Why are 15" Thinkpads 20% thicker?

[noetus]

I just took delivery of a T42P with 15" UXGA to replace my T42 with 14.1" SXGA+. I understand why the 15" models have to be a bit wider to accommodate the slightly wider screen, but why do they have to be 20% thicker? Apple, for example, makes its wide laptops as thin as (or thinner) than the narrow ones. The only significant hardware difference between the 14.1" and the 15", apart from the screen, is the 128MB graphics card. So what gives? Why are they thicker? My guess is that it has to do with manufacturing and tooling issues in the factory, and not because it has to be thicker to accommodate some extra hardware. That's annoying - it's the sort of design compromise we would not expect from IBM/Lenovo (I say IBM/Lenovo and not just Lenovo because this issue predates the Lenovo sell-off).

Has anyone ever taken apart a 14.1" and a 15" laptop to compare and confirm this? Any comments?

[pianowizard]

Why are they thicker?

To prevent the wider laptop from flexing.

[sugo]

Partly because of the IPS LCD.

[noetus]

Yes, comparing I see that all the thickness increase is in the lid... the keyboard and case of the T42P is the same thickness as the T42.. so why must the Flexview screen be thicker? Also, I notice taking out the hard drive that there is a lot of wasted space inside the case.

[Troels]

Because IPS panels just are thicker generally. It's around 7 mm in thickness. The 15" QXGA is even thicker, so it will only fit in the larger R5x lids.

Yes, it also has something to do with flexing. On the inside of the lid, it's already made so flexing will be minimized (reinforced with plastic bars, or maybe it was some kind of alloy). I'm doubt that this is the case with the 14", which will be more fragile - but by thinkpad standards, still tough.

There is a lot of wasted space inside the case because they use parts common with the 14" T42p.

Let me just say, without the intend to bash anyone, that i'd rather have a sturdy 15" Thinkpad than a flash but flimsy macbook (pro). I'm saying this because i have a mate with a 13" macbook that he dropped 20 cm onto a table, hitting it on the corner. The screen bezel is now easily detachable.

[unimorpheus]

After having owned both a 14.1" T43 and a 15" T43p I prefer the extra beef of the 15". After 6 months of use my 14" had permanent screen abrasions from the space bar and second row of keys due to the close fit of the LCD to the keyboard. I have not had this issue with the 15" T43p. I have always felt the 14" T needed additional space between the LCD and the keyboard to prevent damaging contact.

[Jiro]

Put something in between the screen and keyboard?