Thinkpads Forum

jhkaska wrote:I've had a rather interesting experience trying to get an NMB to replace the ALPS that came with mine. I called about a week after I received my T60P and complained about the ALPS not being up to my expectations and requested an NMB. I gave the part number 39T0958 as the NMB that I wanted and was informed that it would have to be backordered and would take a few weeks. This was acceptable to me and I stressed that I didn't want anything but the NMB. I was pleasantly surprised when a new keyboard arrived about three days later, at no charge. However, it turned out to be the ALPS, same as I already had. So I called the parts department and tried to order and pay for an NMB keyboard. When I gave the part number of 39T0958, I was informed that this part number was incorrect, it has been changed to 39T7118. I told the parts guy that 39T7118 is the ALPS keyboard and that I didn't want it. But he has no record in his system that 39T0958 is a correct number. So I intend to wait a few weeks and try again when hopefully the NMB will be in stock and the number re-entered into their system.

I had a similar experience. The parts person I spoke with said the number for the NMB keyboard is not a correct part number. However when I spoke to a tech services person, he said that the number for the NMB was cross referencing over to the ALPS. He said that could either be because they're not using the NMB or just because it's not in stock.

I do find it odd that people are receiving new units with NMB keyboards, but they are not stocking that keyboard as a replacement part. I too hope that eventually the NMB becomes available.

Currently I have the ALPS as a replacement for the Chicony. There is a very significant difference between these two keyboards in terms of their touch.

I wrote about my perceptions more here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22670

darrenf wrote:

AssPenny wrote:Im sure you could get someone to swap you keyboard here.

Me me me!!!

collector_edi, if I have a new Alps drop-shipped to you will you trade? I'll pay the return shipping.

The Alps has a little crisper touch (more resistance, more click) it just seems a little slow to type on for my typing style.

-darren

I apoligize for getting back late on this. I did not get the email notification. I am not interested in swapping keyboards but thanks for you interest nonetheless.

Oh well, a guy can try!

-darren

darrenf wrote:Oh well, a guy can try!

-darren

I couldn't agree more. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Good luck!

Hey there, just a short question.
How do you guys identify your keyboard brand/model?
How do I know if my keyboard is Alps, NMB or Chicony?

Do I really have to dissect my R60 to find out?
I just did a hardware lookup using the link below ...

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... Submit.y=0

And I found out that my keyboard is ...

39T7148 39T7178 KEYBOARD FRU YES

I can't seem to understand the serials listed above.
I hope you guys could help me.

Thanks alot.


=================

After searching through the forum I finally found out my keyboard is Chicony.

For those who might ask the same question you can find out you keyboard model by following 2 simple steps.

1. Find out your keyboard service part number....
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... sLookup.vm

2. Check with the list shown below ....
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-61374

In the parts lookup list they don´t show my keyboard. T60 manufactured 10/12/06... where else can I find such info?

I haven't tested this, but I have a friend who claims its easy.

Just call and say your space key is broken or something. Say it doesnt press right. My friend did this four times on his X31 (which he has had for three years), every time the keyboard wore down too far. My X60s keyboard is starting to wear, so Im going to need to try that soon too. I dont know how Lenovo treats it, but apparently IBM shipped out a new keyboard, no exchange and no questions asked.

Not so ethic... Best procedure is to order a new one and make sure it is the one you want. I am trying to adapt to the one I´ve got, sincerely I don´t care anymore if it is NMB, NBA, Chiconi, Alps or Himalaya... That´s what I have, a little clicky a litlle hard to press, but solid as a rock, sound reminds me of the first PC IBM produced. Well my friends, don´t panic, don´t overreact to what somebody says and all of us follow like sheeps... just feel good with your machines, they are awesome and well built, made to last. I swear they will be alive for the time there won´t be any software useful to run on them... signing off!

I am back again. Today I saw in a store 4 notebooks, 2 LGs, a Toshiba Satellite, and a Compaq. Well, I tryed their keyboards (still with the keyboard issue in mind...) The LGs were incredible mushy, soft, next the Compaq, the Toshiba a little harder. And guess what! The Compaq and a LG had a damaged key, on a closer inspection I saw what was underneath them... a tiny funnel shaped blue gum of about 3mm high and 3 mm diameter! the key cap is glued on its top, that's all the mechanism that makes those keys feel so soft, so mushy!!! Well I definitively prefer my hard keyboard response, but I know that the keys are mounted on metallic springs that will last too longer... and perhaps with the use soften a little...

rleo25 wrote: And guess what! The Compaq and a LG had a damaged key, on a closer inspection I saw what was underneath them...

You should have seen most of the keyboards on the earlier, larger Vaios. The keyboards on them have a tendency to break more than any others I have seen; it never failed. Every store I would go to would have at least one Sony would have a keyboard with multiple keys broken, from what I could only see as a stress fracture of the carriage mechanism beneath each key.

The blue "gum" you mention is normal for most keyboards, especially scissor-switch (which is the type oft used on laptops due to travel distance and durability); but the key caps should *not* be glued down to it (Wha?!). Scissor-switch type keyboards combine the best of mechanical keyboards, including the Model M's infamous buckling spring, with some properties of membrane based keyboards. That Compaq might have had a membrane-keyboard, usually the cheapest option of the the three, from what you describe and all my previous, err, post-OmniBook HP/Compaq systems. The problem with most such keyboards is that they get, well, sticky and gummy over time and don't last nearly as long, or for as many keystrokes, as their scissor-switch and mechanical counterparts.

That's the kind of knowledge I would like to see exposed in the Thinkpad book for dummies, you're preparaing technical and engineering comparissons among systems, it is important to know what do we have, and to follow how quality measured by objective means is developing in the brand, I am sure that when a community of users like this is controlling the quality of some product, manufacturers and developers will think with care before taking any decision, they must know that they will have our fidelity to the brand until and only until they maintain its higher quality standars.

Not to go off topic, but the book is being worked on. Primarily the initial layout and outlines of different parts.

Are you really writing a book? I'd really like to help - in whatever way I can.

sorry, can anyone tells me what Alps and NMB are?

Those are brands of keyboard manufacturers. I wouldn't sweat it. I have the Chicony (supposedly the worst one), and it seems fine to me. It's better than the one on my old HP (my old HP cost $1100 after rebate, a kid who had spent $2300 on a Dell used my HP and commented on how good the keyboard is, the Chicony is much better than that HP, so don't worry about it).