So it broke... now what?

My cat knocked it off the desk and shattered the screen. Everything else works fine... I can remotely connect to it and it seems everything is functioning correctly (it also doesn't snap shut... and the tab key fell out somehow). I contacted BTOtech and he told me $470 for repairs including shipping. Anyone know any cheaper solutions or is that my only option?

 

Buy a screen on eBay and try to DIY.

 

I'm on ebay now and I only see two s96j screens. would all 15.4" wxga screens work? additionally, this is just the screen... it won't fix the fact that the laptop won't snap shut anymore (the little hooks fell off... as well as the tab key).

also, would this be easy? I'm pretty technically savy, but more software based than hardware based (other than networking).

 

The cheapest solution may be to get an external monitor with a simple stand so that you fold the remains of your display back and push it underneath the monitor. However, you will no longer have a portable computer.

John

 

Your other option for DIY or send-in would be ScreenTek. You can check out the NBR review from 2/06 here. They don't list the S/Z96 in their Asus models, but it looks like they may have just a single 15.4 screen that they say fits multiple Asus models. You'd probably need to talk with them to confirm whether and I don't know whether this would work or necessarily fit with your unit's lcd wire plug.

$300 for the screen alone @ Screentek before shipping, so $470 that Eddie's quoting you that includes shipping, labor and expert assembly (eliminating user error) is probably reasonable; I'd hazard a guess that he'd also guarantee his work for you.

Unfortunately, the LCD is the priciest component of a notebook, along with the motherboard, to replace. Another question you need to consider is whether the $470 or whatever might be better used toward purchase of a new system (depending on your exact S96 config as that would determine upgrade cost to current models - you didn't mention what was in it).

 

Call Asus and give them your serial number, they only charge $230 to replace the new screen and that's labor and shipping included.

 

1. Beat the crap out of your cat!

 

Ken's suggestion sounds best. You could also try purchasing the LCD part from the Asus eStore and installing it yourself... the LCD panel should cost $350-400

 

I was gonna ask how the cat was doing? If you don't want to answer, we'll understand

I would take Ken's advice on this, and send it to Asus and have it done right for reasonable bux.

Btw, I have a cat (now residing at mi casa de madre) that has chewed up roughly 500 bux in cables from Xbox 360 headsets, to speaker wires, router power plug, several cell phone charger cables...I'm forgetting many. LOL

 

I ordered a replacement screen off a trustworthy vendor on ebay for 170. I'm pretty confident I can fix it myself as long as I can undo the screen chasis.

My main concern now is the broken tab key. I was thinking of purchasing a keyboard silicone skin and just somehow glue the tab key inside the appropriate hole. That way it would be firmly in place... any ideas about that? I can't seem to come up with any other sites that offer tab keys haha.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Keyboard-Silico...ryZ31534QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

As for the cat situation... I was pretty mad at him. It's my girlfriend's cat too... not even my own. However, I couldn't take my anger out on him... there was nothing I could do to fix the situation... so I just hissed at him to let out some frustrations haha.

 

If all else fails, you can get a new one for $20.
http://estore.asus.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=3210&catid=457

 

Yeah, the keyboard is a breeze to pay for and replace in comparison with the LCD... so why not get a new one.