Dell spare parts

[The Nr Fairy]

Odd problem. Space bar on the keyboard on my (work) Dell Latitude C800 has broken to the extent that, while it still works, the plastic key itself stands proud of the rest of the keyboard.

Dell can't help - I told them the key had come adrift while cleaning it. ServiceSource ( Dell spare parts company ) have quoted me £95 + shipping + VAT for a grand total of £125ish - all for one manky piece of plastic.

Anyone out there work for Dell ? Anyone have a dead Dell laptop which they'd let me have to scavenge ?

I can live with the problem short term, but it's a real PIA that I can't get one tiny bit !

[wub]

NrF, try:

http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=latit_general

You are more likely to meet the right kind of Dell user there.

Good luck

[The Nr Fairy]

Found a company in Portsmouth - ClonesUK (http://www.clonesuk.co.uk) - which does the keyboard, less keycaps, for £35. Space bars for £10.

So, grand total of something like £50 inc. VAT and an hour's fiddling - sorted.

[fobotcso]

What might a brand new keyboard from PC World have cost, I wonder?

[The Nr Fairy]

fobotsco :

Brand new PS/2 connector keyboard from PC World probably be about a tenner.

Unfortunately it won't fit in the case along with the laptop.