Thinkpads Forum

I've had my ThinkPad X61s for over 2.5 weeks. The front corners are chipped, although it's very small and barely noticable. I'd estimate it the size of a pen dot. I haven't dropped the laptop or anything. Maybe it was there when I first got it.

It seems like the paint is very thin on the corners. Is anybody else having this small cosmetic problem?

While I don't have my X61s yet, I do have a T41, T41, T60 and they all still have painted corners... *shrugs*

Weird, it makes me wonder if my X61s came with the chips. I've been babying this thing since day one. It's not a big deal now, but I hope it doesn't get worse since the inner plastic is exposed.

Do you carry it around in a laptop bag or sleeve? If you do, and it is a tight fit, some of that wear can come from the removal and insertion. It's not likely, but it could be the cause.

Also if that bag has a zippered front-and if it is a tight fit-the zipper might be brushing against the corners.

The corners of my X40 and X60s both rubbed down to the metal. It's no big deal. That's the only damage my laptops have experienced and I have never used a case. I'm sure the corners will rub down on the x61s as well. You can get a new cover for ~$40 from Lenovo if you want.

Geez. I haven't really seen any beaten down ThinkPads before (except for on the Lenovo commercials). The only thing I can think of was mentioned a few posts ago: rubbing from the case.

(Now I'm nervous about the new case for my X61s =\)

Yep, it's definitely coming from the nylon material in my bag. I just did a test on an unchipped corner and rubbed my bag on it. The paint faded a little bit.

I did the same test on an old T40 but the paint did not fade away. I believe the exterior paint quality has gone down since Lenovo is now in charge.

I have been carrying my widescreen T60p in a standard size Port case and it is a very tight fit-but I have no paint wear on the corners. If the paint was of poor quality, it would definitely have rubbed off on mine due to the small case.

I hate it has happened to you, but maybe it is just a freak isolated case-or part of a production run flaw.

My X61t's paint has rubbed off on the corners also, and my X60t did the same thing.

On top of that, my X61t SXGA now sporadically has the dreaded "lower-third" screen problems.... ugh!! My X60t just got back from having that "fixed" for the second time... now that will have to be my backup machine while the X61t gets fixed... This is getting ridiculous...

Mine's rubbed off too - nothing we can do about it though.

I think mine's getting worse, about 2mm. Nothing I can do about it I guess.

man... that's lame.

do you mind telling us which case you have and maybe even post pictures?

spune wrote:Yep, it's definitely coming from the nylon material in my bag. I just did a test on an unchipped corner and rubbed my bag on it. The paint faded a little bit.

I did the same test on an old T40 but the paint did not fade away. I believe the exterior paint quality has gone down since Lenovo is now in charge.

Agreed!!

I've had T40 to T42p including T20's and T30's and NEVER have I worn down the corners as fast I have killed the ones on the T60p and Tablet!! They started showing up on the T60p within a week!!

Now keep in mind that LENOVO has dropped the prices of ThinkPads to "affordable" levels. I remember when a T42p was $4K when they first came out...when similar machines were half of that!! Now the T60p was only a couple HUNDRED more than a comparable machine...can't blame them!!!

I remember when a "loaded" 770 was $10K!! Those things are built like tanks...but you got what you paid for...in short I think the same holds true today.

I am sure that Lenovo can build the same "quality" or BETTER into a laptop...but who is going to buy it? Or better put ( I am sure someone will buy them) HOW WILL THEY RECOVER their costs? Tooling, engineering,marketing etc costs BIG $$$. And all this for a platform that MIGHT be around for 6 months... The rules have changed and unfiortunately I see a future when these things will be disposable....if some of these companies can stay above water!!!

FWIW: I think they are still the best laptops (MOST OF THE THINKPAD LINE) around for the money...