Thinkpads Forum

For those folks who have been inside a T61P and a W530 -
My new used laptop (W530) seems to have a lot more flexibility in the display case[?]. I sat on my T61 years ago and it was like sitting on a steel box, no flex. Before I open up the laptop to see if they didn't put the magnesium cage behind the display I thought I ask and see if the extra flex of the W530 was normal.
Any help is appreciated.

It's not secret that the old IBM built Thinkpads were better built than today's Lenovo built Thinkpads. Having said that, the build quality of today business class laptop is still pretty decent. Chairs were design to be sat on. Laptops were designed to sit on you while you sit in a chair. I would imagine it would be hard to type on the keyboard while sitting on it.

Magnesium alloy inner lid roll cages were removed after the T500/T400 generation, since LED screens required less protection. The W530 uses a CFRP lid with fused GFRP at the top for antenna reception. However, the 14.1" T4* and T60 used plain magnesium alloy for the lid (no inner cage), while the 15" versions used CFRP.

Thanks for the clarification.
brchan, So you're saying, it would follow that W530 would have more flex? I looked in the manual and didn't see anything cage like but the Lenovo site mentioned durable housing to protect the display (I don't remember the actual phrase). If it's the carbon-fiber plastic blend, I'm fine with that. I'm assuming you were being facetious CG. Thanks again for the replies.