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    m1330 - black keyboard

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by str355, Aug 12, 2008.

  1. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks mark500. It seems to be the same as m1330 - with the exception of an additional screw under the battery :D

    I can visualize it easily now after reading the procedure 4 times (j/k) ;)
     
    tenderidol, Aug 22, 2008
    #51
  2. mark500

    mark500 Notebook Consultant

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    Ok funny guy (tenderidol) I deleted my dups! :)
     
    mark500, Aug 23, 2008
    #52
  3. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    I was only joking... Thanks very much again for the instructions. I'll be installing a black keyboard to my friend's m1530 tomorrow. I showed him the pictures of m1330 from this thread and he was VERY excited :D
     
    tenderidol, Aug 23, 2008
    #53
  4. mark500

    mark500 Notebook Consultant

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    Let me know what you guys think of the 1530 w the black. It really should have come with black to begin with...or at least as an option...
     
    mark500, Aug 23, 2008
    #54
  5. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

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    Wowsa! Nice job you did on that keyboard! ;) :) Look's good! ;) :)


    Can you please, provide pic's when you have completed?? ;) I would love to see the finished results! :) :cool:

    I think it would be nice :D ...But I am so used to the silver on my 1530!! ;) :)


    Cin ;) :)
     
    Cin', Aug 23, 2008
    #55
  6. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    Hooray! I just received and installed my vostro black keyboard. Not only does it look better, but it feels more crisp!
     
    mystery905, Aug 26, 2008
    #56
  7. psygn

    psygn Notebook Evangelist

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    Can someone please post a picture of the m1530 with the black keyboard?

    The black keyboard should be pretty flush with the black touchpad panel at the top, except for the curves. The m1530 rounds out beyond the touchpad panel.
     
    psygn, Aug 26, 2008
    #57
  8. immel

    immel Notebook Consultant

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    Awesome, once I get my m1330 it'll be up for cosmetic surgery.

    Edit,
    Does this also solve the bulging issue? Since the Vostro keyboard seems more firm maybe it isn't pushed up as much (when I read the thread the first time I thought someone mentioned it, so I read it a 2nd time but couldn't find any post like that).
     
    immel, Aug 26, 2008
    #58
  9. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    It will definitely be more resistant to the bulging problem. As you mentioned, the Vostro keyboard is really firm. Besides, the installation process will give you another chance to sort cables under the keyboard to minimize the problem.

    I am really loving this keyboard on my m1330! Already received few of "have you done something with your computer?" type questions :D
     
    tenderidol, Aug 26, 2008
    #59
  10. superduo

    superduo Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is the vostro keyboard any quieter than the original silver one?
     
    superduo, Aug 26, 2008
    #60
  11. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

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    Yes, I would love to see this also! Anyone? :D :cool:


    Cin ;) :)
     
    Cin', Aug 26, 2008
    #61
  12. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, it is quieter than the original... The space bar of my original keyboard used to squeak on the right side :)
     
    tenderidol, Aug 26, 2008
    #62
  13. superduo

    superduo Notebook Enthusiast

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    Awesome, thanks!
     
    superduo, Aug 27, 2008
    #63
  14. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    Here's my m1330 with the vostro keyboard:

    [​IMG]
     
    mystery905, Aug 27, 2008
    #64
  15. billy_b0b

    billy_b0b Notebook Consultant

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    man that's nice. my 1330 comes in the mail soon but i'm not sure i want to be taking it apart
     
    billy_b0b, Aug 31, 2008
    #65
  16. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

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    Hey! NICE JOB!!! :D :D Look's good...
    How long did it take?


    Cin ;) :)
     
    Cin', Aug 31, 2008
    #66
  17. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    Here is mine. It took about 5 minutes (I've taken apart our m1330s few times before).

    My friend's m1530 looked equally beautiful with the black keyboard. Unfortunately, we didn't have a camera at the time, and he flew to Europe the next day.

