T400 build quality - alignment of plastic panels around keyboard

I want to put to rest my worries that my laptop was built in a rush (ordered mid Dec 2009). Please look at you T400 and tell me if you see the same:

1. The plastic rectangular panel on top that surrounds the volume, blue ThinkVantage and power buttons. On my PC the panel is flush with the plastic above it only at the edges - above the mute button on the left and to the right of the Power button. In the middle, around the area where the LCD cable is, the plastic panel is raised a bit. If I press down on it it can get completely flat.

2. On the left hand side where the two plastic panels meet above the 2 USB ports, the front piece - the palm rest - is somewhat higher. Pressing on it makes it level.

3. On the right side, at the top-right corner above the optical drive, there's a small gap that narrows if I press on the drilled surface where the speakers are.

On top of that, if I press a *bit* harder on the PgUp key (on its top right corner), the keyboard flexes and the key sort of makes a creaking sound on its way up.

I am attaching some photos. Appreciate any input.

 

LOL, these are the kind of threads I use to see consistently at macrumors when a new model releases.

Anyway, there is nothing anyone here could do but call lenovo and complain, they will either ignore you or have it fixed. When I had the T400, my space bar was not completely flush but it worked.

 

Don't worry, it's fine.. These are normal "issues".. It's manufactured, it can't be perfect lol.

 

The gap above the optical drive, while larger than mine, does not seem to be very abnormal. The other two issues are more problematic, but there's not too much you can do about it. Perhaps calling it in, you can arrange for a replacement palmrest or possibly a keyboard (if that's the issue).

Likely, though, it's a matter of tightening some screws and loosening some others. If you're not afraid to play around a bit, you can detach the palmrest and side plastic bezels according to the HMM and put it back together more carefully.

 

As MidnightSun have said you can call up Lenovo, and ask for a new set of palmrest and keyboard to sent, which could fix these issues. While the gap on the optical drive is pretty much there for most of the recent Thinkpads.

 

Can I have your dog..? PLEASE!

 

I have a T400 and it has a case problem just where the multimedia buttons are, like the keyboard bulges a little ... it should all be flush but hey I don't have the time to send it back or so.

On review of your pictures I have exactly the same thing as in your 3rd picture, where it does not sit flush

 

I thought those were pics of my thinkpad XD.
I have exactly the same. i learned to deal with it though.

 

Thanks for the posts. After reading it seems the only thing nobody else mentions is the creaking sound on the PgUp key. I noticed that if I press on the plastic above the optical drive (the perforated area) and press the key the creaking does not happen.

I don't think I'll be sending it for fixing as it may cause more troubles than it fixes. Just hope these panels don't have internal pressure or somehow interfere with other components and cause them to fail.