Up to ^$*%!# here with the dismal quality of painted charactershvlocphy=9047856&hvtargid=pla-783751206606&psc=1
on my Asus g73 laptop keyboard. That's 3 times I change this
freakin keyboard, and with the equally flimsy ribbon connections
I don't dare to try it again!
Anybody know of some two-layer stickers that will not wear out
for 20 years? I'm thinking of the signage technology using layered
plastics, perchance a cut stainless steel layer revealing black
chrome lettering underneath?
https://www.amazon.ca/Engraving-Double-Pieces-Interior-Badges/dp/B07QT93LN9/ref=asc_df_B07QT93LN9/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335601887744&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13244580989418725093&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&
bad sector <forgetski@postit_INVALID_.gov> wrote:hvlocphy=9047856&hvtargid=pla-783751206606&psc=1
Up to ^$*%!# here with the dismal quality of painted characters
on my Asus g73 laptop keyboard. That's 3 times I change this
freakin keyboard, and with the equally flimsy ribbon connections
I don't dare to try it again!
Anybody know of some two-layer stickers that will not wear out
for 20 years? I'm thinking of the signage technology using layered
plastics, perchance a cut stainless steel layer revealing black
chrome lettering underneath?
https://www.amazon.ca/Engraving-Double-Pieces-Interior-Badges/dp/B07QT93LN9/ref=asc_df_B07QT93LN9/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335601887744&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13244580989418725093&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&
The problem with 2-layer stickers, if any exist, is they could be too
thick, and damage the screen when it presses against the now thicker
keys when you close the cover. Your suggestion would be to add really
thick 2-layer stickers atop the keys, and those would likely scratch the screen when the laptop is closed.
Sorry, I've never used key cap stickers, especially since I touch-type,
and only look down at the keyboard for complicated sequences or long stretches of the fingers. If a key cap wears away its logo, I'm usually
not looking at it, anyway. If I do look down, I'm engrained with the
QWERTY layout. When I have to use the Fn key to get at an alternate use
of a key do I look down at the keyboard. Usually I attach a real
keyboard (better response, larger keys) when at home or work. Laptop
keys slow down my typing speed, and are sized for little fingertips. I
also don't use the screen in the laptop, and instead plug the laptop
into a docking station to have a real keyboard, mouse, and monitor. So,
one solution is to use a USB keyboard instead of the laptop's keyboard.
No flimsy ribbon cable to deal with when you want to swap out the
external keyboard.
https://keyshorts.com/blogs/blog/15-questions-about-keyboard-stickers-you-always-wanted-to-ask
That gives some hints about what to look for in key cap stickers. Of
course, they want to sell you their products. I've seen keyboards with
up to 3 to 5 icons on their key caps, so I don't know if this company
has stickers with all the icons instead of just the letter.
Of course, you could just use clear stickers to have them take the wear instead of the key caps, and replace the clear stickers when they get
too ragged. How long the stickers last depends on how rough you are on
the keyboard, how often you use the keyboard, if used inside only or
also outside, cleanliness of your fingers, and so on. Gamers can wear
out stickers on the WASD keys in about 6 months. When you've damaged
the sticker, peel it off, and put on a new one. I don't see stickers
lasting for 20 years. Singage gets rained on, in the sun, and other weathering effects, but do not suffer friction wear as with key caps.
Even notice someone that used a signage plaque glued to the front
counter, and how it wears away if placed where customers are going to
lean or use that space to view and sign docs? It's still plastic, and
it will wear away with friction. Signage is not for heavy touch use.
Instead of replacing the entire keyboard, the key caps can be replaced
on some laptops, like shown at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCYOiK9QP08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y5gGtubmm0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn6YZwnJKGM
The last one shows key cap removal for an Asus laptop, but doesn't say
for which model of Asus.
However, to replace them means finding replacements. You might find a damaged laptop the same or similar to yours being sold for parts-only at eBay, Craigslist, and elsewhere. An online search on "asus g73 key
caps" will find sellers of key caps, like:
https://www.replacementlaptopkeys.com/asus-g73-laptop-key-replacement/?sku=ASKEY-US-6599
(never bought from them, didn't know about them, found in a search)
bad sector <forgetski@postit_INVALID_.gov> wrote:
I looked at the replacement caps and while I could maybe do that
without breaking them they're the same (zero) quality painted
material as the originals.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=asus+g73+parts&_sop=15
Looks like sellers want too much for just parts, or laptops that are
broken and they're selling for parts.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=asus+g73+parts&_sop=15
Those are cheaper just to get the keyboard alone.
As for the flimsy ribbon cable, the ones I see at the eBay search
already have the ribbon cable attached. The mobo end should just be a
header into which you slide the ribbon cable. That should be a
many-time reusable header connector.
https://youtu.be/Tp90M_N6dzs?t=196
From that video (and ignoring the rest of the video about a total
dismantle of the laptop), the keyboard is pretty easy to remove. No disassembly is required (the keyboard part of the video ends at the 4:29
time mark). Just snap it out.
