So disappointed with the keyboard

Just got my T60 last night. So far everything is fine except the keyboard. When my fingers touched it, I knew it was not a NMB keyboard. I have used a T21 before. That keyboard is really great, and this is an important factor that I choose Thinkpad.

I don’t understand. Why don’t they use the NMB keyboard on all the T series? How can I know what kind of keyboard it will come with when I order it? Is this all about luck? Can someone tell me what I should do with this keyboard? Is it possible to replace one?

 

What is it that you don't like about your keyboard?

Scott

 

I just don't like the feeling when I am typing on it. It's soft. I know there are three kinds of keyboard, NMB, ALPS and Chicony. I'm not sure whether mine is ALPS or Chicony, but it is definitely not a NMB.

 

Look it up and find out.

 

The links to warranty/parts in the Sticky don't work anymore.

Here is the updated URL.

 

FRU part # is 39T7118.
(ALPS) (Chicony) (NMB)
39T7118 39T7178 39T0958
So mine is a ALPS. It's better than Chicony, but I still want a NMB. Who has used these different keyboards? Do u think the NMB is the best?

rhizop0d, thanks for the link.

 

The keyboard is VERY important to me. My # is 39T6476. I was not able to find out which brand it is.

Can anyone help? I just received the laptop and haven't opened it yet. I am actually getting it almost entirely because the replacement keyboard for my R40 was junk.

Any help would be great...and suggestions. Thanks!!

 

Blammer,

You have the same keyboard I have on order... let me know how you like it. I can't locate anything on it but a thread where one user didn't like it.

It's important to me as well and one reason I ordered from Lenovo. I heard the keyboard was the best part.

39T6476

 

How do you know which keyboard has which part number online? I couldn't find it. I tried go to Part Information selection for a particular model, but I didn't see any FRU# for the keyboard?

 

I got my # from my order sheet. It listed all of the numbers. I also think that you can put in the serial# and model# and get a list of the part #s but I am not sure.

And I have no idea how to link a particular part# to a manufacturer. Hopefully someone will be able to help us out with that.

 

Go to the link rhizop0d provided. Enter your serial number under "warranty status", and then click 'View parts lookup results for this system'. You can find the FRU# of every part of your machine.

I found a thread about the IBM keyboard. This might be helpful for people who concern about the keyboard.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=33905&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

On the order sheet is the Mfg part #. The FRU part# can be got from the 'Warranty status' of lenovo's website.

 

Ok. So now I have a bunch of different #s.

1) My receipt shows "Part #39T6476"

2) The Lenovo parts page shows "Mfg part #39T0988"

and "FRU part #39T7118"

What do I have!!! Anyone in the know who can help me figure out which keyboard I have, who made it, and whether it is HIGH quality...that would really be great. I want to know what I have before I open this box and am told I can't return it.

Thanks!

 

You have the ALPS keyboard, as a quick Google search revealed.

 

My new T60 came with the Chicony keyboard. Can't swap it out, and the even more messed up thing is the part numbers listed in the hardware manual all supersede back to the Chicony now. Its like that is the only keyboard option. I have found a NMB and ALPS keyboard on ebay, and I am thinking about just spending 50 bucks for one of them.

Now the Chicony keyboard itself types very well, and has really nice clicks, but the ****ed thing is sooo loud. Its like the keys rattle as you type! The C100 I have uses an NMB keyboard, and the pressure per click is about the same, but the keys feel much more attached and secure. Maybe its something I will grow into?

 

Alps 39T7118 Chicony 39T7178 NMB 39T0958

It appears that you could order any one of these online for around $80 or so

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-62728

It doesn't seem that difficult to swap out. right?

 

QuantityRemove this item

Duplicate? KEYBOARD FRU
Product: 39T7178 $47.00 $47.00
Availability: Within 6 weeks**
QuantityRemove this item

Duplicate? KEYBOARD FRU
Product: 39T7118 $50.50 $50.50
Availability: Within 6 weeks**
QuantityRemove this item

Duplicate? KEYBOARD FRU
Product: 39T0958 $148.00 $148.00
Availability: Within 6 weeks**

Price from lowest to highest goes Chicony > ALPS > NMB

 

Here is something about the ALPS and NMB. I found from another forum.

I can't comment on the differences between the NMB and the ALPS (yet!). From what I've read elsewhere in this forum, they're supposed to be pretty close. The big difference is from the Chicony.

One other note I forgot, the selection keys for the trackpoint are surprisingly loose and clunky, on the ALPS. It's the one thing (other than the weird high key defect) that's worse than the Chicony. The trackpoint selection keys on the ALPS are clicky clacky both in feel and noise (quite noisy!)(in fact they're what the rest of the Chicony keyboard is generally like).

The selection keys for the trackpoint on the Chicony have a nice firm feel and are quiet.

On the other hand, the selection keys for the trackpad on the ALPS and Chicony are fairly comporable. [Edit: Um, I just realized that's probably because they're not part of the keyboard! and so weren't switched with the keyboard. Duh. I swear I wasn't stoned when I wrote that. Although, I suppose if I had been stoned that would at least be an excuse.]

It's a funny anomaly, in the otherwise superior touch of the ALPS.

P.S. pundit, I may take you up on that keyboard trade offer. Sadly, I don't have a LCD to offer you.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22670&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

Someone on that thread called lenovo and said the NMB keyboard was just $39. If this is true, I would order one and replace mine. I know the ALPS is not bad. But since I choose the thinkpad, I just want to get the most comfortable keyboard.

