Lid paint problems

[rleo25]

I've been handling my T42 with care, it has only 3 months of use, however I noticed that the rubber black paint is degrading in the corners of the lid, showing the black metal underneath, the answer is how to protect the corners so that the mate finish stops peeling off...

Will receive thankfully your Ideas...

[sugo]

The corners on a 1.5 year old T42 are shiny too. I think it's still plastic not metal. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[aaronpropst]

boy i wish it were metal..

mine is like that too.. tech is cooler when it's crusty and used.. original star wars fans can back me up on this one.

[ryan42]

only one month of use here and I have the same problem. That's kinda disapointing.

[Trip]

I have the same problem as well, along with a whole bunch of other scratches that I'm rather bitter about (although not so bitter as I am about what's happened to the screen...).

If they keep getting even more worn, you'll find that there is in fact nice shiny magnesium alloy under the shiny black layer.

Probably the only way to stop it from getting worse is to get a good sleeve for it, and even that might cause problems. The paint is just too delicate.

[rleo25]

I've gotten a velvet sleeve, and tryed to avoid even minor bumps... all useless, well you've said it, the worner the better, yeah like Skywalker's gloriuos inter galactic vessel... all scratchy and rusted but useful ... will tell you the look of the magnesium alloy when it comes to the surface... not bad after all...

[christopher_wolf]

All the worn Thinkpads I have seen look cool; same goes for some used Powerbooks I have seen.

All of this, however, stops looking cool when you take it to other computers, such as Dells. Last scratched up Dell I saw looked like a used kid's toy. I think this is because plastic colored to look like titanium or some other metal doesn't look good when scratched and slightly dented.

[det922]

dells are kids toys....

[rleo25]

Yeah! ours are better than plastic ones, recently I had a Toshiba Tecra A4, with a nice silver metallic look, and it got scratches in the hinges that showed a cheap white plastic material, (the main reason to get rid of it and buy a Thinkpad,) yes worn .... but only in the third month of useful life? Let's wait as you said, it will have a nice look without the rubberized coat. (Why don't they make 'em with durable finishings?... don't surprise they call it commodiites... )

[TimWang]

Can't you replace the front lcd cover?

[rleo25]

Seems a good idea, how easy would it to replace¿ and how much would cost the lid replacement part¿

[rcrooks]

bumpin... they should really make spare lids...

also, is there any way to buy the matte rubber black type paint and redo one yourself??

[lithium726]

they do make spare lids, i just bought one for my beaten and cracked T23

IBM's list price was somewhere along the lines of $250, but i got it brand new (in box!) from ebay for $50.

[dr. zoidberg]

Mine has suffered the same. The rubbery coating at the corners and edges is coming off to reveal a shiny plastic underneath. My thinkpad is almost a year old but I thought the paint was wearing off because I constantly slide it in and out of my backpack. When I first got it, I was considering a sleeve, but reading other peoples posts, im glad I didn't since it wouldn't have helped.

I kind of like the worn look (for thinkpads anyways). It makes it feel like it 'my' laptop now instead of 'a' laptop, like everyone elses.

[archer6]

I have had similar experience with both my T42 & T43, but only after much (careful) use. The one great aspect of the product is they sell all replacement parts at a decent price.

My new T60 is awesome ! .... the best ThinkPad to date. My fav prior to that was the T42. If you have a good T42 Keep It!

Yes I agree... Dells are for kids! Mikey will use anything

[suzannetf]

My computer hates me. I finally get the DVD-RAM on my laptop ordered and then my computer slid onto the floor tonight and cracked one corner of the frame around the screen. Luckily the screen's ok. I haven't noticed too much wear on the paint on mine though. Maybe I'll get a replacement screen too now.

I sense that there is extreme brand loyalty here. I only got this computer because it was offered through my university (for every 100 sold the school gets one and these are used as loaners by the computer support service). It's alright though. I think I like the black color. I didn't at first since I was surprised at how externally it looked identical to IBM's I'd used 5 years before (obsolete, haha). It also stinks for listening to music without headphones (crappy speakers) and watching movies (no widescreen). But I've grown to love it. However, if this thing is "durable" I hate to think what would have happened if I had gotten the more appropriate Dell computer (for kids).

[christopher_wolf]

My computer hates me. I finally get the DVD-RAM on my laptop ordered and then my computer slid onto the floor tonight and cracked one corner of the frame around the screen. Luckily the screen's ok. I haven't noticed too much wear on the paint on mine though. Maybe I'll get a replacement screen too now.

I sense that there is extreme brand loyalty here. I only got this computer because it was offered through my university (for every 100 sold the school gets one and these are used as loaners by the computer support service). It's alright though. I think I like the black color. I didn't at first since I was surprised at how externally it looked identical to IBM's I'd used 5 years before (obsolete, haha). It also stinks for listening to music without headphones (crappy speakers) and watching movies (no widescreen). But I've grown to love it. However, if this thing is "durable" I hate to think what would have happened if I had gotten the more appropriate Dell computer (for kids).

Well; of the 3 Dells I have had across the Latitude, Precision, and Inspiron lines...I can say you could have fared far worse. My M60 has no fully burnt away all the silvery paint on top of the hard drive to reveal a blackish grey plastic that is also starting to discolor. The rest of that M60 hasn't done well when it comes to even minor scratches that all the Thinkpads I have had held up to without a problem.

[lithium726]

I sense that there is extreme brand loyalty here.

well... this is a forum devoted entirely to thinkpads...

and they didnt get a cult like following for being [censored] machines, ya know? there is a method to our madness..

[suzannetf]

Haha. I'm just picking at you. I really appreciate everyone that has given me help and advice for my laptop the past few days. It's just that this computer is the first one that has been exclusively *mine* (not one I share and am not completely reponsible for) and it's had its fair share of issues/problems (as laptops inevitably will, of course). So I suppose I can't really swear myself exclusively to IBM unless I know how it compares to other computers. My dad's Dell has been doing very well but then again he doesn't use it nearly as hard as I do or have to haul it around everywhere. And it's not as old. I will say that my first motherboard failed during the first two months I owned it and I've been through another one since then. However, I cannot fault IBM in the long run because I have had all parts under warranty (all of them so far) replaced free of any charge to me. I just don't care for that heart-stopping moment when something DOES fail and I know that I might lose a few days worth of work (if I haven't backed up in a few days) and just the general stress of having a laptop out of commission.