E6500 Keyboard Flex

Dad got this (invoice date 9/23) for home office & we're setting it up but noticed the palmrest & particularly the keyboard have a degree of mush flex that I never experienced with any other notebook, is this much Flex normal for E6500 or should I exchange-return it? (as seen somewhat in youtube video of another E6500 owner below; keyboard caves like pressing a bouncy ball, more the closer the keys are to the center)?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIG4eM5x1k

No other review here mentioned this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=299501

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4808

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=87210

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=31000

Tech Support told me the flex is normal to withstand stress better & keyboard replacement may not make it any different & that the return policy is 21 days (today-tomorrow) but Customer care assured me it's 30 days so I should have until next week by Oct 22.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/policy/en/policy?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~section=018

"New Vostro, OptiPlex, Latitude, and Dell Precision systems purchased directly from divisions designated by Dell as Commercial or Public may be returned within 30 days from the date on the packing slip or invoice."

If I ask for a keyboard replacement or E6500 exchange, are they all like this? Return?

He likes the backlit feature...but I'm typing this on the BT Logitech DeNovo Edge, please advise NBR

 

Any E6500 owners here who can confirm if keyboard flex is normal?

Or anyone familiar with this issue, -Thanks

 

NO FLEX SOLID SUPER NICE KEYBOARD!

/KimmoK

 

I have the E6500's smaller brother the E6400, which is 14-inch but is very similar to the E6500.

I have the non-backlit keyboard. I have very, very little flex wherever I push. In particular, the center of the keyboard and the screen lid feel quite strong even when I push it with my thumb. In normal usage the keyboard doesn't flex at all.

 

The backlit version does flex in the center. The non-backlit version is more rigid. I hope this helps.

 

I can tell you that my E6400's backlit keyboard has almost zero flex. You really have to push hard to get it to bend, and even then, it's an insignificant amount.
The Latitude on the 1st video seemed to either have an extraordinary amount of flex, or that guy was pushing REALLY hard.

 

I uploaded videos of the flex on this E6500 backlit keyboard, let me know your thoughts:

http://www.youtube.com/user/UTUBEBROADCAST1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZphboRgeA
http://www.zumodrive.com/share/1AflMGNlNW (VGA download)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbSAMswtC-4
http://www.zumodrive.com/share/1AfpYjYxZj (@2MP-1 download)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAXlSJLwFkk
http://www.zumodrive.com/share/1AfqYjNiNT (@2MP-2 download)

 

I just saw the two first videos. I think it has more flex than mine, although it doesn't look like a dealbreaker (it's a subjective matter). reptilematt said that the non-backlit is more rigid, you might ask Dell to try that and see if you want to replace the keyboard.

 

I can confirm for an E6400 (have both version of keyboards) that the backlit has more flex near the trackpoint; but it's not a deal-breaker for me.

Just FYI: Installing the keyboard is extremely simple to do; don't need a service tech to do it.

 

I appreciate the replies, I've emailed Dell to see what they have to say on the issue, you don't think it's an indication of lower build quality for such a high end business class notebook?

This came with 3 yr Next Business Day On Site Warranty, Accidental Protection & ProSupport for him so I'm less concerned that it's a dealbreaker as he likes the backlit feaute but was surprised by the degree of flex for such a high end business class notebook...their mini 10 -non-backlit- I noticed in BestBuy also has a mush flex keyboard so I'm not convinced its the backlit feature rather either inferior build quality or some intentional design aspect??