X61 Tablet SXGA Screen Coming Unglued From Bezel

[qviri]

The rumored Ultraportable MacPro looks incredible. I just wish it had a TrackPoint. But I am tired of Windows. MacOS is very nice.

Dude are you serious? The rumours of an ultraportable Apple laptop have been around since June 2006 and yet as far as I know we have yet to see a single product picture, let alone an official confirmation.

It's frustrating when a new purchase turns out to be crap, but right now and for the really-foreseeable future the smallest laptop Apple can offer you weighs five pounds.

[timendres]

I am as serious as a heart attack.

Windows Vista, while it has some appeal, is driving me crazy with the constant "can I do this" dialogs and other stupidities like the inability to completely defrag my disk with their default tool. What was the thought process there?! Mac OS is kickin' [censored] compared to Vista. If I could purchase MacOS X for my ThinkPad, I would fork over the $$$ instantly!

Meanwhile, after playing with my friend's MacBook Pro for an hour or so, I was in love. The only two things I did not like were the touchpad (yuck) and the size (too big and heavy). I criticized the keyboard until I got this X61, which has taken a nosedive compared to the X31 keyboard. It is still better than the Mac, but it is not a "night and day" difference like before. The ThinkPad keyboard used to set it apart from every laptop on earth. Not anymore.

But this bezel issue is INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

I cannot imagine how Lenovo could ship a machine with such an obvious and hideous problem. Frankly, I thought the machine was falling apart!!! Think about it. And they made me wait one month and two weeks for the privilege!

SHIPPING AN EXPENSIVE COMPUTER THAT IS FALLING APART IS A SURE WAY TO LOSE A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE!!!!!

I have purchased ONLY ThinkPads for years now for three simple reasons: 1) The TrackPoint; 2) The Keyboard; 3) The indestructible quality. Seems the only thing left is the Trackpoint.

So, Lenovo better hope that the Ultraportable MacBook Pro is just a rumor.

ARE YOU LISTENING LENOVO?!?! I doubt it.

[bhtooefr]

Actually, I find the keyboard to be almost as good as my X21's keyboard. And the X2x keyboard is often considered the second best ThinkPad keyboard ever, just behind the 600-series.

It's miles ahead of my R51e's NMB China keyboard, FWIW.

[jamess]

X61 Tablet keyboard IMO still is FAR ahead of Sony Vaio and HP that I tested recetly...

I can't say however how it compares to older IBM/Lenovo models, but neverthenless, the T43 keyboard I use(d) felt quite the same as X61 T does.

[bluemonk]

It maybe that it is just a matter of time before many more units are affected during the lifetime of this model, so maybe we need to hear more from Lenovo.

I had my X61t SXGA for two months, and absolutely love the tablet capability and the overall usability. I have done everything to baby it knowing that I will use this for a few more years, just like my x31 it replaced.

I first noticed the bezel separating only after reading it here after about 4 weeks of use, and decided to ignore since nothing much can be done then. But now it is slowly becoming more than just an eyesore. The opening is growing bigger with use, maybe 2mm or more when cold, and the possibility exists that one day some small particle is going to sneak in and wreak havoc somewhere.

I am wondering what the best course of action is. As I see it, my choices are:

1. Continue to ignore it until Lenovo addresses the design flaw and do a recall with a genuine solution.
2. Attempt firstaid of somekind, but at the risk of further damage.
3. Send it back now for LCD replacement with probably identical parts, which would eat up a lot of time and risk improving nothing.

I don't like any of them, particularly #3. If my recent experience with my T42 is any indication I may have to send it more than once to get things straightened out once they 'repair' the machine. Any better ideas?

edit: typo

[timendres]

In my opinion, if Lenovo does anything short of shipping me a new machine that does not have this problem, they have fallen down on the job. If they expect me to give up my machine for over a week, while someone hacks away on an obvious design blunder, then they are fools. I will dump this machine and never look back.

[bhtooefr]

I'm going with option #1.

Of course, I went with on-site service, knowing how Solectron breaks laptops, so I'm going to hopefully avoid a lot of the runaround.

(Also, my company is who ordered this, and they were leaning towards on-site anyway.)

[rebith75]

Has anyone tried to "fix" it or make it so it doesnt get worse by messing with the screws??? or making the resistance on the hinge less harsh??? mine has started but not bad, just trying to make it not get worse until they get the thing figured out over at lenovo (if they do). Is everyone just planning on holding out until lenovo figures it out?? is that the plan?

