Thinkpad build quality perception

I'd like to get people's thoughts on what they perceive as being good and poor laptop build quality.

Off the top of my head here are some of the things that I have heard complained about:

Poor quality displays - LG vs. Samsung
Off center display/different size hinges
Poor quality plastics - mainly the palmrest
Bulge in the display casing (actually a feature, not a bug )
Squeaks when pressed in certain areas
Gap between display plastics and LCD
Certain keyboard keys are raised on one side higher than the other
Gap between display and body when laptop is closed
Rubber coating rubbing off corners of the display

With my T61p I did notice my spacebar is slightly raised on the left side compared to the right side. The palmrest plastic does have a little flex in places like above the express card slot or over ultrabay. There is some gap between monitor and display bezel.

To me, these are pretty minor issues and I'm happy with my laptop.

I think that when the major complaints about a laptop start are some squeaks and gaps, Lenovo is doing well in quality control.

Thinkpads wear very well and look great even after years of usage. I had a T60 for a year and the only sign of wear was some of the rubber coating rubbed off the corner of the display.

A Dell 700m I used to own had palm rests that discolored really quickly. Why? Because it was gray plastic painted over with silver. The speakers began to cut out because the speaker wire was worn by opening and closing the display. The 700m touchpad I did have complaints about because it really did feel cheap. The touchpad buttons felt thin and rattled around.

What are your ideas' regarding build quality?

 

My T61 has insanely high build quality. Mine has none of the issues mentioned above.
I'm coming from a Dell 1520, and before that an Asus S96J, and this thing beats them both hands down. It cant quite game as well as the 1520, comes close to the S96J, but in portability and quality it wins hands down.
This really is probably my fav laptop that I've had in a long time, and will probably end my laptop buy/sell habit and hang onto it for a long time.

 

Good phrase.....My T61p also has an insanely high level of quality.

And, with the FX570m 250MB video card, I have an insanely good time with multiplayer gaming in spare moments.

Alacrity

 

My x61s is a straight up beast...it blows anything Ive owned in the past out of water in terms of build quality. I've owned 2 Dell, an Hp and a compaq and this Lenovo by far is the best.

 

I'v had my t61 since the end of June. Overall, I think it's a good computer, but I was expecting more. I'm sure most problems have been fixed by now and the build quality is much better. However, I was one of the unfortunate few who got a t61 that does not sit flat. The front right rubber on the bottom of the computer doesn't completely sit flat and this causes it to slightly wobble. It's only a raised a MM or 2, which is not much, but it is noticeable. When you add that onto the fact that I have almost every issue you mentioned above and I paid $1500 for it, it really is kind of aggravating.



It's probably raised like |-|

Here is a link from a while ago that documents the problem, the pictures that were put up no longer show.\
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=142781

 

My gripes:

My first Samsung screen was well beyond unacceptable. It even came with courtesy "finger" imprints when the idiot assembler must have used his had to press everything together. I sent it back in a week after returning it only to have them claim it was "user inflicted"... A mont hwith no laptop later, they returned it (with a new planar board too... go figure)... Now the right speaker has cut out, so i'm debating how much I need that versus another month without my laptop.

 

The bulge I was talking about is described here:
http://www.lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=19

Physical issues aside, I've always been happy with system performance. Granted I always reinstall a clean operating system and install the Lenovo software I need and don't use the stock Lenovo image. The stock image seemed pretty sluggish.

I'm very pleased with the T61p's gaming capabilities

 

*sigh*

My new T61p is almost Impecable.

Nothing squeaks or rocks or shakes.

I say almost for two reasons. I installed the WWAN antenna and my top has the slightest bulge in it. But it did not before I did the installation.

The other thing is that the fan runs all the time. BUT the processor is a 7800 and the machine really does put out heat out of the left side vent so I assume it's just doing it's job.

I lost a screw out of the bottom and believe I had a slight palmrest squeak and then I replaced the screw and it's gone.

BUT I am coming to the point that i am going to start making a uniform recommendation:

IF you don't like the hinges or the off centered screen: Don't buy a thinkpad.

 

Glad to hear Lenovo's build quality is up to par. I'm looking forward to receiving mine.

 

I dont think the off center screen or hinges has anything to do with build quality.
It is the design. Just like if you dont like a cheap, plasticky laptop, dont buy a Dell or HP. These things you know before you purchase it.

 

The build quality of my T60 that I scored during Lenovo's December '07 T60 blowout sale event is peachy in every way with absolutely no adverse issues to report at all.

