HP HDX 16 - Poor Keyboard Visibility / Letters on Keyboard are Hard to See and Almost Invisible

[Gangles]

well, if you honestly marked up your keyboard I hope it was not with a perminate marker! You can try again and ask them to look into it for you.

[GY58]

There is nothing to look into. I'm older and it is a silver keyboard. Thats their design.  

[Gangles]

Maybe with the HDX models there is no soft replacement of the bronze on bronze finish. I do not see why they would have it on other models and not HDX models. Could be expired for all I know. was worth a shot

[GY58]

They said no other options but to send in my custom built one and they would rebuild another one with  a lighted keyboard (i pay upgrade).I understand that those dont help much in regular light. No black option. Although a generous offer i have mine all configured now and dont want to rebuild one.

[SRF]

Thanks so much for posting this. I just called HP about my Pavilion DV3 and asked for a black and white keyboard replacement for the bronze keyboard. This must be the magical way to get through about the problem, because they are sending me a box to mail my notebook back and will replace the keyboard free of charge!

[mpg1965]

heyho folks,just passin thru and read this.if its any help im usin a hdx 18 and the keyboard is the same accept its not backlit and the letters are black on the silver.it is easy to see inside and outside.just no good in the dark....................................

[GY58]

Right...but the HDX 16 has no replacement options.

[SRF]

need to ignore my earlier post. I got the notebook back and they did not swap the keyboard. Apparently the "nice" help desk agent thought the letters were worn off and that was my problem. Guess "glare" does not translate. Wish I could take back the 10 I rated him!

So my case manager said to send it back to see if they can find a keyboard, rather than technical support team. But they don't know if there is one, or not. What they recommend I do is buy stickers and put on the keyboard. Great answer for a $1000+ laptop.

Did I mention I bought a Dell that is awesome and I have no problem reading the keyboard? No stickers needed.

[GY58]

Well thanks alot to all of the advice. You can't beat these forums.

Just getting older and the "cool" silver keys do not have the contrast that the black did. That's why most keyboards are black, right !  I love the HDX though having used it for a month now.

[joyful1977]

too funny ...my parents complained of the same thing ( "cool keys" harder to read) ... except the not so cool thing is that now i am starting to have the same issue!!  Bifocals here I come!!

Know this is an older post, but thought I'd mention to anyone follwoing this that online chat rep from HP recently told me that replacing my keyboard would NOT void the main warranty.  Wish they would get there story straight ... can't believe it would change after a few months.

If anyone else has accurate info maybe they will chime in .... uhh hmmmm HP employees following this 🙂