ALL of them have this problem, because dell put the padding on the right-hand side but not on the left...... every single one you get will have this issue. But it is easily fixed by adding your own, see this mod.

stu

Actually, mine doesn't. It was ordered by a reseller and I bought it on Ebay (new, unopened). He ordered it from the business site as opposed to the home office site. I liked it so much that I ordered one for use where I work. Not realizing it would make a difference, I ordered the one for work on the home office site. It has the weak left side on the keyboard. But we also ordered the wireless mouse and keyboard from Dell and so, rarely does the keyboard problem come into play. I can't say for certain that this made the difference, I just know that my keyboard is firm and the one at the office dips on the left.

Who knows?

Pam

Message Edited by PSMINN on 05-25-2004 08:52 AM

I was afraid of that.  The modifications don't look too difficult so perhaps I will order another and put the padding on the left hand side.  Thank you very much!

You people are hilarious

 

You here talking about how you plan to mend the laptop you havn't even bought yet!

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

Are you serious?

 

There are SO many laptops out there from companies who offer better service with better specs and better build quality. And their laptops look nice too! And get this...you don't have to fix it when it arrives! THEY ARE MEANT TO WORK ALREADY PEOPLE.

 

I'm really sorry for being a bit rude, but this really is hiarious when you think about it.

mammyrammer

Please inform us which models from other companies that are spec'd the same as the 8600.  Oh and at the same price.  Also provide details of their support.

I would appreciate the education.

Ripper

mammyrammer,

I just configured an 8600 PM1.8 / SXGA+ / 512MB / ATI 128 Pro turbo / 60GB @ 7200 / CDRW / Intel wireless b/g with 3 yr mail in service and 3 yr complete care warranty for $2313 including  tax and 2nd Day shipping.

If you can let me know of an IBM or HP or Sony (!) or Toshiba model with similar configuration for about the same price, please do let me know....I will cancel my 8600 order right away !!

 

Message Edited by Scorpio1029 on 05-25-2004 06:54 PM

What problems with the left side of keyboard?

For some (though contrary to what stu was saying, its not the case with all 8600's) the left side of the keyboard flexes when you are typing.

Dell has put spacers under the right side of the keyboard since the late i8500 models, but they still don't put anything like this under the right side of the keyboard. I've seen 4 different i8600's ordered at various times (including mine) and the keyboard flex differs from one Inspiron to another. My 8600 had some flex on the right side, a friend's didn't have it at all, so you may get a good one by chance.

Mammyrammer, when I ordered my i8600 last year, I already knew about the keyboard problem. However it didn't bother me because I couldn't order elsewhere a similar specced notebook. It's an easy fix and even without doing the fix, you are still able to use your Inspiron. On notebooks from some other companies there are other design flaws which cannot be fixed in 3 minutes by adding some foam strips. Buying a computer is always a compromise, you can't get the perfect machine.

Scorpio 1029/Krieps...

Evesham X5 (Mitac 8050)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Intel Pentium M 735 processor
60GB 7200rpm hard drive with 8MB buffer
128MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics
15.4" Wide screen display WXGA (1280x800)

3 Years Warrantly - £1,349.01

http://www.evesham.com/PCs/List.asp?e=127837FA-ABBE-4AB0-B142-51AA9126A8BB

The Inspiron 8600c on the Uk Dell site (with lower specced graphics,and hard drive) comes to £1,626

Apologies, I'm in the UK and so can't give you any details of US vendors for this model (I think Voodoo and Hypersonic sell it), but the reviews i've seen have all been very positive. Evesham are reknowned for their excellent customer servce and warranty.

Rock Direct (3 yeay warranty as standard) and AJP offer similar models at an even better price.

None of these models, or the other machines offered by these companies, have to be mended by the customer with padding and tape before they are acceptable to use.

 

 

 

Message Edited by mammyrammer on 05-26-2004 09:11 AM