Thinkpads Forum

Do people really have units that shipped with the NMB keyboard? FRU: 39T0958.

I just called IBM to order an NMB keyboard (my T60 came with the Chicony) and they said this part is not available. Only the ALPS and the Chicony can be ordered.

This was after the sales representative, whom I ordered the T60 from, said I could get it. But when I got on the phone with the parts people they said no. The parts people also, bizarrely, said they have no information about who manufacturers what parts and can't look that up. (I thought there would maybe be an NMB with a different part number.)

I'm waiting to hear back from my sales representative now and see if this can be figured out. It kind of astonishes me. I ordered the laptop with the understanding that I could get the NMB keyboard. I asked this question at the time. It seems crazy to me that they would stop shipping what is commonly felt to be the best of the keyboards. I'm very disappointed at the moment.

Could be a part number change; that happened quite often with IBM. Maybe the reps got a tad confused about it.

Other than that, I don't know if there is a way to check. You should be able to check via teh ThinkVantage button. At least you can do that on T4X Series Thinkpads.

I don't think they stopped shipping it though.

I got the NMB one for a 15 " not sure if they are not making it for 14", but the keyboard was marked made in china, the quality may not be exactly same as the T4x Thai NMB

keyboards are exactly the same for 15 and 14 inch models now, they both have just the one mounting screw.

I called support to request a swap-out with an NMB keyboard. The rep knew the part number (I asked him to tell me to confirm) but said that only Alps keyboards were in stock right now (about 170 pieces). I told him I would check back in a month and he gave me a case # to reference. I'll report back if I ever get one.

BTW: I received two 200783Us in the last week. One came with a Hydis display and Alps keyboard. The other came with the Chiconey keyboard (obvious from the feel of it) and a non-Hydis display.

-darren

was it a Samsung or TMD?

RaysMD wrote:was it a Samsung or TMD?

Don't know because I didn't run a parts lookup on it. Next time I see that machine I'll pull the SN and figure that out. It was just clearly not as bright as the Hydis.

-darren

I don't remember my part number, but the last time you asked me this question and I checked, it was NMB.

Hmm, didn't see any info on the keyboard part number under the ThinkVantage button. Thanks for the tip though.

darrenf, do you know what the NMB part number is that the rep quoted you? Thanks.

The PN he gave me is the one that has been posted here (although I don't know where to original poster got it from): 39T0958

-darren

You can find the part number here:

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

Great lead - thanks!

-darren

darrenf wrote:The PN he gave me is the one that has been posted here (although I don't know where to original poster got it from): 39T0958

I got it from the T60 Hardware Maintenance Manual.

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 9t9448.pdf

It provides the same list that appears in the link jhkaska gave.

I got the NMB Keyboard fur sure here in Germany in a 2007-63G. It has also a Panasonic battery(which fits very tight) and the Hydis screen.

Well, I think I've definitely crossed the line where my keyboard search has become a quixotic endeavor.

I have now spoken to the original sales rep, from whom I purchased my T60, parts dept people, and service/technical support people. They all say different things about the availability of the keyboards and insist they can't look parts up by the manufacturer. (Don't they even have the tabook?)

The tech service people are definitely the most knowledgeable and friendly. Basically they say the NMB keyboard FRU shows as not available, which could mean it's no longer going to be used, but could also mean it's just out of stock. When pressed the tech guy I spoke with today said that (with the proviso that he was going out on a limb) the NMB is probably just out of stock.

I spoke with a different tech service guy yesterday who just up and offered to send me one of the ALPS keyboards. He said that he couldn't tell what the manufaturer was, but that he'd send me one so I could see. Amazingly it arrived this morning, about twelve hours later.

The keyboards don't, in fact, say the manufacturer on them, but they do have the FRU numbers. The one that appears to be the ALPS defintely has a very different feel from the Chicony keyboard that shipped with my T60. Curiously, the ALPS says "made in China" but not the Chicony.

The feel on the ALPS is firm and smooth. (The power key is almost stiff, but that's very different from the rest of the keyboard.) The ALPS is much quieter than the Chicony (which makes a clicky clacky sound). Also the keys on the Chicony are loose in comparison to the ALPS, they have a fare amount of play if you jiggle them side to side. The manufacturing of the ALPS metal base is also different, though I don't think it's any stiffer than the Chicony.

The key height on the ALPS keyboard I got is also much higher than the Chicony. This is quite visible when they're next to each other. Though when I type, the ALPS doesn't feel particularly like it has more key travel.

But the function keys and arrow keys are strangely higher than the rest of the keyboard, making for an uneven keyboard surface. In fact the function keys are high enough, that sitting normally at my desk, the white cantilever mechanisms under them are plainly visible. It's weird. So weird that I think it's a defect and tech serve said they would send my yet another one (although they said there are only two in stock which means there's a good chance they are refurbished).

Anyway, I'll see what the next one is like.

I also got the bright idea that maybe I could get the NMB keyboard by ordering the U.S. international keyboard (instead of the regular U.S. keyboard that ships with the T60). I'd actually prefer this, because it has a convenient set up for diacritical marks. No dice, none of the U.S. international keyboards were available. The tech guy said I should check back in a few weeks.

