Durable Keys on Laptops; Is That a Lost Art?

I hear ya.

Btw, you can buy a thin overlay for your specific laptop that has the key labels printed on it. I have a white-backlit keyboard on my laptop, and I've thought about getting a red translucent one for use at night.

The overlay has the added advantage of keeping dust, food particles, and liquids from getting into the electronics. (I know - as if anyone would be eating while using their computer!)

I use a colored backlit (LED) keyboard on my main Desktop and it is ideal; haven't used one on my laptops. No reason I shouldn't they are cheap enough.

So just replace the keys...

https://www.replacementlaptopkeys.com/

They are called Injection-molded keys, where the contrasting color is actually part-of the key, not a thin film on its surface.

Mac Book Pro: The keys lasted about 1 year so now anyone trying to use my laptop needs to know a keyboard. To replace the keyboard on a Mac is not cheap nor quick. They will simply tell you to buy a new laptop. Mac might be good, but it is still made in China.

Thanks! This example is strong support for my argument. The technology is not really lost, it was thrown away, quite deliberately, because double-injected keys do cost a little more and because reduced lifetime (even of more expensive, premium computers) leads to more sales.

Name and shame them. They don't need protecting, we the buyer need protection from greedy scoundrels, and they just made more money out of me as I bought another Apple iphone SE today. Idiot! Oh Yes!

Yes, the old keys were two-shot injection moulded, but that meant hundreds of keys necessary to support multiple worldwide languages.

Modern keyboards only need 5 or six key variants and then once assembled the whole keyboard is transfer printed into the target country details. This is cheaper by orders of magnitude. For example, the square keys used for letters, numbers and such can now be assembled in any orientation (by machine) where the old keys had to be matched not only for location, but also for orientation.

Transfer printing can be very reliable though. The cost saving that has impacted you is maybe the final 0.5 cent difference in the purchase price of the quality ink that does not wear away. The really good inks etch into the plastic surface and even when abraded away, still leave a shadow in the plastic.

We used to print small switch assemblies for auto industry. Instead of handling and printing 6 buttons separately, we would print the assembly in a single machine cycle. SIGNIFICANT labour saving.

I use a toothpick and white appliance touch up paint to reletter any keys when they letters wear off. Only certain keys wear, no doubt due to my oddball typing technique, and even though my fingernails are short. The relettering lasts a few months for me. It's a cheap fix but still a PITA. I agree, there's no excuse for this. Bad products.

jhammond

I share your pain -> http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/110648

My old corded Dell keyboard here at the office only lost its N, M and F paint in the last few months, reinforcing your observation that older equipment performed better than new stuff. I'd really like to know why.

I am pretty sure the reason is simply, "do as cheaply as possible, and if it lasts past the end of the guarantee, that is good enough". I have wondered why the Keys are not premarked with a LASER to make slight cavities in which the paint gets some protection. LASER marking is a pretty inexpensive process, but maybe more durable than the current method is not desired.

My Toshiba is almost 3 years old, keys still perfect.

It is also quite easy to replace most/some( ) keyboards with great products off ebay for example.

Cheap and easy!!

I checked for my Toshie some time ago and we are talking less than $20!!

Or buy a cheap Bluetooth or USB keyboard and use that! I recently bought a cheap keyboard with an RF/USB plug, for my Smart TV, again less that $20....including a separate mouse.