T43. Fan noisy. I want to return the machine, how?

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cmosbjt · #1 Post by **cmosbjt** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:21 pm

Hi, I got my T43 yesterday and found out that the fan is always on. It is noisy when the environment is quiet. I know this is a common problem for most T43, but I just cannot stand!

Now I want to return my T43 to Lenovo. Can anyone tell me how to do it? I have made change to the hd partition and reinstall the os, does it matter?

denthorq · #2 Post by **denthorq** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:39 pm

In your shipping receipt there's a number to call for Returns.

Check it out.

cmosbjt · #3 Post by **cmosbjt** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:23 pm

Thank you.

Does anyone has the experience of returning TP to Lenovo? Can share your experience with me?

After I return the TP, I have to find another laptop, any suggestion?

pae77 · #4 Post by **pae77** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:27 pm

cmosbjt wrote: After I return the TP, I have to find another laptop, any suggestion?

T42 or T42p

Thinkpaddict · #5 Post by **Thinkpaddict** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:40 pm

I once returned a X30 to IBM. If things haven't changed in the move to Lenovo it should be mostly painless. The fact that you reformated the drive is irrelevant. The only problem is that you will have to pay for shipping back to Lenovo (at least that's what I had to do).

As for alternatives, I suggest T42 or T42p (like pae77 did). Although I have no experience with them, the consensus is that the fan issue doesn't exist in those models generally. I can personally vouch for the T41p (I just got a new one this week). Just as silent as the T42 or T42p, with the advantage that I got a new machine with FireGL T2 and a 7K60 HD for $1400 (Try to get a T42p with those specs, and see how much it costs you), and I can upgrade to Dothan anytime, making the machine in effect a T42p.

Good luck with the return.

denthorq · #6 Post by **denthorq** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:43 pm

I'm returning my t43 as well, how much is the shipping cost?

fefland · #7 Post by **fefland** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:50 pm

Returning is not an issue, especially if you have the original box. Pack it all up again, they will give you an RMA, and take to UPS or some other carrier. I really liked mine, but was unhappy with keyboard, screen, and problem with DVD drive, so I opened a service call case and they paid return shipping. I ordered the same thing again. Was not happy with the second one and I am working the issue with Customer Satisfaction team. I agree the T43 gets hot. As for fan, sure it is noticeable, but if it didn't run, I am afraid the laptop would melt.

Sorry to hear you don't like the T43. I really like the keyboard, thinkvantage technologies and fast drive in mine. These are all things you can get in a T42 as well. As for tech support/service, form factor, and materials, I would argue it would be hard to find something as equal for the same price. BTW, I got mine at EPP price. Good luck.

cmosbjt · #8 Post by **cmosbjt** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:02 pm

denthorq wrote:I'm returning my t43 as well, how much is the shipping cost?

They charge me around $30 for the shipping fee by UPS, so I think when i return, I will probably pay the similar amount.

Thinkpaddict · #9 Post by **Thinkpaddict** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:05 pm

Make sure you insure it as well for the value of the laptop. If the laptop gets lost or damaged, IBM won't refund your credit card (that's the way it used to be, and I don't think Lenovo would be any more generous than IBM ever was).

cmosbjt · #10 Post by **cmosbjt** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:06 pm

And actually I think Lenovo should be responsible, at lease in part, for the shipping fee since this is a very common issue and they do not notice their customer before ordering. I feel I am cheated.

cmosbjt · #11 Post by **cmosbjt** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:07 pm

Thinkpaddict wrote:Make sure you insure it as well for the value of the laptop. If the laptop gets lost or damaged, IBM won't refund your credit card (that's the way it used to be, and I don't think Lenovo would be any more generous than IBM ever was).

Which means i have to pay more.

Thinkpaddict · #12 Post by **Thinkpaddict** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:10 pm

I understand you are a little bit ticked off. But many other manufacturers don't allow you to return the machine within the first 30 days (no questions asked). Also, if you order a Thinkpad from an online retailer and you have a problem with it, you can't return it (unless the online retailer has that provision, although I have never seen that being offered).

The bottom line is, things could be worse. But from your pespective you are probably thinking "Yes, but they could be better too, you dumbass!"

ddutta · #13 Post by **ddutta** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:48 pm

I had returned a machine to Lenovo. Somehow in my case they agreed to pay for the return shipping too. But its my good luck and they know I have bought a few laptops from them. I got my credit card refunded in 3-4 days. Better than buy.com or any other online merchant.

