Pointing stick mark on the screen...

Should I be protecting my screen on my E6400? I noticed that I get a mark from the pointing stick on the screen after carrying it around in my backpack.

 

that dosent sound good, have the rubber bumpers on the laptop come off? or maybe, is the pointing stick cap raised higher than it should be?

 

The two rubber bumpers are there. Not sure if the stick is higher than it should be.

 

This is not normal at all. This is a high end laptop, and such thing is really not normal. I have 3 theories:

The keyboard is bended upward toward the center (does it flex a lot (more then ~1mm) when press on the stick?). If so, and like to fiddle with things, you can remove the keyboard bended it down a bit without being excessive, so that it's totally flat and insert it back. Or ask for a new keyboard with Dell.

The keyboard stick rubber was miss formed and too high, or miss installed. If it's miss installed remove it and put it back but pressing on it (no excessive pressure required, as that will brake the laptop), or ask for a new rubber stick (I think Dell will just execute a keyboard replacement).

The pads on the palm rest squish all the way down flat, like if there was none, and you can a really small and thin (thinner then a staple) peace of black plastic under each pad so that it's it's doesn't squish all the down to flat... or as for a new palm rest, in the hole that the replacement will be better.

 

I'm not sure if that's the case at all...In college now, moving around a ton with my laptop in my backpack (in it's own case, and then in some more padding), my bezel is still getting pretty scratched up as well as the pointing mark is leaving it's mark on the screen. IMO, I think the two rubber pads on the palm rest are definitely not enough hold the screen up when there's pressure being applied from the top (when closed of course). I've gotten Dell to replace it like 3 times, and each time (without adding anymore bumpers, etc) it'll get damaged. At this point, I have stopped caring since I believe it to be a problem on all E6400s. Hopefully with a refresh they'll add some more bumpers, otherwise this is a great machine.

You shouldn't have to mod your own machine for a design flaw.

 

So it is normal? Hmmm...I'm thinking I might return my E6400 and just get a T400 now.

I noticed that I can flex the screen alot by pushing down on it the lid while it is closed. I assume that this is what is pushing the screen against the rubber stick.

 

It's up to you. For me the I don't have the pointing stick problem (I have the backlit keyboard, do you have that one?). And I carry Univeristy books with the laptop. The pads is a design flaw, which I don't get why Dell was not fixed it but making stiffer pads.. I mean it would cost MUCH less then replacing so many systems. But anyway...

The point stick mouse mark on the screen would be a big issue and would look into it. But the scratch, is something I can live with (especially after that small mod to stop making it worse), as the service, and the speed and design of the laptop, let alone the looks, makes it up for that. Every laptop has it's share of problem. If it's not that, then it's some hardware related problem, or bad service, or low powered, or priority parts, or bad screen, or poor battery life, etc..

It is up to you. Some people completely changed the pads with something else, of the same shape. I opted with by inserting a peace of plastic under each pad.

It is to be noted that the T400 has:
- Core 2 Duo T series CPU's, which heats more and consumes more power than the P series. P series is available but it's extra from what I can see.
- No backlit keyboard
- No Next Business Day on site service (you'll have to ship it in... for me as a student this is our of the question.. it has to be fixed within 24hours.)
- Warranty starts at 1 year, instead of 3 years. This should be a sign that Dell knows that the internals should not crap out for 3 years without any worries.
- Harder to access it's internal upon upgrade.
- Flex issue on keyboard
- No Display Port, No HDMI, No DVI (VGA only)
- No eSATA port
- Only 3 USB ports
- Nosier keyboard (I was told, but never tried it)
- Strange placement of the FN key (might be annoying when using keyboard shortcuts).

 

that flexes the LCD back panel. this is what helps absorb impacts etc, without flexing the actual LCD. for example, with the screen open, press the LCD back panel. no "ripples" will appear on the LCD screen, this is because the flexing never flexes the actual screen, and the distance from the keyboard is also maintained.

think of it as a sort of "crumple zone" like they have in cars

 

afhs, thanks for that info. Yeah it looks like it does absorb flex rather than transferring it to the LCD.

I do not have a backlit keyboard.

T400 has P8400 in the base model. The keyboard flex problem has been done away with with the latest models. I have the normal depot warranty from Dell anyways. Can I upgrade it after the fact?

 

Ah!
I believe that is the problem. I don't think anyone actually got the non-backlit keyboard as people get it for free just by calling and asking, and it is a very useful feature, therefor no one complains... well at least not in this forum, or I sure did not noticed.
Few had the non-backlit keybaord and upgraded to the backlit and found that the non-backlit was nosier and had higher keys than the backlit one in comparison.

If I recall correctly, (at Dell Canada at least) when the laptop was release you only had the backlit keyboard as option and then to compete with other laptop prices decided to add the non-backlit one. This makes me believe that the laptop was not original designed for the non-backlit keyboard.

Oh course, take what I say at a grain of salt, as I have not experience the non-backlit one. Info on non-backlit keyboard is very weak on this forum.