SZ340 -- keyboard question

Just un-boxed my new SZ340 that arrived via FedEx today. Looks great, had all the specs I ordered, no dead pixels (that I can see yet, anyway), etc etc etc.

The keyboard, however, seems a little wonky. I know a lot of people have issues with the SZ keyboard (I agree it's not the greatest, but it works for me), but my keyboard, in particular, seems slightly off. The area of keys surrounding the "DF" region (aka, the left side of the keyboard) seems to be less attached to the keyboard-base than the right side of the keyboard. This results in the left-side of the keyboard having a significantly greater amount of flex than the right-side of the keyboard.

I tried typing on it for a while, and it seems to work just fine ----- although key-presses that are made on the left side of the keyboard seem less "solid" than key-presses on the right side of the keyboard. They sound different, feel different, and, well, are different.

I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this with their SZ, or if anyone has any suggestions for me.

Thanks!

 

for me the opposite is the case. The keyboard is very solidly mojunted except on the bottom right corner

 

Ah, weird.

I guess I'll let Sony know about the issue if I ever have to send the laptop in. It's not *that* bothersome.. just mildly annoying not to have a 100% perfect laptop.

Machine seems great otherwise --- judging from all the issues that could go wrong with a notebook in shipping, I'll count myself as "mildly fortunate."

 

Hi,

Does the SZ340 still come with all the Sony Junk Crappy Software?
Does the Core 2 Duo feel faster?
What are your specs pls?
What's new?

I am trying to figure out if its really worth it...

 

Yup --- lots of bloatware.

The Core 2 Duo feels way faster than my old processors, but I have no experience comparing it to Core Duos.

My specs: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7200 / ICD 2 GHz, 2 GB DDR-SDRAM (DDR2-533, 1 GBx2), 100 GB Hard Disk Drive (5400 I believe?), DVD+-R Double Layer DVD+-RW Drive, and then all the standard SZ fare.

I freely admit that I was going to buy an SZ, and only happened to order one on Sept 11th, which happened to be when the 340's came out, right? Lucky me.

 

I was bumping around more reviews of the SZ ---- can someone comfirm whether or not it's true that the premium models also have a different type of keyboard? It's not listed on the Sony site, nor is a distinction made in the reviews that I read.

Just curious.

 

Well, against my better judgement, I went into a Best Buy today and toyed around with one of their in-store SZ models (non-premium, like mine). The keyboard on the in-store model was very solidly mounted to the computer itself, which makes it plainly obvious that my keyboard was installed less than perfectally.... which drives me batty.

So now I'm sitting here wondering whether or not I should return this thing for immediate repair, to up its ante to 'perfect' status --- the computer works great, everything's to spec.. but the keyboard has a significant amount of flex and, well, it could just be better. Now that I know this bulging, non-attached keyboard isn't particular to the non-premium models, I feel like it might be worth sending it back in.

..but I'm not sure. The keyboard types fine..... but, like I said, it could be better. Time to weigh the old options again. I remember the days when every computer I would purchase would be up to my immediate satisfaction. Le sigh.

 

when upgrading from 230 to 330 I found it to be a little weak meaning the over all costrucion.the screen would make a light clicking sound when opening,keyboard was not set correctly,the fan was louder then my 230,the casing would creek.
I took it back to compusa swapping it out for a new one with all the above proublems not being a factor anymore.
like any notebook maker there are some junkers that do slip through quilty control then becoming are problem down the road.make it not your problem and swap it out for another
now I have the perfect sz330

 

Yeah --- I'm just sick of sending stuff back to Sony. I sent in my previous computer twice before they refunded my money b/c of all the issues I had with it (grrrrr). It definitely makes sense to send it back in.. no point in not having a *perfect* laptop, especially after paying so goddamned much for it.

Too bad I can't just go down to CompUsa to swap it. Guess it'll be another week or so before I have my "new" computer back in my hands.

 

been in your shoes with the sony send back a few years back on my grx690 and it does create a sick feeling.always have that postive vibe.they will make it right.
good luck

 

Yup, just talked to a Sony rep and he's sending 'the box' out. He also said he was expediting my repair, since this is an out-of-box defect and my Sony customer-file-of-woe flashed up on his screen. Hopefully it'll be quick, painless, and I'll have a perfect computer back in my hands in a week's time. It'll be worth it.

Goodbye squishy keyboard!

 

elizabex you got me looking at my keyboard closly and i notice on the far left hand side mine has a little give in it also.I then called sony support asking them if there were any problems in that area.I was put on hold for 15 min then having the sony rep ask me if i droped any thing on it.I thought to myself .......no way you got to be kidding me hahahaha.I then let her know that nothing had been droped on my sz and that it was only a few weeks old.she then told me she was sending me a box so they could review my notebook and make fix if needed.I then asked her again if there were any problems in the keyboard area of the sz that have been noted.her reply was no.I told her to skip send the box because I did not want to be the lab rat.As much as I hate to say this.It,s the same old sony customer care of the past trying to skate out of any responcability when it come to shaby craftmenship.
anyway not to pull the strong vibe I recommend you have but be carefull

 

Well, if you had to look at your keyboard closely to determine whether or not your keyboard had any give to it, then your keyboard is way better off than mine. I can notice mine visually (it bubbles up a bit), and it is plainly obvious that the keyboard isn't mounted/attached very well.

Like I said, I decided to send mine back in after going to best buy and messing around with one of their non-premium display models --- the keyboard on that sucker was quite nice and made it pretty obvious that mine has some issues. I *know* there are SZs out there with keyboards better off than mine... and, since this computer is going to be more-or-less replacing all the computers I'm currently using, I'd like it to be as nice as possible, esp for the price one pays for these things.

In any case, the Sony rep I spoke with was very nice, recognized my problem immediately (he didn't do the standard customer service dance of listening to my problem, and then repeating it back to me in exaggerated terms ---- i.e. "So, your keys are falling off?" or "So, you don't have a keyboard?"), and, for whatever it's worth, it sounded like this will be fixable, quickly so.

ANYWAY, I'll let you know how it goes. Like I said, my keyboard is clearly messed up ---- only the 4 arrow keys on the bottom right side of the keyboard feel solid.

 

Well, I'm happy to report that I received my laptop today less than a week after I sent it into Sony. The laptop actually went to their new Memphis repair center (it always went to CA prior to this journey) ----- instead of the huge folding matrix box that I was used to, Sony sent out a nicely padded styrofoam box for shipping ----- which was more secure and much much much easier to deal with assembling.

The keyboard is much better now ---- still flexes a tiny bit, but no where near the extent that it was before. Even more notable is the fact that the laptop appears to have no damage from transiting -- apart from a smudge from someone's thumbs in the corners of my screen.

So yay, I am, officially, happy with my new computer.

 

Outstanding news to hear elizabex Good Deal