Trackpoint left a mark...

[Troels]

Hello,

I have a "small" problem with my T42 2379-DXU: - that is, the trackpoint cap has left a mark in the lcd now, and an area of ~1cm^2 has a slightly darker shade, which bugs me very much. Not very apparent with text, images or anything in the area, mostly apparent with white, grey or any solid color.

I bike around with the laptop in my bag, every day, covered in a zeroshock laptop sleeve which does not fit extremely tight, but no damage has happened till now.

I thought the notebook was somewhat strong and i realise that everything is a compromise, but that the trackpoint dome has made an area darker, and the keyboard sometimes can be seen from time to time (or marks, but doesn't affect the lcd).

I have searched around here, and found some threads where people said that the warranty might cover that, so they will replace the LCD. To me it looks like a design flaw.
I somehow doubt they are that willing to replace anything here in Denmark - correct ?

It's still under warranty, and it will be to 11/2007. But it was bought used from an individual in the US. A problem ?
What will IBM require ? I can't find the invoice at the moment (however it might be at the office) - will IBM require this ?
Or is this just a moron asking too much (i do not refuse that ), and should i just live with it ?

Thank you very much for any kind of input

EDIT: In fact, also the trackpoint button (the left) also left a similar, but larger and more faint spot. I must add that i have no dead pixels, only darker areas.

[simms]

I get the same problem.. wish there was a solution. There are some marks on my LCD screen from the trackpoint and from some keyboard keys.

[christopher_wolf]

You can do one of two things;

1.) Put a sheet of paper in between the LCD and the Keyboard when you close it

2.) Put something like a ShaggyMac protector in between the LCD and Keyboard when you close it.

[lithium726]

IBM will repair it if you have the Thinkpad Protection, i just got the LCD on my GF's T40 replaced for pressure points in the screen, as well as acetone damage to plastic and a crack under the touchpad, they fixed it all... but none of it would have been covered without the Thinkpad Protection Program. I wouldn't buy one without it, TBH.

[christopher_wolf]

Is this a smudge on the screen? Or actual damage to the LCD?

I would be suprised if it was actual damage as I have seen Thinkpads being carried in all sorts of manners and have yet to hear of a little damaged area appearing on the LCD because of the Trackpoint. Unless the display had been pressed on veryheavily continuously.

[copperbird]

This sort of smudges also appeared to Thinkpad 600 series, but not because of the trackpoint itself, but because of the three trackpoint buttons. Also, DELL laptops suffer from this problem heavliy.

[DaniWurf]

I have a T40, bought in the US. It came with standard three years world wide warranty.

I contacted IBM (in Sweden, where I live) for a system board exchange cause of the USB2.0 ports only working in 1.1 speeds. They told me they would honor the warranty, so I sent the machine in to the repair centre, along with a letter saying that I have some lighter dots on the screen, and wondering what/if they could do something about it.

When I got it back they had fixed the system board issue, but they also had exchanged the screen and the plastic housing around it.

At first I was thrilled, but when I got home and started working on the machine I discovered some rather heavy backlight faults with darker and lighter lines (about 2 cm thick) on the lower part of hte screeen.

This was last summer and I havent had time to address this but eventually I will contact them about it because I am not happy about it.

Bottomline: it is not always good to get a replacement.

.daniel

edit: totally forgot why I wrote the post... it was to say that I did not need to show the invoice (which I dont have). The machine was registered at IBM by the vendor on the date of the purchase. There is a page on the IBM/Lenovo website where you can verify if your laptop is still under warranty. Here is the link: http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... estyle=ibm

[revolutionary_one]

Dont worry too much.

First, you can probably convice the support agent to replace the LCD as a matter of standard warranty(design flaw), It will take some convincing. Otherwise, if you have TPP you're totally set.

Secondly, I keep my thinkpad in my Samonsite Executive Backpack (pics in the "Pics" forum). After reading posts like this in my first 6 months I wasnt pleased when I saw a dot showing up on my LCD. But i just cleaned the LCD one day and that fixed it. Must've been a matter of finger oils as I use my trackpoint so much.

So much infact that i wore the trackpoint that I use down to a nub (had no grip) and had to convince the tech support kid & his supervisor that it was a consumable/defective part and they warrantied it under standard support (shipped via DHL next morning service) w00t.

[simms]

This might be a good excuse to get an exchange if they have dead pixels... ?

[Troels]

Haven't had the time to update this post,

The machine has a 3-yr warranty, but i am unsure if it is TPP covered.

