Okay. My new T42. Small but Annoying Issues (Sigh).

[IBMorBust]

After initially receiving my T42 and putting an extra stick of 512MB RAM in it, I was very pleased. No dead pixels. Nice and fast. Great keyboard. Fingerprint security system is very slick.

Then I notice that from a wide angle, one side of the LCD is warped, and white light is streaming through. The other side is flush and square.

I plug in the DC cord and notice that the the connector has to be forced into place to charge; it is so loose that it falls out and has to be reinserted.

From a high to a low in a matter of hours.

[IBMorBust]

IBM does take care of the shipping to correct these problems, right?

Thanks.

[none]

Well your power connector certainly shouldn't be this loose... But doesn't sound like your LCD has a problem. I imagine it's the right side where white light is shining through -- it's because the LCD backlight is on the right side of the display, as far as I know (someone can correct me). I don't think you can even see the display clearly from an angle as wide as it takes (or should take) to see the white light, so it shouldn't bother your work too much I'd ask IBM about the loose power connector though.

[BillMorrow]

ibm pays shipping both ways..

can you describe the backlight problem more clearly..?

[IBMorBust]

Bill - The LCD issue is exactly as none described it - right side, white light visible.

What bothers me is that the edging or frame on the right side is flush at the top, then gets progressively separated as it travels downward, to the point where it's really noticeable at the bottom right corner. I can even see the plastic tab that I assume is holding the frame to the LCD, I have an urge to try and snap it into place, but don't dare risk damaging the LCD.

Is this a common problem?

[dvorak]

The backlight is the bottom, not on the right side, You should be able see that yourself also, display a black screen, the bottom is a bit lighter than the rest.

Regarding the crack in the right side of the display, I've got this on mine too, doesn't bother me much, although when you press on the upper-right corner, you can see it moving too a little, none of this on the left side.

Seems to be a engineering fault of some kind, my display has been changed 3 times already, so I doubt it can be fixed by resetting the LCD-frame.

I didn't notice this crack on one T40 I had the opportunity to check out, isn't the plastic the same on all T4x 14.1" models?

[IBMorBust]

The backlight is the bottom, not on the right side, You should be able see that yourself also, display a black screen, the bottom is a bit lighter than the rest.

Regarding the crack in the right side of the display, I've got this on mine too, doesn't bother me much, although when you press on the upper-right corner, you can see it moving too a little, none of this on the left side.

Seems to be a engineering fault of some kind, my display has been changed 3 times already, so I doubt it can be fixed by resetting the LCD-frame.

I didn't notice this crack on one T40 I had the opportunity to check out, isn't the plastic the same on all T4x 14.1" models?

Did you send your T42 back specifically because of this issue, dvorak?

[IBMorBust]

Well, I'm just going to keep this one.

The power adaptor stays snug when inserted at the proper angle, and the screen isn't noticeable unless viewed from approximately a 75 degree or greater angle.

Everything else is proper and snug. No dead pixels. The keyboard and case are tight and snug (best keyboard of any notebook I've ever used), and the fingerprint scanner is actually pretty convenient and works really well.

If the AC adaptor issue worsens, I'll send it in to IBM for a new part and ask them to see if the can make the LCD frame better than it is.

[Leon]

good decision!

[dvorak]

Well, I'm just going to keep this one.

The power adaptor stays snug when inserted at the proper angle, and the screen isn't noticeable unless viewed from approximately a 75 degree or greater angle.

Everything else is proper and snug. No dead pixels. The keyboard and case are tight and snug (best keyboard of any notebook I've ever used), and the fingerprint scanner is actually pretty convenient and works really well.

If the AC adaptor issue worsens, I'll send it in to IBM for a new part and ask them to see if the can make the LCD frame better than it is.

I've gotten my display changed due to slow red/green pixels in the lower part, both displays developed that problem, my latest hasn't just yet, although I'm a bit sceptical. The faulty display was sent to some research division in UK, I hope they'll notify me about the outcome also.

Is your keyboard also tight on the right side, no flex near the arrow keys? And how's the palmrest? My model has all of these little engineering quirks, keyboard got fixed but I haven't had any luck getting rid of the palmrest creak.

[IBMorBust]

I've gotten my display changed due to slow red/green pixels in the lower part, both displays developed that problem, my latest hasn't just yet, although I'm a bit sceptical. The faulty display was sent to some research division in UK, I hope they'll notify me about the outcome also.

Is your keyboard also tight on the right side, no flex near the arrow keys? And how's the palmrest? My model has all of these little engineering quirks, keyboard got fixed but I haven't had any luck getting rid of the palmrest creak.

I hope they properly hook you up on the LCD.

My keyboard is really, really solid. It compares favorably to my Dell desktop, and that's saying a lot, because Dell makes great desktops and desktop keyboards IMO. There are no creaks, squeeks, groans or other fit/finish issues with the keyboard or palmrest area.

Just so you know, my wife has a T40 with the 9 cel battery that her work supplied her. It may be a couple years old at most (1.50 centrino).

The case and palmrest on her T40 squeek and make all kinds of "plasticky" noises. I'm pretty sure it did from day one, too.

[Jonathan Cordery]

You've got us all looking sideways at our screens at a 75° angle now!

[kev009]

I notice some very slight bowing in my screen on my brand new t42 if I look at it from an exterme angle. I also see the light creep through on the right only. It seems normal to me (would have never though anything of it or noticed if you hadn't broguht it up). The cover has some give to it which probably explains why it is only on the right since the t42 has only one latch button and most people open/apply pressure to it from the right only. I checked my t30 which uses two latch switches and it has a slight white leak on both sides confirming this.

[K. Eng]

I see some light creep from the right hand side of my T40, but I have to be at an angle so ridiculous that the screen is completely washed out, making the light leak a moot point.

Power plug is fine, keyboard and palmrest are superb (due to my persistence and backyard industrial engineering skills ).

What's the FRU # on your AC adapter? I have FRU 08K8209 and it fits as I would expect.

[IBMorBust]

You've got us all looking sideways at our screens at a 75° angle now!

lol.

That wasn't my intention guys.

One more thing - I now notice a dead pixel on my screen. Oh well. I really don't think it was there at first. Is there such a thing as delayed dead pixels?

K - The FRU is 08K8205

[sugo]

AC adapter FRU 08K8209 here, a very snug fit.

[IBMorBust]

Okay, now my previously reported dead pixel has healed itself (10 minutes after 1st reporting it).

Maybe if I complain enough, I will end up with the perfect laptop.

[IR0NMAN]

I think most thinkpad (14'?) have the same uneven LCD case.. mine does have the same problem. It's no big deal.

For the dead pixel, it is a bug with the ultra nav software. Next time you see this dead pixel (it won't necessarly be at the same position), just press the middle button and it will go away.

[dvorak]

Actually I've got one comes-and-goes dead pixel too, top-left blue, if I press some specific points on my screen, it appears.

I have found one slightly lighter pixel, but it's only visible if I look at it closer than 1 inch. This probably shows that I'm one freaky perfectionist :)

Regarding the locking mechanism, it's a little loose and it makes the cover move a bit when it's closed, probably requires some DIY fix if one wants perfection :)

[stgreek]

I believe the temp dead pixel is an issue with the touchpad, search the forum for more. i replaced my palmrest with a trackpoint only palmrest and not only am I dead-pixel-free, the palmrest feels more solid too.

[Agent69]

Your replaced your palmrest? Did you actually replace the entire palmrest, removing the touchpad entirely? How did you get it?

[stgreek]

Your replaced your palmrest? Did you actually replace the entire palmrest, removing the touchpad entirely? How did you get it?

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... d+palmrest

[K. Eng]

Software bugs have been known to produce false dead pixels. For example, the (0,0) dead pixel problem was a result of a driver bug.

I don't like the 8205 AC adapter... the one that came with my ThinkPad made horrible noises. It wasn't until the 8209 that I was satisfied with the T4x adapters.

One more thing - I now notice a dead pixel on my screen. Oh well. I really don't think it was there at first. Is there such a thing as delayed dead pixels?

K - The FRU is 08K8205

[dvorak]

You must not forget that not all of those reappearing and disappearing pixels are software based. Mine, the blue one, is probably due to some liquid crystal quirk that can be forced to reappear when pressing against the LCD. Luckily it has always disappeared when pressed on or near it.

[Kenn]

You must not forget that not all of those reappearing and disappearing pixels are software based. Mine, the blue one, is probably due to some liquid crystal quirk that can be forced to reappear when pressing against the LCD. Luckily it has always disappeared when pressed on or near it.

Intermittent transistor failure happens once in a while. Some dead pixels are delayed, intermittent, self-healing, etc. Others are only dead, some are always on, some only happen with certain colors on-screen.

And indeed, massaging the screen may cause a dead pixel to temporarily start working, or a working but "loose" pixel to suddenly go dead.

It's voodoo, I tell you!

[WJB]

Then I notice that from a wide angle, one side of the LCD is warped, and white light is streaming through. The other side is flush and square

I had the same with my brand new T40. This is only visible from utterly acute angle, so this is no pain while working. This is just a matter of a irritating feeling that your perfect laptop is not as perfect as should be.

Another piece of SBAI (Small but annoying issues) is a plastic-like creak coming from both touchpad and trackpoint buttons and the touchpad that sags gently (and producing that awful squeek again) once pushed gently at the bottom part of it.

[koolcaz]

Hey thanks for all the input guys.

I have exactly the same LCD problem on my T41. It still works perfectly fine but I only noticed today that yes! there is a gap! I actually thought I had broken it somehow but since it appears to be a not uncommon problem.....

As long as it continues to work I'm fine with it. It does make me a little anxious seeing the gap. I wasn't sure if it was because the keyboard was raised and "unstuck" it. I tried to push the case a bit to see if it gives but it seems sturdy.

The only problem I had with my T41 was a loose keyboard on the right side. It moved up and down and was loud but I stuck something underneath and now it is fine.

For now I'll live with it.

[teepee]

hi

for what its worth, my t42, built july 05, shows 2 2cm long white light patches toward the upper right of the screen, and 1 1cm patch in the lower right corner. but i can see them only when i get to perhaps 85 degrees from head on (ie i am almost looking parallel to the surface of the screen). and i can't see any indonsistency at all in the fit between the lcd and the bezel at any point.

as an aside, the screen is remarkable. i can actually read the text on it at the 85 degree angle!!! the only direction where the angle is much less is when looking down from above.

mike

[koolcaz]

I think that's acceptable. I'm not surprosed if there's a bit of a gap if looking almost parallel to the screen. My gap is a fair bit larger and I can see it from a smaller angle. Say....45' angle, I can clearly see a gap.

[teepee]

85 degrees is very acceptable . just mentioned it as a reference point for other t42 units.

mike