How hard is it to replace a laptop keyboard ?

[Doug]

Doug, I hate to sound like a dickhead but I am one. It is like a woman going to a mechanic. Computer repair guys are the new car mechanics.

I didn't know what was involved in doing it, now I have a clue. You can't do it in 5 minutes flat, while I wait.... charge me $75 labor, and not have me feel ripped off !

therefore I will have to do it myself.

$20 labor is more like it, IMO !

Does an auto mechanic charge a 1 hour minimum on an oil change ?

 

[Doug]

Been there. End result is that you turned your laptop into a desktop. That might work for some but most of the time a repair is the better option. As to the economics of trashing the laptop and buying new on the cheap, I struggled to repair my laptop because of software issues, not money issues.

I agree.... you don't want an external keyboard on a laptop.

 

[Masxmenos]

I didn't know what was involved in doing it, now I have a clue. You can't do it in 5 minutes flat, while I wait.... charge me $75 labor, and not have me feel ripped off !

therefore I will have to do it myself.

$20 labor is more like it, IMO !

Does an auto mechanic charge a 1 hour minimum on an oil change ?

Doug. In the "PC Repair" Guy's defense, these parts on laptops are extremely tiny now. I usually forget to screw a part in, despite having years of experience doing this. Granted it has been a while since I detached a laptop, I would imagine the parts (screws, etc) are even tinier. Apple Inc is doing something to prevent this issue by making full aluminum casts, but as long is their is a huge demand and a limited supply, you will see high prices where people rip you off. To understand that latter comment, think to yourself how sportsbooks were PRIOR to the Safe Ports Act of 2006?

 

[Doug]

Doug. In the "PC Repair" Guy's defense, these parts on laptops are extremely tiny now. I usually forget to screw a part in, despite having years of experience doing this. Granted it has been a while since I detached a laptop, I would imagine the parts (screws, etc) are even tinier. Apple Inc is doing something to prevent this issue by making full aluminum casts, but as long is their is a huge demand and a limited supply, you will see high prices where people rip you off. To understand that latter comment, think to yourself how sportsbooks were PRIOR to the Safe Ports Act of 2006?

of course I know the difference before 2006 !

I think I can manage to do the keyboard myself. That's why GOD invented jeweler's screwdrivers.

 

[Masxmenos]

of course I know the difference before 2006 !

I think I can manage to do the keyboard myself. That's why GOD invented jeweler's screwdrivers.

I betcha with even the "jewelers screwdriver" you couldn't manage to put the Apple Powerbook G4 laptop back together correctly. The point is, it is really difficult nowdays with how machines have become engineered. Even cars are more compact, thus requiring new sets of tools, etc.

 

[Doug]

it largely depends on the particular laptop, from what I hear.... some are are very easy, others more difficult.

I'll try, not much to lose, eh ?

 

[barman]

I agree.... you don't want an external keyboard on a laptop.

Different strokes. I've been carrying and using an external with my laptop since I got it two years ago (laptop internal keyboard works fine too).

I type 5x as fast. And in the rare events when I don't have a table or surface other than my "lap", I can just use the internal.

 

[Doug]

I type with two fingers, so speed wouldn't improve much for me with a regular keyboard.

I ordered the $25 ebay replacement, and will hopefully fix the problem that way.

I don't really want to switch all my stuff over to a new machine.