computer repair

[winterbadger]

Wow. I took my laptop to the neighborhood technician to get a key fixed. He said they'd have to replace the entire keyboard (FFS, if I could get a replacement key, I could install it myself) and that it would take 3-5 business days to get the new keyboard. OK, whatever.

A week and a half later, I call to find out where they are on getting the keyboard--they've never ordered it! Should they order it now? Like bugger all I'm going to give you my business! Who knows when you'll get off your arse and actually do something?

So I go to Yelp to try to find another computer repair shop. There are half a dozen in the next town over, but only two of them have any reviews, and those are uniformly negative. This looks like a huge business opportunity for someone, as I'm pretty sure that there have to be a lot of people in the Silver Spring/Takoma/Hyattsville area with computers that need repair.

The Toshiba website, on the other hand, is useless. No parts listing (the link that offers parts takes you to the page for buying new computers) and their charge for replacing a laptop keyboard starts at $250 (plus postage, plus waiting time, plus faff with getting the carrier to actually deliver the parcel).

Meanwhile, I'm still left with a laptop where it takes several tries every time I want to type an "n".

No wonder we're a disposable culture; I want a simple fix that should cost pennies and take a few minutes, but instead I'm faced with choices that coast almost as much as a new (low-end) laptop.

Comments

[peatsmoke.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you've already thought of this, but replacementlaptopkeys.com? I'd think that somewhere on the wide wide internet you must be able to source the right kind of N!

What a pain in the ass, though! Sorry your techies are dipsticks.

[winterbadger]

Bless you, sweetheart! I did not know about that!

[peatsmoke.livejournal.com]

Yay! Happy to help :)

[redactrice.livejournal.com]

Boy, do I hear you! I hate how few things (especially electronic things) actually get fixed these days. Ipod not holding a charge very long anymore? Here, we'll give you a whole new one. One of the three setting levers on my office chair stops working? We'll take the chair away and bring you a new one. I don't want my old one cluttering up a landfill; I just want someone to fix it.

Seems like just about the only things that you can get people to fix these days are cars and large appliances (dishwashers, dryers, and such). I wonder if it's just a matter of time with those, too.

[ticktockmary.livejournal.com]

If you can't find the N you're looking for (heh, that sounds funny) I can probably help you find the keyboard replacement part. Then, if you order the part I should be able to install it (free of charge). I'll need to know a bit more about the model number of your laptop.

The last keyboard I ordered (for an older dell) was about $75. Not cheap, but better than $250.

You're welcome to email me at marybindc at yahoo.

[winterbadger]

Thank you so much!

[winterbadger]

Thanks to peatsmoke and my friend Kirstin for pointing me to the site that sells one key at a time, and to ticktockmary for offering installation services! The key itself cost only $4.95, and shipping could be had for as little as $1.79. A whole lot more sensible than replacing the whole keyboard!