This is what it says:
Description:
This product has a three year limited warranty and is entitled to IBM EZServ service. Customers may call their local service center for more information. Dealers may provide carry-in repair for this product. Batteries have a one year warranty.

Christopher_Wolf:
A few times i have seen a few smudges, but that was something that could just be wiped off with breath+ a microfiber cloth (like used for glasses). This time i cannot get it off, the area is slightly darker than the surroundings, along with the area aound the left trackpoint mark on the screen. I really doubt it was pushed on heavily, i have a book in the same bag, but in a seperate room.

Right now i removed the trackpoint red dome, and use the trackpoint now. I use a piece of paper, works nicely, i.e. it has not got any worse

Simms: No, display was perfect, no dead pixels.

I have seen someone where i work that has an R32 he bought used very cheaply because it was run over by a car. The LCD is still the original, but it has a lot of darker spots because of this, and really, they are much darker than mine. - So I'm afraid tha IBM will just think that it's really a minor issue, and thus won't replace anything.

Another mind bugler: I fell in love with the UXGA screen, i wonder if they will let me pay the price difference, so they could add a UXGA screen instead.

DaniWurf,
Sounds like extremely good service - a pity about the LCD though. How long did the repair/replacement work take ?

[venik]

I have a similar smudge from the Trackpoint on the LCD of my T43p.
It is clearly a design defect.

[christopher_wolf]

I have a similar smudge from the Trackpoint on the LCD of my T43p.
It is clearly a design defect.

So what *exactly* makes this a design defect? I have seen Powerbooks with smudges from the keyboard, is that a design defect?

I can close my screen right now after using the Trackpoint and there will be no smudge on the screen. There has to be either a large amount of grease on the trackpoint or light pressure applied to the screen to generate to the smudge. It can be cleaned off easily as well.

[NeoteriX]

Um, my thinkpad gets it too, and so does everyone at my law school who owns a thinkpad.

The remedy? A quick swipe with a towel, dampened with a mix of rubbing alcohol and water.

I've seen pimples that were bigger deals than this, folks.

[Greg Gebhardt]

After looking carefully at my T43p My screen has a good bit of clearace from the keyboard and trackpoint when closed. On mine it would take a good bit of pressure, way more than I would care to inflict, to have it come close to touching.

[sbddude]

I use a piece of thin "foam" packing material that is cut to fit to protect my screen.It works great on my T23, and It should work well on a T4X as well. I got the idea when a friend's PowerBook came with the same thing. The packing material came from a Belkin KVM switch package.

[Troels]

Um, my thinkpad gets it too, and so does everyone at my law school who owns a thinkpad.

The remedy? A quick swipe with a towel, dampened with a mix of rubbing alcohol and water.

I've seen pimples that were bigger deals than this, folks.

Tried isopropyl alcohol and water... didn't help anything Nice trick though.
Conclusion: This is not a smudge, but permanent damage.

Mr. Wolf,
No not a design fault in my opinion either - maybe with the powerbooks as it actually touches the keyboard slightly (the only G4 at work suffers from this), and aluminium keys wont help it either.
I have had the opportunity to compare my T42 with a T43, with the same screen (15" SXGA+) but the T43 closed much tighter and felt like it locked the lid better, so it wouldn't wriggle the 1 mm i can push down the lid on the closed T42.
Problem is - this is a work machine, and the minimum requirement is to lug/transport it around without damaging the screen because the trackpoint is just a bit higher than the keys.

I will do some measurements of justhow much space is available when the lid is closed - stay tuned

EDIT: Flour in taped up kitchen foil was not suitable to measure anything... some wax might be better.. will have to think first

[davidspalding]

Jeez, people ... rubbing alcohol ... kitchen flour? Be thoughtful of what you're putting in your TP. I suggest only using proper screen cleaning fluid (not the old CRT variety), and a lint-free cloth (also good for transporting, as mentioned). As for the flour, keep it for cookies. Kitchen condiments and Thinkpads don't mix.

[carbon_unit]

If you want to measure the clearance between the keyboard and the screen take two sheets of paper and put a carbon sheet between them. Keep adding sheets of paper until you get a rub from the carbon sheet, then measure the whole assembly.
Safe and clean.

[gauthier]

Does anyone observe that NMB keyboards lead to more marks?

I can compare my two systems (t40p), and the one that was shipped with the chicony keyboard don't even have a mark on the lcd when the other one with NMB keyboard has appearent marks (keycaps and trackpoint cap) all over the screen.

Just let us know!

[davidspalding]

I had the opportunity recently to compare a NMB and a Chicony side by side (took pictures, they were a little blurry I can post them anyway ... someday). I can tell you the old NMB keyboard keys are level and even-Steven, while the Chicony's keys weren't nearly as well lined up.

