couldnt see any light coming through the keyboard.Sorry, I dont know much but isnt backlit keyboard suppose to have light???

MnVn

 

http://www.notebookreview.com/picture.asp?f=34446

 

That does look awesome...certainly enuf motivation for someone to go ahead and try it...lets see if I am the first one to do that

MnVn

 

True, never though of that. Guess it depends on how many LEDs dell uses.

 

it can't be that much more. come on we're talking about teeny tiny smaller than yo mom lights!LOL

 

Where would you order the part for the keyboard? I'm willing to try it on my lappy.

 

Anyone orders me a backlight keyboard from the studio line, I'll put it in my XPS M1530.

 

Would it fit in a 1330? i think it would be class good for typing in the dark lol! If I know it will fit I would definitely get it!

 

I know for a fact that the Studio machines use the same keyboard design that's used in all the other recent Dell laptops (1420/1520/1720/1400/1500/1700/1330/1530) with the obvious addition of fancy lights that leech off the power line.

Dell is the type of company to reuse common parts, throughout all their lines. It's cheaper to design and produce one part that can be used on all lines then it is to design and produce multiple versions of the part of each and every model and line. Just look at the keyboards on all the 14"/15" machines, they are identical, same goes for the 17" keyboards for all the named models above.

So with that aside, we know it's the same keyboard, so physically it'll fit in. The only constraints would be that the wattage that the Studio machine sends through it's keyboard connector will be higher then the other laptop lines. Another POSSIBLE issue, but unlikely is the ribbon cable will be position differently or be shorter - resulting in it not fitting in the other machines.

Really I don't think either of those two issues are not a problem or unlikely to ruin our plans. So someone just buy one and try it already. LOL

I'd order one but I don't know the part number nor do I know how you go about ordering the part. And I refuse to put it on my credit cards right now... lol

 

I would say your post is a little "strong". We do not know for fact and will not know until we have the physical keyboard to compare. We suspect but we do not "know".

 

Has anyone tried asking a Dell tech, I know everyone is like why? But it wouldn't hurt right? Who's willing to sit through that? haha

 

good point terenus. gonna rep u for that.

 

Small thinks could be slightly different, though. Just because the physical size is the same and the connector is the same, it doesn't mean that all of the screw holes on they keyboard are in the same location, or that each pin in the connector serves the same purpose. Small things like that are what you're really never going to know until you get the keyboard and try it.

 

I spent 3 hours on the phone friday with Dell. I might give it a shot on the cellular phone today since I have free weekend airtime.

 

I'm going to try the online chat later, hopefully the rep I get actually knows something about the computers.

 

You'll probably have a better chance getting the part from eBay than directly from Dell's site.

 

I have talked to Dell, Japan, Canada english, Canada french, America, UK about the part number.

I learned from Dell America and Japan that it is not available yet as a replacement part so they cannot get the part number.

 

Did you ask if it was compatible?

 

I tried and they hung up every time. I had talked to at least 3 reps from each country.

 

someone just needs to f***in try it already, it's killing me lol

 

As stated above the part isnt available from Dell directly yet and hasnt appeared on ebay etc as no one owns one yet.

 

I'll keep pestering the tech support. haha

 

Ive spent about 12 hours on skype at trying to crack em with different stories... I hate skyp.. 15$ used for no good info..

 

Why don't you just chat online with them?

 

Use it to boot firefox.

 

I was often cut off online by them saying a rude comment, such as "screw off", "lrean to type" ( i had proper grammer etc and spelling they had typos hence the lrean. So I sent emails and started phoning around like crazy

 

Controlling the backlit keyboard would be no problem. The most recent version of the Dell Quickset utility (released June 26, 2008) has the feature to turn on or off the keyboard backlight.

 

Here is what I got. And my last name is not actually Lindo.

11:56:51 PM System System
Thanks for choosing chat for your Dell Purchase needs. A chat agent will be with you shortly.
11:58:51 PM System System
Thanks again for your patience. Chat agents are eager to help you with your purchase, so stay on line and the next available sales consultant will assist you.
12:13:26 AM System System
You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
12:13:26 AM System System
Connected with BE_Rep_Allen_D
12:13:26 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
Welcome to Dell's XPS Sales Chat! I hope you are doing well and thank you for waiting. My name is Allen. I will be your personal sales agent, please provide your e-mail address and phone number where I can contact you in case we get disconnected. How may I help you with your purchase today?
12:13:31 AM Customer Eric Lindo
Hi
12:13:34 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
hello Eric.
12:13:56 AM Customer Eric Lindo
I was wondering, are the Studio 15 and XPS m1530 keyboards interchangable?
12:14:11 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
no its not,
12:14:22 AM Customer Eric Lindo
Are they the same size?
12:14:36 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
the keyboard of the xps m5130 is just for that system.
12:14:41 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
1530*
12:15:17 AM Customer Eric Lindo
but I am positive that the Vostro 1500 and XPS keyboards work on eachothers computer
12:15:27 AM Customer Eric Lindo
so why not the studio?
12:15:56 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
because it has a different design,.
12:16:38 AM Customer Eric Lindo
but they are the same size correct?
12:17:26 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
no they are not.
12:17:51 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
the studio keyboard is different from the xps.
12:18:12 AM Customer Eric Lindo
why?
12:18:22 AM Customer Eric Lindo
they do have the same measurements
12:19:31 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
its because we don't offer it online.
12:21:24 AM Customer Eric Lindo
but if I somehow got a Studio keyboard would it work?
12:21:42 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
well you can try it,
12:21:57 AM Customer Eric Lindo
so your saying that you don't know?
12:22:42 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
to be honest with you yes,
12:22:52 AM Customer Eric Lindo
thank you for being honest mate
12:23:01 AM Agent BE_Rep_Allen_D
no problem,.