is there a design flaw in the T42 case?

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steelie69 · #1 Post by **steelie69** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:10 pm

On my two week old T42 (14.1" 1400x1050 screen) if I press on the palmrest right at the corner between the CTRL and LEFT ARROW key, the plastic bends in and clicks.

It almost feels as if there should be a screw there, or something.

Did I just get a bad unit or do all T42s do this?

wuy30 · #2 Post by **wuy30** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:56 pm

mine does the same thing also... think it's a common thing...
after 3 months of usage.. it's gone... so.. I am not worrying about it

#3 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 4:19 am

hard to say if this is common or not..

but you can always remove it and replace it and see if it is not properly seated..

Dow Jones · #4 Post by **Dow Jones** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 6:49 pm

I think this is common. My T42 has the same problem; the palm rest between the CTRL and Left Arrow key seem to be "sticking up," and can be pressed down. Of course, you won't know it's sticking up unless you press on it. Every time i see a Thinkpad, I check for this; I have discovered this to be a problem for 100% of the T41 and 42 I have seen.

Does anyone in here not have this problem?

#5 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 12:47 am

Dow Jones wrote:I think this is common. My T42 has the same problem; the palm rest between the CTRL and Left Arrow key seem to be "sticking up," and can be pressed down. Of course, you won't know it's sticking up unless you press on it. Every time i see a Thinkpad, I check for this; I have discovered this to be a problem for 100% of the T41 and 42 I have seen.

Does anyone in here not have this problem?

Absolutely NOT SO..

i just pulled a T42 (newest 2373K5U that i have done a pixel check on (also perfect display)) and there is NOTHING amiss with the palm rest as that or any other popint on this thinkpad..

so this problem is NOT 100% at all..

can someone send me a picture of this problem..?

Dow Jones · #6 Post by **Dow Jones** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 6:04 am

Morrow, chill out, it's with all the ones I've seen. I made that clear. I've seen about 5 of them, and all of them have this problem.

I even asked if anyone here not have this problem, and I'm glad you don't. So maybe this affects only certain models. I have the 2378-FVU.

brewt · #7 Post by **brewt** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 6:32 am

I wouldn't even go as far as saying it's an actual problem in the first place!

steelie69 · #8 Post by **steelie69** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 3:40 pm

My T42 is a 2378-FVU as well. It is currently the best value IMO- i was paying for the screen and the build and the video chipset. I've added 2 gigs of aftermarket RAM and an 80 gig drive, now it is the equal of even the priciest models and for a lot less money.

I haven't bothered to disassemble my unit yet, but I'm wondering what has been done wrong in the assembly or design of this model to cause the clicking on so many machines.. (6 machines total, just in this thread)

Dow Jones wrote:Morrow, chill out, it's with all the ones I've seen. I made that clear. I've seen about 5 of them, and all of them have this problem.

I even asked if anyone here not have this problem, and I'm glad you don't. So maybe this affects only certain models. I have the 2378-FVU.

steelie69 · #9 Post by **steelie69** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 3:41 pm

I dont know that I would call it a "problem" but it is kind of surprising considering how completely solid the rest of the case design seems to be. (WAYYYY more solid than my old T23)

brewt wrote:I wouldn't even go as far as saying it's an actual problem in the first place!

sagara · #10 Post by **sagara** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 4:26 pm

My T41 has the same 'problem'. But it was worse last week before I stuck an old plastic library card underneath the keyboard - underneath the arrow keys - to stop the spongy movement on that side. But a vg keyboard after the T23. So no complaints here.

Robert (very pleased with my 'new' T41).

mm77 · #11 Post by **mm77** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:01 pm

On my T42, there is the same looseness and clicking when pressing down on the right side palmrest. The plastic strip above the DVD drive is also loose and flexes when pressed down lightly.

However, I didn't notice this before reading about this here.

rhema83 · #12 Post by **rhema83** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:06 pm

I fixed the flexing keyboard (arrow keys) by sticking a couple of business cards underneath the keyboard (commonly-known as the "business card mod / fix). Can I fix the creaking left palmrest the same way? Where should I place the business card? I heard that you can slot one between the PC card slots and the palmrest. Has anyone tried?

By the way, just to sidetrack, when I replaced my original keyboard with a *much better* Thai keyboard, I discovered that the original flimsy one was also made in Thailand! Their qualities differ so greatly!

Plinkerton · #13 Post by **Plinkerton** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:12 pm

2378-FVU. That place flexes on mine, but it does not click or make any sound at all. I've actually never noticed it before, and I've been typing quite a bit on this thing. Plastic flexes... It's just the nature of the beast. I don't expect a 1 inch thick (thin) computer to be perfectly solid. As long as it doesn't crack or break, and it keeps on working.

-Plink-

ian · #14 Post by **ian** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:16 pm

T42 15" - no flex what so ever...

tbeaumont · #15 Post by **tbeaumont** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:45 pm

Interesting comments. I have used Thinkpads for the past 10 years and my most recent thinkpad the T42P 2373 Q1U does in fact have a creaky keyboard on the right side. My previous Thinkpad was an R51P that had a rock solid keyboard. I took both keyboards off and the R51P actually had a rubber liner underneath the keyboard...the T42P is missing the rubber liner. The creaky noise is caused by the plastic hitting the metal casing of the DVD. I placed a couple of business cards underneath and that solved the problem. I guess the missing rubber lining was an oversight. Unbelievable poor quality for a $4,000 plus laptop.

kjarrett · #16 Post by **kjarrett** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 4:15 pm

ian wrote:T42 15" - no flex what so ever...

What HE said, and, more backup as to why I went 15" not 14" ... :/ I know the 14" vs. 15" quality issue horse has been beaten to death, however ... I personally believe the 15"s are of higher build quality.

-kj-

is there a design flaw in the T42 case?

is there a design flaw in the T42 case?

I think it's common.

Re: I think it's common.

Hey hey...

Re: Hey hey...

Same problem with T42 15"

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