T4x parts interchangability

[Zak]

Upon completing the project I'm currently working on, I'm going to replace my T20, probably with a T4x. I'm likely to buy something that's broken and repairable to save money, so I need to find out what works with what.

I know some keyboards have oversized enter keys and some have fingerprint readers. Assuming I don't care about the fingerprint reader functionality, will any T4x keyboard work with any T4x system board?

I want a 15" screen with 1400x1050 or 1600x1200 resolution. I'm assuming that the screen has to match the size and resolution the board originally came with. Are there any other considerations?

I will be running Linux. Do any T4x models have serious problems with Linux?

Is there any significant difference between T4x models in terms of quality or durability? I'm not pleased with the T20's durability as compared to a 600X, and would prefer that my next laptop be closer to the 600X.

[christopher_wolf]

Well, I can't report any serious problems with Linux as I haven't seen or heard of any problems on T4X Thinkpads running Linux that I have worked on; the only exception might be the PATA-SATA Bridge for the HDD on the T43. So far, though, I haven't encountered any "worst-case" scenarios with that. Almost all of the T4X Series parts should indeed be interchangable.

If you are going to put Linux on your new T4X; take a look at ThinkWiki and poke around the Linux forum here; see

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki

HTH