X230t first impressions? Fail. Build quality issues

[hp79]

I feel sorry for you man. I don't think X220T had this "standing on 3 feet" problem. You shouldn't be worried about the 15% restocking fee at all. Lenovo is pretty generous about returns and repairs, you can easily convince Lenovo sales/tech support that the screen backlight is leaking and you don't pay for restocking fee. Same goes for Dell too in my experience. Both have good services. I wish Lenovo did a better job on this tablet. I'm waiting for MS Surface Pro, but a new Thinkpad tablet also attracts (or should I say 'attracted') me mainly because the normal voltage cpu and good cooling system.

http://quotesnack.com/g-k-chesterton/the-way-to-love-anything-is-to-realize-that-it-might-be-lost/

[Mark_Lenovo Administrator]

All,

Many thanks to XThinkpaduser for sharing his concerns and letting us have a look at his system.  

We compared his system to several other X230t and X220t tablet systems equipped with 6 cell batteries and noted that when the LCD is tilted more than 90 degrees away from the user, the combination of the cantilevered weight of the LCD and the asymetric footprint of the 6 cell battery creates a condition in which weight is shifted away from the right front corner, unloading the rubber foot.

Pressing on the right front corner of the palmrest shifts weight back to that corner, compressing the rubber foot and creating some downward movement (rocking of the system).   This creates the perception that something is not right with the chassis - that it might be somehow warped.

The system has 2 feet on the front and one on the left rear (appears to be on the right when the system is turned over as shown in the photo above).  The 6 cell battery is thicker and has two rubber feet of it's own and because the battery does not span the full width (would block the air vents) of the system, the foot in the left rear is not as close to the edge of the system as the one attached to the base cover as seen above.

In contrast, the 3 cell battery fits flush with the bottom of the system and only has 1 foot attached to it, and this foot is set at the same height as the one on the other corner of the system.  With the 3 cell installed, all 4 feet contacting the desk are near the corners of the system and are symetrical.  With the 3 cell, the same system feels solid and no movement can be perceived pressing on any of the corners.

Even with the 6 cell, while I can reproduce the effect deliberately, I found that in normal use with my palms resting on the system and typing, no rocking or movement was noticed.

So, the chasis is not warped and this is not a manufacturing defect - this is simply an aspect of the 6 cell battery and the overall system mechanical design.

I noted the comment that this extra thickness on the 6 cell battery is caused by the hollow section.   I inquired with our tablet engineer as to the purpose of this extra thickness.  He explained that it served several purposes from a design standpoint and was a deliberate consideration.

1) We found that many users of X41t / X60t / X61t / X200t / X201t systems with extended 8 or 9 cell batteries would grab the battery and use it to lift the system. (I have an older tablet and do this myself)   This behavior placed additional stress on the latches and across the battery case.   The new 6 cell design on X220t and X230t is hollow to save weight, but is fully gusseted to be extremely rigid and spreads the load (when lifting the system by the battery) across a much broader area of the base cover.  This makes the design more rugged.

2) Ergonomics.  When carried like a book, the rounded edge and thicker profile fit better in the user's hand than earlier designs.

So, if you want a thin system that sits flush on the desk, I would recommend opting for the 3 cell.   If you carry the system around (not in a bag or case) and need additional run time and appreciate a bit of a better grip while carrying the system, I think the 6 cell makes sense.   While you can demonstrate this slight movement at the right front corner, I don't think you will notice it while typing on the system or using it under real world conditions.  In fact, as I looked at different systems, I had to ensure there was no paper on the desk in order to reproduce the effect.  Even a sheet of paper or two would mask the effect.

Best regards,

Mark

[Volodia]

"Even with the 6 cell, while I can reproduce the effect deliberately, I found that in normal use with my palms resting on the system and typing, no rocking or movement was noticed."

Well, I think that the normal use consists of lowering and lifting the hands on-and-off the palm rest, so any "moves" or "warping" etc of the chasis are definitely not a normal behaviour. As I understand the other users, the problem appears exactly because of the fact, that user in NOT continuously pressing the palm rest to the table.

Next, I'd like to note, that I have x200t system since 2009 and I'm continuously grabing it by-the-battery (that is normal and ONLY possible method of grabing the x200t when using in tablet mode) and never had any problem regarding roughness. The desing is OK as it was, so it is clear, that you try to find explanation for a evident flaw in construction.

