yes i love my IBM, but.....

I have to say I love my IBM, BUT the lack of documentation in the box really annoyed me. I only discovered yesterday I have an inbuilt microphone (through interfearnce with my DV-tv) and a "keyboard" light on the top of my screen.

 

Everything is online.

 

Your laptop didn't come with a mini-poster showing all the features on your system? Odd...mine did...

 

I agree...it would have been nice to have a better manual with the laptop. But like John B said, everything is online.
Tim

 

No, they don't. I wish they would provide at least some info in PDF format in the preload. What they really need to update is the info on their docks and their capabilities

 

I too received the mini-poster on how the T61 is configured ; but would have been nice to have something that had a little bit more information than the poster. Nice that they have all the online documentation, sometimes it is more convenient to grab a little manual ....

 

yap, i'm also shipped with the mini poster. Kind of roughly explain what you have on your computer.

 

Actually, there is probably more information on thinkpads than any other machine made. It's part of the IBM tradition.

 

Renee should know, she's torn hers down to the bare metal

There's some doco in the box but an excruciating amount of detail online with the Hardware Maintenance Manual and other items. Plus, with every accessory, there's a full support page and associated documentation. It may take a little digging, but there's mounds of documentation out there, free for the taking.

 

As people have stated there is an abundance of information online. The ThinkPad Hardware Maintenance Manuals are the best I have seen from a notebook manufacturer.

For your purpose though, it seems no one has suggested the obvious and most easily accessible documentation.

Assuming your ThinkPad is still like it came from the factory when it comes to the ThinkVantage tools, go to the ThinkVantage program group and take a look at 'Access Help' and 'Help Center'. Here you will probably find more information than you need.

 

I agree. Thinkpads really give out a lot of informaiton, especially the Hardware Maintenance Manuals.

 

Although I do agree that a hardcopy of a manual would be nice, the thinkvantage suite was pretty simple enough to figure out....have you found out about the easy eject feature yet?

 

I agree that it's great that most of the information can be found online. However, being a new Thinkpad owner (X61), I sometimes find it difficult navigating the IBM/Lenovo site. For instance, I still don't know what the little "Z" icon by my battery light is (i'm assuming it's the powerd on light) or why there is a little dot with 2 "holes" right above the thinkpad logo in the corner. Is it suppose to be a mic? (tried to record sound and pretty sure it's not) Also, I've done some searching and can't find an answer, I know I can do the easy eject with my dock, but can I just put it in sleep or hibernate to dock it? Do I have to actually shut it down all the way or can I just pop it in there when it's on?

 

The 2 Dots are the microphone for the computer, that Z, good question didn't think to look that up but ill get back at you when I find what it is.

 

See I thought it was a mic too, but I tried to use sound recordered and got nothing. Also, I'm pretty sure it has a spill resistant keyboard, but haven't found anything on it. Not something I'd like to find out unless I really needed to.

 

Wait, I'm blind, I see on the website about them having spill resistant keyboards.

 

Look at the bottom of the keyboard, there are 2 holes w/ water droplets and keyboard sign for the spill proof

 

I think the Z icon is to let you know when your computer is processing something,

 

Again, as I suggested in my first post, look at the available documentation (Access Help and Help Center) that came loaded on your ThinkPad.

It seems people have not understood that the information I am referring to, is available on the notebook itself and not online.

To list an example, I have attached a screenshot from my X61 documentation, which informs you about i.e. the so-called "2 holes".

 

There's the like cylinder thing with the arrows next to that which is for that. (I think)

 

It simply means 'Power on'. Again this information is available in the documentation I referred to previously.

The "cylinder thing" is the harddisk indicator or "drive in use" indicator as Lenovo states.

 

People suddenly went all quiet. I trust you found a lot of useful information in the Access Help and Help Center documentation?

 

Ya I got it, thanks for the headsup and information JabbaJabba.

 

Well guys, thanks for all your posts.

I still think the need for a printed, easy-to-read manuals should be included. I mean, you dont buy a television and expect to have to go online to find out about its features.

My Optima desktop came with a very detailed manual which I loved.

And as one user said, sometimes its quick and easier to refer to a manual. Especially if your pulling the machine part and need to have pictorial diagrams!

I guess its a matter of opinion.

Happy New Year Guys!

 

I always enjoy unpacking a new computer, device, toy, whatever then powering it on and figuring it out on the fly w/o reading any manuals at all. I've got an insane curiosity for toying with things to see if the designer/engineer responsible for the device actually thought the product's design and implementation through in a logical and sensible manner.

 

If you are disassembling your ThinkPad and need to have a paper manual for this purpose - it is easily possible.

1) Download the Hardware Maintenance Manual which comes in PDF format.

2) Simply print the sections you need or the full thing.

As I mentioned earlier, the Hardware Maintenance Manual is by far the best and most comprehensive (pictorial) documentation I have encountered for a notebook. Luckily these are made for your ThinkPad.

 

LOL that made me think of my missus. She does the exact same thing with "Do It Your Self" furniture.
Then she yells at me when it isnt working, or going together properly!

 

"I always enjoy unpacking a new computer, device, toy, whatever then powering it on and figuring it out on the fly w/o reading any manuals at all."

Obviously a future developer. Docsets are kept pristine in their original Cellophane wrappers.

 

lol.. me too. I was so excited with my x61. I took pictures of me unpacking it

It's just so exhilarating to unpack a new laptop. I get crazy all the time. from my new printer, my ipod to my first laptop (HP dv6000t).