T43 keyboard -- feels cheap...

[xcgames]

I bought my thinkpad a few month ago and the keyboard disappointed me.

for example, my co-worker's T43 and the ones showing at office depot store have a distinctively different feeling than the one came with my T43. The keyboard on those machines feel like the thinkpad keyboard i've gotten used to over the years, but mine felt cheap......

Wonder if anyone else felt the same way about their keyboard and had IBM replace it? One important factor that made me to get a thinkpad is the keyboard.... yet it's definitely not what I expected.

[agarza]

It all depends where the keyboard was manufactured.
Thailand-made keyboard have the best feeling and the keys do not flex (since the base is tickier).

You can order one from Dimitri on the Marketplace area, I did just that and I'm using it right now. The best Thinkpad keyboard I've typed on (T30, A22e). My T41p came with a China-made keyboard, it didn't feel very cheap but indeed nothing as close as the Thai keybs.

[paras]

Nothing I couldnt fix.. Ive had my T43 for 6 months now and my keyboard feels great, 10x better compared to the acers, sony vaios etc. I checked out at the time. But I did have a clicking problem at first with the arrow and Fn keys, there was sort of a double click noise. Also there was some creak with the palmrest so I took out the screws, reseated the keyboard and retightened all the screws and everything works great now.

[underclocker]

Be careful tightening screws, tight is tight and too tight is broken.

I split an R40 bezel tightening with screw tightening zeal.

[Initial D]

Mine came with a "cheap" feeling keyboard. It didn't feel like some other thinkpads I typed on. Finding out mine was made from China, I quickly replaced it with one made in Thailand. What a difference it made!

[pianowizard]

My T41p came with a China-made keyboard, it didn't feel very cheap but indeed nothing as close as the Thai keybs.

I find it incredible that the two kinds of keyboards are so different. Do the cheaper laptop models come with the Chinese keyboard whereas the more expensive models have the Thai keyboard?

[xcgames]

ordered a made in thailand keyboard, should be here next tuesday...

PN: 13N9988 , will keep this u guys posted.

[Initial D]

Do the cheaper laptop models come with the Chinese keyboard whereas the more expensive models have the Thai keyboard?

It's all luck of the draw. This also includes the LCD, which I was relieved to get a Hydis display.

[Domain]

Unfortunately both my new and old keyboards were of Chinese origin... but it is a pretty decent keyboard none the less. Leaps and bounds ahead of any other keyboard I've used. The only issue I have with the Chinese keyboard is the click I get sometimes from the function keys.