I really don't understand, why Lenovo from model to model (x200t, x201t, x220t and x230t) is decreasing the quality of the product, whilst trying to cheat users by using slogans like "precision keybord" or trying to convince us, that all this is made for the benefit of the users. This is main reason, why I'm not changing the system from old good x200t, just made all possible upgrades incl. SSD drive, but hesitating over the risk of getting unknown quality.

I hoped this overall global trend of producing single use goods designed for limited period of use will not be followed by Lenovo, but we all see, that it is followed. Bad thing, we all do not have any alternative, as other laptop producers are even worse.

We all also see, that the perfect gained-and-built over the years opinion on the Thinkpad line of laptops is step-by-step, model-to-model disassembled by degrading the quality and taking awareness only on the profit of the firm. I foresee, if things will still go on like this, in two-three years time, this opinion will only be a reminiscense.

V.

[Bobo03]

Wow. I was set on the x230t for grad school, but this doesn't look good. My x200t didn't have any rock to it and I wish I had kept it. Might just have to buy a 2009 computer off eBay since the brand new units can't sit on 4 feet. I'm sorry but for $1600 I want my laptop to feel sturdy and pretty much expect it. I would consider any rocking movement when your palms aren't on it to be a problem. Man this sucks. I don't want a Mac laptop, but Lenovo is the only of brand I would consider and now that is questionable.

[Mark_Lenovo Administrator]

Bobo03,

I would strongly suggest you  find a X220t or X230t and try it out in person and try to use it and decide if this is truly a a real world concern for you.  If you want to avoid the 6 cell battery, then you might consider the 3 cell as I noted above or consider a non-tablet version of the X230 as it used a different battery and mechanical design altogether.

EDIT - I'll ammend my original comment - the X220 and X230 (non tablet) 6 cell batteries are a different mechanical design, but do extend below the base line of the system, have their own feet that the system then rests on (instead of the read two feet of the base cover).  

Best regards,

Mark

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

it is funny that no one noticed this problem until one person reported, then everyone started to notice this problem.

I have also just noticed this issue occurring on my old X220t with the 6 cells, which i didn't really gave a second thought to for the past year when i was using this device.

[kvirtanen]

I can actually confirm Mark_Lenovo's findings on my X220T from February this year. When the screen is at a 90-degree angle, the foot on the right hand corner sits firmly on my table. Go beyond that, and you'll find that the foot will lift, and the flexible part in the middle of it is the only thing touching the table.

It doesn't, however, lift off of the table like in the photos in this thread; it only has less weight on it compared to the rest of the feet. In that sense the situation on my X220T isn't as pronounced.

I can slide a sheet of copy paper under it without much resistance, while in case of the other feet I can't. If I put the screen to a 90-degree angle (which I don't usually do since the screen isn't then facing me) I can't fit a paper sheet under the right hand side foot.

Maybe the OP should use sand paper to shave off some height from the right hand side foot on the battery No, not really, don't do it.

[Volodia]

Well, we will see, what JesseBAndersen will say...

V.

[ttran]

Hi all people,

This is super unfair for lenovo. I like lead_org said "it is funny that no one noticed this problem until one person reported, then everyone started to notice this problem."

I haven't seen anyone on earth would use the computer with >100 degree of screen, are your eyes mutated or some kind? I'm sorry to say this but this annoy me, poor for lenovo for having such customers, who is always get annoyed with **bleep** mistake of the system that they created on their own

If those of you who complain, go out there and find for me a system that is run quiet, cool with the high cpu speed and decent graphic for games at low setting. Stop complaining and appreciate what you are holding on your hand. I agree that you can have a different system  with much higher spec regarding GPU for example, but check the temperature and the noise of the system and let me know if they annoy you or not, I might have a prize for you if you can find such a perfect system. Those of you who keep concerning basically trying to reject the law of physics.

"WHY DONT YOU THROW YOUR LAPTOP TO A HIGHWAY AND HAVE IT CRASHSED AND COME BACK AND COMPLAIN THAT IT IS NOT ROCK SOLID", go try it people, this is exactly the same thing )

[XThinkpadUser]

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ttran wrote:

...
I haven't seen anyone on earth would use the computer with >100 degree of screen, are your eyes mutated or some kind? I'm sorry to say this but this annoy me, poor for lenovo for having such customers...

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Ttran: