Just got my thinkpad! Thank you all.

[waspfish]

Hi, my Thinkpad just arrived. Thank you all for helping me in selecting the right model. However, I noticed a few things about this model I got (The model I got is T42 15" 2378DXU). First of all I know everyone was raving about the keyboard, but I feel that the keyboard feel was actually just ok -- the keypress distance definitely aren't as deep as my regular computer keyboard (but I heard somewhere that it's supposed to be as good as regular keybaord). Or is it because I had too high an expectation of it? Also, I did a check on the part #, I couldn't tell whether the keyboard is China or Thai, which one is better anyway?

Secondly, the harddrive is constantly making slight clicking noise (7200RPM 60GB drive) even when I am not using the computer. Is that normal?

I also updated the drivers and went to windowsupdate to update the OS. Is there anything else I should do before using it?

Finally, I have a huge problem using the touchpad! Many times when I move around, I would accidentally tap it too hard and activate a link or multiple select things that are on the screen. Any tip on how to use the touchpad without such accident (besides turning off the tap activate feature)?

Overall I am pretty happy with it, it's definitely a very solidly-built machine.

Any feedback would be appreciated. I know you probably have answered these same questions 1000 times. =)

Thank you again!

[Plinkerton]

I just got my T42 14.1 2378-fvu and it's great.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... sLookup.vm

The above page can show FRUs of your thinkpad parts. It will automatically detect what you have, if you are using Internet Explorer

08K4986 is Made in China
08K5044 is Made in Thailand

The Thai keyboard is better, and I have heard it described as a "night and day" difference, between the Thai and the China. I will be getting the Thai one soon.

I don't believe the HD should be clicking. Mine is completely silent all the time.

I just updated SP2, and everything went fine. So far I haven't done anything different, and it's still operating perfectly.

There is a setting in the touchpad configuration that allows to to set the sensitivity/area of it, so you don't accidentally use it. It's still possible to do though. Just get used to it. You'll learn how not to bump it.

EDIT: Wait sorry, those FRU numbers I posted are for the 14.1 keyboard. Use the same link, but search on this site for the right FRU number for the 15 inch keyboard.

[jordi32]

Have you checked for dead/stuck pixels?

[Plinkerton]

I was thinking about asking the same thing, as mine came with one funky pixel. It's in a pretty out of the way place though, and only appears sporadically. I don't think I'm going to do anything about it.

[pete0r]

i *believe* there was a thread about hdd clicking. i have the 5400 80gig and mine clicks ever so often. i think it's normal.

[darkhelmet03]

My experience with my 5K80 5400rpm:

Windows: "clicking" exists just as most people have observed in Hitachi drives

Linux: NO clicking, at least not as obvious as in Win, and disabling the optimizing option as mentioned by other people with TweakUI does not chnage anything for Win.

It seems that in Win the usage pattern or features enabled lead to the noise.

It is definitely more silent under Linux (2.6.8 kernel FYI)

[maingray]

With Windows it will click but it will vanish after a week or so, in mine and others experience.

Totally silent now.