Construction problems w/ T42 14" *PICS* 56k=maybe

[Logi7]

Well Ive had my T42 for about a week and some things are statring to bug me. Please take the time to look at your own 14" and let me knwo if you have these problems as well.

These are all with the construction of the laptop. So far everything else has been fine.

My Model is a 2373 H13 - basically a 3UU,

now the fisrt problem i noticed is that the left side of the thing doesnt close flush with the base.

I have to push it down for it to fit properly...


The left side of the screen is actually curved. as you can see here with my ruler - the right side is a bit better but still not flat, but it closes properly and seems to be pretty firm when i pick it up there



The left handrest also doesnt fit properly and must be pushed down as well to sit flush.



My screen doesnt haev any deadpixels - which im thankful for... but the panel doesnt seem to be installed properly either, again, the fitment isnt right - its not flush with the plastic of the screen.
In this pic you can see that the bottom is alot closer than the top.



The last problem i have is that the back seems to be very flexable and bothers me when i grab it from there. I recognize that this probaly happens with all of them so its not a big problem..




ANYWAY, do you gusy think i should exchange for a new one?
my screen is perfect so im a bit worried my new unit may have some dead pixels

anyway please gimme some input!!

[mtbiac]

hahahahahahaha

that is all.

edti: every laptop has some slight manufacturing "imperfections." These "problems" you are noticing are completely normal, I have a very similar laptop (T42p GVU) and have noticed what you described, but didn't think twice about them being "problems" except for possibly the wrist rest flexiness. I think you will find that ALL T42s have these things you have noticed, and there isn't really much you can do about them but learn to live with them...

[Logi7]

[benz]

Logi7, I don't know if maybe you have too much time on your hands, or are too picky or what....but none of these things you have shown are problems (with the exception of the left palmrest MAYBE). I mean, can you show me a laptop that DOESN'T flex 2mm when pressure is placed on top or on the side or wherever?? You gotta realize that these things are meant to have some flexibility, cuz otherwise they would just crack all of a sudden one day from built up stress.

If any of these things result in breakage (which they won't, under NORMAL usage) then you possibly have a warranty claim. Otherwise, just USE the [censored] thing and quit looking at it under a microscope!!

[Logi7]

thanks for you help benz

[Logi7]

hahahahahahaha

that is all.

edti: every laptop has some slight manufacturing "imperfections." These "problems" you are noticing are completely normal, I have a very similar laptop (T42p GVU) and have noticed what you described, but didn't think twice about them being "problems" except for possibly the wrist rest flexiness. I think you will find that ALL T42s have these things you have noticed, and there isn't really much you can do about them but learn to live with them...

thats all i was asking

im not a perfection nazi here just wanted to make sure that mines not the only one

none of my freinds have ibms and no store carry them so I have nothign to compare to (other than my prev T23 and T30 , which are very well constructed)

[benz]

Look man, nice pics and all, but seriously these are not "problems" with your computer. If you can't live with this kind of stuff then maybe you should design your own laptop

[Logi7]

Look man, nice pics and all, but seriously these are not "problems" with your computer. If you can't live with this kind of stuff then maybe you should design your own laptop

a simple "my laptop has these problems as well, don’t worry about them” would have sufficed. Ive bought an IBM due to their fit and finish; and none of my previous laptop had any of these sorts of problems

[andyk]

I have a 2378-FVU.

It seems my left side cover is also slightly curved thought not as much -- I used a plastic ruler and even with it I didn't press it down

I see similar LCD/bezel fit.

The biggest difference is with the left palmrest. Mine is flush. Maybe you just want to get the palmrest replaced.

[sktn77a]

IBM outsource the manufacture of most of their laptops now. Don't know if this is the problem or if it's just a sign of the times. But the day of the 600E are definitely gone!

(And I hope my yet-to-be-delivered T42 doesn't have ANY of these problems!)

[Chun-Yu]

The screen is supposed to be curved! The T-series in thinner in the front than it is in the back. On a 14", it's about 1" in front and 1.2" thick in the back.

[Flightvector]

I am not so sure about saying the screen fitment issue is normal, the LCD screen gap makes me feel a bit leery; can you see the backlight through this gap? Otherwise, my T42 15" doesn't even remotely exhibit what I see in Logi7's pictures with the warped surfaces, but the screen flex is probably likely in the 14", given just how thin its LCD housing is.

