Just got my first T40, couple of questions

[wrybread]

I just got my first T40. I've had experience with T30's and T41's, but this is my first T40.

First off, I can't find the internal wireless bay... Does it have one? Maybe under the keyboard? Searching on google for "t40 internal wifi" certainly comes up with lots of hits, but didn't see any hints about where it might be.

Also, is the T40 as vulnerable to the video card/motherboard fractures as the T41 is? If so, any tips to prevent it?

And does anyone have any tips on where to get inexpensive RAM for it?

Thanks for any help.

So far I'm loving my T40.

[KristianJ]

The internal wireless bay is under the palmrest, which necessitates the removal of the palmrest after the keyboard (I'm assuming that you've removed the keyboard before on your T41). If you haven't got a copy of the T4x Hardware Maintenance Manual, download it from here. The whole process isn't too difficult.

As for the GPU failure rate, reading around the forums suggests that a T40 is as vulnerable, if not slightly more, than the future T4x machine. My simple word of advice would be to baby it as much as you can and resist holding it by one corner, thus ensuring that it isn't prone to repeated flexing.

When it comes to PC2100/2700 RAM for a T4x, you should scour the Marketplace and eBay for better prices than what you'd pay for new sticks, especially for 1GB sticks. Perhaps one of the other forum members has seen a recent good deal and will post a link to it, but search Newegg for now and see what you can find.

All the best with your T40 - they're excellent machines as long as you treat them with a bit of TLC.

[AIX]

TLC = tender love care?

I have a T41 which is almost 4 years old now; I never lift the laptop by one hand/by one corner and it is in very good condition, no problems so far.

[wrybread]

Thanks for the tips.

And why do you say the T40 is more vulnerable than the T41? Just because the T41 is newer? It's my guess that they didn't know of the vulerability yet so may not have known to fix the problem....

It's funny how much I'm babying my new T40. I probably have to get over it.

My T41 died, but that was after travelling with it and never using a laptop bag, just stuffing it in my backback. And what's worse is I left the PCMCIA wifi card installed, which protrudes like a lever to separate that mobo from the vid card.... I know, not the smartest, live and learn.

[Harryc]

I wouldn't worry about traveling with it. After all, isn't a laptop worthless if it can't travel ?. Good idea to use 2 hands to pick it up though.