[timendres]

Someone posted a message about adjusting screws. I do not recommend trying this because it may void your warranty!

This entire thing reeks of recall. A clear design flaw that is a serious functionality issue. I am absolutely afraid to put my machine into tablet mode anymore, because I feel that every time I do I am one step closer to the bezel cracking.

In other words, I have a tablet that I cannot use in tablet mode!!!

Lenovo needs to have a good response to this issue. But their utter silence on this issue does not portend a happy ending.

[auchenberg]

Any news on this topic?

I've ordered an X61 Tablet (UU395DK) 4weeks ago and Lenovo keeps delaying it!

Here in Denmark no X61 is in stock, it might indicate that there is a delivery problem with the X61T series?

[JaneL]

Lenovo needs to have a good response to this issue. But their utter silence on this issue does not portend a happy ending.

They haven't been utterly silent. They're diagnosing the problem with a group of users whose bezels are separating.

[timendres]

Any news on this topic?

I've ordered an X61 Tablet (UU395DK) 4weeks ago and Lenovo keeps delaying it!

Here in Denmark no X61 is in stock, it might indicate that there is a delivery problem with the X61T series?

If I were you, I would cancel that order immediately. I would not purchase an X61 Tablet until Lenovo admits there is an issue with the bezel separating from the LCD, and what they plan to do about it. Otherwise, you have no idea where you will stand with this problem.

[timendres]

Lenovo needs to have a good response to this issue. But their utter silence on this issue does not portend a happy ending.

They haven't been utterly silent. They're diagnosing the problem with a group of users whose bezels are separating.

Since Lenovo has not communicated with me, an owner of an X61 Tablet with a known design flaw, and Lenovo has not made any statement here or on any official blog that I am aware of, and since there is nothing on their website that my reasonable searches can locate, then as far as I am concerned, they are utterly silent on this issue. Secret communication with a select few does not qualify as addressing the problem.

Every day that transpires without some word from Lenovo is just one more day that they are defrauding new purchasers of this machine.

[auchenberg]

Any news on this topic?

I've ordered an X61 Tablet (UU395DK) 4weeks ago and Lenovo keeps delaying it!

Here in Denmark no X61 is in stock, it might indicate that there is a delivery problem with the X61T series?

If I were you, I would cancel that order immediately. I would not purchase an X61 Tablet until Lenovo admits there is an issue with the bezel separating from the LCD, and what they plan to do about it. Otherwise, you have no idea where you will stand with this problem.

Hhmm.. Its ordered at the Lenovo distributer here in Denmark (http://www.techdata.com/), so a cancellation is not an option

Does anybody have pictures of this issue? I don't know what to look after...

[dyne]

Since Lenovo has not communicated with me, an owner of an X61 Tablet with a known design flaw, and Lenovo has not made any statement here or on any official blog that I am aware of, and since there is nothing on their website that my reasonable searches can locate, then as far as I am concerned, they are utterly silent on this issue. Secret communication with a select few does not qualify as addressing the problem.

Every day that transpires without some word from Lenovo is just one more day that they are defrauding new purchasers of this machine.

I think you're over-reacting waaaaaay too much. Lenovo has people working (along with owners) to get the issue fixed. It's not like they're actively denying the whole problem, and they're definitely not "utterly" silent on the issue, given that they have employees on this forum trying to get the issue worked out. I'm pretty sure they'll have something to say on the problem once they've actually figured out the problem and have a fix for it.

And it's not like it hurts the functionality of the laptop, as far as I can tell. It's just cosmetic and isn't keeping me from using my tablet in any way whatsoever.

[el aye]

In my opinion, if Lenovo does anything short of shipping me a new machine that does not have this problem, they have fallen down on the job. If they expect me to give up my machine for over a week, while someone hacks away on an obvious design blunder, then they are fools. I will dump this machine and never look back.

Hahahaha. Here's my story, rather with an X60 Tablet MT/MV:

Shipped it off on August 3rd because the latch wasn't working properly... 3.5 weeks later received the laptop and not only hadn't they fixed the problem, they made things worse. The entire LCD assembly was most likely taken apart and when it was put back together something messed up and any time I touched the LCD to swivel there was horrible yellow backlight bleeding. In addition, I think they didn't reconnect the wifi antennas and I couldn't get any signal whatsoever. I sent it back and received it a week later... and yet again they did not fix it correctly (wifi issues were resolved). So now I'm sending it back for the third time, yippee! The BS about this is I ordered the laptop in December hoping to use it from the start of Spring semester and didn't get it until three weeks into it, and now the same thing is happening with Fall semester.

