Flexing 14" display - Say goodbye to thinkpad's quality

[avesuni]

I received my new 14" T60p roughly a week ago. I noticed there was significant flex on my display: even when applying only light pressure on the back of the display, "waves" would appear on the LCD. Knowing that TP salesmen are used to introducing TPs by standing on them, I contacted Lenovo to have the rear cover replaced.

At first, they took a look at my T60p without repairing it. They returned it saying that there's nothing wrong with it. I insisted that they would replace the rear cover, and so they eventually did. I got the machine back today, and it has the exact same flex as before. I can now officially say goodbye to the Thinkpad quality.

I called my Lenovo dealer today, and we agreed on the following: the computer has a 3 year warranty, and surely I won't use it longer than that. We'll replace the broken LCD as many times as necessary during the following 3 years (trust me, the LCD will be broken at least once or twice).

My dealer promised that he would advice Lenovo's sales guy not to stand on the TPs any more during presentations of the machine's qualities....

[OnnoK123]

I dont have any problems with my 14" display cover on my t60. It is even better than my old R52. No flex and waves at all. So that's very akward..

[pianowizard]

My new T60's display doesn't flex at all, and no matter how hard I press the back of the lid, I still can't distort the screen.

My impression is that most recent Thinkpads are still of very high quality, but the percentage of duds (e.g. yours) has increased a little bit.

[Zeus]

mine seems to be built like a rock

[gator]

I got a used T60 14" for my friend through the forum and it was ROCK solid - no flex whatsover. Infact I think the 14" ones are better built than the 15" ones because of the better size. You need to talk to Lenovo and get this fixed up.

[avesuni]

I know that TPs, at least previously, were built rock solid, but what can I really do, if Lenovo is unable to discover the problem with my display (they replaced the rear cover). Fact is that it is just no use for me to send it back again until the LCD is broken. Wouldn't you all agree?

[claudeo]

On *every* one of my 14 inch T's (T600, T21, T42 and now T60) if I pressed *hard enough* I could make the screen ripple. I always found it mildly amusing but a reasonable trade-off for size and portability. There is nothing new here. I never broke a screen (broke other things, like the latches on my T42 when it took a tumble down a flight of concrete stairs).
If you are experimenting by torturing your screen enough to make it ripple, just stop that. It will feel really good, like when you stop hitting yourself on the head with a hammer

[pianowizard]

On *every* one of my 14 inch T's (T600, T21, T42 and now T60) if I pressed *hard enough* I could make the screen ripple.

Either you are pressing very extremely incredibly hard, or every one of your T's has a weak lid.

[iatacs19]

On *every* one of my 14 inch T's (T600, T21, T42 and now T60) if I pressed *hard enough* I could make the screen ripple. I always found it mildly amusing but a reasonable trade-off for size and portability. There is nothing new here. I never broke a screen (broke other things, like the latches on my T42 when it took a tumble down a flight of concrete stairs).
If you are experimenting by torturing your screen enough to make it ripple, just stop that. It will feel really good, like when you stop hitting yourself on the head with a hammer

agreed 100%

[avesuni]

Guys, I know your love for TPs and I'm not trying to offend you. But applying just light pressure on the back can be seen on the LCD's side of my machine. And btw. I have had a big white "burned" circle appear on my old Dell, because it constantly experienced pressure from my books in my shoulder bag. I have also seen one Thinkpad with such circle on its screen.

I've tried to live my life by the principle that I don't buy any disposable goods, when I have the opportunity to buy something that lasts. With laptops I give up. I have my 3 year lease and my 3 year warranty. If my T60p is trash after that period, there's nothing I can or will do about it.

[dr_st]

Either you are pressing very extremely incredibly hard, or every one of your T's has a weak lid.

If I press hard enough I can get my 15" screen to ripple. But this involves not only pressing, but also twisting. All in all, any reasonable pressure will not cause any harm to the screen. Why anyone will want to press so hard is beyond me.

[avesuni]

Dr_st, again, I'm not trying to hurt your love towards your TP, but (for the third time) applying just light pressure on the rear cover sends ripples on my LCD.

I paid 3500 euros for my TP, and after 2 times of warranty service I can say, it wasn't worth the trouble.

[Eric Giles]

Over the years I have seen that the ripple effect varies according to the model and even different size screens in a model range. Case in point-the 14.1" screens on the T2x series don't seem to be affected by the pressure that much-however, the 13.3" screens are very easy to make 'ripple'. Just a very small amount of pressure on the back cover will make this happen, and it wasn't isolated to just one unit-I saw this happen in about 10 different T21's that had the 13.3" display.

I think that the issue is not as much related to the lid/LCD cover as it is to the manufacturer of the LCD panel. Different LCD manufacturers probably use a different type of 'barrier' at the back of the LCD panel that makes it more resistant to outside pressure.

