Time To Replace Two Old Dell Laptops

C

Carbo

Diamond Member

Aug 6, 2000

5,248

7

81

• Sep 10, 2024

• #1

My wife's laptop is 8 years old; mine is 7. A pair of XPS13 models, problem free all this time until recently. Both keyboards are starting to act up. Space bar on both stops working intermittently; my keyboard is physically worn from all the use. No complaints, they've lived long and prospered.
Now I find myself in the market that is quite different from 7 years ago. Looking around, I'm overwhelmed at the choices. Primary use is personal: online shopping, some social media stuff, no gaming, etc. Advice? Recommendations? Thank you.

 

T

Tech Junky

Diamond Member

Jan 27, 2022

3,790

1,322

106

• Sep 10, 2024

• #2

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Best pricing usually and if you don't want to add the drive and RAM check the complete category.

 

Turbonium

Platinum Member

Mar 15, 2003

2,154

82

91

• Sep 11, 2024

• #3

Just replace the keyboards. It should be pretty straightforward/easy.

I'm still using a 17 year old (yes, you read that right) Dell laptop. I did replace the keyboard at one point. Very straightforward.

But yeah, you're basically using the laptops for the most basic things. You absolutely do not need a newer system for those uses.

 

Reactions: CarbonLogic, westermann9 and lakedude

C

Carbo

Diamond Member

Aug 6, 2000

5,248

7

81

• Sep 11, 2024

• #4

17 years? Wow! That's impressive! I assumed changing out the keyboard would be a major undertaking. I'll take a look online and see if it's something I can manage. Thank you.

 

Turbonium

Platinum Member

Mar 15, 2003

2,154

82

91

• Sep 11, 2024

• #5

Check eBay to see if you can find genuine replacement parts. And check the documentation for those laptops as to how to swap out keyboards. It's usually pretty superficial of a job and easy. And no problem.

 

In2Photos

Platinum Member

Mar 21, 2007

2,159

2,234

136

• Sep 11, 2024

• #6

Carbo said:

17 years? Wow! That's impressive! I assumed changing out the keyboard would be a major undertaking. I'll take a look online and see if it's something I can manage. Thank you.

Click to expand...

Check out ifixit.com. They have a lot of tutorials on how to disassemble different devices and sometimes offer parts or at least part numbers for some devices.

 

Reactions: manly

Torn Mind

Lifer

Nov 25, 2012

11,940

2,730

136

• Sep 11, 2024

• #7

Consumer grade laptops are a lot of meh to outright bad these days.
Lenovo also might be worse than Acer but has that ThinkPad halo. Busted hinges are the norm.

 

Torn Mind

Lifer

Nov 25, 2012

11,940

2,730

136

• Sep 11, 2024

• #8

Carbo said:

17 years? Wow! That's impressive! I assumed changing out the keyboard would be a major undertaking. I'll take a look online and see if it's something I can manage. Thank you.

Click to expand...

This might help you out, video is 50 minutes.

 

MadRat

Lifer

Oct 14, 1999

11,953

274

126

• Sep 17, 2024

• #9

Way different than the 15.6 and 17 inch models in that era. Just a few minor hidden clips to press and a ribbon cable in the bigger ones.