Thinkpads Forum

Early Lenovo Thinkpads: T/R/X/Z 60/61, T/R 400/500, and I guess SL300/400/500 series too.

These thinkpads lack the decorative red and blue button coloring that the IBMs had, and Lenovo brought them back. So I'm a bit confused as to where the funky T400 (left) in this picture got its red strips from.

http://tpholic.com/xe/files/attach/imag ... /007/1.jpg

Maybe they got pulled off an X200? I've been wondering if the actual keyboard caps from an X200 could be transplanted onto a same-manufacturer keyboard from any other early Lenovo. Putting a complete X200 keyboard with its fancy retro black volume/power buttons into, say, my T500 seems physically impossible without plastic surgery.

I know it's stupid but I just really like those red strips, so much that I made my own. http://i.imgur.com/XugpVQb.jpg?1 Don't worry, the purist in wouldn't dare if they were not removable.

edit: I find this thread only after I make a thread.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=118744

Cool stuff.

Probably the same place my T500 got its red stripes. From a roll of 1/8" automotive pin striping.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/ ... 0ynzwj.jpg

I have an unusual affinity for these as well, including the blue dots on the middle button. Was so pleased that they brought them back with the latest refresh.

When Lenovo removed these blue and red strips it was a sign they didn't understand style. Richard Sapper must have choked on his cornflakes when he saw the change to the design.
The affected Thinkpads were great units hardware wise but it was a sign that Lenovo just didn't quite understand marketing.

TPFanatic wrote:So I'm a bit confused as to where the funky T400 (left) in this picture got its red strips from.

http://tpholic.com/xe/files/attach/imag ... /007/1.jpg

Maybe they got pulled off an X200?

You know, that's a great question.

That does not seem a T400 keyboard. The trackpoint button sizes are off, and the keyboard does not fit as the original would. Nor does it seem an X200 keyboard (volume buttons are silver and not black). I can't recall a Thinkpad that has an original keyboard looking like this. So possibly it's a mix of some kind.

dr_st wrote:

TPFanatic wrote:So I'm a bit confused as to where the funky T400 (left) in this picture got its red strips from.

http://tpholic.com/xe/files/attach/imag ... /007/1.jpg

Maybe they got pulled off an X200?

You know, that's a great question.

That does not seem a T400 keyboard. The trackpoint button sizes are off, and the keyboard does not fit as the original would. Nor does it seem an X200 keyboard (volume buttons are silver and not black). I can't recall a Thinkpad that has an original keyboard looking like this. So possibly it's a mix of some kind.

It's a regular T400 keyboard with the red trackpoint buttons from a X200 and a rubber protector on top of it. I should know because my T61 keyboard looks like this:

Makes sense. Mystery solved.