Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

I've just received a brand new T520 type 4243 and i'm rather happy with this baby...

BUT, when i put my left hand in place to type on the keyboard, there is a "cracky noise" coming from the shell, as if i was using a cheap toy... I can't imagine it's normal, so i'm wondering if it could be considered as a default and covered by the warranty?

Any advice?

Best regards.

My brand new T410 does the same thing.

My work T500 does this also. My personal T410 does but not as much. Some of that is "normal" I think.

Welcome to the forum, jaco60.

As far as I am concerned, if I buy something new and it isn't perfect then I ask for a replacement. Let's face it, if you bought a new sweater and it had a hole in it then you'd expect a replacement. Contact your supplier and demand it be replaced. Keep doing that until it is perfect.

Bonne chance.

I have T400 that does the same on the right side. I put a folded piece of cardboard under the palmrest which solved it. That is, if you don't want to hassel with return/repair.

Thanks for your feedback...

I'm rather surprised that a number of Thinkpad owners have this problem... Seems like a quality control issue...
As i cannot consider this noise as "normal" (we are speaking of ~ 1000--1500€ laptops, here, not about low end hardware) i will return it ASAP...

I can wait until Lenovo gives me satisfaction as i've another brand new 13" HP Probook which is rock solid (but, i prefer the "old fashion" look of my T520 -- and its I7...).

jaco60 wrote:Thanks for your feedback...

I'm rather surprised that a number of Thinkpad owners have this problem... Seems like a quality control issue...
As i cannot consider this noise as "normal" (we are speaking of ~ 1000--1500€ laptops, here, not about low end hardware) i will return it ASAP...

I can wait until Lenovo gives me satisfaction as i've another brand new 13" HP Probook which is rock solid (but, i prefer the "old fashion" look of my T520 -- and its I7...).

The ProBooks are garbage compared to the T-series. I haven't seen the 13" model, but I have tried the 4430s, 4530s, and 4730s. They are much nicer than the "4525s and 4725s from last year, but I would not put them in the same category as a T-series worth comparing to. The ThinkPad Edge E420 and E520 would be of the same class as the ProBook.

jayton4 wrote: The ProBooks are garbage compared to the T-series.

They don't cost the same price, either... But, frankly, my 6360b is a good stuff for the money.

Anyway, I've only mentionned my 13" Probook as it looks far more well manufactured than my T520... which is a shame, imho.
When buying a T series, i expected a much better quality control... I'm perhaps unlucky -- i hope so -- but some answers in this thread make me think that i'm not the only one

For now, i'm waiting for the end of holidays to contact the reseller... wait and see: i will tell you the results.

T series machines are meant to be high quality. My T510 is perfect. Had it been less than that it would have been returned. Don't take no for an answer.

You paid for the best and deserve the best. It shouldn't creak ... and needs fixing. Anyone who accepts squeaks and creaks after handing over that amount of cash is lacking wisdom in my opinion.

French consumer laws are very much in your favour so don't hestiate to ask for a quality product from Lenovo.

jaco60 wrote: They don't cost the same price, either... But, frankly, my 6360b is a good stuff for the money.

I just watched a video review on the 6360b on tigerdirect. It definitely looks better than the 4430s that I was speaking of. I'm not a fan of HP, but I will retract my "garbage" statement.

Wow.... that a Lenovo T Series would have issues like this craky noise or the hinge issues that Ive read about in another thread just freaks me out.... Im looking to shell out about $3000 on a new machine fully loaded with options and long extended warranty program, so its things like this that get me second guessing.... grrrr

Of course, its hard to tell... but, I wonder if any of the board elders have some sort of "feeling" on what % of T series machines have these issues....? I guess you can always get stuck with a lemon and thats what the extended warranty is for.... but I spend a huge amount of time outside of the US so pulling the trigger on the warranty when outside of the USA is not an automatic nor simple issue....

My W520 would make a single crack noise on the left palmrest if and only if I pushed on the case in a very specific way. Unfortunately, it happens often enough to be irritating on a perfectionist level.

The palmrest near the latch handle squeaks if I push down on it, but that was remedied by a tiny piece of paper wedged between the front face of the palmrest and the chassis.

Did the IBM build machines also have some of these "features"....??