T61 Electric shock?

Hi,

If you followed from my earlier thread, I replaced my T61 palmrest few days ago from my complaints of squeaky sound around the palmrest area and the touchpad buttons.

Immediately after the technician fitted in the new plamrest and bootup, I got a mild electric shock when I tried to use the biometric finger reader. There was a slight buzz sound when it happened. Then I tried again much later and another shock!

After shutting down and checking the power chord and the palmrest fitting in general then booting back on -- no more shocks ... until today.

Now I am getting consistent very mild shock when I touch the sides of the laptop -- especially besides the 1394 firewire port. I know it's all plastic but the shock is real. Has anybody experienced this with their T61?

I don't have a testpen with my to test out the electrical current but will borrow one from friend to test it out asap.

Damnit -- there're just too much problem with my T61. Very frustrating!

 

Your experiences are unfortunate. For safety, please have your machine checked for the electric leak problem.

Such instance is rare and should not be seen as representative of all T61.

However, in worst case go for Sony VAIO SZ or Fujitsu S series for better built quality.


rgds.

 

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What you are experiencing is a normal security feature. Since you are an authorized user the shock is very mild. In the event that an unauthorized user attempts to gain access to your computer, the shock will be much more powerful and will temporarily paralyze the perpetrator until authorities can arrive.

_

Just kidding If you look at some of the install videos (link in my sig) you will find that the palm rest is very easy to remove. I'd suggest unplugging the laptop and removing the battery. Then remove the palmrest and check that everything is connected properly. Look t see if there are any bare wires around the fingerprint scanner or other areas. At this point, if the solution isn't obvious, you should just call to have it repaired.

I have read of this happening before. It's a short of some kind and can happen with any manufacturer including Sony and Fuji.

 

Benjamin Chin,

I don't think your claim of better build quality has ever been demonstrated.
I have a t61p with a finger print reader and it doesn't shock me so from that and lack of other complaints, I think it safe to conclude that this is a pathological condition and is either in the power supply or power adapter.

Another thing about the Sony's when I was looking at laptops is that they definitely did not have the performance order orderable with a Thinkpad which was a dissapointment I had with the Sonys.

 

Renee,

I did made it clear that such shock instance is rare. Do re-read my previous post. As such, you are not expected to get a shock unless you wish to.

As for the performance, I did not make any claim of Sony being superior; that's your own addition.

As for built quality, that's at least from my point of view. You need not agree.


rgds.

 

I've had some similar shocks with my HP nx6325, they appeared sporadically for a few weeks, then went away...strange.

 

Could the shocks be from static shock? Dry air maybe?

 

"As for the performance, I did not make any claim of Sony being superior; that's your own addition.

As for built quality, that's at least from my point of view. You need not agree."

One considers BOTH when purchasing a system. I do have difficulty imagining a better built studier laptop than a thinkpad.

 

Quote : "One considers BOTH when purchasing a system. I do have difficulty imagining a better built studier laptop than a thinkpad."

Those above are just 2 factors to consider for a purchase decision; but by no means the only 2.

2 person can place different emphasis when it comes to what constitutes performance. Person X may prefer faster processing power plus better GPU; yet person Y may want longer lasting battery time. Your definition of what makes for performance need not be that of another's.

Built quality is not merely about just being sturdier. Good tolerance in parts fitting and tighter quality control also add to built quality.

As for your "difficulty imagining a better built studier laptop than a thinkpad"; here are 2 examples, Panasonic Toughbook and Getac.

ThinkPad has a balanced excellence which is what draws my decision to buy. It is by no means the absolute all-best.


rgds.

 

Renee was originally referring your comment there. With that statement, you are implying to the OP that the Sony VAIO SZ and the Fujitsu S series have better build quality than a ThinkPad. Even though you admit later that this is your experience and not a "fact", it is very unlikely that the Sony VAIO has better build quality than a ThinkPad. I don't know about the Fujitsu S series as I have not used one.

 

It is factual as far as my personal encounter with the Sony VAIO SZ is concerned.

I did not state that it was not a fact; I merely stated that it was from my point of view (based on my actual experience).


rgds.

 

That's the problem, you didn't state that it was based on your experience. All you said to the OP was to go with the Sony or the Futijsu for better build quality.

 

Whether I stated of my experience or not is quite besides the point here. Even if I were to write as such, other people may have different experiences to the contrary, or agreement.


rgds.