I agree with Logi here, there is no need to have a "live with it or build it yourself" attitude; some of us are more observant and precise than others. I feel I can say this safely without looking like a perfectionist. You wonder why American cars are where they are compared to German and Japanese manufacturers. Sure they work, but their interior plastic flexes, makes empty noises when knocked on, door gaps are rarely better than 5 millimeters, and exceeding 120 mph with leafsprings is skittish business. Companies will not labor in earnest when cost competition is involved, so no defense of IBM is necessary here. Live with it, and I'm afraid that workmanship will start to stagnate. We need to give IBM accurate results; RMAs cost money, and IBM will improve workmanship, if needed, to prevent them. If you are satisfied, that is fine, but if we really aren't satisfied, then we shouldn't unwillingly sit on our hands.

[K. Eng]

Logi7, here are my thoughts:

Picture #1 - The left side of my T40 exhibits the same behavior. Because there is no lip on that side of the LCD housing like there is on the T23 and T30, it appears to fit less well.

Picture #2 - The curvature is normal as far as I can tell.

Picture #3 - That is not normal. My palmrest creaks but it sits perfectly flush to the rest of the bezel around the keyboard.

Picture #4 - it looks like whoever installed your LCD was careless and misaligned it slightly.

Picture #5 - That is normal. The flexing occurs because the LCD housing on the T4x is much thinner than the housing on the T30 and T23.

If you aren't happy with the workmanship, you should return the machine. The 14" T4x is a good design, but its small size for a 14" form factor makes it suceptible to manufacturing flaws since the parts must be made more exact in order to fit well.

Anecdotal evidence (grain of salt here) suggests that the 15" T4x suffers from far fewer fit & finish problems due to its larger size and associated greater ease of manufacturing.

[Conmee]

Logi7,

I sympathize... I really do...

I've got a T41 with a lid that closes tight as a drum. But my T42p 14" has about 2-3mm of movement. If I push down on the front center edge of the lid when closed, I can repeatedly press it and it sounds like I'm tapping on a space bar. I think it would be a simple matter of producing shorter hooks that hold the lid down to eliminate the looseness. However, there isn't the same looseness on the T41. Little inconsistencies like this are annoying, but don't seem to be a problem in terms of functionality or LCD safety.

As for the left palmrest... the 14" T Series are notorious for having flexing palmrests that make all manner of squeaks and noises and exhibit the kind of flex yours has. I replaced my palmrest with one that doesn't have the Touchpad built in, and it had a much firmer fit (still had to use business cards under the left side to eliminate the creaking), but the small piece of palmrest above the fan exhaust vents sits flush with no space, unlike your pictures. My T41 also has a palmrest that sits flush on the left side.

There is also flex at the bottom of the lid when closed, above the battery, on my T42p, just like your pictures show. However, this seems due to the lack of a center hinge, and is just a byproduct of the design. So if anything, it's either well within the operating tolerances that IBM has considered safe for that part of the system, or it's an inherent flaw in the overall design. At any rate, I don't personally consider this flex a problem.

Lastly, I've been able to see gaps between the LCD and the bezels on pretty much all ThinkPads, both 14" and 15". My current T42p has a tight fit, with little or no gaps, mainly because I had removed the bezel some time ago, and realigned some of the two-sided tape that IBM uses to keep the bezel flush with the LCD. For areas that show a gap and you can see the aluminun frame of the LCD underneath the bezel, it's usually due to misplaced two-sided tape. Same with the tape that goes beneath the right-side of the keyboard. Most keyboards don't flex on the right side, but for those that do, it seems careless placement (uneven, slanted, misaligned) of the foam padding causes some of the flex.

In the end, I think that the bulk of these things you've pointed out are cosmetic. Again, when compared to many other notebook makers, IBM's are far superior. However, IBM doesn't help it's own cause when alot of these minor things show up in the hands of customers with an eye toward perfection... like me. lol

Daniel

[akeskira]

IBM outsource the manufacture of most of their laptops now. Don't know if this is the problem or if it's just a sign of the times. But the day of the 600E are definitely gone!

I totally agree that the 600E build quality was excellent. The thing was made like a tank. But god, it was heavy compared to today's standards...

Antti

[Nabeel]

Try reseating the palmrest, that should might do the trick...or search around the forums for the "toothpick" or business card thing.
My LCD is the same way.