[timendres]

I think you're over-reacting waaaaaay too much. Lenovo has people working (along with owners) to get the issue fixed. It's not like they're actively denying the whole problem, and they're definitely not "utterly" silent on the issue, given that they have employees on this forum trying to get the issue worked out. I'm pretty sure they'll have something to say on the problem once they've actually figured out the problem and have a fix for it.

And it's not like it hurts the functionality of the laptop, as far as I can tell. It's just cosmetic and isn't keeping me from using my tablet in any way whatsoever.

I take it that you have a very substantial income. As for me, I saved for three years to spend $2,300 USD on a laptop that is shipped with a serious design flaw. Can anyone honestly believe that Lenovo did not know about this problem?! I refuse to believe that their engineers never bothered to put the machine into tablet mode. If they did, then you must expect me to believe that they simply did not notice this problem. Frankly, I find it insulting. It is a slap in the face, and will require a significant action on Lenovo's part to keep me as a future customer and prevent my becoming an serious antagonist.

You state that this is not a serious functionality issue, and it is only cosmetic. I beg to differ. Since the first week of owning my "tablet" computer, I have refused to put it into tablet mode because of this issue. I repeat: I am afraid the plastic bezel is going to CRACK. Not to mention the accumulation of "crap in the gap" that this design flaw has created. Ergo, no tablet mode. Ergo MAJOR FUNCTIONALITY ISSUE. Now if Lenovo were to make an announcement on this issue, and assure customers that they will repair this problem even after the bezel cracks, then you may have a valid point. Do you have a link to any such announcement?

People continue to insist that Lenovo is not silent on this issue. Are we using different dictionaries? Please show me where Lenovo has made ANY official comment on this problem. Please. Otherwise, I continue to insist on the word SILENT.

When Lenovo acquired the ThinkPad line, friends told me to move on. But I insisted that Lenovo be given a chance to prove that they could carry on the tradition. So far, they are falling down, and I see no reason to think it will improve.

[dyne]

I take it that you have a very substantial income. As for me, I saved for three years to spend $2,300 USD on a laptop that is shipped with a serious design flaw. Can anyone honestly believe that Lenovo did not know about this problem?! I refuse to believe that their engineers never bothered to put the machine into tablet mode. If they did, then you must expect me to believe that they simply did not notice this problem. Frankly, I find it insulting. It is a slap in the face, and will require a significant action on Lenovo's part to keep me as a future customer and prevent my becoming an serious antagonist.

I'm a med student, I worked my [censored] off this summer mowing lawns and restoring a house to pay for my laptop. Mine only cost $1900, though.

You state that this is not a serious functionality issue, and it is only cosmetic. I beg to differ. Since the first week of owning my "tablet" computer, I have refused to put it into tablet mode because of this issue. I repeat: I am afraid the plastic bezel is going to CRACK. Not to mention the accumulation of "crap in the gap" that this design flaw has created. Ergo, no tablet mode. Ergo MAJOR FUNCTIONALITY ISSUE.

You know how flexible plastic is, right? The only real source of stress on the plastic (as far as I can tell) is from the screws and clips holding the entire assembly together. I doubt keeping it in laptop mode offers much, if any, more stress relief than if it were in tablet mode.

Not to mention both issues you mentioned were still cosmetic. The major functionality 'issue' you have is that you don't want to 'risk' it getting any worse.

Now if Lenovo were to make an announcement on this issue, and assure customers that they will repair this problem even after the bezel cracks, then you may have a valid point. Do you have a link to any such announcement?

That's what the warranty is for.

People continue to insist that Lenovo is not silent on this issue. Are we using different dictionaries? Please show me where Lenovo has made ANY official comment on this problem. Please. Otherwise, I continue to insist on the word SILENT.

They haven't made an official statement, as far as I can tell. I don't see how that automatically makes them silent on the issue, as they're currently working with people on the issue

When Lenovo acquired the ThinkPad line, friends told me to move on. But I insisted that Lenovo be given a chance to prove that they could carry on the tradition. So far, they are falling down, and I see no reason to think it will improve.