    I highly recommend this "mod" to everyone :D

    [​IMG]
     
    tenderidol, Aug 31, 2008
    #67
  18. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

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    Ohhh! Nice job...Great closeup picture! ;) :)

    5 minutes total?? Wowsa...thats quick! And, it looks really good ;)

    I would've loved to have seen the 1530!!! Maybe another time... :)

    Thanks for sharing! :)


    Cin ;) :)
     
    Cin', Aug 31, 2008
    #68
  19. lapingultah

    lapingultah Notebook Geek

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    Soooo... How easily could brushed aluminium be painted black? :D
     
    lapingultah, Sep 1, 2008
    #69
  20. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    By the way, if anyone wants to order the black keyboard through eBay (or anywhere else), what you need is part# JM629 . Just search for that... It doesn't matter what the listing says for the compatible computers (e.g., Inspiron, Vostro, etc).
     
    tenderidol, Sep 1, 2008
    #70
  21. onthefly

    onthefly Newbie

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    Be careful buying them off ebay. There're a lot of ebayers selling cheapo flimsy keyboards as JM629. Make sure you get one of the ones that looks like a solid sheet of metal on the back. The ones with the little inserts for the keys to latch onto are made out of cheaper material (think solid steel verse flimsy FAR cheapo computer case material) which is what gives them so much flex.

    Add a Vostro keyboard and it'll fix your flexing issue, but just make sure it's really the Vostro keyboard. The cheapo version I mentioned is the normal for the m1330. Ebayers have been selling black versions as Jm629 that are really just the cheapo one painted black. So don't buy it from them unless they have a picture of both sides of the keyboard or will take a picture of the other side for you so you can make sure it's the right one.
     

    Attached Files:

    onthefly, Oct 9, 2008
    #71
  22. ryu55

    ryu55 Newbie

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    does anyone know where i can get a japanese keyboard?
     
    ryu55, Oct 9, 2008
    #72
  23. NOS

    NOS Notebook Geek

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    Do you by chance know of a reliable ebay seller that you could recommend?

    thanks
     
    NOS, Oct 10, 2008
    #73
  24. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    I got mine from

    storeonsaleusa

    Price was good, shipping fast, and product great!
     
    mystery905, Oct 10, 2008
    #74
  25. NOS

    NOS Notebook Geek

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    LOL, I just sent you a private message asking some various questions! Talk about DEJAVU. I had some additional questions in the Private but I'll ask them here as well.

    Is the keyboard you received the one with the solid metal backing. His pictures are hard to tell from.
    THanks
     
    NOS, Oct 10, 2008
    #75
  26. onthefly

    onthefly Newbie

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    There's a few sellers on ebay who have pictures in their listing showing the solid sheet of metal like the icon I linked to above. I would stick to one of them to be safe. The stock m1330 keyboard has the keys inserted directly into a thin sheet of metal that bends very easily. I would assume that any of them showing the full metal backing like with the image I posted are fine.
     
    onthefly, Oct 10, 2008
    #76
  27. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    I got the keyboard with the solid metal backing.
     
    mystery905, Oct 10, 2008
    #77
  28. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    I have an "extra" black JM629 (with solid metal backing). It is slightly used, but in perfect working condition. Will fit m1330 and m1530 perfectly. If interested, please PM me ($12 shipped, PayPal) :D

    EDIT: keyboard is sold. thanks!
     
    tenderidol, Oct 10, 2008
    #78
  29. onthefly

    onthefly Newbie

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    Darn, wish you'd posted a couple days ago :( Paid $22 or so on fleabay for mine.
     
    onthefly, Oct 10, 2008
    #79
  30. Sadie48

    Sadie48 Notebook Guru

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    I agree, the black is very nice..lighted key board would be nicer.
     
    Sadie48, Oct 10, 2008
    #80
  31. onthefly

    onthefly Newbie

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    lighted keyboard would be incompatible. On the studio series, the lighted vs. non-lighted actually have different motherboards to be able to accept the lighted vs. non and the connections are incompatible with the other version.
     
    onthefly, Oct 10, 2008
    #81
  32. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    I think it was just a "wish" rather than "would it work" ;)
     
    tenderidol, Oct 10, 2008
    #82
  33. onthefly

    onthefly Newbie

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    Quick instructions for anyone who needs them. Most important thing is being careful you don't mess up any of the cables.

    1) Take off the hinge covers and control panel (but don't detach the control panel cable, just let the control cover sit higher up towards the display once you've carefully popped it out - you're replacing the keyboard, not the control panel)
    http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsm1330/en/SM/html/hingecvr.htm#wp1179889

    2) Take out the keyboard, just be careful where your wires are and don't pull the keyboard cable out hard. You have to ease it out gently. It will come out, but can take a little effort.
    http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsm1330/en/SM/html/keyboard.htm#wp1179891

    3) Replace with the new keyboard, again being careful putting the cable in.