Try buying an apple. No returns. If the machine malfunctions, they might even take weeks to get spare parts. With Dell it could be the same thing. My Dell precision died and the on site warranty guy couldnt do anything for 2 weeks. But they attended to my call in 1 biz day .... as they promise in their contract. They finally gave me a better spec-ed machine but I was without a machine for 3-4 weeks. And the pain of transferring data from my old HDD.

On the other hand, I have had trouble with some loose connection in India on a vacation and the T42 was fixed in a local Thinkcente in less than 3 hrs. Now which company should I have faith in?

My T42 screams when the mercury rises. Unless you are living in a cold place, the T42 will also make noise, esp when you run some intense app.

pipspeak · #14 Post by **pipspeak** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 7:01 pm

cmosbjt wrote:And actually I think Lenovo should be responsible, at lease in part, for the shipping fee since this is a very common issue and they do not notice their customer before ordering. I feel I am cheated.

No they shouldn't because it's not an "issue". It's simply that people don't like the sound of the fan, which is a preference. If there's nothing wrong with the machine and you simply don't like some aspect of it, that's your problem and you should feel happy that Lenovo will take it back at all.

I'm perfectly happy with my T43 and frankly don't expect any fast laptop with such a small form factor to be totally silent. My external HDD with fluid bearings makes more noise.

ruthlessbrad · #15 Post by **ruthlessbrad** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 7:52 pm

pipspeak wrote:
cmosbjt wrote:And actually I think Lenovo should be responsible, at lease in part, for the shipping fee since this is a very common issue and they do not notice their customer before ordering. I feel I am cheated.
No they shouldn't because it's not an "issue". It's simply that people don't like the sound of the fan, which is a preference. If there's nothing wrong with the machine and you simply don't like some aspect of it, that's your problem and you should feel happy that Lenovo will take it back at all.

I'm perfectly happy with my T43 and frankly don't expect any fast laptop with such a small form factor to be totally silent. My external HDD with fluid bearings makes more noise.

I prefer a fast computer, so if I buy a T43 and it is slow, is that an issue with the laptop or just my preferences being unsatisfied? Sorry, that example is a little extreme

But I believe that a laptop must have aesthetic value in addition to speed, reliability, battery life, etc. If a user of the laptop is frustrated by some aspect of it, that indirectly affects the performance of the laptop. Lenovo did a poor job when it comes to the noise put out by this machine.

Fan noise is not a preference; a loud fan may not bother some people, but a queit fan is always better than a loud fan. Screen resolution, keyboard layout, color, etc. ARE preferences because there is no absolute zero for those features. Some like a black laptop, and some like a gray laptop. Everyone can agree that a quiet fan is better than a loud fan. And I believe that the noise level of the T43 fan is such that something needs to be done about it. I don't trust that Lenovo will do anything about it, so I've taken it into my own hands to silence this thing.

denthorq · #16 Post by **denthorq** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:11 pm

Well, the noise in T43 though not too loud, it is annoying and it is producing a DECIBEL that a Mind or Ears can't tolerate

pipspeak · #17 Post by **pipspeak** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:57 pm

ruthlessbrad wrote:I prefer a fast computer, so if I buy a T43 and it is slow, is that an issue with the laptop or just my preferences being unsatisfied? Sorry, that example is a little extreme But I believe that a laptop must have aesthetic value in addition to speed, reliability, battery life, etc.

But then you have to define "slow"

I still believe noise is something that's a preference. What's noisy to one person is fine to another. Therefore, by definition, it's a preference. Hey, I'd like my car to be quieter at 70mph but it ain't, I put it down to the design, and I live with it (or I sell it).

If I were to buy a TP and discover that it is not built to published specs, then that's an issue, I'd be mad, and I'd have legal reason to demand a refund. Of course a quiet fan is better but I long ago gave up the search for perfection in mass-produced products. Life's too short and my tastes are too strange

Moreover, we were not deceived by Lenovo in any way and the company is still generous enough to allow buyers to return a machine in 30 days, no questions asked (though it wouldn't surprise me if we see it cut to 15 days or less in the not too distant future). Since we were not deceived and the goods were not faulty (according to published specs), of course we should have to pay for shipping.

T43. Fan noisy. I want to return the machine, how?

T43. Fan noisy. I want to return the machine, how?

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