AW 15 Keyboard/touchpad build quality issue

Of course I notice this after the return period.... Well it seems like my keys are crooked and the whole keyboard is slightly but noticeably curved. It's like I can see where the screws are pulling the keyboard down (between "z" and "x" as well as "." and "/" are more noticeable). The keyboard isn't straight and flat at all. Furthermore, my left mouse button is positioned higher then my right one. Again, subtle but definitely there. The button seems to be wrongly installed or fixed. There is also a tiny gap between the palm rest and the front in the middle underneath the trackpad, where I can here plastic hitting the inner chassis when I tap it (palm rest is hitting the surface underneath).

Very disappointed with Alienware's quality control with this device, I should have listened to the people... Stay away from Alienware for the time being. Take it from someone who thought differently at first.

Anyways, does anybody else share this issue with me? The device works fine for the most part, just don't like the build quality that much. I'm seeing some cheaper ASUS and LENOVO laptops around me having straighter keyboards.... even my old cheapo $500 laptop is straighter, despite flexing with every bit of pressure.

 

I haven't noticed any build quality issues with my AW15 when I had it and the keyboard has been rock solid for me -- I guess the only concern is the fact that you're outside your return window. =\ The best thing that you can do is see if Dell/Alienware is willing to help you out with a replacement keyboard or top chassis. The only thing I'm disappointed in the new AW line is the lack of serviceability.

 

I have a very slight gap in the middle in front of the trackpad area where the palmrest is resting on the chassis. But it seems to be within tolerances?

 

I'll contact Dell, maybe they can do something about it. If not, I'll open her up myself and check out what's going on under the keys. I just think something this expensive shouldn't struggle with these small things... Would still like to hear if anyone had the same or a similar issue resolved, If it was ever.

 

Haven't posted in quite a while, but I think you are focusing on things to an OCD level (and that from someone who can definitely be OCD about their car and laptops). The keyboard if you look one up on line is a *very* thin design that basically just lays on top for all intents and purposes. I have seen three AW 13's and several 15's and 17's in stores, and all have the bit of flex in the keyboard producing slight variations. It's not a build issue, its a side effect of the component design on the keyboard.

The trackpad description you gave is identical to mine, again I think this is just the slight variances due to the components themselves. Honestly, not knocking your concerns, but try going to a store and checking out a lot of laptops (PC's, not MAC's) and I think you will see that AW is pretty much average at least in this area. Another thing, try checking out the gaps and so forth even on luxury cars, and you will be surprised at the slight variances of body panels, etc coming together even in the same line.

 

Lol I wrote this while spending an all-nighter finishing up a project, so I might have exaggerated a little. But I have a friend with my exact config and his is fine. Just found out today that my trackpad flexes so much I can stick a credit card in the gap between the palmrest and the trackpad itself. This laptop doesn't feel to very professional me, it fits and feels more like a toy but I guess that's to be expected from a company called "Alienware".

 

My M11x R2 had a similar issue, except that there was a huge dip around the G and H keys. I have no experience with the AW15, but on the M11x R2, I was able to straighten it out quite a bit by loosening the keyboard screw a little. It looked a lot better after that.