Thinklight issue on T42p

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pae77 · #1 Post by **pae77** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:17 pm

I've noticed that the Thinklight on my T42p shines in my eyes when I'm viewing the screen at the optimum angle which is kind of annoying. Never had this problem with the other T series Thinkpads I've had. It almost seems like the light should be recessed deeper into the display housing so it would be more shielded. I was wondering if anybody else had experienced this issue and if so, what, if anything, they did about it?

benz · #2 Post by **benz** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:58 pm

Unfortunately, this appears to be a design flaw in the T42 series. Many people have expressed the same concerns, myself included. Other than some pretty sketchy and unprofessional "hacks" that some people have tried (paper over the front of the light, cutting it deeper, etc), there's not much you can do. If I can get some black epoxy, I would be tempted to put a drop on the inner edge to cut out the glare, but I would probably be too scared of screwing up to actually do it

Photoshopped · #3 Post by **Photoshopped** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:01 am

why not fashion some small hood out of foil or paper and gluing it using a removable glue like contact cement or hot melt?

Navck · #4 Post by **Navck** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:10 am

For some reason, this also happens on the 14.1 T42s, on my 15 T43, no problems here

#5 Post by **RonS** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:44 pm

I think it's a only a problem on 14.1" displays, which are much more sensitive to vertical viewing angle than the 15" Flexview displays

pae77 · #6 Post by **pae77** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:57 pm

Well thanks for all the replies. At least now I know it's not just a problem with my particular T42 only.

beeblebrox · #7 Post by **beeblebrox** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:47 pm

Yep, I had exactly the same problem on my T40p. The light is crap, straight into your eyes. The T20 was far better that way.

What I did: took black scotch tape and put in half way to block the front. Now it is perfect, LED is strong and only goes down on the keyboard.
The black tape is almost invisible (black)

mladner · #8 Post by **mladner** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:42 pm

I'm unhappy that my 14.1" T42p has this problem. I saw a 15" T43 at Office Depot that has a nicely recessed thinklight. I actually had to use some effort to look up into it in order to see it. Does anyone know if the 14.1" T43 is similarly equipped, or does one have to get the 15" T43 to avoid being blinded when working in the dark?

christopher_wolf · #9 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:47 pm

The ThinkLight on my T43 is quite sufficient in a dark area and I haven't been able to get it to such an angle as to cause glare without tilting the screen back to some very obtuse angles.

reltor · #10 Post by **reltor** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:07 pm

Put a piece of black electrical tape on the edge of the border. It keeps it from shining in your eyes, but still projects onto the keyboard. clean the area with isopropyl alc. first, then don't handle the tape too much or it won't stick.

mladner · #11 Post by **mladner** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:16 pm

I understand that there are workarounds to the problem, but can anyone confirm whether or not an actual difference exists with the thinklight between the 14.1" T42 and 14.1" T43? I often have the screen of my 14.1" T42p tilted back up to 135 degrees. At this angle, the thinklight shines directly into my eyes. Would I have the same problem with a 14.1" T43/T43p?

pae77 · #12 Post by **pae77** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:34 pm

Thanks to those who suggested using black tape. I put a very small piece of black plastic electrical tape over the front part of the light and now the Thinklight on my T42p works the way it did on my T30, illuminating the keyboard without shining in my eyes. The tape is almost completely invisible. Really good simple fix. Enjoying my TP in the dark again.

cerebral_mamba · #13 Post by **cerebral_mamba** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:28 am

mladner wrote:I understand that there are workarounds to the problem, but can anyone confirm whether or not an actual difference exists with the thinklight between the 14.1" T42 and 14.1" T43? I often have the screen of my 14.1" T42p tilted back up to 135 degrees. At this angle, the thinklight shines directly into my eyes. Would I have the same problem with a 14.1" T43/T43p?

yes, even on a T43 it will shine into your eyes if you tilt the screen to 130 degree assuming the angle is countent from the side facing you (the keyboard side). I keep mine a approx. p0 degree with a little elevated viewing and its fine with that.

Thinklight issue on T42p

Thinklight issue on T42p

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