Thinkpads Forum

So I get my T400 in the mail today and rapidly noticed that the keyboard SUCKS. So I put my T60's NMB in it, except that's going to my dad and I don't want to short change him. So I put the T400 keyboard back in, and I can't stand it. So I pull it back out, and tape folded-up paper to the bottom of it in key places. Putting it back together, I had problems with the outer left palmrest screw. It would be tight before the thing would be firmly against the base. So I filed the screw down. All is well, except I hear the fan struggle (when my ear is to it) whenever I press down hard on the "1/!" key.

Hey, at least I don't have any keyboard flex anymore. I'm probably ordering a T60 keyboard for good measure though.

The T60 keyboard still had some flex.

I got my T400 yesterday, and within an hour I decided to order a T60 keyboard. I suspect there's going to be a big demand for those--in fact, it looks like prices have gone up a bit.

Link to order the keyboard?

stephenaron wrote:Link to order the keyboard?

Here it is:

http://www.upgradebay.com/c1_itemdetail ... =168713627

eelton wrote:

stephenaron wrote:Link to order the keyboard?

Here it is:

http://www.upgradebay.com/c1_itemdetail ... =168713627

Will a T40 keyboard work as well in the T400?

Paladin2 wrote:Will a T40 keyboard work as well in the T400?

No.

T4x all share keyboards with each other, but only within the same-size system; so, all 14" screen T40, T41, T42, and T43 systems use the same keyboard and you can buy a 14" T43 keyboard FRU and install it in a T40. You cannot buy a 15" T43 keyboard and install it in a 14" T4x, however. (Oh, I believe also that 14" R5x can share keyboards with 14" T4x and 15" R5x keyboards with 15" T4x.)

It is only with the advent of the T/R/Z6x that Lenovo standardized the mounting holes for the keyboard across all the entire T/R/Z lines and sizes/variants, so from the T/R/Z6x onward, all systems can share their keyboards with each other (including with T/R4xx/5xx).

We are not guaranteed that this will last with the generation after the T/R4xx/5xx, of course. They just haven't redesigned the keyboards yet.

- Nathan

I opened up 14" T40 and 15" T42p and the keyboards are the same. Service manual also says they're the same. 14" T4x have palmrest without rim.

Sorry for being a noob here, but I've never had a Thinkpad before. So what is flex and how bad exactly are the new keyboards?

tzcomwiz wrote:Sorry for being a noob here, but I've never had a Thinkpad before. So what is flex and how bad exactly are the new keyboards?

Flex in this case is where you push down on the keyboard and a whole section of it moves. It's something that we as ThinkPad users aren't very used to. I managed to fix most of mine by removing the keyboard and stacking PostIt notes underneath it to fill in the gap.

eelton wrote:

stephenaron wrote:Link to order the keyboard?

Here it is:

http://www.upgradebay.com/c1_itemdetail ... =168713627

good link, gonna hang on to that

Utwig wrote:I opened up 14" T40 and 15" T42p and the keyboards are the same. Service manual also says they're the same. 14" T4x have palmrest without rim.

They look the same from the top but, from the bottom, one has 3 screws and the other has 4 screws - different locations also, if I recall correctly.

For those who ordered thru upgradebay.com, did they send you a sales confirmation? I didn't get an email from them yet it looks like there's a pending charge on my CC.

I tried emailing them but no response, haven't tried calling them yet.

prelude528 wrote:For those who ordered thru upgradebay.com, did they send you a sales confirmation? I didn't get an email from them yet it looks like there's a pending charge on my CC.

I tried emailing them but no response, haven't tried calling them yet.

I did get a confirmation, about two hours after placing the order. I believe they shipped it the day I ordered it.

Is Lenovo going to do something about the inferior keyboards?

nxman wrote:Is Lenovo going to do something about the inferior keyboards?

Hopefully they'll starting putting T61 keyboards back in them.

eelton wrote:

prelude528 wrote:For those who ordered thru upgradebay.com, did they send you a sales confirmation? I didn't get an email from them yet it looks like there's a pending charge on my CC.

I tried emailing them but no response, haven't tried calling them yet.

I did get a confirmation, about two hours after placing the order. I believe they shipped it the day I ordered it.

Thanks! Just got off the phone w/them and it already shipped. I guess the confirmation just got lost somewhere.

Can those who ordered replacement keyboards through upgreadebay.com confirm that they are in fact the NMB keyboard and not one of the other manufacturers?
Thanks,
RM

reforminded wrote:Can those who ordered replacement keyboards through upgreadebay.com confirm that they are in fact the NMB keyboard and not one of the other manufacturers?
Thanks,
RM

I received the Chicony one instead of the NMB. I prefer it over the stock T400 keyboard, seems to be more solid and has a better "bounce" as Archer described in one of the other threads. It is a bit louder than the original thou (that I don't really like).

I ordered from Upgradebay.com and got the Chicony as well. I've been collaborating with the support department to RMA for the NMB manufactured part I should have gotten. Jason in Support has followed through and is replacing my Chicony with NMB (from T61 part number).

Good luck everyone!