Mine doesn't buldge in the back, so IDK about that.
For my raised keyboard, I took needlenose pliers and streched out that tab a bit more so it goes under the palmrest..that fixed that.

[atlacatl]

I don't have the t42, however, I have the t40p: 2373-G1U model and it has the exact same "issues."

The only one I did considered to be a defect was the creaky left palm rest. The other flex items, are just part of the machine I guess. Same as a car: if I push on the hood it gives a little

[rhema83]

My new T42 has exactly the same problem. As long as they don't interfere with my daily use, I am not going to risk getting dead pixels by returning it.

[Guest]

Those are some very clear pictures.

[BillMorrow]

actually, the pictures are very well done..

and, for me, i have mixed emotions about some of these minor misadjustments..

the palm rest should not be loose like that..
the bow in the top is something i would not allow if i were manufacturing manager..
it just looks sloppy..!

my T42p 15 inch is so well made i weep at its near perfection..

the keyboard must be one of the thai made since it has excellent feel..

like cars, some of these things will need adjustmen once they are on the road..

[paikia]

I just got my 2378FVU and I got the same problem with the picture #5.

Eventhough it might not be a problem that affects the laptop's performance but that just annoys me because paying $2k+ for an IBM laptop you'd be expecting something thats constructed flawlessly.
Otherwise whats the difference spending $2k on IBM than $1k on another brand? Its just ugly having a big gap there.
That gap I have in the middle between the LCD and the bottom was as wide as 4 mm.
If thats a "normal" problem for T42, then I'm disappointed by its built quality, and IBM was famous for its built quality.

[paikia]

After thinking for a while, I don't know if this will explain the problem of picture#5. When you leave your laptop with the lid closed on the steady table and give it some pressure with both your palms, it has more "give" to flex. So when the laptop is squished, there is more protection for the LCD not to be cracked under pressure. Anyone agree with my theory?
Its like an arc bridge thats concave upwards can withstand more stress and deflection. Or should I say, a prestressed steel bar to bend upwards.

[Kenn]

The back of the LCD seems like a potential issue.

The other flexing seems pretty normal, especially the left-side one. Laptop hinges are designed to be somewhat stiff so they don't just fall backwards or forwards when you open them. That pressure keeps them from closely fully flushed when a hinge mechanism is used. If that bothers you, I think one of the only laptops that don't do that is the Sony Z1, which uses a cam. IMO, other than the back LCD issue, everything is perfectly normal. Reseating the palmrest may help flatten it out a bit.

[paikia]

So no more 2378FVU or T42 owners out there have problem of picture #5?

[Humpa]

So no more 2378FVU or T42 owners out there have problem of picture #5?

I don't have access to a slew of T42's, like some of the members/owner here. But from what I've read (and my own T42's), pic #5 seems an accurate representation of all the T42's (whether 14" or 15").
I agree with some of the other posters, and have faith in ibm's design. I would think they gave adequate considerations to size/weight/durability when they left that thin gap between the base and the lid.

[DaveH]

Logi, nice pictures. I understand what you're experiencing. The 600E was my Thinkpad before my current one and there's no comparision in build quality. All I can say is that it's still better than a Dell, Compaq/HP, etc. unless you're willing to dish out even more cash for a Fujitsu or Panasonic.

[Leon]

You mean Fujitsu or Panasonic have better build quality?

[DaveH]

Their premium Lifebook series (P7, I think) is about on par with IBM's X series. Worse keyboard, but less flex overall on the machine. The imported Panasonic Toughbook seems a little tighter than both. That said, this was only a first impression of all three with only a few minutes handling and no checking the internal build quality. It's possible with tighter tolerances, they wobble, break, or jam sooner, but I can't really say.

[hominoidea]

Try reseating the palmrest, that should might do the trick...

I had pretty much as bad flex but reseating the palmrest did the trick. Absolutely no creak or annoying flex anymore. Better than new.

[Logi7]

well i picked up mt T40 from work today

and i dont knwo why, when i pcik it up - it just feels a lot more sold than the T42...


edit:

ok i just switched the keyboard bezel and palmrest hahah
but the T40 now FITS EVEN BETTER; and the t42 is a TINY BIT BETTER

sigh i guess my frame is busted up or something
meh i give up

err and i haev a #1 screwleft over...
hmm lets hope its from my work's T40 hahah