Thai(NMB)/Chinese(ALPS)/Chicony keyboard, difference?

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CoolDragon · #1 Post by **CoolDragon** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:46 pm

I finally set up my 2687D5U (see my signiture), overall I am quite happy with it, except for the "a little bit noisy" fan and the 5400RPM "slow" harddisk. I am very pleased with the display and all the toys it has such as 802.11a/b/g, bluetooth, fingerprint reader....

Regarding the keyboard, I don't think I am quite satisfied with it. It feels like quite soft. And it turns out to be a Chinese one. So I called IBM to replace it with a Thai one, but the rep told me that the NMB(Thai) is out of stock now, so they can send me a Chicony one instead. Since I don't know the difference between these three keyboards, I told her that don't send me the Chicony one and I will call in later.

But I checked the part order site of IBM, the NMB one is shown "in stock"!

So, can somebody tell me the difference between these three keyboards? I probably will call again.

dansu · #2 Post by **dansu** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:08 am

Have you actually felt a Thai keyboard before? The reason I ask is because I consider the Thai ones "spongier" or "softer" than the chinese ones. I feel that the chinese ones have a more definite click to em and they're little bit more noisy. Feels a little bit cheaper too.

But maybe you're using the word soft differently than I am. After all, these things are hard to describe online.

CoolDragon · #3 Post by **CoolDragon** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:53 am

Yeah, I agree, everyone has a different feeling about keyboard and also different definition of "soft", "hard" etc.

I have used a lot of laptops. My original X30 and T40's keyboard feels more like an external keyboard, meaning you need to press a little bit harder to type a letter, and you can feel more resilient than those "soft" laptop keyboards such as Toshiba, Dell and HP.

Originally, I used my laptop as a desktop case, and have all peripherals external, I really like Microsoft Digital Media Pro keyboard. But now I have this great UXGA FlexView display, I think I will just use this laptop as a whole without any external peripherals except a mouse. Also I use this machine A LOT, so that's why I kind of picky about the keyboard.

danny_isr · #4 Post by **danny_isr** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:12 pm

can u actually call them and replace it under warranty ? just because u don't like the feel ?

CoolDragon · #5 Post by **CoolDragon** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:26 pm

I think it depends on the rep you are talking to. But according to the users on this forum, most of the time you CAN.

dansu · #6 Post by **dansu** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:30 pm

CoolDragon wrote:I think it depends on the rep you are talking to. But according to the users on this forum, most of the time you CAN.

yeah, my friend of mine got pretty lucky with his rep. He got a Thai keyboard sent to him and he didn't even have to send his old one back. He just told the rep that one of his keys felt a little "clicky". That was a while ago when IBM was still IBM. It could be possible that some things have changed.

If it's that important to anyone, you can always just buy one. They're not more than 40 bucks.

CoolDragon · #7 Post by **CoolDragon** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:30 pm

Actually, you can buy on one on http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... &langId=-1. The funny thing is the price difference between these three keyboards:

39T0704 KEYBOARD 15 USE ALPS CALL $36.00
39T0643 KEYBOARD 15 US ENGLISH NMB Within 2-4 weeks ** $36.50
39T0765 KEYBOARD 15 US ENGLISH CHICONY In stock ** $37.00

Also notice that Thai(NMB) is now out of stock, that's what the rep told me yesterday, otherwise, she will send me a Thai keyboard right away.

varicella · #8 Post by **varicella** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:09 pm

I just got off the phone with IBM *they actually still said IBM*. Apparently they have the NMB keyboards now because the rep did not hesitate in ordering the keyboard for me.

nirvana0001 · #9 Post by **nirvana0001** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:49 am

how can i check what kind of the keyboard am i using?

sugo · #10 Post by **sugo** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 4:35 am

Lookup the FRUs in your machine with the serial number at thinkpad support site (see FAQ).

Or you can remove the keyboard and read the label.

CoolDragon · #11 Post by **CoolDragon** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:44 pm

Just got off the line with IBM, this time the rep guy knows keyboard. He told me that ALPS and NMB are different, but he needs to talk with his boss if he can replace my keyboard since it is not a defect...... So after two minutes, he came back and was going to order the NMB for me. But then he found out that mine is actually a 15' model so the NMB keyboard is out of stock, he then carefully back ordered the NMB keyboard, otherwise, the system will automatically change it to something else that is in stock, which is the Chicony one and I don't want it. And he told me I should be able to receive the NMB keyboard on next Tuesday! I guess if it is in stock, I can receive it tomorrow

This is great experience.

By the way, Lenovo's tech support is handled by IBM, so this IS STILL IBM.

varicella · #12 Post by **varicella** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:10 pm

CoolDragon, May i ask if you remember the name of the rep you spoke with? They sent me the wrong keyboard =(.

