Melting Laptop Keyboards

So you finally invest in that laptop that you have been waiting for and then, after only five months, you start noticing that the letters and numbers on the keyboard are not only fading, but disappearing!  This is one of the most common problems today and is known as ‘keyboard melting’.

Unlike a desktop, where you can often have detachable keyboards that may (or may not) have the ability to switch out the keys, the laptop is a complete circuit and you don’t have that option.  It is unknown as to why almost all of the laptop manufacturers are printing the keyboards with such low grade ink, but it is happening all over the world.  This same thing happened years ago and it was thought that consumer complaints were enough to stop the practice. Apparently they assume everyone forgot about it and started applying cheap ink again.

If you are a writer or in any kind of business that requires a lot of computer time, the ‘melting’ can start as soon as three to four months. If you are like most, you will simply deal with the problem, because, let’s face it, you ‘know’ what letters are supposed to be on the keys. This will work for a while, especially for experienced typists. But, there will come a moment when you look at the keyboard, now a streamlined picture of almost solid black, and question yourself as to which key is which.

Thankfully, before you get too frustrated, there is a solution. There are a number of companies that produce overlays for your keyboard. These include all of the letters, numbers, special characters, function keys, directional keys and, pretty much everything on the keyboard. The cost is minimal (usually around $17 or so) and they arrive on small sheets.   They are individually applied, as you pull each one off and carefully place it over the specific key. 

While they might appear to be lightweight, these are very sturdy. The only thing you will need to be sure of is that you have sufficient lighting to make sure the placement is done properly. If you put it down crooked it is easily pulled up for repositioning.  Once each one is in place, the typing process will seal it to the key.