Poor i6000 keyboard.. This normal?

I recently picked up an i6000 for myself and a 700m for my girlfriend. It only took 7 days for the 700m and 8 days for the i6000 to arrive! I was expecting much longer.

Anyway, I quickly noticed some problems with the i6000 keyboard and I wanted to hear from you guys if this is normal. All the large keys on the right side of the keyboard like delete and enter have to be mashed down for them to register. Backspace is the worst. All the keys are pretty stiff and dull-feeling in general. It’s not so bad if I pretend I’m typing on a mechanical typewriter and pound away, but I shouldn’t have to do that. The layout is the same as my old i4000 this is replacing so it's not that I'm just not use to the layout, I think. I’ve already read some negative comments regarding the 6000’s keyboard being stiff so I’m worried a replacement won’t resolve this. Anyone else experience anything similar with their 6000?

 

that doesn't sound normal. I have the 9300 and i think the keyboards are the same for both. Mine doesn't act anything like that. You might try taking the keyboard out and making sure everything is okay with it as far as the keys. If you need a guide for removing the keyboard, you can find it here
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6000/sm/index.htm

I would suggest getting a replacement. Dell will send it to you free of charge, and you'll get it within 2 business days. It wouldn't hurt to try. If it doesn't get any better and you want to return your 6000, you have 21 days from invoice/ship (debate on which it is) date to return it.
SG

 

That doesn't sound right, the keys on my 6000 are all consistant and type very well.

 

Good to hear. Thanks for the replies.

I already tried removing the keyboard but I didn't see anything weird.

I didn't realize they would just send me a new keyboard. I assumed they'd need one of their technicians to replace it. That's cool.

 

Dell's keyboard is one of the good ones as far as touch/punch goes, light and easy to type on, so you have some body spilled some gooee stuff on it while assembling ;o)

 

Dell uses four different keyboards on the 6000 and 9300 in that they are from different companies, two chinese varities that I know of and on Thai variety.
One chinese model, the a196 is very good while the other chinese model is poor quality, check and see which model you have . In order to do this you will have to remove the keyboard, check your manual for instructions on how to do this.

 

I just took a peek. Made in Thailand. Model D587-US Rev A00

Dell is sending me a replacement. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a better version.

 

hmm yea. i actually type faster on my laptop then on my computer. so you better get it checked. maybe it got damaged.

 

I got mine with the poor chinese model, the replacement chinese model was theA196 which is very good, sturdier and nice tactile and clicky feel like an IBM notebook keyboard. The tell tale traits of this good chinese keyboard are the soo called "rivets" you will see on the keyboard between the V B and N keys as well as some others, the poor quality chinese keyboard will not be a solid piece of metal on its base having holes punched to interface with the keys, flexy like the thai one, the poor quality chinese keybaord will also look just like the thai keyboard and flex like it when you depress a key, no "rivets'" between the V B and N keys, I requested that Dell send me the good chinese one, here is what my invoice says.......keybaord replacement item number R8690 further down it says item number N8685 keybrd repl insp 9200.. Now on the back of my new "riveted" chinese keyboard it says model A196 KFRMB2 Series.
The original poopy chinese keyboard that was flexy like the thai and made the cursor jump and stuff was dell part number OH5639, Sunrex Technology corporation model K051125X, if you get this one you are not likely to like it any better than the thai one.

Good LUck

 

ITs really amazing the difference in quality between the keyboards , my two chinese keybaords use different hardware underneath the keys, the poopy one had holes punched out for the keys and was very thin piece of metal that I could easily flex holding it in my hand, the new chinese a196 is a solid piece of metal and probably twice as thick as the metal plate on the poopy one and doesnt flex, the a196 keys have a bit more click to them which I like, no flex when I depress the keys and a joy to type on. Hope this helps you guys and thanks to the poster who listed his Thai model, this info is soo helpful to others when we mention those important little details.

KUDOS

 

I have an Inspiron 9400. My good keyboard broke. Since then I've received 2 replacements from Dell, both of which were poor (spent 3 hours on the phone so far). Any ideas how I can get another good keyboard? My email address is [email protected].

For those of you unaware of the problem. The Dell part# for the keyboard is WH272. However, you receive any one of a number of models/makers. So far, I know the A196 chinese model and the D587 chinese model are good (very solid with real riveting, good springs). I have spend 3 hours on the phone with every department imaginable at Dell to try and get one of the good keyboards and have had not luck.

Thanks
Clark

 

yeah i had mine replaced under warranty recently. my last one was good, but this one is phenomenal. i can type so much faster and the keys are so much springier. even the texture is better. anyways, good luck.