So that is the current state of my now somewhat absurd saga.

In the long run, I think I'll order an NMB when they hopefully become available. The price is only $39.

donking! wrote:In the long run, I think I'll order an NMB when they hopefully become available. The price is only $39.

And if that doesn't happen, I offer to swap keyboards, or something. I am on a similar quest for the "perfect" screen (a mythical creature whose definition I will keep tweaking so as to always have something to quest toward). Quixotic endeavours can be a bear.

(After using mine for a while, I began to realise that it was extremely pleasant, and my earlier 'a keyboard is just a keyboard' attitude needed some readjustement.)

donking! wrote:In the long run, I think I'll order an NMB when they hopefully become available. The price is only $39.

Thanks for the post, Donking! Since the price is negligable, I may give it a shot, too. But is there any indication that the NMB kb is really worth the hassle? I mean, is it THAT MUCH better than this really nice ALPS I'm on now?

Thanks again,

Jeremi

I can't comment on the differences between the NMB and the ALPS (yet!). From what I've read elsewhere in this forum, they're supposed to be pretty close. The big difference is from the Chicony.

One other note I forgot, the selection keys for the trackpoint are surprisingly loose and clunky, on the ALPS. It's the one thing (other than the weird high key defect) that's worse than the Chicony. The trackpoint selection keys on the ALPS are clicky clacky both in feel and noise (quite noisy!)(in fact they're what the rest of the Chicony keyboard is generally like).

The selection keys for the trackpoint on the Chicony have a nice firm feel and are quiet.

On the other hand, the selection keys for the trackpad on the ALPS and Chicony are fairly comporable. [Edit: Um, I just realized that's probably because they're not part of the keyboard! and so weren't switched with the keyboard. Duh. I swear I wasn't stoned when I wrote that. Although, I suppose if I had been stoned that would at least be an excuse.]

It's a funny anomaly, in the otherwise superior touch of the ALPS.

P.S. pundit, I may take you up on that keyboard trade offer. Sadly, I don't have a LCD to offer you.

RonS had the other post.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22375

Thanks!

Pundit, Can you provide a photo of your keyboard? I would order the German NMB today as long as it's reasonably US-English friendly.

Thanks!

-darren

Oops - Pundit I confused you with Ponch. I realized this when I saw your post with pics.

So I re-issue the original request to Ponch -- can *you* provide us with pics of your keyboard?

-darren

darrenf wrote:Oops - Pundit I confused you with Ponch. I realized this when I saw your post with pics.

So I re-issue the original request to Ponch -- can *you* provide us with pics of your keyboard?

-darren

No problem. Pics from the keyboard installed in the Thinkpad?

Ponch wrote:

darrenf wrote:Oops - Pundit I confused you with Ponch. I realized this when I saw your post with pics.

So I re-issue the original request to Ponch -- can *you* provide us with pics of your keyboard?

-darren

Dissa

No problem. Pics from the keyboard installed in the Thinkpad?

Non-english keyboards are simply fascinating, aren't they?

Here we are, arguing about the placement of the Ctrl key (when the keyboard layout was originally built around English) -- it makes one wonder about the hang-ups that non-English natives have about their various keyboard designs!

Though I have a suspicion that they just roll with the punches as the world moves towards an English-language based society.

Just an update on my quixotic keyboard escapade. IBM sent me another ALPS keyboard, after I complained about the uneven function keys and arrow keys. These keys are more even with the rest of the keyboard than on the first one, but I can still plainly see the lever mechanisms under the function keys. And odd design. I guess this just is how the ALPS keyboards are made.

The trackpoint selections keys aren't as clickly clacky, loose, and mushy on this one. But still not as good as on the Chicony.

Now I guess all that's left for me to do is wait until I can (hopefully) buy an NMB keyboard.

How can one tell which keyboard they have?

By the FRU number. You can find that either by removing the keyboard and looking at the labels on it. Or by doing a parts lookup on your model and serial number, on the IBM web site (see the forum FAQ for the parts lookup link). Once you have the FRU number, you can check the listing of different types of keyboards by FRU number either, again, on the IBM website (see link above in this thread) or in the ThinkPad T60 maintenance manual (see link above).

Ponch,

Sorry for the delay in replying - I had trouble accessing the board this weekend. I just wanted to say thanks for posting the pics. The keyboard is different enough that I think I'll wait and hope that a UK or US English keyboard is made by NMB. If I get really frustrated maybe I'll order the German model for grins.

-darren

NMB
39T0958 KEYBOARD FRU CALL $39.00 $39.00

CHICONY
39T7178 KEYBOARD FRU CALL $39.00 $39.00

ALPS
39T7118 KEYBOARD FRU Within 2-4 weeks ** $49.00 $49.00

Sorry all, as I am a late commer to this thread. I'm confused as to what an "NMB" keyboard is. I've dealt heavily with Synaptics and ALPS touchpads and I know ALPS isn't that great in terms of quality for those. However, I would like to know which is the best and why. I want to purchase a T60p and if I can give this information to them while ordering then great!

Thank you,
John