Why does the R52 have such a crappy keyboard?

[indessen]

Hello,

I am wondering why the new R52 has such a crappy keyboard that I would expect of a Dell bottom of the range but not an IBM Thinkpad.

In the past I have owned an A30 and an R31, both had exceptionally good keyboards and there was no difference between the "expensive" A30 and the "cheaper" R31.

The R52 that I bought a week ago though has a totally different, cheap and nasty feel. Not only is it noisy, it has a totally different pressure point. I have compared the three, no comparison!

Anyone know what's going on? Has IBM gone loony to downgrade its unique selling point? The major reason I ever chose IBM is because of the exceptional keyboard.

Ingmar

[thePCxp]

The R52 does not have a crappy keyboard! (I have an R51 but the R51 and the R52 use the same keyboard). The A30 and the R31 are older ThinkPad's while the R52 is a newer ThinkPad so that's why the keyboard on the R52 feels different. I also find the keyboard on the R51 and R52 to be comfortable and as good as the keyboards on the older ThinkPad's. I think that if you keep using the R52, I think that you will get over the crappy feeling (and I didn't think that the keyboard was crappy the first time I used it).

[indessen]

Have you ever typed on an R3* oder A3* or A22* or T23? WORLDS APART from the R52. No idea why IBM would decide to downgrade their keyboards...

Apparently the keyboard on the T60 is more like the one I am used too, so my supplier. I'm gonna check out another R5* in a shop tomorrow to compare, to rule out the possibility that perhaps it's just *my* keyboard.

[thePCxp]

Have you ever typed on an R3* oder A3* or A22* or T23? WORLDS APART from the R52. No idea why IBM would decide to downgrade their keyboards...

I have typed on some of those ThinkPad's. (And I don't think that they downgraded their keyboards).

[K. Eng]

Keep in mind that Lenovo sources its keyboards from several different manufacturers. The keyboard in my T40 is very solid, but I've come across T43s with keyboards that felt like utter mush

This is one of my major complaints about modern notebooks in general. Certain components, like keyboards and displays, are often not uniform in quality, even among the same machine sub-types (e.g. two T40 type 2373-12U could have vastly different keyboards when they should be the same).

[christopher_wolf]

You may get a different model keyboard each time with each different system; no reason to go ahead and assume that *all* machines of that model. If the keyboards are swappable, then you should be able to order a replacement from IBM/Lenovo.

There is a, pretty hard to miss (then again the search function is rarely used, so....what exactly is to be expected?), thread about the keyboards on the T Series with owners of other series systems chiming in.

[indessen]

Have you ever typed on an R3* oder A3* or A22* or T23? WORLDS APART from the R52. No idea why IBM would decide to downgrade their keyboards...

I have typed on some of those ThinkPad's. (And I don't think that they downgraded their keyboards).

Hmm. Considering then also what christopher said, I think I should call Support and ask for a new keyboard.

(I tested a friends T43 last night... excellent keyboard...)

[indessen]

You may get a different model keyboard each time with each different system; no reason to go ahead and assume that *all* machines of that model. If the keyboards are swappable, then you should be able to order a replacement from IBM/Lenovo.

There is a, pretty hard to miss (then again the search function is rarely used, so....what exactly is to be expected?), thread about the keyboards on the T Series with owners of other series systems chiming in.

I replied to this earlier but I think my post went lost or I pressed a wrong button. Be that as it may, in the meantime I looked up a keyboard thread in T-Series forum and googled etc., turns out that I have indeed a Chicony keyboard in my R52... that explains it then.

It is the NMB version which is the best and not the ALPS, right? I want the keyboard that I had in my R31 and A30!!!!!

Gonna call IBM on Monday and ask for a swap then.-..

[indessen]

Right, so I called IBM on Monday and the new keyboard arrived today... Tuesday. The NMB definitely feels better (and is quieter!) then the Chicony I had. Thanks for pointing out the different manufacturers!

Though, it doesnt feel the same as keyboards I had on the A30 and R31... the latter had more resistance when pressing down. I peeked under the keys, the NMS has blue "things" underneath, the R31 has off-white thingies underneath. Could that mean anything? Perhaps the R31/A30 were ALPS?

regards,
Ingmar (in quest for the perfect keyboard).

[dsigma6]

i have an r40 and the keyboard feels so chintzy.

the keys feel very thin, and they dont seem to rest as low on the keyboard, so they dont feel as secure.

i dont know chicony from bologna, so i guess ill deal with it.

[indessen]

i have an r40 and the keyboard feels so chintzy.

the keys feel very thin, and they dont seem to rest as low on the keyboard, so they dont feel as secure.

i dont know chicony from bologna, so i guess ill deal with it.

Bologna is a city in Italy.
Chicony is a keyboard manufacturer.

Does that help you?

Is your R40 under warranty?

Try find the FRU Table for the R40, maybe there are different keyboard manufacturers listed.

[dsigma6]

lol...

no the warranty was up a couple months ago. i can deal with this piece of junk keyboard, but i will be cursing its very existence all the while i type.