T43 15" need to use two hands to open

[basketboy]

I found that the 14" models were all fine just using one hand to open it. But 15" cannot. Is this a design problem? IBM is good at building 14" ones??

[christopher_wolf]

Well, I tried out a 15" T43; it was more difficult than the 14" T43 to open with one hand. That, though, is mainly a function of the screen size, just like the extra weight. Unless you get UXGA on a 15", it does the same thing as the 14" just with more resources.

[Kenn]

It's a good thing actually. The 15" screens are heavier, especially the UXGA display, so IBM made the hinges stronger. I think it's great - the hinges have none of the flexing or "3 inches of play before catching" when you try to adjust the angle, as most HPs and Dells have. And if you're travelling and trying to use the PC in a moving car or bus (well, in which case you get points off for having a 15" in the first place), the screen won't start to fall as it gets jostled around.

It's definitely not as good for one-handed opening, but I'll take that for the solid build and feel anyday.

[christopher_wolf]

LOL, Yup. Every laptop I have had, other than my Thinkpads and Powerbooks, had a "dead zone" where the screen wobbles on the hinges. This is really noticable on my Dell and was more so on my Old HP Laptop. A 15" UXGA display is a very good trade off though if opening it with one hand is indeed a problem.

[dr_st]

My 15" T42 hinges were stiff at the beginning, and I needed two hands to open the lid. Now it seems to be more flexible and I can open it with one hand.

[emorphien]

If I don't use two hands I'll end up tilting the whole laptop back as I open the screen.

I don't really find this to be a bad thing because every other laptop I've used (many Dells, HPs, Apples, Acers) has play in the screen. Some will even close if you shake the machine a bit. And as mentioned trying to adjust the screen angle becomes a real pain when it won't settle where you leave it.

[basketboy]

I think T43 series is designed to be one-handed opening. If the 15" ones cannot while the 14" ones can, it surely is a design mistake.

[bofh]

I have absolutely no problems opening my 15" T43p with one/the right hand.

[Ojisan]

You'll notice that 14" models have one wide post and one narrow post on each side. I also noticed that T43 had less resistance at the hinge, perhaps due to design.

The 15" models has two wide posts which seems to add to the opening resistance. However, a T42p model I had before (used for a year) became much easier to open over time.

So if your laptop is new, it's probably good that its relatively stiff. It will wear out over time.