hi! would like to ask for opinion, i got my brand new Dell Inspiron 15R two weeks ago, but discovered that the spacebar does not work from 1 angle. Emailed Dell and they are going to send an engineer to replace keyboard. My question is: is it better to request for a new laptop replacement? or just let them replace the keyboard part? will replacing the keyboard damage the laptop somewhat?

thanks in advance.

lol of course it's better to have new things last week after i've installed everything i certainly didn't want it replaced, but a few days ago a BSOD happened after i (think) i interrupted a windows update process (took too long to shut down). restored and reinstalled the windows. now i feel like a new laptop is not a bad idea...

uh, hi again all! regarding my Dell Inspiron 15R, anybody here with the same model? the engineer came to replace the keyboard, but still got exactly the same issue. the engineer said is not sure is it the design of the keyboard or what, they will replace with another keyboard next week, and take a motherboard along just in case.

i don't think is design, cos every Dell/other laptops i used before have no such problem. i can't possibly change the way i type bcos of 1 spacebar??

anybody else's inspiron 15R's spacebar cannot work from the bottom, like this? (sorry too dark, but u see got 1 angle not working)

no no, left, right and top(back of bar) are fine, it only cannot work from bottom(front of bar). i usually push the bar forward with my thumb, so if i type a sentence, most of my words become unspaced (though not all).

can i request for a replacement unit? the engineer said might change motherboard, i guess replacing the whole unit will be better? it's only 2 weeks old anyway... btw, thx for your answer...

i emailed them this morning, they just replied with 'sorry, a replacement unit is unavailable'. they said must be problem with keyboard mechanism. well.... i just hope the third keyboard they replace will work *rolleyes* this is very time-wasting... ugh

yep, hope so... thx anyway... if it doesnt go well i'll be complaining here again

hi thanks for the advice! yesterday the second engineer came, and wow... exactly the same problem again!! i can't believe it! how can there be so many defective keyboards??!! and all not working at the exact same spot also!! this is ridiculous!! and the engineer said they will replace with a new keyboard... again???!! wow then every week i wait for them to replace keyboards??!! why didn't they check what's wrong with the first keyboard they took back?? this is just poor technical support, cannot find out the root of the problem...

ugh so angry... i emailed them, threaten to ask for refund... so far no reply yet... you are right, guess i should call them...

third engineer came just now, with another keyboard, and with the exact same problem!! the engineer called the Dell support to tell them about the problem, and Dell support said "I don't see the issue here, do you know how to type?" wow apparently my problem is i don't know how to type even though i've never had any issue with every single laptop i've ever used before. he refused my request for a replacement, saying that i'll have the same issue if they send a new one. what??? then give me a new one before you make an assumption!! geez... i told him i went to lowyat last week to try their display unit of the exact same model, there was no such problem with that unit at all. and he had the nerve to suggest that 'i should press the spacebar in the middle only'. and they said Dell customer service is the best???? i asked for a refund and he said they'll charge some RM80 for refund??? what??? you gave me a defective unit and you want to charge me for refund??? and the laptop is not even 1 month old!!

the engineer took over and suggested to change the motherboard and maybe palmrest? i'll just have to wait until then. but really, Dell customer service is the worst ever. they can't even find out what's the problem and belittle their customers so they can get away with their defective products.

i have no idea... i thought it's their technical support's job to find out?? and the Dell support guy just kept saying "I don't see any issue..." well, if no issue then take this laptop back and use it then!! its barely 1 month old...

i did exactly that, except the cold and collected part i guess... anyway the guy kept saying "i don't see any issue" "engineers said there's no problem" (wow, just lied like that, if their engineers said there's no problem they won't be sending so many keyboards to me) "i'm sorry we cannot give you a replacement unit" "you will be charge RM80 for a refund" since when does a refund get charged, anyway??? and this is a new laptop somemore??

at least the engineer (somewhat) helped me by asking the guy to change motherboard or some (palm?) rest... they may come again tomorrow, so we'll see...

i see the con of on-site service like Dell's now, with issue like mine, if you go to a shop, you can probably change various spare parts until the problem is fixed. with Dell's, you have to wait for each spare part to arrive, make appointment to meet them each time, wasting a lot of time and dragging out the problem...

btw, i'm using windows 8 now. still not familiar enough with it, but it is bearable...

uh, this is my first laptop, i used desktop before. usually somehow or other my desktop's faulty parts can be diagnosed and the parts changed immediately. apparently u can't change a keyboard as easily in a laptop...

nah i dunno anything about other SCs... care to enlighten me? i do not wish to go through another customer service nightmare


oh, the FOURTH engineer came today, with the FIFTH keyboard, and EXACTLY SAME ISSUE. he was actually the first engineer who came. he said he issued for keyboard AND motherboard for the second service, but only the keyboard came, and kept coming, and coming...

anyway, he called phone support, told them i want either replacement or refund, and they agreed to refund. if they're gonna charge me anything for refund, i'll take it to consumer tribunal.