CoolDragon · #13 Post by **CoolDragon** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:23 pm

Sorry, I never managed to remember any rep's name. I think you should send the wrong keyboard back and call again, make sure they ordered the right part number, see T43 hardware maintainance manual.

varicella · #14 Post by **varicella** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:49 pm

CoolDragon,

I ended up calling IBM again and this time I got a very knowledgeable and friendly rep. He knew I wanted the NMB keyboard; that is all he ever orders for his clients. Well anyways he said he found some NMB keyboards in stock and should arrive wednesday the latest. He kept insisting that the old FRU numbers still worked as the new ones were not in their/his database. Oh well, at least he found it =).

Thanks for the reply.

roast · #15 Post by **roast** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:50 pm

varicella, then do you remember the name of that rep? =)

I guess I should give this keyboard thing a shot.

varicella · #16 Post by **varicella** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 12:09 am

lol I remember his first name is Scott... that's about all

Kel Ghu · #17 Post by **Kel Ghu** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 1:05 pm

I called IBM today to get the thai NMB keyboard. I told them I had a problem with the right button of the trackpoint. When they told me they would ship a new keyboard to me I pretended to be surprises and asked them if I could have the thai keyb. Gave them the FRU etc... Im supposed to receive it this week

Love IBM!

EDIT: and they dont check anything. They just send the keyb... Easy

sugo · #18 Post by **sugo** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:06 pm

welcome to the 14.1" thai keyboard family hehe

CoolDragon · #19 Post by **CoolDragon** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:42 am

Hi Varicella,

What is the old FRU # and what is the new FRU # for the 15' NMB keyboard?

I got the keyboard yesterday, but it turned out to be a Chicony, it feels a little bit more resilient than the ALPS one, but it is more noisy. I remember that the rep told me he had taken measures to prevent this from happening, since if the NMB is out of stock, it will automatically order the one that is in stock, which is the Chicony. I don't know what is going on there.....

Can you give us an update after you get your keyboard?

varicella wrote:CoolDragon,

I ended up calling IBM again and this time I got a very knowledgeable and friendly rep. He knew I wanted the NMB keyboard; that is all he ever orders for his clients. Well anyways he said he found some NMB keyboards in stock and should arrive wednesday the latest. He kept insisting that the old FRU numbers still worked as the new ones were not in their/his database. Oh well, at least he found it =).

Thanks for the reply.

JiggaWatt · #20 Post by **JiggaWatt** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:19 pm

Hi-

I am a newbie to this forum and I really got alot of help when purchasing

my 2379DXU. I did a lot of reasearch on the NMB Thai keyboard, and I

found out that it isn't in stock and not made any more. Is this true or am

wrong?I ordered one and the rep said he would send the

NMB(FRU#93P4780) model. Well, I just got it and it's a Chicony! Does

anybody know if there are any NMB keyboards available for the 15" T

series?? I called IBM several times and I got the same response: "None

are being manufactured and there are none in stock." What a bummer

Thanks to everyone for their insight and indirect help on this forum!!

Cheers!!

JiggaWatt · #21 Post by **JiggaWatt** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:50 pm

I've been getting misleading info. from parts dept. One individual told me they don't have them in stock and don't make them any more. Another person told me they won't be in stock until the end of this month. WOW! I have some hope now! Good luck to all that are looking for a Thai NMB 39T0643 keyboard.

dimon · #22 Post by **dimon** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:29 pm

nirvana0001 wrote:how can i check what kind of the keyboard am i using?

In FAQ.. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... sLookup.vm

click on detect configuration while in IE... scrypt will discover everything automagically - no need to pull out old screwdriver

snowdog · #23 Post by **snowdog** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:45 pm

What is the part number or FRU # for the 14.1 THAI/NMB KEYBOARD?

I noticed the 15 inch on this thread.

Thnx.

dimon · #24 Post by **dimon** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:27 pm

deleted

varicella · #25 Post by **varicella** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:07 pm

CoolDragon,

My keyboard came in saturday and it was the correct one. It works perfectly =). Today I received a letter containing instructions and labels to return the defective keyboard. I expect to sent it out on thursday... That's my spew on this matter; I am glad the rep kept his word and made sure my fru was the correct one!

CoolDragon · #26 Post by **CoolDragon** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:16 am

Thanks for letting us know the result.

I have been terribly busy these days, so I only tried the Chicony keyboard once.

Generally speaking, the Chicony is more resilient than the Alps keyboard, but the letter is on top of the keyboard cap, you can feel it. The right part of that Chicony keyboard I received is OK, but the left part is aweful, especially the shift key and around. You can hear strange noise while pressing those keys, I cannot believe IBM let that keyboard out of the factory!

I revert back to the Alps keyboard after two minutes of that Chicony keyboard. I should call IBM again to see how to proceed this.

varicella · #27 Post by **varicella** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:18 am

On the NMB keyboard, the letters are blended WAY better than the Chicony.

CoolDragon · #28 Post by **CoolDragon** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:24 pm

varicella wrote:On the NMB keyboard, the letters are blended WAY better than the Chicony.

You are lucky. I just called IBM again, this time the rep is pretty bad. He only knows that:
1. These three keyboards are the same.
2. The NMB keyboard is out of stock, if he orders one, it will become a Chicony one.

So I ended up have them give me a return label to ship back the Chicony one.

My guess is that this will be the last Thinkpad I bought.

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