T420 DVD eject button - terrible placement; driving me insane

[Iucounu]

I'm also having terrible trouble with the T420 DVD drive popping open.  I tried the Toddler Keys kludge and it didn't work (properly speaking, it worked only once to disable the door during testing, and after re-enabling the door, changing the Toddler Keys settings did nothing).

The design of this DVD door and button is poor beyond belief.  It sticks out so that whenever the side of the laptop gently brushes against anything, the door pops open.

With the extremely poor implementation of the touchpad, I am bordering on wishing that I chose a different model.  All Lenovo would have to do is have actual users use their produts in testing to realize such glaring flaws.

[JameZ]

@All,

We are currently discussing the options for this with the engineers in Japan. Appreciate everyone's patience on this.

//JameZ

[jthao]

We're seeing the same issue on our T420's as well. It's very annoying. A simple re-design similar to the T400 is all that's needed but a software fix would be helpful, too. A quick resolution to this issue is much needed.
....

[NCGooner]

The CEO of my company just opened a ticket for this same issue.  Any word on a fix for this?  I can't come back to him with an answer that it is poor placement...get used to it....and I think installing toddlerkeys would be an insult to him.  

[Iucounu]

---

JameZ wrote:
@All,

We are currently discussing the options for this with the engineers in Japan. Appreciate everyone's patience on this.

//JameZ

---

JameZ, any word on when this might be fixed?  Thanks for your time.

[biznatch]

I have a T420 and a W520 and have this issue with both, I would also like some news about a possible fix.  Maybe they'll ship everyone a new drive!  Unlikely...  The double tap to open would I guess work, although I use Windows and Ubuntu so I hope whatever the solution is, it's not Windows only.

[JameZ]

@All,

The team are still discussing on the options on how to prevent the DVD rom from opening if the eject button was accidentally pressed.

//JameZ

[ozphoenix]

Count me as another - love the T420 -- hate the DVD popping open all the time

[ozphoenix]

Tried several DVD locks (on Win 7 64-bit):

Toddler Keys

Child Lock

CDLocker

Child Proof

No joy - door opens with slightest bump of the door switch - and sometimes (I think) when no hands are near it

[CorkyG]

Been following this thread with interest. The optical drive release on the 410/510 series was very secure - impossible to release accidentally. It requires that all cables be disconnected and the laptop turned over. Then one had to push on two separate buttons at the same time in different directions. This illustrates:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Corky-G/510latch.jpg

Perhaps Lenovo received complaints that it was too difficult. I like it just fine. Too bad they improved the design. BTW - the best release was on the T60/61 series.