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    flimsy plastics

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by zb32, Oct 4, 2007.

  1. zb32

    zb32 Newbie

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    Hi, guys,

    I read some posts on these forums about thinkpads having flimsy plastics and some recommended to tighten screws on the back.
    I just did that, and it changes nothing. Plastics on the sides of the keyboard and also hand rest area slightly gives and creaks when I put my hands on it. I'm not applying any pressure, mere touching it. It feels very cheap.
    Also when I close the screen it doesn't lock tightly, there's a fair amound of play, not to mention the battery that has by far the most play.

    For those who has experienced this problem, does it get worse? I'm a bit disappointed, since everyone spoke so highly of thinkpad quality, and I was willing to pay premium for something I don't seem to get.

    thanks in advance
     
  2. Macpod

    Macpod Connoisseur

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    have you compared it to other notebooks?
     
  3. Dr.Sam Poni

    Dr.Sam Poni Notebook Guru

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    Same observations here. Lenovo calles the plastic a 'skin' to go over the sturdy metallic frame, thats why it is so flimsy and thin. I am glad I didn't pay a premium price.
    I think my thinkpad is actually only worth about $900 compared to a similarly configured Dell Vostro 1500 (which is like $800). I ended up paying 1100, so I lost 200 bucks.
    Oh well, so much for the IBM name.
     
  4. eyecon82

    eyecon82 Notebook Deity

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    compare it to any other notebook at that price and you will see thinkpads are the best...yes they are cheaper in quality than they were while under IBM...but still the best
     
  5. Rorschach

    Rorschach Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    The vostro was one of the first notebooks i had ordered....they sent me a big black brick thats all I can say. Lenovo has taken very good care of me.
     
  6. zb32

    zb32 Newbie

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    Can anyone post a picture, of the t61p bottom?
    On mine, on the right side, right below the switch that releases the handle to pull out dvd, there appears to a place where a screw might be missing, the whole is a little larger than for other screws, but still, I can see the threads, but nothing screws into them.

    thanks,
     
  7. eyecon82

    eyecon82 Notebook Deity

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    ^^ that is normal...that is to lock it in place to prevent theft...do a search and you will see for yourself
     
  8. Tailic

    Tailic Notebook Deity

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    What you do is remove the wrist rests, just like adding ram and then replace and tighten the screws.

    Before I added my 2 gigs of ram my wrist rest was flimsy but after I replaced it the part had less give.

    I do agree that Lenovo needs to thicken up some of the skin around the notebook though.
     
  9. Rorschach

    Rorschach Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    ; ; forget thicker plastic.....better vents please.
     
  10. eyecon82

    eyecon82 Notebook Deity

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    ^^ they also need a new 'screw man' as he/she sucks...all my screws were loose on my notebook which resulted in massive creaking...i made a seperate thread about it..called "lose screws!!!!!!" so do a search for those with creaking problems still
     
  11. eyecon82

    eyecon82 Notebook Deity

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    i think their vents are more than adequete..my notebook never gets beyond warm....i also love how they dont have a fan on the bottom, this way we can settle the comps on bedsheets without problems
     
  12. Rorschach

    Rorschach Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Thats just it though thats the only one ; ;. If you look at those other vents they are all covered from the inside. Not saying they are bad, just saying could be better and it wouldn't be very hard to do.
     
  13. martynas

    martynas Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    you REALLY should look into hp 65XXp/w, 69XXp/w or hp 85XXp/w series...

    EDIT: there were 2 reasons why I bought IBM: 1) brainwashed from childhood (that's why I wanted thinkpad with IBM logo); 2) keyboard with [home/end/pg up/pg down keys/del/ins] in right places.
     
  14. Gilliann

    Gilliann Notebook Consultant

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    I was about to pull the trigger on a t61p but I was at circuit city yesterday and they had a slightly older T60 on the floor and I wasn't really that impressed the plastics did indeed feel cheap the trackpoint buttons were all loose. It just didnt feel right, I'm gonna go with dell instead its a few hundred cheaper and they feel just as cheap in terms of quality to me, I may as well pay less for the same quality, now... if only dell's 8600m had gdrr3 =p
     
  15. ari_m

    ari_m Notebook Consultant

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    LOL! That's pretty much my story as well. Lenovo knew what they were doing when the licensed the *@#&! logo! :D

    And I totally agree about HP. I think the ergonomics of Lenovo are second to none (great keyboard, good trackpoint, 3rd mouse button, comfy wrist rest...) but in overall build quality it's not the best. (Now, don't even start to tell me all about the titanium/platinum/uridium roll cage, I don't plan on driving over my T61 with a motorcycle anyway...)
     
  16. jor

    jor Notebook Evangelist

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    AMEN to you brother
     
  17. sp00n

    sp00n Notebook Deity

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    but but but...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taTbJi3Yhto
     
  18. president!

    president! Notebook Guru

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    My T61 is by far the most solidly built and sturdiest notebook I've ever seen. I've tested the entire system for flex, and the lone spot I find it is on the far left palmrest above the smartcard reader. Which I would hardly call a design flaw. Terrific notebook, and anyone who has complaints about this design simply has unrealistic standards.
     
  19. jor

    jor Notebook Evangelist

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    i am typing on my squeaking t61: you serious??
     
  20. Dr.Sam Poni

    Dr.Sam Poni Notebook Guru

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    Sorry for hijacking this thread but can somebody please tell me (us?) where the fan is located in the T61 if not on the bottom???

    Thanks
     
  21. kns

    kns Notebook Evangelist

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    My T61 palm rest area feels really cheap: very hollow and the plastic feels very thin, so thin that it depresses when I just lightly press it, and it feels like if I knock it a bit stronger the plastic will break a big hole there. When I tap the area with my nail it also sounds very cheap, hollow and thin. Did this use to be the case with IBM previous models?
     
  22. ponicg

    ponicg Notebook Consultant

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    I just got a T61 14" widescreen from work... and while it's a bit weird getting used to the widescreen - the machine is as solidly built as my T40, and T60, and T60p. It's perfect in every aspect. There's even less screen-flex than on my old T40(push on the back of the screen and watch your fingers appear on the LCD) and it's as solid and non-squeky as ever.
     
  23. Dr.Sam Poni

    Dr.Sam Poni Notebook Guru

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    Bump!!! Can someone please answer my question about the location of the fan in T61 15.4 widescreen?
    Thanks
     
  24. n1hilist

    n1hilist Notebook Consultant

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    The vent's for the fan are on the top left area of the notebook and I imagine the fan is somewhere near there :)

     
  25. Daniel L

    Daniel L Notebook Guru

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    The right wristrest area of my T61P squeaks like crazy. I've taken it apart to try and fix it but it still squeaks. I barely have to place my hand on it to feel it flex and squeak. There was no problem like this with my T42P.
     
  26. Tailic

    Tailic Notebook Deity

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    Sounds like a defective part if you ask me, I would ask tech support to send me a new palm rest. If that doesn't stop the squeaking then you might need to send it back to be repaired.

    Squeaking isn't normal, the only thing that makes noise thats normal is a some creaks if you apply pressure to the corners of the plastic (corners of the touchpad).