T41 Defective?

[Scr4tch]

I just bought a Thinkpad T41, and I cherish it

...but...

There is one strange thing about the chassis that is nagging at me, and I figured I'd ask if anyone has seen the same, or if I really did get a defect.

Basically, if you shut the notebook, and look down the back panel, the lcd cover is curved. It's bowed outward from the body of the notebook. When open, compared to desktop pc's i've used (this is my first notebook), the taskbar is sort of concave looking which is what brought my attention to it at first. I wouldn't think much of it, except that the very sturdy metal hinges which attach the screen to the main chassis are also ever so slightly angled past perpendicular ... almost as if both symptoms result from an overly tightened tension screw somewhere. Does IBM deliberately induce a slight concavity to the bottom of the LCD chassis? It doesnt seem consistent with the quality of their build reputation.

Other t4* users, are your lcd chassis curved in any way where they attach to the body?

Thanks

 

[stingygrrl]

I don't see any curvature in the one I got yesterday. Perhaps we should swap pics by email? if so, PM me

Are your keys on the right side a little loose, meaning that if you press them, the keyboard kind of goes down= different than the left side?
(the arrow keys?)

edit: do you mean when you look straight on at the back, say where the 'power in' is, or look at the back down the side, aprofile view, with the CD side facing you?

 

[Scr4tch]

Thanks for checking and replying, I would like to swap a picture of what I'm seeing, unfortunately I don't have a camera.

Regarding the t41 keyboard, I do believe I'm observing the same thing you describe on mine. It's subtle, but it's there, yes, a little play by the arrow keys.

Correct, a profile view. With lid closed and battery inserted, notebook flat on a table and cd side facing you at eye level, i'm looking down the rear panel of the notebook. The seam between the cover and the body of the pc seems to have a clearance of about 1/16" at the edges, and more like 1/8" in the middle. Mine definitely is slightly bowed upwards in the middle. I don't mean to sound seriously anal, but it seems like a possible defect since the two halves that combine to make the lid chassis are ever so slightly seperated near the hinges, and pressed tightly in the middle, and the hinges also appear to be giving ever so slightly under whatever pressure is bowing the cover upward..

hmmm

thanks again

I just called IBM and in fact they said it sounds like a defect. I guess I'm going to have to part with my new baby

 

[Scr4tch]

here's one guys gallery that sort of indicates what i'm seeing might just be standard.

http://www.aaltonen.us/gallery/t40_anandtech/back_big

 

[stingygrrl]

I can send you some pics. I don't think mine has the curving yours does. But I would like to know if I'm just not seeing it!


from thinkpads.com forums:

About the keys, that seems to be a common issue solved with a piece of BREATHABLE (Toshiba) semi-conductive tape under the key board and it has fixed the problem. I read that someone used a napkin :Q Alsu reports that IBM would solve it by placing a thin strip of foam tape on the right side (under where the arrows would be)

 

[shoman94]

My keyboard was like that for a little bit.....is stopped doing that after a few weeks.....maybe it just needed to be broken in... hahah


Tha battery being movable while in place my contribute to that seem looking curved.....

 

[MuffD]

Have any of you used IBM's RMA service? How would you rate their service. I used it once a few years back for a screen replacement but that was it. Called Monday, got a box Wednesday. Shipped it Thursday and got it back Wednesday of the next week.

 

[Scr4tch]

i'll let you know, ups just picked it up. this is a replacement, not a service call, so the turnaround might be different.