T43 keyboard vs's A30's: I prefer A30's

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bigtiger · #1 Post by **bigtiger** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:40 pm

Today I seriously compared A30's keyboard to my T43's. I found A30's is quieter and smoother. It is a lot of X40's keyboard. I wonder why IBM uses a inferior keyboard on T43.

Anybody got the same feeling?

bri · #2 Post by **bri** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:51 pm

I like my X20's keyboard more than my T60's, and also more than the T40 series but just slightly. I wonder what manufacturer it is, Lenovo support site only lists one FRU and no manuf name...

cmarti · #3 Post by **cmarti** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:06 pm

And i like more my 600x keyboard that the one from my T40.

Strange not?

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:06 pm

bigtiger wrote:Today I seriously compared A30's keyboard to my T43's. I found A30's is quieter and smoother. It is a lot of X40's keyboard. I wonder why IBM uses a inferior keyboard on T43.

Anybody got the same feeling?

No.

There are different keyboards on different Thinkpads; your T43 could have NMB, Chicony, or Apls. That isn't stated in your post. Hence, you didn't perform a reliable comparison between the two.

I tried my T43s keyboard alongside a friend's A31p; very similar as I could not tell any difference.

Check what keyboard your T43 has.

bigtiger · #5 Post by **bigtiger** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:20 pm

how to check the type of keyboard? I do not know mine.

christopher_wolf · #6 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:24 pm

The quickest way to check, if you have the functionality, is to press the blue "Access IBM" button, click "System Information", then click "Warranty & Parts" and scroll down to find an entry labelled "Keyboard"

For example, mine is;

39T0519 FRU-KBD NMB US ENGLISH ROHS

See what that says.

bigtiger · #7 Post by **bigtiger** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:44 am

39T0734 39T0765 KEYBOARD FRU YES

That is what I got. I guess it does not tell what it is. I am not in the mood to dismantle the keyboard. I guess that is only way to find it out.

Jmmmmm · #8 Post by **Jmmmmm** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:40 pm

bigtiger wrote:39T0734 39T0765 KEYBOARD FRU YES

That is what I got. I guess it does not tell what it is. I am not in the mood to dismantle the keyboard. I guess that is only way to find it out.

No, there is also a part lookup on lenovo's site. It will tell you which keyboard, screen, etc that you have. It's been posted around here a bunch, either look around on here or someone else who knows it might post it here...

Troels · #9 Post by **Troels** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:53 pm

Had a look around, and http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 58491.html shows that 39T0765 is the U.S./English keyboard from Chicony

"39T0734" does not seem to exist anywere, perhaps an old FRU number replaced with 765.

Further research shows that 734 is the actual Part no. while 765 is the FRU number, part no. is probably only used so they know where to look for it in their parts department.

bigtiger · #10 Post by **bigtiger** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:14 pm

It seems to be that I just got a Chicony keyboard. This is not good. I will call IBM to get a replacement.

sugo · #11 Post by **sugo** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:16 pm

Go NMB Thai!

christopher_wolf · #12 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:16 pm

sugo wrote:Go NMB Thai!

Yup, that is what I have and I am *very* happy with it.

bigtiger · #13 Post by **bigtiger** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:09 pm

called ibm and they refused to replace it. I complained that the keys are too loud but...

christopher_wolf · #14 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:18 pm

bigtiger wrote:called ibm and they refused to replace it. I complained that the keys are too loud but...

Are you *absoulutely* sure that nothing is broken on it? Positive?

bigtiger · #15 Post by **bigtiger** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:57 am

Thank you, Mod. Got your idea. I carefully examine my keyboard, I do find some keys are broken. Very positive.

Will Call IBM tomorrow.

UPDATE:Called and IBM promises to send me one. keep my fingers crossed to see what I will get.

#16 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:48 am

...and we wonder why prices just seem to have their way of jumping up

Maybe Lenovo should sell replacement keyboards in their online store.

bigtiger · #17 Post by **bigtiger** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:15 pm

AlphaKilo470 wrote:...and we wonder why prices just seem to have their way of jumping up

Maybe Lenovo should sell replacement keyboards in their online store.

