Anyone try upgrading their GX640 keyboard?

Having played with my GX640 for awhile I like it overall but the keyboard is bothering me. It just doesn't work as well as it should and I had a key get off centre somehow and I was worried it had broke.

So went searching for upgrades and came across this. Looks promising and not too expensive. For that matter I think it looks better without the red highlights.

Just wondering if anyone had given it a shot yet.

Now if someone would just make a more attractive top grille...

 

I dont think anyones tried what you are suggesting, but you could always be the first, i suppose what really needs to be done is a close comparison of both keyboards as well as the ribbon location on the keyboards as they could be different.

But if you do go ahead with it, that would be pretty cool (Y).

 

Someone on the GX640 owner's thread had ordered one from RK with the "chicklet" style keyboard, and reported they were quite happy with it. It isn't really a true chicklet as it were, but more so than the stock keyboard.

I would guess it would be pretty easy to swap it out on your own. You can specify it the configuration-thing when ordering a new gx640 as well.

 

I would be interested in the keyboard, but the Fn key is still in the same place..

 

I like the Fn key placement, probably because that is how the lappies I've used are (Lenovo is the same way). I'm just not all that impressed with the quality. It's ok, but could stand to be better, especially in light of the rest of the system.

I may go ahead and try this (it is made specifically for MSI laptops) I just wanted to see if anyone else had tried it yet and had opinions.

 

Are chiclet keyboards better than the stock ones?

 

I don't think they are inherantly better. It seems some people like typing on them more, others don't. The chicklet style keyboards appear to be the more "trendy" style of keyboard. I think Mac was first to use the chicklets? (for what that's worth anyway...). True chicklets might get less junk behind the keys, but the GX640 chicklet keyboard isn't really a true chicklet anyway from what i can tell.

 

Sony created the modernized version of the chiclet keyboard that many hardware manufacturers have since adopted, but its invention dates back to the late 70s. It was used with computers such as the ZX Spectrum. Chiclets were quickly abandoned for the superior IBM-style keyboard design, but people can't distinguish between crap and quality these days, hence the resurgence of the chiclet keyboard.

 

Thanks for the history lesson!

It's all style these days . . .

 

Well the GX640 keyboard is not quality by any stretch of the imagination. It works, but that's about it. Only part of the laptop I feel is not high quality.

 

I don't know if you'd call my keyboard an "upgrade" but it's an MSI plain white on black keyboard I got fro RMA since they didn't have any gaming keyboards in stock. I love it, no flex at all and I think it looks better

 

NotEnoughMinerals, could you post a picture please, of your white keyboard? I've never seen that one for sale anywhere.

*EDIT: is this it?



DESCRIPTION：MSI M670 US Laptop Keyboard (White)
Item Condition: new originally

Chicony P/N : MP-03233U4-359K

Quanta P/N : AEW32873603

P/N : S1N-3UUS631-C54

S/N : 0824001306M

 

That would be a pretty awesome keyboard swap. I don't think it was what minerals was talking about tho, he said 'white on black' like the normal keyboard but without the red I think?

I would totally buy the above keyboard if it didn't have the old arrow and shift keys placement. I have been considering swapping my gx640 into a gx620 silver chassis which would be awesome with a white keyboard but I just cant deal with that tiny shift key.

 

Lenovo made a quite good chiclet keyboard in their x100 and the edge line, I typed with the x100, and its quite good really lives up to my older lenovo. Although there is no words to describe how crappy is the keyboard that msi uses.

FYI I tried the so commented envy 14 keyboard and that was on the same level as the msi, pretty poor quality, low keystroke, there isnt enough travel, and there is a lack of feedback on it.

The asus are also horrible, leaving only room for the last 2 which are the acer's and off course msi's.

Why people stopped making good keyboards? I have to go business class to get one, and I dont like the dell's latitude at all, although I never tried the also loved xps keyboard, I have to get my hands on one to see.

 

Yea mine is pretty ordinary.
Black keys, white font.
Funny thing is that I must be the only person who doesn't have easy access to a good camera right now. One day I'll get pics up of that, my modded backplate, and a whole bunch of stuff.

 

does anyone have a picture of a laptop with the chiclet style keyboard?