Thinkpads Forum

Hi, I'm using T60 2623-D6U equipped with "Chicony" keyboard.
The keyboard feeling is not that good compared to previous T42.
Is it possible to call Lenovo and make complaints to get it replaced
with NMB or Alps one?
Do I have to send my laptop to Lenovo or they will send replacement
part to me?
Any experiences or comments?
Thanks.

No luck.
I called IBM-SERV and described the worse feeling of
keyboard, and told it's not replaced unless defective.
I tried to explain how the feeling is bad compared to my friend's T60.
But their response was No.
Is it worth pay ~$55 (NMB keyboard including S/H and tax)
for replace keyboard by myself?
Thanks.

I havent tried to call yet either, but i am going to try. I never had the number. Is it 1 800 ibm serv?

I will call and see if i can do the same. I hate this Chicony keyboard.

AssPenny wrote:I havent tried to call yet either, but i am going to try. I never had the number. Is it 1 800 ibm serv?

I will call and see if i can do the same. I hate this Chicony keyboard.

Finger crossed.
Please, post if you succeed. Thanks.

Is that the correct phone number?

AssPenny wrote:Is that the correct phone number?

I think so.
If you call lenovo, 1-866-96-THINK (1-866-968-4465),
you will be asked to call 1-800-ibm-serv for technical support.
Good luck!

FYI the NMB's haven't been available but the Alps have been shipping.

I have an ALPS and it absolutely rocks. Get the NMB if you can, but the Alps won't dissapoint if that's all you can get.

I've had to call for keyboard replacements in the past on other ThinkPads, but not for the T60. In each instance, I was dealing with either greatly accelerated wear or outright damage, and had no problems.

Cases where an owner is seeking replacement based upon subjective "feel" just don't meet the criteria (which is understandable, I suppose), and I think the only real option here is to ante up for a different keyboard at your own expense. If it means that much to you, it is probably money well-spent.

The only problem with that approach is that you'll have do your homework to make sure that you are getting the right replacement keyboard, since IBM/Lenovo generally doesn't differentiate between one vendor's part and another when filling an general order for a replacement part. In other words, you may have to be pretty specific about which FRU or PN you want, right up front.

Chief

Threaten to return the machine becuase you are unhappy with it, and stress how important the keyboard is to you - it is one of the biggest reasons TP lovers love TP's so much, and if that goes to [censored]... well then they dont have anything over dell, hp... ect... at least in the KB spectrum...

Ive always gotten NMB keyboards when calling in replacements or sending off my system to EZ SERVE (it seems they change the keyboard no matter what you send it in for, lol) of course, the only reason i called for a keyboard replacement once is cause the left trackpoint button popped off.

I agreed with lithium726's advice. I got an ALPS replacement for my Chicony by explaining that the keyboard is one of the main reasons I bought a T60 and it's disappointing to get a machine with a keyboard (Chicony) that is known widely to be inferior.

Frankly I think it's shameful that Lenovo/IBM ships keyboards of such different quality, especially when the reputation of the ThinkPad garners so much from its good (NMB, ALPS) keyboards.

Also, calling back and talking to someone different is a good idea. Some tech people are more sympathetic than others. It can definitely be hit or miss.

Thanks,
Does Lenovo will ask the old keyboard to be sent back?
I'll try call again today. Finger crossed.

Normally, if you get them to agree to giving you a substitute keyboard, it will be sent out without a direct exchange, since the whole premise of the transaction is/was that the old part is unserviceable or unsatisfactory in some way.

Chief

I've read a few posts in where due to the cost of shipping or whatever the old keyboard was not required to be sent back to ibm (pre lenovo).

I got the NMB keyboard for my T43p. I told them I had a defective trackpoint button. And when they told me they would ship me a new keyboard, I asked them if I could get the NMB and gave them the part number.

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 did it, no problem!!

I called the 800-ibm-serv and went into the thinkpad support area. I got a guy (indian sounding) and I stated that i think i got a bad keyboard on my T60. He asked what was wrong and i said the trackpoint wasnt tracking consistantly and that the keyboard itself felt "loose". I said that i tried to reinstall the drivers from the web site and tried to tighten the down the screw to no avail.

(Playing stupid but somewhat studied"

I asked what part number i had for my keyboard and said i had looked online and there was one very prone to problems and wondered if that was the one i had. Sure enough, i did have the Chicony part number, hmmmm, lol. I asked if i could get a different kind and that online they had two other number that were less prone to problems. He asked me for them, put me on hold a long time, came back and said they would ship me (ALPs part number) one right away. I politely thanked him and that was that.

Simple

ps. He said the other part number wasnt available. So i got the ALPs.

jcan wrote:Hi, I'm using T60 2623-D6U equipped with "Chicony" keyboard.
The keyboard feeling is not that good compared to previous T42.
Is it possible to call Lenovo and make complaints to get it replaced
with NMB or Alps one?
Do I have to send my laptop to Lenovo or they will send replacement
part to me?
Any experiences or comments?
Thanks.