    4) Put the control panel back on and the hinge covers.
     
    onthefly, Oct 11, 2008
    #83
  34. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    tenderidol, Oct 11, 2008
    #84
  35. onthefly

    onthefly Newbie

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    Those pictures are very good, although my only addendum to that one is that it assumes you're keeping the m1330 keyboard. Since we're replacing it with the much sturdier Vostro keyboard, you don't actually have to do any of that fancy stuff like cutting wire tubing and pushing chords down all over the place, and the dvd-drive etc... It can't hurt to push the little metal tabs down keeping the wires down if they look like they're sticking up, but anything more than that isn't really necessary.

    The fact of having a keyboard with a solid piece of metal backing with essentially no bend to it (versus the ~45-90 degree bend of the m1330's keyboard) fixes the keyboard flex problem by itself so anything related to that part isn't really necessary.
     
    onthefly, Oct 11, 2008
    #85
  36. honguy

    honguy Notebook Consultant

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    Hello has any one recently changed their silver XPS 1330 keyboard to Black Vostro Keyboard is so please can you tell where did you buy it or which Ebayer should i get it from ?

    Thanks
     
    honguy, Jul 11, 2009
    #86
  37. BlackRussian

    BlackRussian Notebook Deity

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    BlackRussian, Jul 11, 2009
    #87
  38. honguy

    honguy Notebook Consultant

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    Does all Vostro Keyboard have blue Fn+ Function print on the keye ie Fn= up and down arrow keys for screen brightness, or do they also come in white?
     
    honguy, Jul 12, 2009
    #88
  39. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    Make sure that you are buying an OEM item. The listings from the link above point to a non-OEM part with the following description:

    "New high quality keyboard, 100% manufacturer compatible, Equivalent Replacement Part"

    Just letting you if you care about using only OEM parts built by DELL.
     
    tenderidol, Jul 12, 2009
    #89
  40. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    I know this is several months old, but I feel the need to correct it. This is completely not true. The motherboard is the same no matter which keyboard you have. If you buy a non-lit keyboard, then the keyboard backlit power slot on the motherboard simply remains empty.

    I bought my Studio 1535 with an unlit keyboard, and later installed a backlit keyboard myself. The power connection was there.
     
    Mastershroom, Jul 12, 2009
    #90
  41. honguy

    honguy Notebook Consultant

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    tenderidol: Thanks for the info, But can you tell where can I get an OEM Vostro Keyboard. Also I would like to know what Vostro keyboard other members on this forum have been buying and from what source.

    Can some one Please answer my question in my earlier post:
    Does all Vostro Keyboard have blue Fn+ Function print on the keye ie Fn= up and down arrow keys for screen brightness, or do they also come in white?
     
    honguy, Jul 12, 2009
    #91
  42. BlackRussian

    BlackRussian Notebook Deity

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    Blueeeeeeeee
     
    BlackRussian, Jul 12, 2009
    #92
  43. honguy

    honguy Notebook Consultant

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    honguy, Jul 12, 2009
    #93
  44. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    mystery905, Jul 12, 2009
    #94
  45. honguy

    honguy Notebook Consultant

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    honguy, Jul 12, 2009
    #95
  46. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    It doesn't look like it. What's wrong with the link I posted?
     
    mystery905, Jul 12, 2009
    #96
  47. honguy

    honguy Notebook Consultant

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    mystery905: Thanks, there is nothing wrong with your link actually the link you posted that guy says he sells OEM Keyboard, But I was just curious about the other one. I am a newbie trying to learn.
     
    honguy, Jul 13, 2009
    #97
  48. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    I would go with the one mystery905 posted. Not only it's an OEM item, we have a member who already bought, installed and used the same product!
     
    tenderidol, Jul 14, 2009
    #98
  49. honguy

    honguy Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks tenderidol and mystery905 i actually bought the first one then realized that it is not OEM and then bought another one from mystery905 link.
     
    honguy, Jul 14, 2009
    #99
  50. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    Edited by moderator: Make a proper FS thread in the Marketplace forum if you want to sell on these boards. Make sure you read the Marketplace rules first!
     
    tenderidol, Aug 21, 2009
    #100
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