How to not accidentally damage a laptop over time?

[kangazoom]

After experiencing this problem with my T-42 (it would restart if I moved it, but it has escalated to the point where it usually won't turn on anymore), i am a little worried about the do-s and don't-s with my new T-61 (which I just ordered and should receive shortly).

For example, when transporting my laptop to class, is it at much risk if I put it in a laptop case and then into a backpack or if I use a laptop backpack?

Should I only use the laptop on flat surfaces? Can I damage the laptop while using it on my lap or in bed?

Are there things people tend to do and overlook to damage their laptop?

[dr_st]

I think you worry too much. Don't throw it all over the place, don't hammer it, don't spill stuff on it, and it should be fine.

[deeastman]

Are there things people tend to do and overlook to damage their laptop?

Well besides the obvious I personally damaged my 15" Sony laptop
by picking it up by the right front corner with one hand, when I had it on my lap, so I could stand up and answer the phone. The flex damaged the mother board. (That is what started me reading this forum and I still haven't decided to buy a Thinkpad yet). Probably couldn't happen to a thinkpad but I always use two hands to pick up and support any notebook now.

Two other personal experiences with people I know, one set his pen on the keyboard to go to the bathroom. When he returned he became engaged in a conversation and shut is notebook. Goodbye screen. The other by a not to logical individual decided to clean his keyboard with the bare end of a vacuum cleaner hose. Goodbye keys.

[pianowizard]

Probably couldn't happen to a thinkpad

Yes it could, and it has ruined many T4* Thinkpads.

kangazoom, make sure you never pick up your new T61 by grabbing one of its palmrest corners. It's a very bad habit.

[Troels]

Especially these new RoHS directives helps escalates the problem. I think the T42 wasn't compliant with these directives yet, but i know the T6x are. Also replacement parts are all RoHS today.
Laptops are generally more prone to damage due to flex now because of these directives, so generally i think the roll cage is a warm welcome.
To be safe, don't pick it up by the corners.

[BradS]

Thanks for the replies in this topic. I usually do lift and carry my 14.1" standard T61 by the right palm rest, I'll have to remember not to do that anymore. I also carry it by the screen sometimes (ehehhheh) I'll probably stop doing that too.

[DPierce42]

At one of our customer's sites, there is a woman who liked to demonstrate the weight of her responsibilities by dropping (or slamming) her enormous set of binders on a table when she walked in the room. One day, she did this when my cohort was using this particular table as a desk. His laptop immediately threw some "cannot read from disk" errors, and the hard disk never worked again. (It was a Dell, as I recall.)

We billed the customer for the hard disk replacement (heh heh), but the real loss was the 1-1/2 days of work that had to be redone. She's much quieter entering the room now.

Anyway, as a result of this, I instinctively lift my laptop up a wee bit when other people join me at a work surface, until they get settled. It's overkill, sure.

[dalee18]

Yikes! Reading all these stories of people picking their laptops up by the corners and/or screens makes me cringe for the poor laptops! Please be more kind to your machines!

[kangazoom]

interesting.
luckily, i've never picked up my laptop with one hand before.

would using a laptop not on a flat surface, like your lap or on bed, contribute to the internal flexing?

[DBordello]

I pick my T40 up all the time by the corner, or carry it by the screen.

I have never thought of it as bad for it, it takes it so well. The flex issue might be significant. I guess I will stop those habits when my new T61 gets here.

[acasto]

What exactly to you guys mean when you say you pick it up by the screen? I just can't quite visualize what you are doing here that would make it any more convenient than picking it up from underneath. Are you talking about holding it from the top lip sort of like a handle? Or from the sides and lifting up?

[Xcalamento]

Are you talking about holding it from the top lip sort of like a handle? Or from the sides and lifting up?

That's how I do it. I lift it by the screen a lot, and by the corners, right and left. I've had my T23 for a while though and never had issues.

I can't treat my thinkpad like a baby, that's not what thinkpads are about. These things should be like a war truck or something; I would hate to think they are so fragile. I might rethink my habits when my T61 arrives, but I did get the accidental protection just in case .

[pianowizard]

These things should be like a war truck or something; I would hate to think they are so fragile.

Thinkpads are tough compared to most other brands, but they still can't withstand abuses (such as being picked up by a palmrest or screen corner) forever.

If you must pick up a laptop with one hand, grab as close to the machine's center of gravity as possible.

[DBordello]

When I talk about lifting by the screen, I mean using the top lip and holding it in the center.

It can't cause any larger flex in the body than rotating the screen (minimal.

The only force that is unusual is that 6 lb tension that you are placing the screen and hinges in. But this is no big deal. I hardly doubt it is an issue.

Now, picking it up by a corner. That develops a moment in the body of the laptop. I don't know if this is too large or not, but will causing flexing of the frame.

