ThinkPad T400 and T500 Keyboard Stiffness: Myth Busted
September 3, 2008
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When we did our quick review of the ThinkPad T400 and T500 a couple of weeks back we were impressed by the usual outstanding build quality that this latest incarnation of the T Series displayed.
We were particularly impressed with the keyboard, which for us, has always been one of the most important features of any ThinkPad. Typing on a ThinkPad keyboard has always been a joy and it has been a feature that most other manufacturers just dont seem to be able to get close to.
In other words, ThinkPad keyboards are just the best of any notebook, period!
We started to get concerned when we saw posts appearing on several blogs that the keyboard on the new ThinkPad T400/T500 was not as good as previous models and had a lot of flex.
We just did not think this was true and it seems that David Hill from http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/ was also concerned. Well, he would be, he is one of the lead designers at Lenovo and has a hand in making sure that all is well with traditional ThinkPad values!
You can read David’s full post here, and it debunks the myth that the keyboard on the latest ThinkPad T series is not as good as the T61.
http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=228
Thanks David, keep up the good work!
Sorry but that’s just a marketing spin.
Take a look at the forums of avid thinkpad users. They are ALL saying this new keyboard sucks and not on par with the thinkpad line.
It is obvious that Lenovo made a huge mistake on this one. I wanted to get the T400 and now i’ll wait until they fix it (if ever).
Keyboard quality IS EVERYTHING for thinkpad users and Lenovo should not have touched it. Period.
I studied this issue intensely before finally deciding, largely on the strength of the above article, to go ahead and buy a T400 anyway, and here’s my take:
About 90% of the T400 keyboard is just as good as the T42 (which was rock solid). However, the right edge of the keyboard (not the keys themselves so much as the frame holding the keyboard) has a fair amount of flex. I would say my touch is lighter than average, and even so, when I hit the ENTER key with my little finger, I can feel the keyboard flex, and I can see the PgUp and PgDn keys (in the upper right) wiggle. There is also a noticeable noise (somewhere between a tap, a knock, a rattle and a clunk) , presumably relating to the flexing of the keyboard frame, or possibly from it hitting whatever is below the frame) when tapping any of those keys, which you don’t get on any of the other keys in the center or left area of the keyboard.
For the ENTER key, it’s not horrible, but I would consider it a defect (especially since that is one of the most used keys).
But in the case of the PgUp and PgDn keys, which I often use for paging rapidly through large documents, I would have to consider it horrible. Again, I’m not pounding on them like a hammer, I’m just putting my little finger on one of them and tapping it rapidly, and it not only makes a considerable racket (noticeable by co-workers yards away), but I can see the entire upper right area of the keyboard flexing, from the 0 number key to the right shift, and everything to the right above it.
On the other hand, there may be a simple solution - adding some kind of support to the upper right corner of the keyboard frame. Note that the problem does not occur any any of the other corners - either the arrow keys in the lower right, the ESC in the upper left, or the Fn/Ctrl in the lower left.
I don’t fault Lenovo for trying to make the keyboard lighter, and if they can fix this one issue, I would consider it a success. Until then, I can’t recommend it.
Jack, thanks for your comments. As a user and somebody who took the plunge and bought a new T Series they are incredibly valuable.
Apologies for the delay in moderating your post. We have been disconcerted by the reports of sub standard keyboards on the new T Series.
Our own experience just have not born this out. My own particular machine is an IBM ThinkPad Z60m with a Titanium lid, and its built like a tank. Rock solid and with a great keyboard. Nothing on this baby flexes!
(It is due for retirement, and it will be replaced with a brand new ThinkPad T500)
Compared to this the new ThinkPad T Series are much lighter. In fact they shave off about 6 oz from the T61, but they just feel they same rock solid build and to be frank, we love the keyboard.
Feels just as good as any ‘IBM’ ThinkPad that we still have knocking around.
Personal view? We love the new ThinkPad T400 and the T500, and believe that Lenovo have done a great job, keyboard and all.
However, we will be making sure that they see all of this feedback so that they can continue to assess it.
Ian Orford, Editor - ThinkPadToday.com
I placed an order for a T400 w/discrete one week ago. After extensive reviews, i decided to not let the keyboard complaints phase me at all, because should i be dissatisfied with the keyboard flex, it costs about $80 to order an official Chicony keyboard which is found on previous Z and T models, has the same fittings and is easy to put in place.
The reason they managed to shave off weight is that if you take the keyboard out and compare it to the older models, there are holes drilled all over the backplate. If it’s a big problem just replace the keyboard itself… remember… one of the beauties of the Thinkpad is that it’s so modular and upgradable.
notebookreview.com’s review of the T400 takes the keyboard right out and has photographs of backplate in comparison to older models.
Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Tony
Hi Tony, thanks for your comments. They bring some sanity to the discussion when after all the ThinkPad T400 and T500 are superb notebooks and deserve the great reviews they have had.
Let us know what you think of the T400 with the exisiting keyboard and whether or not you decide to change it.
Cheers, Ian Orford Editor - ThinkPadToday.com