T41 annoyances reduced in T42

[authenticjt]

I'm comparing low-end machines: a 2378-DHU (T41, 1.4/256/30/11b) and a 2378-DUU (T42, 1.5/256/40/11bg), both Banias machines, very similar configurations.

1. Creaky palm rest, especially the left one, and would get worse over time with T41. Seems a lot more solid in T42, but I'll update in a month.

2. Loose battery, especially with Sanyo batteries in T41. Sanyo battery seems to fit a little more snugly in T42. I may decide not to RMA for a Sony battery.

3. "Coughing" speakers. On the T41, the speakers would "cough" or hiss about a second after sounds like clicking forward or back on Explorer. This is especially noticeable when the volume is turned up. On the T42, it's reduced to an almost inaudible tick.

4. Weird DVD behavior with Toshiba CDRW drives. This is not really a T41/T42 thing. Half of the T41s I had came with Toshiba drives, the other half with M a t s u s h i t a drives. Toshiba drives would constantly spin up and spin down when watching DVDs. This did not happen with M a t s u s h i t a drives. My new T42 has a Hitachi-LG drive that seems OK.

5. Ticking Hitachi hard drive. A couple of the T41s I had came with Hitachi hard drives that ticked loudly. I know IBM says this is normal, but it's still annoying. My new T42 has a Hitachi hard drive, but no ticking.

6. Fan noise. The fan seems less eager to start up on the T42 compared to the T41.

[JaimitoBond]

Don't have a T42 to compare, but they are really the same shell, just different components. The part numbers from the HMM numbers suggest that.

As for your annoyances, the left palm rest creaks because it has a bit of play between it and the PC card slot underneath. I tried putting in a Type 3 card, and it was a really tight fit, and not easy to remove. With that card in it, the palm rest doesn't squeak at all. So I guess if they made the palm rest tighter, the card will not even go in.
the fix will be to leave the card in the PC card slot, or add a bit of padding between the palm rest and the PC card holder.

9 cell batteries fit very well, while the 6 cell does move a bit. I bend the hook a bit, and now it doesn't move much.

Speakers are fine on my system. Try reducing the mic volume to one notch above silence. Do not disable it though. Now turn up the volume on the speakers. You should be able to have it on max with a decent sound.

For the CDROM, try setting it at Max performance, I think in the Thinkpad configurator. It won't speed up or down anymore.

I notice ticking only occassionally. It seems to be content specific, and not related to the hardware per se. If you change tasks, or stop doing what you were doing, the sound will disappear. I notice this maybe once or twice a week. Nothing major.

Fan is very quiet on the T41p, unless you are running a game. Does your T42 have Dothan? That might explain why fan doesn't go on as often, since the processor is more efficient.

All of your annoyances seem rather trivial, compared to what the laptop is suppose to do, i.e. get the work done. They can be fixed easily, if it bothers you. I understand that when we pay $3000 for a product, we expect a little bit more.

It's simliar to owning a BMW. Lots of the owners complain about the noises the seatbelt may make, or the rattle of the bass from the subwoofers, etc. They say they shouldn't have that in a $40,000+ car. But they forgot about how well the car drives and handles.

[T23_Owner]

Great post JaimitoBond. YOu really know your thinkpad.

I had a brand new BMW 330ci and had the same problems you mentioned. I ended up sellling it and buying a brand new F-150 FX4 4x4 with thousands left over. It did drive very well though.

[Hangfire]

Bookmarking this one;-)

I've got a '71 Corvette w/454, the fumes stink, it rattles, creaks, runs hot, and is loud as hell, but what a kick in the pants!

[tyipengr]

I have a 1997 Acura Integra GS 3-Door. It squeaks and rattles like there is no tomorrow, the suspension is stiff as hell and San Francisco streets suck, there are 30 some odd dents on it and the A/C is starting to smell like bum urine but you know what...it has started every single time I wanted it to throughout college + 3 years till the battery died one day. I am driving it till it falls apart, I love my car.

Anyways, I am a bit new to the Thinkpad scene. I know the current T42s are made in China but where were they manufactured prior to this? Japan? US?

[JaimitoBond]

I have a 1997 Acura Integra GS 3-Door. It squeaks and rattles like there is no tomorrow, the suspension is stiff as hell and San Francisco streets suck, there are 30 some odd dents on it and the A/C is starting to smell like bum urine but you know what...it has started every single time I wanted it to throughout college + 3 years till the battery died one day. I am driving it till it falls apart, I love my car.

Anyways, I am a bit new to the Thinkpad scene. I know the current T42s are made in China but where were they manufactured prior to this? Japan? US?

I droved my relative's 91 Acura Integra GS for a couple of years. Easy on gas, not a cop magnet when you are speeding.


I think for T series, it was Mexico. Some i-series were from Taiwan. Not sure where else.

From what I have read, most of the ThinkPads, esp the T series, are designed in Japan, by a group called Yamato Labs.

[edelrc]

My Subaru Legacy won my heart before ThinkPads did.
Mine it is from 1990 and has more than 297,000miles (470.000km). And it does not know what a mechanic is yet!!!
Now, I will have to leave in the States when I move back to Europe this month! I promissed her that won't sell her!

ThinkPads are indeed designed in Asia but do not know where there. All the prototipes and market research are done first in a small market there first because is a better known market!