Yes, we have no left shift key!

April 9, 2007 6:48 PM

Well, my left shift key has finally broken in half and no longer works. What can I do about it? (Difficulty: "go to the nearest Apple Store" is not a viable solution!)

Some of you may recall my earlier question; if not, basically a few months ago I was cleaning my iBook G4 12" keyboard, took out my left shift-key, and half-snapped it. As it turns out, it continued working for 3 more months. Due to time constraints I didn't have an opportunity to stop by an Apple store to get a replacement shift key back in January, which was the commonly supplied solution.

I'm now in Egypt, which has no Apple stores at all (it has some Apple resellers, but I'm not sure if they could help). Shipping to Egypt is pretty slow and not all that reliable. What can I do?

Is it possible to repair the key somehow? Or will it just snap in half again? If I were to glue it, what kind of glue would work best?

More importantly, are there any more common Windoze laptops whose keys match in shape or size to a shift key on an iBook? If so perhaps I could find a PC shop somewhere with spare keys (the Windows to Mac ratio in Egypt seems to be even higher than in the US).

Finally, any tips in the near future for adjusting to typing without a left shift key? I'm a touch typist and I'm finding it pretty annoying.

Thanks!

posted by Deathalicious to computers & internet (12 comments total)

If the key hinge is broken, it is relatively easy to replace the iBook's keyboard with a new one.

Likewise, if the key hinge is not broken, you can buy a replacement Shift key from an Apple repair shop (including an Apple Store) and just snap it into place.

You could also look into a portable USB keyboard to use in the meantime.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:22 PM on April 9, 2007

Oh man, Blazecock. If only I had a new shift key handy, I would be snapping it into my keyboard faster than a <insert idiom here>.

The problem is the opportunity to have in my possession a replacement keyboard or keycap.

Oh, and "go to the nearest Apple store" is not a viable solution. I do not, at this moment, know if there is an Apple replacement shop...I did, however, run across an Egyptian Apple reseller (the only one, it looks like) and have sent them an e-mail. Right now, unless something wonderful happens, I'm quite interested in answers to the last three questions.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:38 PM on April 9, 2007

Well, it's not a perfect solution, but if you're not adverse to working with the terminal, it looks like you could remap the caps-lock key to serve as the left shift until you're able to get a proper replacement worked out.
posted by jjb at 7:43 PM on April 9, 2007

This is a long, vague answer that might help you if you get desperate: If you're in Cairo, somewhere downtown, in the vicinity of Midan Talaat Harb, there is an entire block or two full of computer stores. There is even a "electronics village" type place with multiple themed smaller stores specializing in an insane variety of tiny electronic and computer parts. I can't remember the name of the street, however. I think it was just off Sharia Sabri Abu Alam (where my hostel was, and it was just down the street). It shouldn't be too hard to find if you ask someone. You might be able to find someone that can help you. It seems to be a country full of ingenious DIY solutions to many problems. Alternatively, I know there's a Radio Shack just near the American University downtown, and they might be able to either help you or know where to send you, being in the neighborhood of a population more likely to have Macs. (yes, I was in Cairo for less than two weeks yet have this advice. It was a strange vacation at times.)
posted by ruby.aftermath at 7:43 PM on April 9, 2007

If they ship to Egypt (and I'm really not sure if they do), I highly recommend PBParts. They used to sell individual key caps and scissors. I bought a couple scissors and a key cap when I broke them while moving my keys into the Dvorak layout. It's worth emailing them and asking, both about the part and the shipping. If they can't ship, I'm sure someone here can act as an intermediary between the States and Egypt.
posted by CipherSwarm at 8:18 PM on April 9, 2007

Do you use the right shift? The keys look the same size on my powerbook. Look up the proper way to remove keys since you don't want to end up with both shifts broken.
posted by 6550 at 9:43 PM on April 9, 2007

6550, that's an interesting idea but as a touch typist I use both shift keys--the left one to shift the letters on the right (and some on the left), the right on to shift letters on the left.

My main concern with using online stores is that even if they do ship to Egypt, shipping things to Egypt is notoriously fraught with peril -- things get stolen constantly. This is weird, as most other kinds of thievery are uncommon here, but apparently unless you're shipping something totally valuless (and sturdy, so it can withstand snooping) it has a chance of being lost. Some poor UK expats had their beloved Marmite swiped from their shipped belongings. What the bewildered Egyptians did on opening the jar--i have no idea.
posted by Deathalicious at 4:49 AM on April 10, 2007

UPDATE: I have gotten in touch with someone at Apple Line. They say that they have replacement keys but is being a bit sneaky about the price. I'm not sure if he is going to try to get me to replace my whole keyboard, and if he's going to try to do it for me (and charge a hefty fee). Let's hope not, cuz I'm low on cash right now!
posted by Deathalicious at 5:20 AM on April 10, 2007

Re the gluing question:
It's always fun to try Crazy Glue (or generic cyanoacrylate).
This works extremely well on some plastics and is useless on others. Odds are it will not work, but you will know right away whether or not it will work.
If this does not work, I use a soldering iron to weld the plastic together. I just melt the 2 halves together.
I have not tried this on a laptop key, but it has worked for me on other delicate plastic parts.
posted by MtDewd at 1:22 PM on April 10, 2007

UPDATE #2: The guy at Apple Line was a big fat liar. They didn't have spare keycaps at all, just an old crappy keyboard that they'd salvaged from an old G3 ibook with incompatible parts. However, they cheerfully offered to replace my entire keyboard with another used one for a mere 600LE (~$115). I politely declined and have decided to get one shipped to me from the States instead (from eBay). For the time being I am trying to glue the key together.

If you're interested in my Saga, stay tuned to see if the key arrives in Egypt!
posted by Deathalicious at 5:10 PM on April 11, 2007

UPDATE #3: I glued the shift key pieces together with some resin glue. We'll see how well it holds together over time!
posted by Deathalicious at 12:02 AM on April 12, 2007

UPDATE #4: The key arrived ages and ages ago but my glued-in key stayed strong. Until tonight, when it snapped in half again, only in another part of the key (have no idea how it happened, it just went in the middle of a keystroke). I put in the new key and my keyboard is working fine but looks like it has a skin disease (the shift key is the only key that's translucent).
posted by Deathalicious at 2:12 PM on July 11, 2007