Thinkpads Forum

Hello,

I own a new W500 and the keyboard is "elastic" on the keys "asdf" on the left side but not on the right side. The dealer showed me a second new other W500 with the same problem. Is this a series problem?

Any ideas?

Thnx.

Wiesl

Hello,
You will find that this a common issue (search the forum for "keyboard flex"). Depending on whether you've owned other Thinkpads, you may or may not consider this an issue. My previous Thinkpads (R32 and T42p) had excellent keyboards, so the flex in W500 was unacceptable to me. Here is my (positive) experience with Lenovo customer service, as posted on the "other" Thinkpad forum:

---------
My dealing with Lenovo Canada on the keybord flex went smoothly. When I received my W500 on June 26, the flex on the left side was obvious. I called Lenovo right away, but my system was not yet showing up in warrantly lookup. They took down all my information and requested that I fax them my proof of purchase in order to proceed. I am still waiting for the invoice to arrive in the mail. However, I kept checkign the online warranty lookup, and the moment my system showed up I gave Lenovo a call. The conversation went something like this:

Me: I have significant flex on the left side of my keyboard. From Lenovo support forum, I understand that Lenovo is aware of this issue and is issuing free keyboard replacements, using older model keyboards from T61 series. I have the FRU for it.
Rep: Yes, I have heard of this, but I am not sure if this is a warranty issue. Let me check with my manager.
Me: Of course, please do. (I am on hold for about a minute).
Rep: OK, you said you have the FRU for the keyboard.
Me: Yes, it's 42T3143, and there are 2 more that replace it for T61 series.
Rep: Yes, that seems like it would work. We have them in stock. Let me put in an order for it. (I am on hold for about a minute) You are all set up, you should get it in a few days.
Me: Thank you very much.

I got the keyboard today and just swapped it in. What a difference! It feels almost as nice as my T42p ! No flex and the key sound is consistent across all the keys.
I have compared the keyboards before installing the replacement, and it is immediately obvious that the the old keyboard is of much superior quality.
Wishing all the other W500 buyers to have as smooth an experience with the keyboard replacement as I did.
---------

Hackster wrote:Hello,
You will find that this a common issue (search the forum for "keyboard flex"). Depending on whether you've owned other Thinkpads, you may or may not consider this an issue. My previous Thinkpads (R32 and T42p) had excellent keyboards, so the flex in W500 was unacceptable to me. Here is my (positive) experience with Lenovo customer service, as posted on the "other" Thinkpad forum:

---------
My dealing with Lenovo Canada on the keybord flex went smoothly. When I received my W500 on June 26, the flex on the left side was obvious. I called Lenovo right away, but my system was not yet showing up in warrantly lookup. They took down all my information and requested that I fax them my proof of purchase in order to proceed. I am still waiting for the invoice to arrive in the mail. However, I kept checkign the online warranty lookup, and the moment my system showed up I gave Lenovo a call. The conversation went something like this:

Me: I have significant flex on the left side of my keyboard. From Lenovo support forum, I understand that Lenovo is aware of this issue and is issuing free keyboard replacements, using older model keyboards from T61 series. I have the FRU for it.
Rep: Yes, I have heard of this, but I am not sure if this is a warranty issue. Let me check with my manager.
Me: Of course, please do. (I am on hold for about a minute).
Rep: OK, you said you have the FRU for the keyboard.
Me: Yes, it's 42T3143, and there are 2 more that replace it for T61 series.
Rep: Yes, that seems like it would work. We have them in stock. Let me put in an order for it. (I am on hold for about a minute) You are all set up, you should get it in a few days.
Me: Thank you very much.

I got the keyboard today and just swapped it in. What a difference! It feels almost as nice as my T42p ! No flex and the key sound is consistent across all the keys.
I have compared the keyboards before installing the replacement, and it is immediately obvious that the the old keyboard is of much superior quality.
Wishing all the other W500 buyers to have as smooth an experience with the keyboard replacement as I did.
---------

Ok, I have onsite warranty (I have to activate that first). I think I will try that, too. What are the 2 FRU numbers additionally available?

Wiesl

The FRUs are 42T3209, 42T3273, or 42T3143. Note: These FRUs are for the US keyboards. For others, see the link: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-70558.

Hackster wrote:The FRUs are 42T3209, 42T3273, or 42T3143. Note: These FRUs are for the US keyboards. For others, see the link: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-70558.

The link is for the W700. Is there any difference to the T61 ones?

For the Germans ones the following FRU parts apply: 42T4011, 42T4075, 42T3946
What are the differences between the 3 FRU parts? On which does the keyboard flex to be appear?

According to warranty lookup by serial number mine has:
Mfg part #: 42T4043
FRU part #: 42T4075

An clarification would help.

Thnx.

Wiesl

Sorry for the wrong link. Here is the link for T61p keyboard service parts: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-68235
Either one of those are good old solid keyboards (at least for the US version).

Hackster wrote:Sorry for the wrong link. Here is the link for T61p keyboard service parts: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-68235
Either one of those are good old solid keyboards (at least for the US version).

Which of them is most recommended ALPS, Chicony, NMB? (I remember the discussion in the T43 series)

Wiesl