 

I've had zero problems with my T43. I bicycle to work year-round so it tends to get handled roughly. My previous Thinkpad was a 770Z; I had to replace the HDD but other than that it too had no problems. My 365 is no longer working but that happened after I gave it to my sister in law who lives in the south pacific where the climate is brutal on anything electronic; while it was in my posession I had no trouble with it.

My perception is that Thinkpads are very durable and build quality is high.

 

Upon further inspection I discovered that if I press the lower edge of my left palmrest (the edge right before the body tapers) there is some creaking/clicking noise. I guess it hasn't really bothered me that much or enough for me to notice.

I would say that if pressing a button causes a squeak as WxAxGxS has experienced, then that a valid complaint to me. A palmrest or bezel that makes some noise when you press it though... not so much.

 

I'll throw my 2 cents in in judging build quality of my Dec Blowout 07 T60:

Positives:
+ Keyboard (NMB) - everbody knows this is a + for Lenovo (but I think Lenovo fanboys overrate it)
+ Frame (solid and effectient in size)
+ "mouse" buttons (sturdy feel)

Negatives:
- Shell (flimsy, cheap sounding/feeling plastic surface all around the keyboard)
- Cheap mic and headphone jacks (and my mic jack is an essential work tool)
- Dim LCD (WSXGA+ by LG)
- Port/jack placements are terrible. I can't put papers next to me with USB devices or and Ethernet cable plug in - find it a very poor design (who the hell wants a fat monitor cable coming out the side????)
- Sound from speakers is a bit weak - I know it's not a multimedia PC, but still...compared the the competition...is all I'm sayin'

I see comments trashing Dells as cheap and plasticy. Are y'all familiar with all the Dell models? This T60 feels fragile and cheap compare to the Dells I've recently had. The last Vostro I had, however, went back due to a sound design issue - was not useable - otherwise, the laptop was good.

 

I don't get it. I really don't understand what the expectations are. My T61p has been in my bag and I actually got it out and leaned on the palmrests. There is go squeak or flex. If I press squeeze the machine from the bottom and top near the fingerprint reader, there is some flex with downward pressure.

But let me return to expectations. Thinkspads are made with a carbon composite plastic. The material itself is a high tech space age material.

Why are the expectations about what it should feel like? My 15.4 t61p with a nine cell battery is heavy like a brick. Do I want 1/4 inch of more plastic so that it will be ok if it were hurled into a wall?

I don't think so,

To me, I'd like it to be three or four pounds lighter.

Beyond being heavy my thinkpad is heavy and solid. What is the problem with these complaints?

 

Very familiar with Dell models, had an Inspiron 1520 fully loaded with all the specs, and sold it to buy this. The thing was a giant chunk of a machine, had the same sound issue and optical drive issues. Plus, over the test of time, I see more Thinkpads that look (and function) closer to new from 3 years ago, and most people I know that had a Dell from 3 years ago have replaced it with something else due to hardware issues like overheating.

 

I believe you.

You might not have this issue, but believe me, when I got my T60, resting my right palm on the right side creaked like an old outhouse door. It still flexes at the fingerprint reader, but it no longer creaks. (Search "mushy palmrest" for my solution.) There was also a bow in the shell at the trackpoint buttons from cables not being properly routed during manufacture. There is a bow in the bezel where the circuit ribbon cable (i think) attaches to the LCD, but I said to myself, "f*** it, I'm not dismantling my laptop again." I live with the bow.

I don't care if the shell is made out of kryptonite - it's terribly creaky and flexes. Mine hasn't cracked like some report, but picking up by the left front corner pushes in the express/pc card slot door and it feels like a disaster waiting to happen. I never had poor fit/finish like that on my 4 Dells and 2 Toshibas.

 

I was worried when I ordered mine after reading about all the problems, I have - of the above The screen however isn't the best out there, but it is decent after I calibrated it with my Spyder 2 Pro Colormeter.

 

I love my T60 (14.1 screen). Keyboard feels great, Trackpoint is something I can never live without in future laptops. Top and bottom covers are made from very high quality materials. The keyboard bezel and palm-rest are decent quality plastic, but not as good as they can be. Actually, the keyboard bezel cracked, but I bought a replacement for $15 shipped. One thing I love about the Thinkpad is that every part is replaceable and easily available. Right now, my 1.4 year old Thinkpad is essentially in mint condition