New T42 arrived!!! Question about keyboard.

[JHelgie]

My t42(2378FVU) arrived today (even though the website estimated it for the 25th. I ordered it the 5th, if anyone is curious), and the entire thing is awesome, much better build quality than my sisters HP, and so much lighter! My question is, I want to know which keyboard I got, according to the IBM website, the FRU number is "08K4986".

[pat]

It's an English keyboard, according to google.

[Leon]

made in China...

[jsmit86]

jhelgie -

do not panic because your keyboard is made in China!

IF (and only if) your keyboard flexes down on the lower right side, I would suggest shimming it from underneath with a business card.

I changed mine out to due to the flex issue, but I found out that while the Thai keyboard did ALMOST fix the flex issue, I prefer the feel of the original Chinese Keyboard. I am thinking of switching back and shimming.
I am waiting to see if IBM is sending return paperwork on the keyboard. If not I will switch it back.

Bottom line, try it and see how it is before you change it out.

[Nabeel]

Better than the business card..take the keyboard out...you see the tab on the bottom right side? Get needlenose pliers and strech it out a bit more, so when you put it in, it fully catches under the palmrest. That fixed it for me.

[geobel]

I prefer the feel of the original Chinese Keyboard. I am thinking of switching back and shimming.

Unbelievable! For me Thai keyboard feels so much better than China one that it is even difficult to compare them. Day and night difference I would say… Flex is not so much dependent on keyboard but the key feel is very different. I disliked China keyboard from the first touch when I received my T40 about year ago. Now with Thai keyboard I finally feel like I have IBM ThinkPad. Still cannot understand how IBM allowed T series to be equipped with so bad keyboards (China ones).

Gosha

[Chun-Yu]

I completely agree with geobel. I always thought all T4xs had the Thai keyboard, until my friend's came with a far inferior keyboard. I was always giving him s**t about it until recently he finally called IBM, got the Thai keyboard, and he too now agrees that the Thai keyboard is far superior to the China one.

[elmokiddo]

I must agree as well, the Thai keyboards feel much more solidly built and made for a Thinkpad, I find typing much easier on them (had a China one, got it switched from IBM Canada)

The China one reminded me of a Dell or a Toshiba notebook.

My 2 Cents,
Elmo.

[jsmit86]

I guess that the China KB has more of a "clickey" feel for me. The Thai isn'nt bad per se, but the keys are "firmer" and more resisitant to the press.

A question about the fix..... do you bend the metal down on the lower right. In other words toward the bottom of the pc?

[Nabeel]

Yeah, just strech it out by maybe 1-2mm. If you look at it carefully, the problem is that the tab doesn't catch under the palmrest like the others do, so streching it well make it do that.

[hmphargh]

I have not tried the thai keyboard (unless by some strange circumstance my computer has one on it...but it came from HK, so i doubt it). I like the chinese one, my question is about the "firmness". is it the keyboard's feel, or do you have to apply more tension to the keys to get them to react? i just ask because i type very lightly

[RS_003]

I live in Holland and I just ordered my T41P.

If it comes with a Chinese keyboard, will IBM replace it costless?
Or did you all have to pay?