falsificated t420??

Hi there,

I recieved my t420 few days ago. The build quality seems normal, and besides one or two dead pixels the screen is ok too.

But I've just notice that the keyboard, even showing no flex at all and looking as a good one. Has stickers on the keys. I thought the thinkpad keyboards are like printed. Mine is the spanish version so that could be the answer, but my father owns a T400 and his KB is also "printed".

I'm a bit scared that my TP could be a non legitimed one...

 

Where did you purchase it from? Could you post some photos?

 

My X220 has stickers and it's still a fantastic keyboard.

 

I purchased it from eBay (yeah, i know..), from a good seller. He told me his thinkpads are brand new from an International company who dischart some and resell to him for a cheap price.

Don't get me wrong, the computer quality and performance are perfect, it's just this detail. Maybe when I send to SAT for the screen they can replace te KB, as it has also some weird tact with the "4" key, dunno.

Anyway the final price for me its too good (500 euros tax-free/3 yr. warranty) for returning it for this detail.

here's one pic

that's all I wanted to hear... xD

 

This is exactly what it should look like, I can't tell what the issue with it is from this pic?

 

I would call it printing, not stickers. It's the same on my T420s and, after 6 months, the "A" is looking the worse for wear. presumably caught by a finger-nail.

John

 

Yeah, basically every TP keyboard I've ever seen is made like this. Heck, the only keyboards I've seen not made like this are some backlit keyboards which use clear keys and black paint instead of said "stickers".

 

those aren't stickers.   (same goes for ZaZ's system. )   it's a spot-UV coating printed over the white letters to mitigate wear.

this has been the process used on thinkpad keyboards for nearly 20 years.   the coating used on some keyboards is more pronounced than others.

it's nothing to worry about.

"falsificated" isn't a word, btw.   i think you mean "falsified".

 

Thanks for the info. But my father's t400 just looks a lot 'cleaner', that coating isn't noticeable at all.

Sorry for the 'falsified' thing.. Again I'm not an english speaker

 

your english is far better than my spanish—especially since i studied japanese and french.

your father's T400 might have a keyboard from a different supplier than your T420.   current thinkpads use keyboards contracted out to NMB, chicony, and alps.   each have unique characteristics, including the color of ink and thickness of UV coating printed on the keys.   for example, the ink used on NMB keys is slightly yellow compared to alps and chicony which are both more white.   it's difficult to tell from a photo but i'd be inclined to say yours might be an NMB.

either way, your system is legitimate.

 

Really? I didn't know that is still true. How do you tell them apart? Is the NMB keyboard still considered the best and does it still have the blue cushion color underneath?

 

The ALPS definitely feels the same as the previous ALPS... and I still don't like it.

Mine is ALPS and has white rubber domes. My friend's T510 has red domes, and feels different.

 

NMB keyboards use red pads on the new large escape/delete design.   that might explain why you like your friend's kb better.

older NMB kbs used blue pads except for the X300/X301 which used red pads.   all X300/X301 KBs were NMB.

 

Well, they sure look like stickers.

 

So what are grey pads on the T/X*20 board design? Chicony? ALPS?

 

if memory serves; gray are usually chicony, white are usually alps.

 

Huh. I didn't know that there was a pad color differentiation between the two. Good to know, thanks!

Which then leads me to ask "Wait, all three still make ThinkPad keyboards?!" I could've sworn one of them was dropped, but I guess not.

 

three FRUs; three manufacturers: Keyboard service parts - ThinkPad X220, X220i

 

Right you are. Dunno where I got that idea. Glad to see that all three are still in use, as I happen to really like Chicony boards.