DV8000 Series - Keyboard problems. Anyone else?

[arielyn211]

Well, I have given up. I consistently have missed keystrokes, and the cap lock thing is driving me ape @#%@, but I just don't have the fight in me anymore. I also have a case number and a case manager...big deal. After literally HOURS on the phone (which included begging, cajoling, threatening and tears) they sent me a box to return the unit for repair. After reading about the condition of the units upon return, I have decided to live with the issues.

If anyone rallies the services of an attorney and initiates a class action lawsuit, count me in, but I have given up hope of having this issue fixed on my own.

[jka/v]

Night 2004,
I agree entirely. If I don't hear from HP tomorrow with a refund, I will be contacting lemon law lawyers, and let them have fun with it. I just hope folks will see this, and seriously consider purchasing from a company with such horrid customer support.

[ubatz]

I talked with 2 lawyers and they told me this is a class-action lawsuit for sure. I haven't had the time to look on the internet yet to research how we go about it. Case manager has still not returned my phone call and I have called every day for over a week. The BBB has taken my case, will keep you posted.

[Greg]

while i don't have this notebook, i really do feel sorry that dv8000 owners are getting this crap. i'd say you need to stick it to them the best that you can, and accept nothing less than full refunds.

[ubatz]

arielyn, you have the attitude they are hoping for, this is how the cretins at HP get away with knowingly selling dodgy computers. They know the majority of consumers will do nothing about it. You have to have sent your unit in 3 times for repair of the same problem to qualify under the warranty act.

[Greg]

if this thing hits class action, i'm sure it'll be in the news. you might even be able to get it as a class action not under the warranty act, but under the keyboard defect that HP has failed to fix for so long.

regardless, i think a lot of consumers will respond once the ball gets rolling!

ideal settlement: any HP laptop owner experiencing these issues and has attempted at contact HP regarding this issue should be entitled to a full refund plus additional damages to equal not less than twice the amount of the purchase price.

they know what they did...they should pay for it.

[Birdmangsr]

Like a few others have said, If a class action lawsuit happens count me in. I have the same keyboard issuses as everyone else, i have just been dealing with it because of the Headache of trying to speak to someone compitant at HP just never happends and i waste hours trying to get problems solved. I had to have my laptop replaced twice withing the 21 return day window because of defects with th first 2 ( first laptop i recieved the glossy keyboard surround was full of scratches like someone took sand paper to it)

[Cheffy]

Oh geez. I have read this entire thread now and am getting cold feet.

I picked up this dv8305ca model about 10 days ago, and have been loving it since. But it did seem that the keys were occassionally not responding as I typed, not surprising I thought, a new keyboard and I'm not the single best typist around. But I was curious because I thought the vertical viewing angle seemed a little poor, when in the normal viewing position the bottom seems lighter than the top. tilting the monitor back improves the bottom, but the top gets darker too. PLus there is a bit of excessive backlighting on the bottom when watching dark images I thought, although not enough to jusitfy exchanging the laptop itself.

So i thought I'd check out to see if this was normal. Except I ran across this thread, and am now debating whether to exhange the laptop while I have the chance. I have until friday to do so at Staples/business depot. I already exchanged from a Toshiba A100 SK4, it had a dead pixel and I decided to upgrade to this HP instead.

In writing this I have noted 2 keystroke problems, but I can't help but wonder if they were legitimate or just my own fault - I really am not a great typist. But I do notice my space bar seems to scroll down pages when web browsing - not a problem, but is this a sign of something odd? I have experienced the caps lock probem once, but couldn't tell if I had simply accidently pressed the button or if it turned itself on.

I know ubax and jak/ will definitely pipe in saying "just do it fool", and given their circumstances, I understand completely. But it seems the larger number of people posting here have not had the series of problems they have, and most simply have dealt with their keyboard issues by changing/upgrading drivers or using the scroll lock. Some declare the notebook to be wonderful in spite of the keyboard problems, and wouldn't change them regardless.

I love the huge screen, the full size keyboard, the FEEL of the keyboard, and the performance is quite decent for the price $999 + tax. The software stinks, but was easily removed/disabled. Updating the ATI drivers made a notable difference in performance with Neverwinter Nights. I have undoubted noted some odd keystroke issues, but I am not yet convinced that the notebook will be a total disaster. That, and I can't see myself finding something else comparable for the money. I am no expert, but in most cases it appears to be a software related issue, and likely linked to the touchpad. I know the touch pad is very sensitive and have accidently moved the cursor a few times by brushing against it while typing. I'm not saying this is the cause for cursor jumping for certain folks out there, but my gut says it is for some like me with gangly thumbs.

It still seems that few people have tried the scroll lock feature to see if this does indeed remedy the case for them. The few who have tried it have noted it worked flawlessly. Yes, it is not convenient or appropriate to have to do this, but if it is successful for most people then it seems a much simpler solution than dealing with sub-standard HP service.

I don't know if I'm seeking advice or trying to give it I suppose, but some feedback on my situation would be appreciated.

3 days left to return if necessary...

Cheffy

[Cheffy]

I just want to make clear, I am not denying that the keyboard is wonky for a very large number of people, nor am I denying that it is an unprofessional decision by HP not to appropriately address the issue through either a software fix (properly functioning drivers) or a recall that replaces any defective hardware components with properly functioning ones. I am in fact agreeing that I have had a few odd keyboard experiences including repeating or missed keystrokes, and a possible random caps lock engagement.

It is completely tolerable for me right now, although frankly I haven't exactly typed much yet. If it were to never get worse, I could care less. But, could I expect this to worsen? It seems for some it has, but for most others only just more noticeable over time because of a greater number of occurences (not a greater frequency of occurences). I intend to spend a lot of time typing in the future...

Cheffy

[jka/v]

Unfortunately Cheffy, the issues are more than just simple driver based problems. My guess is it's internal from where HP has subbed out the keyboard manufacturing. Especially since this comes across with folks in other models of HP laptops, and has been an ongoing, albeit not as bad as the 8000t, problem with HP.

Your issue sounds like a backlighting problem, and I'd say send it in or get out now. The product would be great if it worked as it was supposed to, but unfortunately it doesn't, and HP doesn't know, doesn't care, or just doesn't want to fix it.

I of course, heard nothing from HP today, so tomorrow will be contacting a lemon law lawyer, and persuing further with the BBB. Though my Case Manager said she wouldn't call back until I refiled a rebuttal through the BBB, and that she would wait 2 weeks to call, which is plain silly.