It's the double-sided tape that probably gets most wear with repeated disassembly. It looks to be thin, so it's not double-side foam tape. I would remove the tape, and apply new tape during reassembly, and see if
it could be positioned only at the bottom of the keyboard to give a bit
more leverage of peeling the keyboard from the tape.
Key caps are even easier to replace, and cheaper than doing the entire keyboard. So what if they're just as crappy as the originals? You're replacing them maybe every 3-5 years unless you're being physically
abusive. Tires wear out, too, but not at extremely short intervals
unless you're getting super soft compound and scrubbing them off with high-speed turns or takeoffs.
I thought replacing key caps on laptops would be more difficult than for desktop keyboards. Nope. I've replaced key caps several times on
several keyboards. One time was all key caps to put a cushion
underneath to help silence a clackity keyboard. The hardest ones are
those with a bail to distribute keypress across the key (Enter, Back,
Enter), because you have to get the bail positioned correctly on
reassembly. They key cap kits even give you a puller, so you're not
trying to wedge them off with a flat screwdriver. I didn't see a puller
for the laptop key cap kits, but I didn't hunt around to look.
Not liking black I replaced my keyboard with a white one, 1mm
thick white plastic caps with barely a tenth of a mm dark bottom
layer revealed through the engraved letter would be my idea of a
wear-resistant solution. The cover can get thicker bumpers to protect
the monitor.
I know there are laser-etched key cap replacements for desktop
keyboards. Desktop keyboards have caps that are taller than laptop key
caps. However, laser etching requires a thicker plastic which would
probably lead to a fitment problem for key caps replacements in laptops. Laser etching (to expose a differently color substrate, or allow for injecting a different colored plastic into the impress) requires more thickness. Laptops can be pretty tight regarding dimensions. They're
not like carrying around a 25-lb Osborne 1.
I didn't hunt around for laser-etched laptop key cap replacements. They
may be around. However, total replacement is going to get pricey for
all keys. Likely you only have a couple keys that get highly used to
scrub off their printed character(s). So, replace just those keys even
if no better than what was there before. Several years is better than hunt-and-peck typing style that has you constantly looking at the
keyboard wondering what that key did.
I have solar path lights. They have plastic lenses/covers instead of
glass. After a couple years, the lens gets cloudy. So, I polish the
lens with 000 steel wool, and coat with a clear outdoor acrylic spray
paint. I could replace them, or I could maintain them. You don't want
to replace the entire keyboard. Replace just the caps. How long did it
take you to wear through the old key caps?
Never having learned to touch-type I'm at best a two finger
keyboard pounder, it's mostly the corners of my nails that
chisel the paint off.
Hint: Dump having long nails for some style thing. Use these:
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=nail%20clippers
(wink wink)
When my nails get too long, my keypresses are more sloppy. That's
because nails slide more easily on a key cap than fingertip flesh. I
also play the piano, and cannot stand long nails. Interferes with the
"feel" of my fingers on the keys. Nails don't feel. Flesh does.
Clear covers might be a good idea too. I could rewrite the letters
with marker and fix these with drops of caulking for easy removal.
The key cap covers will have their own non-permanent adhesive, so you
can replace them when they get ragged. Instead of using marked key cap covers, and you go with clear covers, you could rewrite the character(s)
atop the keycap, and then use clear nail polish to provide some wear protection. Then use the clear covers (not keyboard covers, but key cap stickers as covers).
You could use an opaque key cap sticker (what's underneath doesn't show through) instead of you trying to repaint the character on the key cap.
You will not be able to hand print a character atop the key cap as neat
as those for those on key cap stickers. You'll keep noticing the sloppy handiwork. Then apply a clear key cap cover over the sticker to take the
wear instead of the underlying key cap label. Of course, why bother repeatedly replacing a clear key cap sticker atop the lettered key cap sticker instead of just replace the lettered key cap sticker. The
lettered key cap stickers run about $5 for a complete QWERTY set. Seems pretty cheap to maintain the keys every few years to make the key caps legible. Plus fitment could be a problem with the key cap top getting
too thick where it contacts the screen when folded down when using both
a lettered key cap sticker and a clear key cap sticker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH_Z7WzVicI
I looked at the replacement caps and while I could maybe do that
without breaking them they're the same (zero) quality painted
material as the originals.
Not liking black I replaced my keyboard with a white one, 1mm
thick white plastic caps with barely a tenth of a mm dark bottom
layer revealed through the engraved letter would be my idea of a wear-resistant solution. The cover can get thicker bumpers to protect
the monitor.
Never having learned to touch-type I'm at best a two finger
keyboard pounder, it's mostly the corners of my nails that
chisel the paint off.
Clear covers might be a good idea too. I could rewrite the letters
with marker and fix these with drops of caulking for easy removal.
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