Looking for HEL80/IFL90 keyboard module

Hi all,

My HEL80 has been serving me very well...until I recently committed a terrible mistake. While cleaning out the dust with parts taken apart, I happened to step over the keyboard module, horribly twisting it and damaging some key springs.

I'm in need of a new one.

I've been searching around with the model name "ASI AC 83-keys", but most on-line shops seem to have run out of stock. The fact that where I originally bought my HEL80 from (MilestonePC) has gone out of business and closed its branch here in Toronto doesn't exactly help.

If I remember correctly EL and FL models use identical keyboards, and since FL models still seem to be in production, I'm hoping that there is chance. Any idea where I could get one, preferably at a reasonable price? Comments / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

(Some research indicated the keyboard used in Asus S96 and S62 series are also identical to the HEL80 one. Are they to be absolute, 100% compatible?)

 

I found and bought a French Canadian replacement keyboard over from NCIX.com, for just about $14. (not including shipping cost)

Just got it shipped and put in my HEL80, works fine. The layout is a little different from the default English one, but not as much to actually cause any problems. The biggest difference is a differently shaped enter key that I have to reach farther to, but I'm sure I would get used to it.

NCIX still has a few of those keyboards left in their inventory, so I advise anyone looking for the replacement keyboards for their HEL80 / IFL90 to hurry before they're completely gone.

Over and out.

 

i would be interested in this as well since the "I" key on my NP2090 has broken off. It's still under warranty with XoticPC, but I have to pay for shipping to them and then they also have to determine whether they would replace it for free or charge me for the replacement. I figured this way would be faster and less hassle.

 

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22189&vpn=72329930017&manufacture=Others

There's only ONE left in stock now lol

In any case this is a great deal. The only other place I could find that 'thought' to have the same part was asking for over $40.

 

im parting out my HEL80.. the motherboard has a fried chip near the power supply preventing it from booting up, the rest of it works fine

 

Here's a picture of the French Canadian layout keyboard.

It has an extra key to the left of z key, and the \ key is moved to the right of the ' key. Because of this, the enter key is vertical rather than horizontal, and the left shift key is much shorter. Under the English IME both keys represent \.

Also I've replaced most number and alphabet keys with the ones from the old keyboard. Most special symbols (!@#$%^&*() and bracket signs are assigned in different keys under the French layout, so leaving them as they are would've caused some confusion.