 

I was kind of freaked out there for a minute. Now that I know I can just change it out, I'm fine. After living with this mushy Sony FS for the last year, anything has to be better.

 

Changing the keyboard on a thinkpad is very easy. On my T30, it was two screws. Based on the symbols molded into the bottom of the case, it looks like there are a four to remove to get the one out of the t60, but I haven't checked the hardware maintenance manual to be sure. Either way it's easy.

 

I got the ALPS on mine and I like it; I make much fewer typos with this thing than with other laptops.

 

I've got the Chicony and I don't have any issues with it... It's much much better than the Averatec I have as well as the HP and the Toshiba that I've used.... It doesn't seem any louder than my desktop keyboard...

 

Nothing could be louder than my desktop keyboard.

 

Lenovo (IBM) always has some instruction movies how to replace some parts of your notebook: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-63959

 

Putting in my serial number at Lenovo I was informed that it couldn't find my machine (ordered 11/20, shipped 11/25). I called Lenovo today and they say they will fix the problem and that in 3 business days or so it will find it.

I got an email with an HTML attachment the day after the machine shipped that includes the various part numbers. Included is that of the keyboard. How do I determine who the manufacturer is?

39T6476 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH

Here are the part numbers that were in the attachment:

1953CTO TP T60 SERIES 1 YR DEPOT TS
42R9190 VBB NO INT.WIFI WL 3RD ANTENNA
62P6054 VBB INTEGR.BLUETOOTH PAN
42R9313 SBB INTEL CORE DUO PROC. T5500
46P4166 VBB MICROSOFT WINXP PROFESSION
42R9249 SBB MS WINXP PROF. US ENGLISH
42R9420 SBB 14.1/SXGA+ TFT
42R9318 SBB INTEL GM-ACC. 950 W/O WWAN
41W2062 VBB 1.5GB PC2-5300 667MHZ2DIMM
39T6476 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH
27R0300 VBB INTEGR. FINGERPRINT SENSOR
41W1612 SBB ULTRANAV (TRACKP&TOUCHPAD)
41W5775 SBB 60GB HDD 5400RPM
41W5782 SBB CDRW/DVDR 24X24X24X8X UB
41W1685 SBB 11ABGWIFI WL LAN USEULAANZ
41W1508 SBB 6 CELL LI-ION BATTERY
41W1787 SBB CPK NORTH AMERICA
27R1769 SBB PSTN CABLE
42R9212 SBB LANG.PACK US ENGLISH
41W1592 SBB PACKAGING US
39T6440 SBB 56K V.92 DESIGNED MODEM
41W1711 SBB CLEAR PLATE T60 WLAN+BT
41W1721 SBB FCC LABEL
41W1744 SBB MT 1953 SYSTEM LABEL
41W1749 SBB GEO LABEL US WLAN BT
41W1774 SBB LOGO PLATE
41W2082 SBB MS LBL INTEL DUAL CORE
42R8988 SBB MS LABEL ( VISTA CAPABLE )
42T7135 SBB INTEL LABEL CORE-2
41W2070 SBB 512MB PC2-5300 667MHZ MEM.
41W2071 SBB 1GB PC2-5300 667MHZ MEM.

 

Search on google, or look at the service parts list for your model. (Or search this forum, where I posted that information 4 days ago)

It's the ALPS.

 

Mine is ALPS too according to my order confirm. Do they change it on shipped email?

 

I checked the parts lookup once my system shipped and the order status page showed my serial number. It may be that the ordering part number is the same for all of them, I'm not sure.

 

Hmm, I'm curious as to how they look like compared to the other keyboard models sidebyside. Has anyone confirmed that T60 notebooks come from different keyboard manufacturers? Perhaps all the 14" ones are ALPS.

 

Got Chicony here. I'm used to NMB with my T42, but now getting used to Chicony on T60. Chicony is a little more clickier (audible feedback when you type). Plastic feels thinner on keys, but than I don't know how the new NMB on T60 has changed either. Mechanism should remain the same, but material might be the same as Chicony keys. Not sure if I want to modded it yet. At least its nice to know there is a replacement option.

 

My Z61m use chicony too and it is the fastest keyboard i ever tried. Yes it creates audible sound but it makes typing easier and faster. It doesnt have too much feedback force when you type on it.

 

I have a Chicony, and I like it. the keys are nice and clicky and they are soft hitting the bottom.

 

I have Chicony as well on my T60. Where can I order an NMB keyboard?

 

I lucked out and received a NMB keyboard installed on my T60. I love it, but, since I've never used an ALPS or Chicony keyboard, I can't say it's better. Nonetheless, it's it the best keyboard I have ever used on a notebook and I actually prefer it to a standard desktop keyboard.

Matt

 

I just got my T60p and it has a NBM keyboard as well. So far, I really like it!

-Aakash

 

Just to add some things.

The thing i like about chicony is they neatly installed in the laptop. In ALPS (or NMB, not sure) i saw in BEST Denki near my house there are noticable gap between the base of the laptop and the actual keys.

It is more apparent in arrow keys area, lower right on the keyboard. It looks like those keys are floating on a spring mechanism if you look at a steep angle. Doesnt look so durable. But if you press it, there is sturdiness there. It is just dont look good.

Two laps i saw there use chicony (i guess), because the arrow groups key are neatly placed without noticable gap. It looks nice and neat.

If you go to the store just look at the arrow groups key. Chicony definitely placed properly without any gaps whatsoever.