R50e no touchpad, bluetooth...can I add?

[ILoveBFLO]

Hi all, newbie here.

Just purchased an R50e, model 1842-SLU and didn't realize til after I purchased that it does not have a touchpad. Is there a new palmrest for this machine with a touchpad that allows me just to just replace my old one and have the touchpad?

Also, Ive seen some places that I can add a BMDC card for this machine but I'd prefer to NOT have to take apart the lcd to wire the antenna. I read somewhere that the R50e has an AUX antenna included with the WIFI. Is that true? Will that work?

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks!

[R51-Smashedbanana]

In theory you'd get an R51 palmrest, like this: http://tinyurl.com/bku79

Not sure if your motherboard would have the connector, you may have to look.

For the bluetooth you can get internal antennas that sit inside your case. Range may not be as good. Check e-bay item 6828964507, tinirl just gave up on me.

Ed

[ILoveBFLO]

Ed, thanks much for the help...

Called IBM directly to ask about the touchpad bezel but they were difficult to deal with (didn't understand me and I didn't understand him). Does anyone know if the R50e (1842-SLU) has a connector?

Also, any word if there is an aux antenna? Otherwise I will just purchase the one that Ed recommended

Thx again!

[gab]

I am interested in the touchpad upgrade too for the R50e. Please keep us posted on what you find out.

[lowie]

...

[FRiC]

Also, Ive seen some places that I can add a BMDC card for this machine but I'd prefer to NOT have to take apart the lcd to wire the antenna. I read somewhere that the R50e has an AUX antenna included with the WIFI. Is that true? Will that work?

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks!

Wi-fi always has two antennas, and yes, you can use the AUX antenna for the Bluetooth. You might lose some range for wi-fi, but it's not really noticeable unless you're frequently in a poor signal area.

[sco1984]

To add touchpad > You have to change the body .

Which is expensive task

To add Bluetooth® > Buy a 100meter BLUETOOTH which you can attach to your R50e laptop's USB port. Now a days price of Bluetooth® dongle
is not more than 13 US$.


Option is yours..You can buy iBall's mouse cum touchpad . I think
Trackpoint® is more useful when ur using keyboard and Trackpoint®
is at middle but its true if continusly typing for long fingers starts giving
pain .


Regards,
Amey Abhyankar.

[ Now, all entry level Thinkpad®'s come with touchpad. R50e is now old series and almost closed. Stockiests just finishing there old stocks . Mine is R50e-1834-EQ1 . Centrino 1.5 . But i bought for only 800US$ approx with 2 years warranty. ]

[ILoveBFLO]

Thanks for the info guys, will IBM part 91P7315 (the BMDC 200) work in my R50e laptop (1842-SLU)

Thanks again!

[ILoveBFLO]

Thanks for the info guys, will IBM part 91P7315 (the BMDC 200) work in my R50e laptop (1842-SLU)?

Thanks again!