T61 AC Adapter

[BradS]

I've had a T61 since Aug 2007. I've now gone through two AC adapters (and am now in need of a third) because both have eventually worn so much around the connector piece that plugs into the back of the laptop that the wire shorts out to the point where it will no longer work.

I imagine the problem must stem from the way I use the laptop(, although I can't quite imagine what it is that I'm doing thats caused these problems). To make matters worse the battery on my laptop died shortly after the warrenty expired. I have a three year warrenty on the laptop but of course the battery nor the AC adapter are covered past a year. The laptop is now officially OUT OF ORDER. I can't even update my bios without the battery, its beyond frustrating at this point.

I can't help but ask, are these common problems?

Besides purchasing a replacment AC adapter and/or battery directly from Lenovo, what is the truth about 3rd party ac adapters and or batteries? I figure I can buy two or three of those for the equivelent Lenovo product. Do I have any other options?

Beyond that, anyone want to take a guess as to what I'm doing wrong when it comes to using my laptop thats causing me these unnecessary headaches?

[tomh009]

I've never yet had one wear out, neither old style or the new style.

Do you typically use the T60 on a desk, on your lap, something else? Is the power cord usually tight, or is there some slack?

Sorry, no experience with third-party ones, but you can find the genuine ones on eBay for around $40.

[jdhurst]

I have worn out one AC adapter in the last 6 years. It resulted from a non-IBM AC cord that is just a wee bit too tight and pulling it out of the adapter quickly breaks the inside connection over time. I am now vastly more careful.

Said more succinctly, it is not a common problem. ... JDH