Ancient keyboards shipped with new thinkpads! Anyone?

Hello everyone,

I'd like to share what I've read with you today,

Tim_Lenovo said that they have shifted the production towards the 'older' T61 keyboard design now.
Source : http://forums.lenovo.com/lnv/board/...&view=by_date_ascending&message.id=2738#M2738


Has anyone received a brand new thinkpad with the T61 keyboard already?

 

Ancient, heh

 

haha, let me correct this

Edit: I can't fix it, a mod probably will.

I'm just saying ancient because old makes it feel like rusty/defective ones

 

Couldn't that actually be good? I mean, the old keyboards are good, right?

 

Awesome, this is probably the best fix I could have hoped for.

 

That's what I was thinking.

 

Agreed, and it was long overdue.

 

Let me get this straight.

I ordered a T500 about a month ago and it came with one of the new keyboards. If I post in that thread and request a replacement, they will mail me a replacement T61 keyboard for free? I cant say I was traumatized by the keyboard on the T500, but this is also my first thinkpad so I didnt really know what to expect. Based on a lot of the comments Ive read though, Ive been missing out big time.

What do you guys think, should I try to request one?

 

that's good!

 

I am. But then again, I am crazy...

 

It would be a good idea to have people having new notebooks with the 'old' keyboards to manifest themselves in this thread too

 

got my t400 around late nov 2008. came with t61 keyboard

 

that's good to know

Everybody rejoice Lenovo has uprisen its downfall

 

Actually, I suppose I better check my current keyboard before I do anything--it may or may not have the 'ancient' one since it's a recent purchase.

Can anyone tell me how youre supposed to get the palmrests off on T500? I just tried and couldnt figure out what I needed to do after the screws are out. The ibm keyboard installation guides only go up to T61's.

 

Just follow the T61 guide, the process is the same.

 

Hmm, my T400 just arrived on friday; how do I check what keyboard I have?

 

To see if you have an T61 or T400 keyboard you will have to disassemble it. There are some screw on the bottom with keyboard labels. You need to undo all of these and remove the keyboard.

The T400 keyboards have a mesh backplate. This reduces weight by about 1.5 ounces but many people have complained of flex.

The T61 keyboards have a heavy steel backplate. This is rock solid, albeit kind of heavy.

You can also identify the manufacturer by looking at the key switches. Blue pads means NMB, white switches slanting up right (/) means ALPS, and white switches slanting down right (\) means Chicony (mine).

 

the bottom plate on a T-series keyboard is 0.25mm die-stamped aluminum and weighs only about 26g.

 

Well, I just popped open my thinkpad and guess what I saw.

My T500, ordered on Oct 24, has a NMB (blue pad) keyboard. Looks like Lenovo started dealing with the problem much sooner than anyone expected.

I guess this explains why I couldnt see anything wrong with my keyboard

 

Crap, it double posted, sorry.

 

WhatsUnderThere - there are NMB versions of both the new and old keyboards. in fact, all three suppliers (alps, chicony, and NMB) manufacture both the reinforced (61 series) and non-reinforced (400/500 series) keyboards.

you'll need to physically look at the bottom of your keyboard and reference the FRU number to know whether it's the new or old design. keep in mind that not everyone with the new keyboards are having flex issues.

 

Oh, I wasnt aware they still used the same manufacturers. I cant say Im too eager to go pull the whole thing apart again to look up the FRU.

However, when I pulled it out before, I saw that the bottom was relatively solid compared to the swiss cheese they had a picture of in the T500 review. I think there were a few more holes in it than the T61 chicony picture, but it was nothing like the new T500 board in the review.

 

so is there a process where i can get the older style keyboard for my T500 that arrived in early october????

 

Message 108 on this thread.

 

Drat i wish that i also got the older keyboard. Mine has ever so slight keyboard flex and it freaks me out (only cuse i read so much about it on this forum)

 

Does this mean if I order one today, I will get the superior keyboard? I'm sorry if this is a stupid question. I just hope that they will install the superior keyboard in all orders now instead of using up the old supply first.

 

Well I think that you'll have a greater chance to end up with the superior keyboards. I don't really know if it's guaranteed though.