T42 crack-waranty?

[schmaud]

Hallo,

My T42 (14 inch, 2373-FWG) developed a crack in the palm-rest, on the front-side, exactely at the poition between the two touchpad-keys.
Does anyone know if such a crack increases the likelyhood of a FPU/mainboard failure? ( I move the computer a lot with one hand)

According to IBM switzerland cracks are ussually caused by accidents and not covered by waranty. But I could send the system in and they would check if it is something qualifing for warranty...
Does anyone got experience how expensive such a check/repair would be?
I am considering just getting the part and fixing it myself instead.

Buy the way: I noted the lenovo webpage makes a point of hiding the contact details for international warranty, and the feedback form is not really working...
However when i finally found the info, the replacement Combo-drive arrived within a day.

cheers

ralf

[cmarti]

( I move the computer a lot with one hand)

If you keep doing that you will not only end up with a broken plastic, that practice is known to cause also motherboard failure

Best thing is fixing it yourself because when they say we will check if anything can be done what they really mean to say is we will give you and repair cost estimate for the repair.

[schmaud]

If you keep doing that you will not only end up with a broken plastic, that practice is known to cause also motherboard failure

OK, essentially you recommend to get another computer.

I got a T-series because I wanted a computer as a good tool, where I do not have to worry about the system more then about the problem at hand.

Since I observed the crack I paid a bit attention: I ussually grap the system with one hand at the screen or on the right computer edge...
I guess quite alot of peolpe do this in such a fashion...

cheers

ralf

[carbon_unit]

OK, essentially you recommend to get another computer.


I guess quite alot of peolpe do this in such a fashion...

cheers

ralf

If you continue to do this you will need another computer.

Just because other people do it does not make it right.

Look, if you take care of it, it will take care of you. If you continue to mistreat it, well..........nothing is indestructible.
Just use both hands or close the lid before you pick it up.

[Thinkpaddict]

OK, essentially you recommend to get another computer.

Get another computer? Why? Just buy a replacement palmrest and replace it yourself. It is quite easy using the T42 Hardware Maintenance Manual (at IBM's site, do a search.) A new palmrest should probably run you about $50.00, and if you buy from eBay you can probably get it cheaper than that.

On second thought, you perhaps meant that you want to keep moving your computer with one hand, so you will need to get a new computer that will take that. In that case, let me know if you come up with a laptop that is more durable, user-upgradeable, and with better support than a Thinkpad, and I'll buy one too

[christopher_wolf]

So where did people get the bright idea that moving any slimline laptop by *one hand at the corner* was good?

Even a T4X Series Thinkpad has to put up with ridiculous stresses generated at the fixity (where you are holding it) versus the rest of the planar trying its best to droop down. Anybody here would like to explain how that is good for a laptop? Any laptop? Especially a laptop that is designed as thin as possible as well as a larger surface area (14.1" or 15")?

Thought not.

This wouldn't be a big problem if one was picking up and moving an X Series, or even a 701c, with one hand, they lend themselves to that quite nicely. The problem comes when one tries to apply this to a heavier and larger, although similar in thickness/thinness, T4X Series Thinkpad. I think that the slimline form factor of the T4X is a major appeal when one goes to try and one-hand it. Would anybody try this with an R Series or a G Series Thinkpad? Nope.

There are ways to carry it in one hand that that won't but unwanted stresses in certain areas, such as scooping it up from behind the battery and holding it at an incident angle such that it appears you are "balancing" it on the palm of your hand; you could also cradle it like a large book with one hand and one arm or you could do it arm-over-lid and carry it that way. This is only if you are really intent on carry it with one hand.

You can go ahead and get another computer, but if you keeping carrying it in that fashion and it has the proper dimensions, you will be subjecting it to stresses it wasn't designed for in places that certainly shouldn't ever be stressed in that manner. Escaping the laws of physics, the response of the materials, and plain old engineering isn't an option either.

[GomJabbar]

So where did people get the bright idea that moving any slimline laptop by *one hand at the corner* was good?

Even a T4X Series Thinkpad has to put up with ridiculous stresses generated at the fixity (where you are holding it) versus the rest of the planar trying its best to droop down. Anybody here would like to explain how that is good for a laptop? Any laptop? Especially a laptop that is designed as thin as possible as well as a larger surface area (14.1" or 15")?