 

"yet person Y may want longer lasting battery time. Your definition of what makes for performance need not be that of another's."

Battery life is not usually considered to be a performance dimension.

And there are other dimensions of performance to consider. When I looked at Viaos, a couple of moths ago, they had relatively low capacity 5400 rpm disks with appreciably smaller processors than do thinkpads.

"Built quality is not merely about just being sturdier. Good tolerance in parts fitting and tighter quality control also add to built quality."

I've been deeply inside of my thinkpad. It is difficult to find such close tolerance machining these days.

 

"Whether I stated of my experience or not is quite besides the point here. Even if I were to write as such, other people may have different experiences to the contrary, or agreement."

No... I think it's quite the point I am making. What I said, was that you could not support the statement you made.

 

That's your view. I remain.


rgds.

 

Haha, that is hilarious that you point out Sony SZ as having better build quality.

There have been many cases of Sony SZ having problems with shocking people as well. The SZ palmrest itself is metal and some people have experienced electrical shocks from it.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=45008

I happen to like Vaios but I wouldn't say they definitively have better build quality. There are always some defective machines.

 

Indeed my T61 purchased has been unfortunate. I have read about others great experiences with their T61 but I can't say the same for mine.

I'm probably the unlucky few. However just to be clear, my complains are real and I do very much love Thinkpads. I purchase this T61 with the same obvious reasons with the others who had used Thinkpads before -- sturdy build, amazing keyboard, etc etc.

However with this T61, it has been nothing but disappointments and frustrations. I'm going to try to it sent to be repaired once and for all. Will they even replaced the whole laptop?

Anyway, thanks guys for the feedbacks.

 

If they see the same issues you have seen, they will most likely replace that specific part. I've never read a case on a full replacement though, but it is possible.

Just make sure you tell them all the issues you have faced.

 

However in the worst case, Dell latitude and HP business line, which are comparable to Thinkpad, still better than Sony or Fujitsu.

Based on my actual experience, the Thinkpad is built better then the Sony SZ.
It is factual as fas my personal encounter with the Sony SZ is concerned.....

 

In both cases, neither are facts. They are simply judgements.

 

Clap, clap, clap...

Carry on, it's getting more entertaining. I'll keep to my point of view just as you would with yours.

Oh yes, please carry on...


rgds.

 

I have a Fujitsu S6240 which has seen daily heavy use for two years. The build quality was less than impressive out of the box, but I have to admit the machine has been a real trooper. However, the machine does have serious screen wobble, developed a number of LCD bruises despite being cared for, has a definitively subpar keyboard compared to a Thinkpad, and a hairline crack developed on the palmrest over the PCMCIA slot about six months ago.

My own experiences with higher-end Sonys have been limited to those of my friends who own them. I would not recommend a Sony to anyone based on these experiences (LCD cracking problems, numerous issues with motherboards) and in fact it's usually the first thing I say to someone who is in the market for a laptop: "Avoid Sony at all costs."

I'm in the market for a Thinkpad now as Fujitsu's offerings are still seriously overpriced (especially compared to current T61 pricing) and look no more solid than my old 6240. The white keyboards they're increasingly switching to look like a real disaster in the making, and the battery life on most of the S models presently offered is nowhere near what it is on my 6240.

So everybody's mileage may vary.

 

Read 2 other interesting posts :

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=159865

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=212717


rgds.

 

My old Fujitsu notebooks that I've used in the past (p-series and s-series) had 'made in Japan' on the bottom. Now, how many notebooks can claim that? I always thought Fujitsu had the highest quality as a result. But I switched to Thinkpads as my work uses them and I've been quite pleased.

FWIW.

CJ

 

The first thread is from a user with the name "T61Sucks" and has posted only 1 time. The suggestions given in the replies seemed valid enough, yet "T61Sucks" never posted back a response.

Maybe because I haven't experienced it but is this squeaking really that bad? When does it squeak exactly.

 

These electric shock incidents are well documented by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Sony had a recall regarding electric shock risk prior see USCPSC website.

 

I like the way my thinkpad is built.

I will join Benjamin Chin in clapping.

I am clapping for you all, my thinkpad friends!

Clap, clap, clap...

 

Benjamin you can't talk yourself out of this one bro, just admit defeat. It will make you a better man!

Best regards

Learux