The fault lies not so much with IBM/Lenovo, but the makers of the LCD panels.

[Scratch]

I have the 15" Hydis display in my T60p and this exhibits no rippling or other effect when manipulated within reason either by pressing on the back or twisting.

[csioucs]

I am sorry for you...I've got my thinkpad from US, living in EU for the moment (Romania), it's my 3rd thinkpad.

Light pressure adds up to nothing,
harder pressure sends a discrete ripple, but nothing serious. I still think I could sit on the notebook, although I am not compelled to. Anyways, the travel conditions of my laptop are sometimes really, really tight, a case crammed full, so full that it had to be pressed so the zipper would lock it, so the laptop survived in even tighter conditions than having someone sit on it (I am only about 75 kg.) .

Still I do not think that quality is lost.

So far, I've seen only an R52 not bend at all, but that was only hard plastic, that I know is breakable. The T60 might bend a little (i do not know) how much flex you have in yours, but I do not think it would ever raise issues.

[Miller88]

I noticed that mine has some flex, but I thought that was normal of all laptop screens. But I get loads of dead pixels.

[avesuni]

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

I agree that it's hardly a question of the rear cover (although my T60 lacks the outward bending "arch", a new feature that thinkpads never required before). The magnesium lid is quite stiff, so it has probably more to do with my LCD (Samsung), or something between the LCD and the rear cover.

Nevertheless, I got a dud, there's no doubt about that. But I'll think about it more, when it breaks the LCD (this seems to be Lenovo's stand as well) Otherwise, it doesn't matter.

Thanks chaps!

[pianowizard]

Dr_st, again, I'm not trying to hurt your love towards your TP, but (for the third time) applying just light pressure on the rear cover sends ripples on my LCD.

Avesuni, I think we are just trying to say that most T60 display lids are very well made, contrary to your concern that all LCDs made by Lenovo are crappy. So, we think you have a dud, and you should ask Lenovo to replace it with a good one.

[steveg47]

avesuni, at my place of work I have personally setup >50 t60's over the past 3 months and none of them has had the LCD problem you have described. They have all been rock solid and not one has been returned due to hardware problems or failures. I am not suggesting that the problem you have described is not valid. The point I am trying to make is that if and when you get a replacement for your t60 the odds are very much in your favor that it will be perfect. What I would like to know is the manufacturer of the LCD and if the LCD replacements you have been getting are coming from the same manufacturer. Maybe there is a pattern here. It could be one bad batch from one LCD manufacturer.

[dr_st]

Nevertheless, I got a dud, there's no doubt about that. But I'll think about it more, when it breaks the LCD (this seems to be Lenovo's stand as well) Otherwise, it doesn't matter.

I agree with you. Yes, you got a dud, in the sense that most units do not exhibit this problem. However, I seriously doubt that anything bad is going to happen to your screen or computer because of that. I have an old Compaq (4 yr old), where the lid is very thin, and it ripples like hell if pressed. I've been grabbing it by the lid, pressing against the lid, all in acceptable amounts, of course. It's still in perfect condition. So don't worry.

[avesuni]

No worries, I guess I was more frustrated with Lenovo's inability to fix it, rather than the problem itself.

I had a big "burned" white circle appear on the LCD of my old Dell, and I've seen the same thing happen to at least one TP. On the other hand, that T40 had quite a stiff rear cover, so I'm not exactly sure what causes that circle to appear on the screen.

[YourOldBuddy]

Light pressure and ripples does not affect screen longevity at all in my experience with many different T series. High pressure in case does affect screen longevity almost regardless of Thinkpad series. T30 was very sturdy but cramped cases sometimes made the trackpoint imprint on screen after years of abuse.

The new T60 is does show ripples on most screens with only a slight pressure applied. T60 is also the most sturdy mainstream computer you are likely to find.

[nxman]

Dear avesuni

It happens to my Z60M I feel it while applying minimum pressure at the back of the led but never in my 14 inch T60 however I do have a track point imprint on my screen my advice to you is If you are uncomfortable with it return it back in my case here in Kuwait we buy them from a Lenovo dealer if you got it from a dealer go to him open any of the displayed T60’s apply pressure on the led if nothing happens tell him I want my notebook to be the same in case it waves then its normal and you have to live with it and if something happens the warranty will kick in the company that work for only uses IBM and now Lenovo hardware the problems that we are facing with the T60’s are dead pixels on the screen and screen flickering while connected to an external monitor and we replaced few motherboards including mine because of BSOD I think ThinkPad’s quality is little less than in IBM days but still they are the best rugged workhorse notebooks money can buy and Lenovo is offering excellent support and after sale service.