t400 keyboard question please

I bought this really very excellent machine 11 months ago, love the screen, runs perfectly well, and I'm not the least sorry with my choice...

...but, and I knew this when I bought it, at the keyboard in the lower right, under the ThinkPad logo, it is not firm or even (now) at the same height as the other side, and despite all intellectualizing that it is No Big Deal, still, it bugs me every day that my hands-wrists-arms are not at the same level when typing.

...so, I'm wondering if there is anything to be done, like take it to some guy with tools who could stuff that corner with something?

Any other obsessives out there who have found a solution? Thanks!

 

is it an individual defect or the whole product line? maybe a picture would be nice.

 

Hi keltix - as far as I know it's across the product line and much discussed even before I bought it. If you do a search here for 't400 keyboard flex' you'll see many comments. I don't know if the new models have been improved or if anyone has found a fix. Thanks for your consideration.

 

oh sorry yea im familiar with the keyboard flex, i just thought you meant that your palm rest was lopsided (thought you meant the logo on bottom right palm rest).

if u did mean the keyboard flex, the only solution is to buy an older t61 keyboard.

 

They have reinforced the keyboard, but it's still not as firm as the older ones. The solution as noted is to replace the keyboard.

 

You can also try placing mounting tape (slightly thicker tape) under the area(s) that flexes. Fixed the flex on my X200s (Esc/F1, and middle-click button regions) that way.

 

Thank you all for your replies.

wolssiloa - sorry, I'm not picturing how to do what you're suggestion. Do you take some screws off, the keyboard section is revealed and it is obvious where to put the tape? I've got it worst under the middle-cleck area and under the logo but not at all under esc/f1 so I guess there is some variation.

Thanks again.
(The keys in general don't 'click' as nicely as the older ones but that I think is a different matter.)

 

Yes just remove the screws for the keyboard, and slide the keyboard out. The tape I used is not double-sided, but it is white-colored and thicker than scotch (transparent) tape; not sure what it's called. I placed two strips under the affected areas (on the computer frame itself, not on the underside of the keyboard). There's black frame under the keyboard that you can stick it on. It worked for the two problem areas on my keyboard. You can give it a try...can't hurt. The flex on my keyboard caused loud clicking noises. And now the keyboard really is close to perfect as you can get. Hope that helps!

 

Perfect wolssiloa, thanks so much for the detailed reply - I'm shopping for that tape tomorrow and I'm going to give it a go.

 

ClarePenn, okay, please keep us updated.

 

OK, so effectively you guys are all saying I should be going to the local hardware store to buy double sided foam tape to handyman patch up my notebook? You guys talk as if this is a no brainer and see nothing wrong with this whole scenario? This reminds me of a cheap wobbly table, and fixing the problem by shoving a quickly folded newspaper under one leg to stop it from shimmering.

 

everything's wrong with this scenario Hence the dozens of threads with people (me included) griping about the crappy quality flexy keyboard on the T400. Lenovo royally messed up what was one of the best laptop keyboards IMO. Mine bounces like a trampoline on the left side and the "support" underneath it is laughable.

I ended up spending $30 for a T61 keyboard with a solid backplate. Arrives today.

 

Well if thats the case they should start offering optional double sided foam tape in the accessories list when ordering, along with the other optional essentials like an extended battery, port replicator and spare adapter. I'd be sure to keep a mental note to order that also next time so my palmrest isnt horribly loose.

 

Yes we shouldn't have to play handyman to fix a problem that shouldn't exist in the first place, but when one is overseas and the local official Lenovo service center says they would have to order a new keyboard and cannot guarantee it would even fix the flexing problems, then there is no other choice. You just have to suck it up and do it yourself.. Sad but that is the reality of it. BTW the tape I used is just sticky on one side.

 

My T61 keyboard arrived and fixed the problem. No more flex! Got the NMB version on ebay for $30 shipped (in sealed box but slightly smelling of smoke!)

 

idea of 2nd hand keyboards are a little gross to me, duno wt the previous user touched.