I don't think they're quite as good as they used to be, but I highly doubt they're any worse than all the other laptop manufacturers

[timendres]

You state that this is not a serious functionality issue, and it is only cosmetic. I beg to differ. Since the first week of owning my "tablet" computer, I have refused to put it into tablet mode because of this issue. I repeat: I am afraid the plastic bezel is going to CRACK. Not to mention the accumulation of "crap in the gap" that this design flaw has created. Ergo, no tablet mode. Ergo MAJOR FUNCTIONALITY ISSUE.

You know how flexible plastic is, right? The only real source of stress on the plastic (as far as I can tell) is from the screws and clips holding the entire assembly together. I doubt keeping it in laptop mode offers much, if any, more stress relief than if it were in tablet mode.

Not to mention both issues you mentioned were still cosmetic. The major functionality 'issue' you have is that you don't want to 'risk' it getting any worse.

Apparently I am confused. I was under the impression that the bezel was what held the LCD in place. I was also under the impression that the bezel was designed to keep dust and other small objects away from the LCD's vulnerable areas. In other words, it was designed to be "snug" with the display front. Thus, I assumed that as the bezel disintegrated the LCD display would not be properly supported and more vulnerable to dust and small object invasion. So, yes, I did not want to risk it getting worse.

I do realize that plastic is flexible, which would seem to be an argument for why this design is flawed. The problem appears to be unexpected and unacceptable flexing of the bezel. That seems to be a flaw. Yes, it could be that the bezels were not manufactured to specification, but otherwise it is a design flaw, which should have never been shipped.

And you are correct. More and more the bezel is separating from the LCD in laptop mode also! The problem gets worse with every opening of the display! It used to be that the bezel would return to a snug fit against the LCD once it was in laptop mode, but now it never does. It continues to get worse.

People continue to insist that Lenovo is not silent on this issue. Are we using different dictionaries? Please show me where Lenovo has made ANY official comment on this problem. Please. Otherwise, I continue to insist on the word SILENT.

They haven't made an official statement, as far as I can tell. I don't see how that automatically makes them silent on the issue, as they're currently working with people on the issue

I keep hearing this "they're currently working with people on the issue". WHAT PEOPLE? Can anyone in this forum reply to this thread and state that they have been contacted directly by Lenovo to assist in solving this problem? I don't mean you have called support and gotten some promise, or that you have made a warranty claim. I want to hear from someone who has been contacted directly by Lenovo engineers regarding this problem. I realize you may not be able to say anything about the conversation, since that may be confidential. But I have yet to see anyone post here that they have been directly contacted regarding this problem. Just people repeating what seems to me to be a rumor.

In my opinion, Lenovo should have already contacted every owner of this machine to let them know that Lenovo is aware of this serious problem and that they will make it right.

When Lenovo acquired the ThinkPad line, friends told me to move on. But I insisted that Lenovo be given a chance to prove that they could carry on the tradition. So far, they are falling down, and I see no reason to think it will improve.

I don't think they're quite as good as they used to be, but I highly doubt they're any worse than all the other laptop manufacturers

If Lenovo is now aiming for "not any worse than all the other laptop manufacturers", then they should adjust their prices to reflect this new "standard".

[egnatius]

Now if Lenovo were to make an announcement on this issue, and assure customers that they will repair this problem even after the bezel cracks, then you may have a valid point. Do you have a link to any such announcement?

People continue to insist that Lenovo is not silent on this issue. Are we using different dictionaries? Please show me where Lenovo has made ANY official comment on this problem. Please. Otherwise, I continue to insist on the word SILENT.

You may find some comfort in this post from the Lenovo Blogs website. About a third of the way down the page you'll see several comments about this very issue, and a reply from someone from Lenovo who seems to have acknowledged the problem.

I know, it's not an official announcement but it's better than nothing and they do seem to be working on it, albeit in a quiet way.

[eng518]

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 9005ca2f0f

[JaneL]

Just people repeating what seems to me to be a rumor.

It's not a rumor, and you need to ratchet down the rhetoric.

[qviri]

I take it that you have a very substantial income. As for me, I saved for three years to spend $2,300 USD on a laptop that is shipped with a serious design flaw.

Then return it and move on. Do research and buy what's best on the market. If you think that Lenovo will notice you personally railing on a forum about this issue using emphasis and think about it for more than a minute you are deluding yourself.