Thought not.

Think again.

It has generally been determined (with the help of 20-20 hindsight) to be risky to pick up a T4x series ThinkPad by one corner. This is because of the number of motherboard problems resulting from persons using this method. However, I can understand where some typical users would assume that this method of carrying their laptop is OK. For many users, this may be their very first laptop. How would they intuit the danger involved? After all they would reason: "This is a ThinkPad. These are supposed to be durable." However, once the word gets out to the user that repeating this behavior could very likely shorten their laptoop life by a number of months, if not years, then they would be prudent to modify their behavior.

Personally, I am the cautious sort (at least with laptops). I handle my ThinkPad pretty gingerly. I didn't carry mine this way even when I didn't suspect it to be a problem - mainly because I don't want to take a chance and drop it. I close the display lid very little, to avoid excessive flexing of the display cable and wear to the latches. I want my T42 to last me a good long time. I can't afford a new model every year like some of the users around here.

[christopher_wolf]

So where did people get the bright idea that moving any slimline laptop by *one hand at the corner* was good?

Even a T4X Series Thinkpad has to put up with ridiculous stresses generated at the fixity (where you are holding it) versus the rest of the planar trying its best to droop down. Anybody here would like to explain how that is good for a laptop? Any laptop? Especially a laptop that is designed as thin as possible as well as a larger surface area (14.1" or 15")?

Thought not.

It has generally been determined (with the help of 20-20 hindsight) to be risky to pick up a T4x series ThinkPad by one corner. This is because of the number of motherboard problems resulting from persons using this method. However, I can understand where some typical users would assume that this method of carrying their laptop is OK. For many users, this may be their very first laptop. How would they intuit the danger involved? After all they would reason: "This is a ThinkPad. These are supposed to be durable." However, once the word gets out to the user that repeating this behavior could very likely shorten their laptoop life by a number of months, if not years, then they would be prudent to modify their behavior.

I think what you said is mainly the issue, but more in part to the design of the T4X...which is slimline yet has extremely powerful performance. Some people approach it indeed like it was an extension of the X Series with a souped-up desktop somehow shoved inside. Now, nobody picks up an R Series or G Series Thinkpad one handed, right (there are no benefits to moving them like that as they aren't designed to be that mobile and are heavier)? But once you get it thinner, with the same dimensions and far less weight even with various titanium/magnesium alloys, it is still very risky to hold it from the corner one-handed. That's at least what I think the mentality to it is as I have never hefted it one handed by a corner (all my engineering senses are gagging at the thought by the way).

Neither can I afford a new T43 every day, week, or month...

[cmarti]

OK, essentially you recommend to get another computer.

No that is not what i am saying.

[schmaud]

OK,
I observed my self a bit more... It seems I ussually
grap the right lower corner of the computer and support the system a bit more with my left hand behind the left side of the screen...
For me it is the most obvious way to move a working PC around.

And yes, there are laptops which survive such a treatment for a longer period of time:
- In my personal experience: the IBM iSeries ( 1412??) I used before I got the t42. Not quite a fair match in performance and weight .
- from collegues: the samsung x10 series ( or x10+). was high on my list, but didn't had a trackpoint

Thanks everyone for the input. What I learned from it:
- I seriously should consider replacing my laptop befor its running out of waranty, since I am sort of asking fot a motherbord failure.

One questions remains:
Does the crack in the palmrest increases the chance of a motherboard failure?
In other words: Should I hurry with replacing of the palmrest?

[cmarti]

One questions remains:
Does the crack in the palmrest increases the chance of a motherboard failure?
In other words: Should I hurry with replacing of the palmrest?

No i don't think the crack will increase the risk of motherboard failure.

FYI. I order last week the palmreast thru IBM and it cost $40USD + $9USD for the shipping, mine has a crack below the mouse i don't know how it happens but it's there.

[schmaud]

[/quote]
No i don't think the crack will increase the risk of motherboard failure.

FYI. I order last week the palmreast thru IBM and it cost $40USD + $9USD for the shipping, mine has a crack below the mouse i don't know how it happens but it's there. [/quote]

Thanks!

The crack in my unit is at the same position, and the system was not droped or anything...