-Dan

[BradS]

What exactly to you guys mean when you say you pick it up by the screen? I just can't quite visualize what you are doing here that would make it any more convenient than picking it up from underneath. Are you talking about holding it from the top lip sort of like a handle? Or from the sides and lifting up?

Yea you kinda put your thumb under lip on top of the screen and wrap your fingers around the back. The hinges hold tight when holding it like that, I was surprised at that.

[ryengineer]

I believe none of you have ever seen Matthew Kohut's (Worldwide Competitive Analyst of Lenovo) treatment of thinkpads in videocasts, I think they're not made available to consumers, I'll try to find a way to rip it and post.

[pianowizard]

I believe none of you have ever seen Matthew Kohut's (Worldwide Competitive Analyst of Lenovo) treatment of thinkpads in videocasts

But even if a Thinkpad can withstand harsh treatments a few times, that doesn't mean it can withstand the same treatments hundreds of times. I doubt very much that one can cause any damge to a Thinkpad by lifting it by the palmrest 10 times, but doing it as a habit (e.g 10 times a week, 52 weeks a year) is totally different.

[dr_st]

When I talk about lifting by the screen, I mean using the top lip and holding it in the center.

It can't cause any larger flex in the body than rotating the screen (minimal.

The only force that is unusual is that 6 lb tension that you are placing the screen and hinges in. But this is no big deal. I hardly doubt it is an issue.

I do it all the time and it feels fine, therefore I expect it to be fine. Picking it up by the corner - you can feel the flex. And it doesn't even feel comfortable.

If I have an extended battery, I often hold the Thinkpad level with my arm coming below it across the middle, and my fingers holding the back of the battery.

That's when I carry it open, and I usually do it for short distance only. If I need to carry it across a long distance in my hands, I just close the lid and carry it like a book in my hand or below the armpit.

[ryengineer]

But even if a Thinkpad can withstand harsh treatments a few times, that doesn't mean it can withstand the same treatments hundreds of times. I doubt very much that one can cause any damge to a Thinkpad by lifting it by the palmrest 10 times, but doing it as a habit (e.g 10 times a week, 52 weeks a year) is totally different.

PW, my comments were meant to suggest others not to grab thinkpads like Matt (this is by no means a personal photograph and doesn't require user consent to post, it was taken for marketing purposes and falls within forum rules) does.

[burhan]

How does one lift the laptop by the palm rest?? I mean, putting your hands on the bottom and lifting it up?? Or while the screen is open, grab the body on both sides and lift it??

Things I have witnessed:

At my previous work, we had issued a new manager a T42, and 15 minutes after I had her sign the paperwork, I got a call that "half the keyboard isn't working". When I sent one of the techs to investigate, he immediately called me down. It so happened that the lady emptied half a glass of cold water on the keyboard

I have heard people have rolled over and slept on their laptops causing the screen to crack.

[eyecon82]

how do you guys feel about using a thinkpad on a bed? the heat dispenser is on the back left corner..and i don't see any type of fan intake on the bottom

[sveintore]

I have used a T20, T40p and now a T60p in bed with no problems for years. Powered on while charging.. They might get hotter, but no problems whatsoever..

(I have no life)

[Roadster]

Whatever you do, please DO NOT use a ThinkPad on your LAP! And for God's sake, NEVER close the lid and carry it around like a NOTEBOOK. These fragile pieces of hardware were never designed to be subjected to such extreme conditions!!!

[ryengineer]

Whatever you do, please DO NOT use a ThinkPad on your LAP! And for God's sake, NEVER close the lid and carry it around like a NOTEBOOK. These fragile pieces of hardware were never designed to be subjected to such extreme conditions!!!

Sorry?

[eyecon82]

Whatever you do, please DO NOT use a ThinkPad on your LAP! And for God's sake, NEVER close the lid and carry it around like a NOTEBOOK. These fragile pieces of hardware were never designed to be subjected to such extreme conditions!!!

Sorry?

he's being sarcastic

[rayman]

or just by an extended warranty just in case....

[Bagels4All]

if you must leave it on when you set it aside, put it upside down so the heat can more easily vent away.

[NS]

if you must leave it on when you set it aside, put it upside down so the heat can more easily vent away.

The entire weight of the laptop will be balanced on the LCD. This is a bad idea as well..

Not using the laptop, shut it down. Don't be lazy.. When travelling with your thinkpad, DO use a laptop sleeve or something to protect it from dust and dirt.. sometimes, i DID notice some people carrying their laptop without a protection and i am wondering what they will do, if it rains suddenly??

[dr_st]

if you must leave it on when you set it aside, put it upside down so the heat can more easily vent away.

The entire weight of the laptop will be balanced on the LCD. This is a bad idea as well..

Agree. Whenever I had to leave the laptop on but not in active use by me (downloading large files, number crunching), I would put it on the side, like an open book, so that the weight is balanced, and the vents are open. This is good, as long as you don't have creatures that can potentially knock it over (kids, cats).