I am new to this thread so I have some catching up to do. I hate my keyboard. How do I determine if it is a Chicony? One of the main reasons I chose the T60p was because of the superior keyboard. In any event I went to home depot and loved the fell of the T43 they had on display. Lots of little click responses after each key stroke. This keyboard lacks that quality.

collector_edi wrote: I am new to this thread so I have some catching up to do. I hate my keyboard. How do I determine if it is a Chicony?

Click on this link, then in the upper middle of the page is a small blue link "parts lookup" click on that and it will identify the components in your ThinkPad. You must do this "From your Thinkpad" using Internet Explorer, it will not work with Firefox or other browsers.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo

jeremivw wrote:FYI the NMB's haven't been available but the Alps have been shipping.

My T60 (a 2007-63G, German model) arrived April 14th and according to the parts list on Lenovo's web site my particular T60 has the NMB keyboard.

Your German NMB keyboard is a different part number than the US English. Yours is probably 39T7450. The US English version is part number 39T0958, and that is the one that is, and has been out of stock for several weeks. I am just hoping that they begin stocking it again so that I can buy one.

archer6 wrote:

collector_edi wrote: I am new to this thread so I have some catching up to do. I hate my keyboard. How do I determine if it is a Chicony?

Click on this link, then in the upper middle of the page is a small blue link "parts lookup" click on that and it will identify the components in your ThinkPad. You must do this "From your Thinkpad" using Internet Explorer, it will not work with Firefox or other browsers.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo

39T0928 39T0958 KEYBOARD FRU [my results] So do I not have a ALPS OR NMB?

Does anyone have any experience with model? I googled the part no and received this link http://www.korrecttech.net


Thank you for the response. I should proof read my postings. Sorry about the glaring mistakes on the origional post. I tested a T43 at Office Depot not Home Depot.

collector_edi wrote:39T0928 39T0958 KEYBOARD FRU [my results]

You are VERY lucky as you have the coveted NMB keyboard.
When did you receive your computer? That may give the rest of us hope that they are now shipping the keyboard that has been on "backorder" for so long.

Thanks,
Archer

I ordered 2/9 and received 3/25th one day earlier than estimated delivery date.

What is the consensus? Quite keyboard instead of keystroke clicks? I hear clicks but it does not have the crispy fill that the T43 had at the Office Depot store. The keystrokes are not what I expected.

What are the characteristics of the keyboard that most people like regarding this model?

I just learned what FRU means. Field replacement unit. How did you determine I had the NMB keyboard?

collector_edi wrote:What is the consensus? Quite keyboard instead of keystroke clicks?
What are the characteristics of the keyboard that most people like regarding this model?
I just learned what FRU means. Field replacement unit. How did you determine I had the NMB keyboard?

I have used all three brands of keyboards in the various ThinkPads I have and their is not a "bad brand", just different in terms of sound and feel. I type at a high rate of speed and therefore I'm sensitive to the feel, more than a little clicking sound. Another influencing factor is ambient noise in the area you are working or trying it out. Stores have a high ambient noise level and you are not sitting at your desk, in your normal environment. Ad to that the fact that in the store usually you are not really writing as such. I do not think that the store experience is of value, but that's simply my opinion.

Since it's such a personal preference, I think that the idea expressed on this forum, that the NMB is the best is subject to debate. The differences that I have noticed are very minor. I have also noted that you may have the same brand but built in another country so the result is yet, another difference.

I went to the Lenovo site and did some research based on the model info I had on your computer. That's how I was able to identify that you postively have the NMB.

Archer

Hi, I called IBM-SERV.
Complained the quality of keyboard, Chicony one,
and tech. guy agreed to send me the replacement part.
I checked the part number to be shipped and it was Alps!
Worth of trying to call again.

BTW, What is the carrier type for this replacement shipping?
I don't have any tracking number to track regarding this service.
Thanks.

jcan wrote:Hi, I called IBM-SERV.
Complained the quality of keyboard, Chicony one,
and tech. guy agreed to send me the replacement part.
I checked the part number to be shipped and it was Alps!
Worth of trying to call again.

BTW, What is the carrier type for this replacement shipping?
I don't have any tracking number to track regarding this service.
Thanks.

I would give the Alps a try, you could be very happy with that brand. Again, it's such a personal preference. In my opinion none of the 3 brands are "bad" especially if compared to the other laptop makers.
Usually they ship UPS and it gets to you before a tracking number is even issued. I know because I've ordered lots of products from them.

Archer

collector_edi wrote:I ordered 2/9 and received 3/25th one day earlier than estimated delivery date.

What is the consensus? Quite keyboard instead of keystroke clicks? I hear clicks but it does not have the crispy fill that the T43 had at the Office Depot store. The keystrokes are not what I expected.

What are the characteristics of the keyboard that most people like regarding this model?

I just learned what FRU means. Field replacement unit. How did you determine I had the NMB keyboard?

The chicony has more crisp clicks while i prefer silient and smooth. Im sure you could get someone to swap you keyboard here.

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

Has anyone tried negotiating with IBM when purchasing the keyboard to get it at a lower price? Any luck?

No but in the case of the NMB keyboard the matter doesn't even get that far because Lenovo isn't stocking any.

-darren