Thinkpads Forum

Just got my X61 yesterday and I am very happy with my decision but I am finding that it is somewhat flimsy in one certain area:

An area of concern is if I press down on the plastic between the ThinkVantage button and the Power button, the entire top roll of plastic from Mute button to Pause button and from F2 to F12 flexes downward considerably.

Is this normal?

Mine has a tiny bit of give there, like it's not secured in the back, but doesn't bend down completely.

bri wrote:Mine has a tiny bit of give there, like it's not secured in the back, but doesn't bend down completely.

Yea. My doesn't bend down completely either but it does bend down. So this is normal to all X61's?

I like the x61tablet but I would not describe it as solid. IT has its creeks and noises when I move it around. The bevel attachment for the swivel of the screen seperates the plastic near the screen and my tabs that hold the battery on the back have sheered off (lenovo says I have to send the comp. to them to fix-cant be fixed by a remote tech). The keyboard gets a little louder everytime the tech visits my computer which has been a total of 6 time now. I watched the guy once and he was working so fast that little plastic tabs that hold everything together solidly keep breaking off. Annoying.

so, yeah...not solid but I still like this computer better than any of my classmates.
dave

I like a certain amount of flex to the laptop and its components - it decreases the number of cracks that will appear (if not preventing them altogether)

but I agree, the click when you put pressure on the left palmrest is annoying

I got mine a couple of weeks back, and there is no flex.

Put it on a solid surface (ex. table) then press down on the right palmrest, left palmrest, keyboard, power button plate, sides of the casing near the keyboard, hold one corner of the screen and push/pull the opposite corner (be careful not to crack your screen) - but do any of these and you'll see that there is SOME flex to it.

When I compare it to my X31 (which is a brick) there is more flex. I've decided that this is a good thing, since it will lead to less cracking. Now (in comparison with 4-5 years ago for X31) that LCD panels are more resistant to flexing, which means fewer cracked LCD screens and pressure marks (hopefully)

Thanks for all the responses. But I like to know in particular if there there is flex when you push down on the plastic near the power button. Mine flexes so much that the entire top part flexes downwards a bit.

Mine also displays that particular flex. I'd say it's normal, If you take off the palmrest, the plastic around the power button goes with it and you can see that it is quite thin. I still have faith in the quality.

I had a x24 which also had flex in that area. I would say it is normal.

Strange thing, mine doesn't flex that much anymore. Perhaps it's settled? Or when I took it off & on a couple times it settled. Doesn't seem possible but I'm happier now.

Mine has both flex and the left palmrest click when you press on it.

Quality is still there but they are not perfect.

rmendoza wrote:I got mine a couple of weeks back, and there is no flex.

I want to emend my assertion. Mine does have flex, but it's barely noticeable, so I would think this is normal.

mine also has flex...
a bit nervous, but not a big deal

On my X61 Tablet, pressing on that area doesn't have any effect at all...rock-solid

I wonder if I should get them to service this flexing problem. Doesn't interfere with the function of the laptop but it if flexing quite a bit

If it's really a cause of concern, you could try. Normally, if it is a cosmetic thing or a design issue (I say issue since some may have positive views and others negatives views on the flex) then Lenovo will politely inform you that it does not fall under the warranty.

GL

My UK model X61 gives a little when you press down in this area. If you pop the battery out you'll see why. The panel in question is immediately above the battery cavity and there's no support in the immediate below the panel, other than the battert itself. I guess this is to allow the larger 8 cell battery to stick out.

well, i guess this is kind of innovation by Lenovo to X61s, low cost, less material used, ...etc.