New Dell Studio 1537: Keyboard/Speakers/MediaButtons Issue/Not Flat

I just purchased a new Dell Studio 1537 and it arrived a few days ago. I was wondering if anyone else has the plastic on the speakers and media buttons flexing and bulge out. The keyboard kind of rises up in the top middle as well, and the volume buttons are higher up. If I run my finger across the entire speaker set it does not feel like a flat surface. Are all the laptops like this or should I ask for a replacement? Any self-fixes?

Thanks in advance,

 

I'd return something like that in heartbeat. It sounds like the enitre top is "compressed" (as in the inside of a circle).

 

It definitely sounds like something is screwed too tight, or not tight enough.

If you're comfortable with taking the thing apart, then the media panel and keyboard are pretty easily adjusted. If you're not comfortable with that, then I would talk to Dell about having them replace those parts.

 

Thanks for the input, they are sending me a new laptop.. I'm not really into taking apart laptops. It doesn't make it unusable but it was a little awkward and uncomfortable and would probably get worse with time....

Will report back and let you know how the replacement goes!

 

Yeah, there's definitely something wrong with that one. I've replaced both the keyboard and touch-button panel on my Studio 1535, and sometimes I noticed a bit of keyboard bulge depending on how I tightened the screws.

 

Excellent. No need to fiddle around with it yourself (which must have been their conclusion as well).

Yup, do that

 

I'm surprised these problems are still here 9 months after they introduced the design. If it were a whole new chassis, I could see them having some things to work out/optimize but 9 months later, nothing has changed one bit.

My Studio 1535 came like that in August, 08, it started having problems in September. You made the right choice returning it. Dell, work on the quality control please...

 

Yea it's not a huge problem now but I can see the laptop having keyboard problems in the future. They are sending me a new 1537 (hopefully with no issues) and I just need to package the one I have now when I receive the return. At least I don't have to give up the laptop for a couple weeks for a repair.

 

Oh man, I'm ordering this exact model soon... I hope this doesn't happen to me as well

 

You can fix that yourself. the bulge is caused by a misrouted cable.

 

Remove the keyboard and check for something that shouldn't be there, like a wad of tape. I'm serious.

 

What the hell!?

 

Had a large bulge in the upper end of my keyboard, it was hitting the screen upon closing the lid. Received it for xmas and it was ordered about a month before so they wouldn't let me exchange it. I looked for the manual online, opened up the keyboard and that is what I found. Emailed all the executives and got no reply. Dell's quality control is pretty much non-existent in my opinion, at least for the Studio series.

 

Ha ha, no wonder you didn't get a reply. They are propably going all Apple (i.e. "we don't care, just buy another").