Laptop smashed in earthquake!

Message

lehua · #1 Post by **lehua** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:53 pm

Aloha,
In the earthquake yesterday a very large vase from a shelf above the counter landed on my open laptop. It appears to have landed primarily on the top while open as the lcd screen is smashed at the lower left corner of the open screen and the frame is dented and and cracked on both the inside and outside at the same spot. The computer seems to be working fine otherwise as I can see part of the image in the upper corner and can see menus, screens etc. A plastic piece also broke off the back left side where the USB ports are.

My question: is it worth getting the whole top replaced or should I just buy a new one? and can the corner of the bottom be fixed? My model is a T42 2373 M3U.

I loved this computer (sniffle)..........

Linda

#2 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:13 pm

Consider buying a used display lid off of eBay. I have done this before when I broke a ThinkPad 600E display in my briefcase. You can get instructions on how to remove and install the display lid from the Hardware Maintenance Manual. If you do not feel confident doing this yourself, perhaps you can get a friend to do it. It is easier to replace the whole lid rather than just the LCD panel. Be sure and check what resolution (XGA, SGXA+, etc.) and dimension (14.1" or 15") the display is, before you buy it.

http://search.ebay.com/T42-display_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8

You also have the option of hooking up an external display to the VGA port. Of course this option would make your ThinkPad a desktop machine.

lehua · #3 Post by **lehua** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:41 pm

Thanks for the suggestion. I need this for travel, so need display. I'll look into it. If nothing else, I'll look at repairing this for my daughter and getting a new one.... I was just looking at the new z line with a widescreen. This may be an opportunity to upgrade. What's the difference between the new Z60 and T60? I like the looks of the widescreen. I do alot of photography and notice that the video card is different. Which is better for photos/dvds? Also, does the 7200rpm hard drive really make that much difference?
Thanks.

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:48 pm

lehua wrote:Thanks for the suggestion. I need this for travel, so need display. I'll look into it. If nothing else, I'll look at repairing this for my daughter and getting a new one.... I was just looking at the new z line with a widescreen. This may be an opportunity to upgrade. What's the difference between the new Z60 and T60? I like the looks of the widescreen. I do alot of photography and notice that the video card is different. Which is better for photos/dvds? Also, does the 7200rpm hard drive really make that much difference?
Thanks.

The Video card matters little for photos and DVDs; only a little during playback, but even a GMA integrated can handle that. The Z Series is more multimedia oriented and has more multimedia-ish ports than the T60 does. If you plan on doing alot of surfing, like the widescreen format, and have heavy multimedia tasks to handle, then you probably want a Z Series. Since you will be traveling, you might prefer the Z60t/Z61t as they are to the Z Series almost as the X Series is to the T Series; not only are they lighter, but they still have an ultrabay and optical reader abilities.

lehua · #5 Post by **lehua** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:55 pm

Might be the answer - I'm a multi tasker: photos (I'm a canon user - what's with the SD card instead of CF?), biological statistics, web surfing, as well as giving power points. Looks like the proper ports for all of the above - I need USB, video out to projector, hook up to ethernet as well as wireless. Will this do it?

christopher_wolf · #6 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:52 am

Both the Z60t and the Z61t have those ports; no, I don't know what is up with the SD reader either, just that the X4X Series has SD card readers and I assume that IBM/Lenovo wanted to stick with that for now even though IBM made 4GB+ microdrives that would work in a CF form factor. More connectivity options are there, if you want, such as the WWAN and Bluetooth in addition to Wireless and Gigabit Ethernet.

If you want Core Duo, and more "perk" for your biostatistics, then you might want to take a look at the Z61t. Both have Intel integrated graphics; you won't be doing serious LAN parties with that, but they do have considerable graphics power and more than enough to display DVD overlays on both the LCD and a projector at the same time.

I have been looking at some myself, but promised to wait until I can get my hands on a T61p or a even a T62p.

egibbs · #7 Post by **egibbs** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:54 am

Have you called your homeowners insurance yet? A lot of policies will cover something like that.

Ed Gibbs

lehua · #8 Post by **lehua** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:18 pm

I didn't get the rider for notebook and we can't get earthquake insurance since we have an active volcano! So, I've been told no coverage! I have a few questions about replacements:

1. Is there a lot of difference in screen size (14.1) between the Z61 and T60?
2. Do they perform about the same?
3. Sounds like the T60 is tougher build - is that so?
4. should I be waiting for the new Core 2 Duo processor since it sounds like it is close?

Thanks.

christopher_wolf · #9 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:38 pm

The difference is in the form factor for the most part, the Z Series is at a widescreen 16:9 format while the T Series is still 4:3. Depends on which you like more.

Get the same CPUs, memory, and HDDs on two T Series and Z Seris Thinkpads and they will perform the same or *so* close that you couldn't notice any difference, if any exists at all.

The T60 has a slightly tougher build, but this comes down to splitting hairs as I have tried various Z Series Thinkpads and they feel every bit as tough as a T4X or a T60. Archer can tell you more about that.

If you feel like you want to future-proof some more and you really need that much more power for your applications, then wait for the Core 2 Duo. The early Core 2 Duo Thinkpad models should come out before the end of the year; although I myself would prefer to wait for Santa Rosa where you have 64-bit support as well as dual cores if really high performance is the main issue. For what you are doing, from a performance standpoint, it sounds fine if you go with either a T60 or a Z61 as they should both easily handle what you could throw at them. Your call though.

lehua · #10 Post by **lehua** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:20 pm

I've decided to wait till next year to get a spanking new latest and greatest laptop.

Meanwhile, my laptop still works! even with a 4ft vase falling 10 ft onto it, the computer works fine, just need a complete new top - display and lid and the lid is all dented and cracked.

Can I replace the lid myself? If so, where can I find directions and a replacements SXGA 14.1" screen with lid?

Thanks for the help.....

christopher_wolf · #11 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:59 pm

You can find it in the HMM (Hardware Maintenance Manual) for your model of T42 from the Support & Downloads section of the IBM/Lenovo site.

You can either find the part number for the lid and order a new one, or go on eBay (or even watch the Marketplace here) to find a new screen and lid.

You can simply take off the old lid and apply the new one.

#12 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:59 pm

Hardware Maintenance Manual - ThinkPad T40/p, T41/p, T42/p

Laptop smashed in earthquake!

Laptop smashed in earthquake!

Who is online