Looks like I have the Chineese keyboard

[rocketman]

I finally got some new batteries in my flashlight & checked under the arrow keys, the bumpers are gray which I believe means I have the Chineese keyboard & not the superior Thai keyboard.
So what do I do, do I just call IBM and request the Thai keyboard? Or is there some other way I have to do it.

[p0ser]

I have the chinese keyboard also and I have not had any issues with it thus far. If I recall correctly, the main complaint that people have is flexing on the right hand side near the arrow keys - however, mine is rock solid - in fact, I can't even get it to flex no matter how hard I press down on the arrow keys. (yes, I did actually try smashing it in and it still works/feels fine). Anyway, thats my 2 cents worth.

btw - you can check your part numbers online:

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

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[rocketman]

I have no issues with the keyboard other than I find it a bit noisy. There is no flex at all. I guess I'm comparing it to the keyboard I had on my old A20p, I remember how silent that keyboard was.
When I looked under the arrow keys on my keyboard it looks like its light gray but from what I've read it's not far off from possibly being sort of a pale blue also.
Would the fru # be on my packing list or anything else that came with the machine so I can be sure?

[wongle]

hey rocketman.. i noticed u also have the 2379r9u like me... well, the fru for the thai keyboard is 93P4780. i just called ibm at this number: 1-800-426-7378 and then i told them my keyboard was kinda noisy and bending on the right side, and asked for a replacement.. gave them that fru number, and they overnighted it to my house (which was amazing cuz i called at 430pm pst, and it arrived before 12pm the next day

[Plinkerton]

I had a Chinese keyboard on my first T42, and it wasn't so much the flex that bothered me. The keys were significantly lighter in pressing sensitivity than the Thai one. The Thai one just feels more like a real keyboard. The Thai one does seem to be less "clacky" than my Chinese one, and also, the trackpoint buttons on my chinese one were squeaking.

I called IBM and told them that my trackpoint buttons were squeaking, and that overall it was a pretty noisy keyboard.

He went to look up the FRU number for the right keyboard, and I interjected and told him that I already had the FRU number for the right one (the Thai model). He was quite appreciative that he didn't have to look anything up, and a few days later, a new keyboard arived.

Here's the FRU: 08K5044 is Made in Thailand

Here's a link to the IBM site which will tell you what is in your computer. Use IE, as Firefox doesn't seem to work with it.

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

[CChoi83]

Hmmm... interesting... Very interesting...

I'm going to call IBM and tell them about my "pseudo-squeaky, pseudo-flexing" keyboard... MuahAHahAHahAHa!!!

[BccKiller]

I just got my 2379-R9U myself. I also have an issue with keyboard. I thougth Chiness Keyboard is too noisy for me. I found the link on this forum about T42 Keyboard (http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46503). Based on the link, you will notice that there are 3 numbers for 15" version keyboard:- NMB, ALPS, and CHICONY. I called IBM and ask about this. IBM Rep told me that it is the same keybard, but each number represent the company who makes the keyboard. I did some research online. Here what i found out.

1. NMB - it is a company in CA who make the computer components.
2. ALPS - seems like Japan company. This company has a brance in Thailand and other place around the world.
3. CHICONY - this is company in Taiwan. There is a manufacture in China.

It seems that all T42s that are shipped from China will come with CHICONY keybard. The part number for original keyboard is 13N9893. There is nothing wrong with this keyboard. Everything seems OK (at least on my system), but it is too noisy for me - I used TP A21P before.

I ended up calling IBM and asked them to send me NMB Keyboard (#93P4780). I received the keyboard this morning and it was made in Thailand. I can tell that Thailand keyboard is a little bit stiffer than CHICONY keyboard, but it also makes less noise than CHICONY.

I do NOT have any experiences with ALPS keyboard yet. I assume that it may also make in Thailand due to the company has a brance in Thailand - I may be wrong.

Just my 2 cents

[rocketman]

From checking on IBM's site I have the Alps keyboard. It's a different fru # than the Thai keyboard. Thanks for your help folks.

[rocketman]

Seems you gotta be lucky who you get on the phone. I just called IBM and got a hard nose guy that insisted thae he has to send me the same keyboard that originally came with the machine, he wouldn't send the Thai keyboard which I told him by fru #. He started giving me an argument that I don't decide which keyboard I want. I told him to forget it & I'll call back. I have no idea what he put in the notes!

[Plinkerton]

Maybe try to catch him before he checks the actual FRU number. Tell him you already got it off the box, or website or something, so he doesn't have to check.

[admsteiner]

rocketman,

just call and say you're not happy with the substandard part and you'd like the part that everyone else with the thinkpads that you saw had.

if he says no ask to speak to a supervisor.

--adam

[aleung]

ALPS suppose to make good keyboard

[rocketman]

I called again, this time I got a nice guy that sent it out. I was surprised that he offered to send someone out to replace it considering I have the standard send in 3 year warranty. I assume it's easy to switch so I said it wasn't necessary.