Thinkpads Forum

I remember skibunny mentioning the lids being plastic now but I didn't think less than a month the finish would be chipping off.

I am very careful with my T61, but already the front two corners are chipping, and two other areas on the side. I assume after time this will get worse.

I love everything else... but this is rather disappointing

You are not alone. My X61s has the same exact issue and it was barely a month old when it started to happen. I called Lenovo and they said that they could replace the top cover for me, but I had to leave for school at the time so I couldn't send it in. When Thanksgiving break comes, I'm going to try to send it in for a replacement cover.

So, is this an abnormal issue?

chadwicktr wrote:So, is this an abnormal issue?

I have had my T61p for 1.5 months now and I haven't noticed anything like that.

What bothers me most about my T61p is the light leakage at the bottom of the screen. When coming into my study (without the light on) yesterday night, I could see it lots of leakage, while looking at my partner's X41, I couldn't see anything. In fact, I almost thought for a second that her laptop was switched off!

I guess this also depends on the use. I take mine to class daily, so it's going in and out of the my bag everyday...

Can you post a pic of the paint chipping off ?

Sorry, here are the pictures.

http://lh4.google.com/chadwicktr/Rv8OOT ... C01814.JPG

http://lh5.google.com/chadwicktr/Rv8OOj ... C01815.JPG

http://lh6.google.com/chadwicktr/Rv8OOz ... C01816.JPG

MOD EDIT: Overlimit pictures, modified to links.

This is a somewhat familiar problem. I've had this issue on my past few TP's so it isn't inherent to the T61. The corners take the brunt of wear when the machine is inserted into a carrying case.

looks like wear to me..

when i take my T60p on a trip i fold a soft foam "cover" around the bottom and then drop it in a bag, then fold the excess foam over the top..

if lenovo is willing to replace the top cover, take it and then get a carry bag with a soft lining..

chadwicktr wrote:I guess this also depends on the use. I take mine to class daily, so it's going in and out of the my bag everyday...

chadwicktr wrote:I remember skibunny mentioning the lids being plastic now but I didn't think less than a month the finish would be chipping off.

Don't think it should matter whether it's a plastic or composite material, it's unacceptable. I haven't had any paint chipping wearing or peeling off my thinkpads - and mine from work are transported daily and treated rather brutally.
The only paint problem I ever had was ten or twelve years ago, when the paint peeled off the palm rest within a year. It was repaired under warranty and never happened again.

this is the known issue since T60 and X60 onwards.

will lenovo even replace for that? if so i'd call lenovo to send me in a new cover for all my thinkpads

it looks to me to be only a normal wear around the corners/ edges.. it was the same for all my thinkpads ever since the 600x

This apply on all Thinkpad with this kind of coating. I already see it on X24, X31, T23, T4x, T60 and even T61. When looking at the third picture, a scratch is visible from the front and over de hard disk bezel. So, if you don't handle your laptop with some care, it will happend in a very short time. You can have a 50K € car, if you climb all sidewalk, you will mark your wheel. Even if a wheel costs 1500 €.

BTW, the quality of this coating seems to drop like the Thinkpad prices...

Pascal_TTH wrote: So, if you don't handle your laptop with some care, it will happend in a very short time

chadwicktr wrote: I am very careful with my T61...

It's obvious if you don't handle something with care, damage will occur.

My point was that I am gentle with my laptop and don't just throw it in my Targus bag. So, it shouldn't have done this. I had my T60 for 5 months, and I never had any chips on it.

Anyways...

This has been normal wear and tear on many of the Thinkpads I use for both work and home from x40, T43, Z61t, and x60s. It used to bother me but now it's really no big deal - I'm too busy working...

Because of others reporting this issue, I had a second look at my collection.

None of mine look silver/metallic on the corners like yours does.

But I do see shiny black corners on some, even on my fairly new corporate T60 (but it takes a beating). However, my T40's still look perfect .

chadwicktr wrote:

Pascal_TTH wrote:snipped

Ops, missing what you quote. Currently, the coating is very fine on my T60p. In past time, I use to buy old Thinkpad and repair them. Mgnesium alloy LCD cover is a cheap part about 40 €. It take about two hours to exchange...

But, this coating did not have to chip like it does on your laptop. Have you call Lenovo ?

Has anyone found similar texture touch up paint that might work for fixing an aging Thinkpad exterior?

mediocre coating quality !!!

My T60 has the same thing on all four corners. I'm surprised at how much it's bothering people.

Because these ThinkPad cost multiple hundreds more then a samespec'd Acer, so the differende in hardware must be the case itself.

Wait for a sale to buy (or pick one up used with warranty left)... then you pay less than a lot of cheaper made laptops.... and don't feel like everything has to be perfect. I haven't notice this particular problem... but then again I really don't look for alot of the little things people complain about. If my laptop is working great and looks good I am happy.