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Author Topic: Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?  (Read 2701 times)

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Offline nerp

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Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« on: Fri, 13 March 2009, 19:57:37 »
I decided I had finally had enough with my hot, heavy but reliable Compaq C500 laptop (thing weighs like 8lbs and has a big 15.4 screen) and it was time to upgrade to a small and convenient 13 inch laptop. My Compaq has been a good workhorse for me (you can tell how much I've used it based on the wear on the plastic) but I'm tired of lugging this tank around and sitting through painfully slow performance with its Celeron processor.

So I settled on the Thinkpad SL300 for a few reasons. One, I wanted a Thinkpad. Two, it's affordable. Three, it seems the compromises to get the price low aren't a big deal for me. I expect slightly lower build quality than other Thinkpad models for the price, so I don't need scolding.

So here's my obvious question? How's the keyboard on these Thinkpads? From what I understand, the keyboard on the SL300 is the same as other thinkpads. I've read several times that Thinkpads basically have the best boards in the laptop business. Is this really true? Anyone here have the same model I ordered? How is it for serious writing? I really hope the keyboard is pleasant to use.

Thanks!
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Offline bhtooefr

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Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 13 March 2009, 20:08:24 »
I'm not sure about the SL300, but ThinkPad keyboards are traditionally the best in the business, and have been for many years, and my X61t's board is quite good.

The HMM for the SL300 says that the keyboard part number is 42T3869 or 42T3803. Based on my Googling, that's only shared with the SL400 and SL500... I doubt it'll be BAD quality, but it might be slightly off of what the other models have.
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Offline patrickgeekhack

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Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 13 March 2009, 22:38:19 »
ThinkPad has for a long time considered to be among the best, if not the best, when it comes to laptop keyboards. I don't know about the newer ones. I have not used one. What I can say though is that the MacBook keyboard is also among the best: no keyboard flex at all.
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Offline eugenius

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Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 14 March 2009, 10:00:31 »
The macbook keyboard doesn't get to flex at all because it's fixed in metal.

Still, keyboard flex doesn't bother me at all in a keyboard, it's more a quality indicator of the construction. The key feel, the layout and the size are what counts.

The SL300 doesn't have the normal thinkpad keyboard layout, I think it's another keyboard altogether. Still, you can't assume it's bad. :)

And about keyboard and thinkpad flex in the t400 (which is THE laptop to have now - all the options you would ever need like switchable graphics, humoungous battery life with the extended battery), please watch this video, to see a level of flex I didn't think was possible in a thinkpad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8sOO-8LP4E

Lenovo now basically have two lines of separate levels of quality, there's the x200s, x200t and x300/301 that are a cut above all the rest. True thinkpads.

The price you pay for this quality is (like in the old days) steep.
An x301/x200t is double the price of a t400.
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Offline rnak92a

  • Posts: 50
Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 14 March 2009, 10:28:02 »
Quote from: eugenius;24460
The macbook keyboard doesn't get to flex at all because it's fixed in metal.

Still, keyboard flex doesn't bother me at all in a keyboard, it's more a quality indicator of the construction. The key feel, the layout and the size are what counts.

The SL300 doesn't have the normal thinkpad keyboard layout, I think it's another keyboard altogether. Still, you can't assume it's bad. :)

And about keyboard and thinkpad flex in the t400 (which is THE laptop to have now - all the options you would ever need like switchable graphics, humoungous battery life with the extended battery), please watch this video, to see a level of flex I didn't think was possible in a thinkpad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8sOO-8LP4E

Lenovo now basically have two lines of separate levels of quality, there's the x200s, x200t and x300/301 that are a cut above all the rest. True thinkpads.

The price you pay for this quality is (like in the old days) steep.
An x301/x200t is double the price of a t400.


As an owner of a T400 (built December 29, 2008), I'm happy to report that my keyboard doesn't flex at all (it's a T6x KB), the plastics are sound and don't flex, creak, bounce, rattle, chatter, or anything else, the ThinkLight doesn't blind me, and the 14.1" LED Samsung LCD is as clean, crisp, and bright as a person could want.  The machine's integrated camera is another matter, as all subjects/objects have a yellowish tint, but I don't use the camera anyway.  I also own a T60/p (built 5/2007) and the T400 is every bit the ThinkPad the T60/p is.  If you can find a T400 at a good price, I'd not hesitate to buy it.  

I'll also add that no matter what else is available in the marketplace, it's not a ThinkPad. Though some complain about Lenovo's build quality, shipping practices, etc., you'll still not find a better notebook at any price.

Cheers,
~rn
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Offline iMav

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Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 14 March 2009, 10:39:11 »
Personally, rank the thinkpad keyboards right behind the Macbook keyboards.  But the thinkpad gains some points by having a trackpoint.  :)

I loved the keyboard on my X60s...however, no laptop keyboard I have ever typed on has been better than the three Macbooks I've owned (original Macbook, blackbook, and current aluminum model).  

Of course, I almost always plug in an external when at home or at another fixed location (hotel room desk. for example).
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Offline cchan

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Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 14 March 2009, 19:52:24 »
I have to disagree with iMav there. I really prefer my X60's keyboard to my sister's girlfriend's Macbook's keyboard (late '07 C2D model). But that could be (a) because of the TrackPoint or (b) because that Macbook's board is grody-ass because Amy's gf doesn't know how to keep her computers clean.
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Offline itlnstln

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Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 15 March 2009, 08:24:43 »
Quote
because that Macbook's board is grody-ass because Amy's gf doesn't know how to keep her computers clean.


That's always a killer.  Somebody could have the greatest keyboard ever made on their desk, and would never know, 'cause I am not sticking my fingers in someone else's 'board chow.
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Offline eugenius

  • Posts: 109
Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 15 March 2009, 17:06:54 »
It's a known fact that the average keyboard has more bacteria, microbes etc. than the average toilet seat ... :)
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Offline itlnstln

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Just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad SL300. Keyboard quality?
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 16 March 2009, 07:12:55 »
Quote from: eugenius;24557
It's a known fact that the average keyboard has more bacteria, microbes etc. than the average toilet seat ... :)


/me not suprised.  

A lot of keyboards around my office look like people used them to wipe their a*s.  Not mine, of course :)
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