XPS M1330 lid closed, Do the keys touch the display?

Do the keys of the XPS M1330 touch the display when the lid is closed? The keys look set pretty high and I'd like to know if a keyboard cover is required to keep the keyboard from marring the display.

 

it's not suppose to..

 

If you're worried, get a keyboard cover. Shaggymac makes good ones and they're cheap.

 

Just slip a piece of paper between them and shut the lid on it. You can cut it to size if you like. Doesn't get easier/cheaper than that!

 

I still use the styrofoam sheet it shipped with. The keys aren't supposed to touch the screen, but I remember some have already posted that they can, and will scratch the screen. Why take the chance, I say. Been looking at a lappymat for a cleaner solution as well.

 

I am still using that sheet with the lappy too. I am thinking it shouldnt be a problem between the screen and the keyboard...unless someone hold the laptop really tight.

 

It usually will press (on all laptops) if you have it in a book bag or something. Macbooks are notorious for this.

 

Uhh... why do you think Dell shipped it with the styrofoam sheet?
I ALWAYS close my lid with the styrofoam sheet it shipped with.

 

yes, it does hit. I carry it around in a messenger bag all day with my books and by the end of the day you can see marks where they touch, but I can buff them off pretty easily with the cloth. what rly bugs me is that the aluminium right below the buttons on the touchpad rub the black paint on the lid and leave a distinct permanent line.

 

My keyboard keys do not touch the display at all. They shouldnt do IMO. If they did, I would contact Dell. The screen should have rubber pads down the sides, and in each corner, which should give enough clearance between the screen and the keyboard when closed.

 

Ideally yes. Some compact models like the xps, and macbook will cut corners to make everything as small and light as possible.

If it were me and the keys were touching the screen, I would call and complain. This is only my opinion, but in the year 2008, I consider keys touching the display a manufacturing flaw.

 

Typically the thicker the laptop, the less chance you have to worry about this problem. My dell x300 did it all the time, but it was razer thin. My vostro is morbidly obese and it doesn't have this problem. It really comes down to the manufacturer cutting corners to make it 1-2mm thinner. I guarantee the macbook air does this with just slight pressure on the back of the lcd.

 

This was a problem for my m1330. I would take it out in class and notice white vertical lines of some material on the screen's surface, each less than an inch thick. They perfectly corresponded to the locations of the middle keys of the keyboard. I got very worried about this and purchased a LappyMat microfiber cloth to slip inside. The positive here is that I have never gotten those lines on my screens. The negative is that with the mat in place, it doesnt close completely like before.

 

mine does these exact same things!..it scratched some of the black paint off the frame of the screen and also leaves those lines on the screen. if i were to contact them, what would they be able to do? i dont imagine they could replace the keyboard, but as some of you guys said, your notebooks don't have this problem.

 

Well for mine, they sent a tech over to my home to re-seat the keyboard and make sure it was flat. It didn't make too much of a difference. It was slightly flatter than it was before(had a wavy feel). But the microfiber Lappymat has been the fix for me.

I have pictures of my m1330 with the lappymat here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2712586&postcount=36

You can see in the last picture that it does leave a little gap from fully closing.

 

The problem of the M1330's ( as well as the M1530) bulging keyboard is well known and well documented.

The solution's been to either to reseat the cables running under the mddle of the keyboard and/or using a protective sheet / cloth between the panel and base. I recommend using microfiber-based cloths like the Lappymat.

 

I don't have any problems (yet).

I move mine on a daily basis in its slip cover (i seldom use a bag unless travelling), but I can imagine that users with soft bags/backpacks may be more prone to the issue, since they may be putting uneven pressure on the lid. Your back is not flat after all, and backpacks may be loaded with books, gear etc.....

I find screen protectors and keyboard mats annoying.

Take Traveller's advise. I had the keyboard buldge under the j,k keys. Had to cut the insulation and re-seat the cables.


I do have a minor problem with the red satin finish chipping off....

 

I just use the XPS Cloth that it came with to prevent that. Not sure if it'll do a great job, but better than nothing.

 

I think that the cloth was an after thought on the part of Dell (maybe because of complaints like ours...) because mine didn't come with said cloth and I think many of the other 1330 owners didn't get one either.

I should clarify that I'm in Europe and for all I know, everyone in the U.S and/or Asia got one...

 

I use the styrofoam sheet that came with the notebook

 

Well I should probably point out that I got a 1530. I thought that the 1330 would receive the same stuff as what I got since they're both very similar besides size. I have heard the same complaints of the 1530 keys possibly touching the screen though.

But as you said it might have to do with where you. I live in the US so that could be the case, but I sure hope not though.