My new T400

Here is a quick review, as I do not have much time:

Delivery was horrible (I had heard horror stories but didn't think I would be hit too!)
Final product: I love, superb, its THE laptop I have always wanted, bye bye D630!

Cons:
Keyboard has more flex then expected, alot more then an my D630, but the typing is very pleasant.

9 cell battery is lose when locked in, it wiggles a little bit... maybe a 1/16th of an inch of free space... I wedged a small piece of cardboard where there is only plastic and solved that problem for good.

Overall feeling: I'm eager to get Linux installed and working. I'm very happy with the new machine, albeit the few drawbacks.


I'll be back for more!

 

its its loose return it.

 

I don't think I have ever had a laptop that didn't have battery wiggle except maybe my old averatec. Glad you like everything else.

 

My T500 has no battery wiggle at all (fits surprisingly snuggly) while my dad's T60 has a lot of wiggle. Not too much you can do about it, unfortunately.

About the keyboard: if it bothers you, contact Lenovo support, and depending on how lucky you get, they may send you a replacement. If they do not, you can always eBay a replacement T60/T61 keyboard with the solid metal backing.

So I'm not the only one who had an Averatec and moved to a Thinkpad! I had a 2155-EH1 (2100 with a slightly better processor).

 

SO far so good.
The battery wiggle is not a problem to me, especially that I am easily able to fix that.
And the keyboard flex is not an annoyance, this is my first T serie and I was simply surprised to notice that the keyboard had more flex than my D630 after all the great reviews the t61 and t400 had gotten.

My biggest problem right now is getting the webcam to work properly in Linux :O

 

Mine died last summer (2008) but I didnt get the t400 til may this year. I too had a 2144 with an MT40 with the upgraded battery and I loved it. But I tried reformatting it in august 2008 and it died on me mid format. I do have to say I miss it alot since it was a sweet reliable laptop for ~3 years.

 

now that you have a t400,
you should change your signature!
hehe

 

welcome to the Thinkpad gang....

 

I thought Lenovo fixed the T400 flex problem...
This might bring some hesitation when I order one...

 

No keyboard is solid enough if one is fixated on finding flex on the keyboard... You can always bang it hard enough to create flex.

However, if the keyboard flexes when you type...then that's one serious problem. That's when your negociating skills will come in handy...I successfully requested keyboards for both myself and my friend from IBM.

 

Ya... Heard many people call in and getting T61 keyboards to replace the T400 keyboard.
About the wiggling of the battery... I wonder what the chances are...
Seriously giving thought to getting the T400...

 

Chances of a wiggling battery? Probably about 100%. It's nothing a little felt won't fix, though.

 

Really? Sigh...

 

It's really not anything I'd worry about, just a little something wedged in there will fix it. Like I mentioned, I use a bit of a sheet of self adhesive felt, and all is well.

Considering the overall build quality, it's well worth the tradeoff.

 

I mean if I'm spending $1000 on this thing... and it wiggles...

 

When I got to Best Buy and retail stores I love pressing down on the palmrest on all the consumer notebooks on display and noticing the thin plasti hollow undernearth flex. I think you should return it because keyboards on the T's like the palmrest don't flex plus you have battery wiggle. Can also disassemble it and reseat.