[jhonyl]

I put a cotton fabric that I had cut out of an old T-shirt, between the keyboard and the screen. I used to put two A4 papers (one wasn't big enough for 14"), but it cought a lot of dust, so cotton is better dust wise, and I can also wipe of dust with that same fabric. It also protect from any signs on the screen. And for cleaning, I use a damp cotton cloth also, it works.

[tstadler]

Funny, I just did the same after this t42 started showing The signs. I started with a t40 when working on an IBM contract, the mouse buttons next above the touch pad come in contact with the display from time to time and rub into the lcd leaving a mark. My personal t42 just showed the slightest mark of doing it now too. So I cut an peice of fabric and put it between the touchpoint area and screen. I guess my only consern is that if the fabric becomes contaminated with dirt it will really mark the display. As far as I am concern, it is a flaw in that the clearance is so tight that it causes premature wear on the display from the mouse buttons under normal use. I carry mine in a computer backpack between home and work.

[jhonyl]

I think that it is actually a feture. Because if the track point was lower, then the keys would have rubed against the screen and could have left marks all over the screen, so it actually keeps it spaced, even if it is under a (small) pressure inside a bag. So this way only a small place would get marks, instead of all the screen.

[gearguy]

I think that it is actually a feture. Because if the track point was lower, then the keys would have rubed against the screen and could have left marks all over the screen, so it actually keeps it spaced, even if it is under a (small) pressure inside a bag. So this way only a small place would get marks, instead of all the screen.

Or they could just do what other laptop manufacurers do and put rubber studds around the keyboard but noooo...

Iwould say it is hit and miss on how "tall" your trackpoint cap is... it is possible that an odd few here and there may be a bit longer than others =/

[christopher_wolf]

Or they could just do what other laptop manufacurers do and put rubber studds around the keyboard but noooo...

That's all fine and dandy until, one day, you wake up and release that not only are the little buggers, I meant bumpers...really, perfectly capable of ruining the looks of the Thinkpad, but also that one or two have fallen off (which might stress the screen unevenly if pressure is applied). I wonder if IBM would be nice enough to have something like their screw packs available at a good price for those.

My Dells and HPs did that and it took away from what little of an original appearances the Dell M60 and the HP ze5170 had left, not to mention having them get a little more wiggly over time.

[ParzanM]

can you just remove the trackpoint if you dont use it? also are their any other keys that leave a mark or is it just pretty mucht he trackpoint ?

[gearguy]

Or they could just do what other laptop manufacurers do and put rubber studds around the keyboard but noooo...

That's all fine and dandy until, one day, you wake up and release that not only are the little buggers, I meant bumpers...really, perfectly capable of ruining the looks of the Thinkpad, but also that one or two have fallen off (which might stress the screen unevenly if pressure is applied). I wonder if IBM would be nice enough to have something like their screw packs available at a good price for those.

My Dells and HPs did that and it took away from what little of an original appearances the Dell M60 and the HP ze5170 had left, not to mention having them get a little more wiggly over time.

MY LG's rubber studds don't appear to be the typical glue-on kind. They appear more like they are a doubleed up mold with the plastics sandwidged between them.

[Troels]

Nice to see this thread again

I have tried to live with the damages for now as i don't have the time to really do anything about it, and find out if it is a fault or not.
I'm using sheets of paper to protect the screen, and it has not seem to get any worse. The perfect soultion would be a sheet of metal or something similar, which distributes the load outside the LCD area.

I think that it is actually a feture. Because if the track point was lower, then the keys would have rubed against the screen and could have left marks all over the screen, so it actually keeps it spaced, even if it is under a (small) pressure inside a bag. So this way only a small place would get marks, instead of all the screen.

The keys are really not a problem, they move downwards easily, and don't leave permant marks, atleast not from what i've seen yet. The trackpoint on the other hand, moves NOWHERE, work as sandpaper and can leave a permanent pressure mark in the LCD. It's not just small marks, that can be brushed away with a cloth.

ParzanM, es you can remove the trackpoint cap altogether leaving a square black plastic out of reach from the lcd. But it will look ugly without - and anyway it's like removing the transmission stick knob from a car because it brushes the dashboard - you shouldn't have to

Gauthier, Interesting, but it could also just a coincidence and depend on other things like chassis differences etc. ?
I have an Alps and a NMB, i will try to see if anything is physically different sometime.

[ParzanM]

gotcha, i think ill try the paper and hopefully that works.