[Toekiller]

Hi I can confirm a few members are chatting to Lenovo ( myself included ) and they have received machines for evalution and hopefully will come up with a permanent fix.

Drop the pitchfork for now. Nothing stopping you sharpening it though

[timendres]

I take it that you have a very substantial income. As for me, I saved for three years to spend $2,300 USD on a laptop that is shipped with a serious design flaw.

Then return it and move on. Do research and buy what's best on the market. If you think that Lenovo will notice you personally railing on a forum about this issue using emphasis and think about it for more than a minute you are deluding yourself.

Here's the thing, qviri. I did do my research. From personal experience with previous ThinkPad's, and from all of my online research over many months (including reading these forums), I concluded that the X61Tablet was the best purchase for me. So much so that I was prepared to pay a substantial premium over the price of other comparable machines. Which is precisely the reason I am so incensed by this problem and the lack of response from Lenovo.

Given the context of this problem, I cannot understand why they have not emailed every owner of this machine to assure them that Lenovo is aware of this problem and working to fix it. For all we know, they are jumping thru hoops and losing sleep trying to come up with a solution. But how would we know?!

Having personally worked for companies who feel it is cheaper to dump flawed products on customers and "let them deal with it under warranty" (General Motors to name one), I find it insulting. I believe Lenovo was completely aware of this problem before these machines were shipped.

Besides, I am not "personally railing on a forum" to satisfy myself. I am fully aware that future buyers of X61 Tablets are reading this forum, just as I did before my purchase, and I am trying to spare them the same waste of time and money that I must now endure to correct this problem. A problem Lenovo created by shipping a product that I believe they knew to be flawed.

[timendres]

Hi I can confirm a few members are chatting to Lenovo ( myself included ) and they have received machines for evalution and hopefully will come up with a permanent fix.

Drop the pitchfork for now. Nothing stopping you sharpening it though

THANK YOU Toekiller. I appreciate the confirmation that someone has personally communicated with Lenovo and knows that they are working on the problem.

[jamess]

I've been using the X61Tablet for about a month now. I really hope that it won't happen as soon as I click submit button... but until now, I've not had the issue with the glue thing. There is some flex when I put the screen into Tablet mode, but there is no horror-gap (for now). A very small tiny gap only appears to be present (also when in non.tablet mode) on the right side where the FP reader is.

And I really hope that Lenovo figures something out soon for those of you who were unlucky - buying units with detaching bezel.

[timendres]

I've been using the X61Tablet for about a month now. I really hope that it won't happen as soon as I click submit button... but until now, I've not had the issue with the glue thing. There is some flex when I put the screen into Tablet mode, but there is no horror-gap (for now). A very small tiny gap only appears to be present (also when in non.tablet mode) on the right side where the FP reader is.

And I really hope that Lenovo figures something out soon for those of you who were unlucky - buying units with detaching bezel.

Which LCD do you have, James? It appears that this only happens with the SXGA+ LCD.

[rhema83]

Besides, I am not "personally railing on a forum" to satisfy myself. I am fully aware that future buyers of X61 Tablets are reading this forum, just as I did before my purchase, and I am trying to spare them the same waste of time and money that I must now endure to correct this problem. A problem Lenovo created by shipping a product that I believe they knew to be flawed.

I was going to get the X61T for the SXGA+ screen in a tiny form factor. Thanks to the advanced warning system here, I am going to wait till Lenovo sorts things out.

How we miss those pre-Lenovo days, when IBM would send you new keyboards and replacement stuff by overnight for your T42 for free.

[bowkatz]

Hello my friends, I purchased a X61t on the 25th of August, On the 13th of September (yesterday) it arrived(at my house in (Austria (no kangaroos)). I packed it out already expecting the screen coming unglued from bezel problem. And I was right the bezel was coming of the screen. It was fabricated 2007-08-26.... So I called lenovo there was no problem (I waited two mins till smoe guy picked up the phne) and they gave me a trouble ticked and said that I have to bring my laptop to TNT to airdeliver it to the repaircentre. He said the new screen (so a sxga+ screen with fixed bugs such as the bezel prob and the lower third prob)
was shipped with notebooks which were buit oone week ago(2007-9-07)
so im bringing it in next tuesday (2007-9-21) I will edit this post when I arrive the new model