Blast!

[elfs]

There are certain keys on the keyboard that you can't really live without. Today's example is the spacebar. Guess which one I broke tonight? It kinda works, if I hit it really hard, but sometimes it just stays stuck and I don't know what to do about it. Right now it's stuck kinda down, but it works although it's not very sensitive. I'm not sure if this is going to last, but it's very hard to type like this.

Sigh. I really, really can't afford a new computer right now.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

You could always fake it with a usb keyboard... there are several varieties that might be useful.

[dougs.livejournal.com]

autopope, who writes simply absurd amounts and treats keyboards as consumable items, always uses a bluetooth keyboard, because they're so much cheaper to replace than the built-in ones on the laptop.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[elfs.livejournal.com]

I tried that. It's not crud, something actually snapped underneath. It's the one weakness to the otherwise very nice 600E: the keyboard tends to get brittle and die with long use.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[dossy.livejournal.com]

It looks like IBM Thinkpad 600E keyboards go for around $90. Searching on eBay, it seems like the part can be gotten for $42.99 or less.

While it's not "free," it's sure cheaper than the cost of an entirely new computer.

Of course, if you're not a handy geek, then I guess this is of no use to you. But, it might be worth finding a local handy geek that could come by and replace the keyboard for a couple of bucks? You're up in .wa.us, right? There's bound to be some unemployed handy geeks sitting at a Starbucks near you!

[lucky-otter.livejournal.com]

Keyboards are so easy to replace. Usually they require popping a couple of screws, removing a plastic bit or two, and unplugging the old one; then reverse with the new one.

In addition to eBay, you might also check with the vendor. Even if they don't sell this model anymore, they probably still have keyboards for it. I know I've gotten keyboards for laptops that are a couple years out of print.