Ohn, that may be the reason.

Anyway, I got the keyboard today. FRU: 39T0643

According to
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 58491.html

It should be NMB. To my knowledge, it should be made in Thailand. But this one clearly says: "Made In China"

Is there anything wrong?

christopher_wolf · #18 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:00 pm

The newer ones seem to be made in China; so there is now, technically, NMB Thai and NMB China.

bigtiger · #19 Post by **bigtiger** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:25 pm

I suspect IBM just puts the sticker there. It is in fact not NMB. Why? when I tried to type on it, and it is as noisy as the one I have.

Now I use more of my X41. The keyboard is much better and very quiet.

christopher_wolf · #20 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:51 pm

bigtiger wrote: I suspect IBM just puts the sticker there. It is in fact not NMB. Why? when I tried to type on it, and it is as noisy as the one I have.

Now I use more of my X41. The keyboard is much better and very quiet.

Does it have blue key bumpers?

bigtiger · #21 Post by **bigtiger** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 12:55 pm

Yes, it does have the blue key bumpers.

sugo · #22 Post by **sugo** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:04 pm

I don't think IBM lied. Several people the this board indicated that NMB Thai is indeed superior to NMB China.

Nitehawk · #23 Post by **Nitehawk** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:41 pm

I lost a key from my T42 sometime ago, but recently noticed that the right button for the track point has stopped working. Now obviously with the lost key i want a new keyboard anyway, and i did even buy one but it didnt fit (ebay...).

I took my thinkpad in for service, and asked if they could replace the keyboard, but because of the missing key, they said they could not. even though the problem is unrelated to the broken mouse button. Do you guys think if i call ibm they'll ship me out a new keyboard? what should i tell them?

tselling · #24 Post by **tselling** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:23 pm

Tell them that the left shift key works intermittently. That always works for me... or the spacebar works intermittently.

Nitehawk · #25 Post by **Nitehawk** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:19 am

they wont care that it's missing an unrelated key? I hope not. hehe.

Nitehawk · #26 Post by **Nitehawk** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:37 pm

Turns out the service center replaced the keyboard even though they said they wouldn't.

But i'm not sure how i like the feel of the new one. lol. doesn't feel as good as my X40.

christopher_wolf · #27 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:56 pm

Nitehawk wrote:Turns out the service center replaced the keyboard even though they said they wouldn't.

But i'm not sure how i like the feel of the new one. lol. doesn't feel as good as my X40.

The X4X keyboards generally feel firmer and have a different characteristic noise for any of the given keys.

Glad to hear about them replacing the missing key although I really don't know why they wouldn't.

bigtiger · #28 Post by **bigtiger** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:37 pm

Nitehawk wrote:Turns out the service center replaced the keyboard even though they said they wouldn't.

But i'm not sure how i like the feel of the new one. lol. doesn't feel as good as my X40.

Agreed. I like the keyboard on my x40 the best. Therefore, I sold my T43 and use X40 soly, as I do not do too much calculations.

yourself · #29 Post by **yourself** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:34 pm

christopher_wolf wrote:
sugo wrote:Go NMB Thai!
Yup, that is what I have and I am *very* happy with it.

what are the main differences between the ROHS(which I have) and the NMB keyboards? it is quality of keyboard? I have no problems with this one...

but if the NMB Thai board is better... than I'd have to go shopping to see...

how would one get a hold of one?

Torque · #30 Post by **Torque** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:48 pm

I am absolutely loving the keyboard on the T43, compared to the T41p I head earlier. Not saying that the T41p's board was bad, this one's just alot better.
The keys have a different finish. More matte. They seem firmer and make less noise.

Used a friends 600E the other day, and I would clearly prefer the T43 keyboard. Note that the 600E was still fitted with the original keyboard.

T43 keyboard vs's A30's: I prefer A30's

T43 keyboard vs's A30's: I prefer A30's

Re: T43 keyboard vs's A30's: I prefer A30's

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