Fading Lettering on Keyboard

I just noticed that some of the letters on the R400 keyboard is wearing out. This is after about 1-yr heavy use. I will probably order for an solid-backplate keyboard. But I wonder if this is normal? I would like think not as I cannot go about replacing keyboards every year or so! This is not or should not be common thing is it? I mean does this happen to you folks who use ThinkPads day in and day out?

 

I don't think it's a common problem, my T61 with a solid backplated keyboard still looks immaculate despite some fair use on it (and being 4 years old). I guess you're unlucky with your keyboard, but at least it gives you a good excuse to get the backplated keyboard now!

 

I already have the backplated keyboard in the R400 (I believe the x201 does not have that option). Strange isn't it, unless of course, my finger tips are highly corrosive - though I don't see holes or anything on any other thing that I touch.

 

My t400 has some serious wear, but the letters are still fine. That's after 2+ years (probably 1.5 actual hard use).

 

Is keyboard fading covered by standard warranty as it is normal wear and tear? Half my Vostro keys were rubbed off but it was my gaming laptop. WASD was pretty worn down.

 

I am quite sure that the keyboard (at least the fading of the letters) will not be covered by warranty.

 

Maybe you could get sticker for the key instead of replace it, here is a link English keyboard sticker

 

Thanks. I did not even know these things existed. I may just try it out. I just hope I don't mess up putting the sticker on. When I used to build model planes and tanks etc., the decals were the thing that I invariably messed up!

I might just go for this. This plus the ThinkLight would be nice...don't you think?

 

The stickers are going to wear out.

Thinkpads have pad printed/silkscreened keys with a clear coating. Those aren't the most durable way, but it's cheap.

The most durable ways of printing a key are:
1. Mold the lettering into the keys with two color injection molding. The lettering is part of the plastic and it's basically impossible to wear off and gets really, really high contrast, but the tooling is expensive and not flexible. It's also tricky to do more than two colors.
2. Dye sublimate them. You basically take a dye sheet and press it against the keys at high heat. The lettering is dyed into the plastic and the dye penetrates the plastic to a couple microns, so it's really, really hard to wear off. The old IBM Model M clicky keyboards used this technique. The problem is that it only works on white or gray keys (you can't dye black plastic white), and again it's expensive.

For more info see:
Default:All About Keys - geekhack forums

 

How do the non-letter parts of the keys look? I haven't had the lettering on any Thinkpad keys wear out, but I have had the keys become really shiny. I just checked the old keyboards from my T42 and T61, and on both the lettering seems to have resisted wear better than the rest of the keycap.

By the way, neither of my old keyboards were replaced because the caps wore out. The clip holding the "A" key broke on the T42 keyboard, and the down cursor key came off and was lost from the T61 keyboard.

 

The rate of keyboard lettering wearing away depend on the brand of the keyboard, and probably the batch too.

Also, i find that in environment that is humid and hot, the lettering tend to wear away faster.

 

Haven't had an issue with this on my T500, granted, most of the time, I use an external keyboard. My dad's T60, though, which has seen several years of good use, does not have any key lettering wear, although there is a shiny layer on each key.

 

I've never had any problem with lettering wearing away on any keyboard of any kind. Sometimes I think some of it has to do with one's own skin chemistry.

 

The good news is that ThinkPad keyboards are relatively cheap and easy to replace. Looks like about $15 on eBay for a used keyboard in good condition, or around $35 for a new keyboard. Replacement takes about 5 minutes.

 

Worn letters are vintage cool....let it be!

 

But not cool if you can't make out the letters on the keyboard, not everyone are a touch-typist.

 

This probably makes most sense in my specific context. Oh well...I will send in my order for two keyboards today - one for the R400 and the other for the x201 (in the latter case, I hope they send me the NMB keyboard).

Thanks

 

Oh yeah also human sweat does tend to be slightly alkaline and depending on the diet and personal biochemistry, the sweat pH can rise to around pH of 9.

My friend says if you are worried about such things, then get a silicon keyboard cover or wipe down your keyboard with a soft cloth at the end of the day.