"Rollcage" feature makes substantial diference? [ Edited ]

[GMAC-R60 Retired Guru]

isn't this gray metal a roll cage http://www.lenovoservicetraining.com/ion/X220tablet/index.html

[kvirtanen]

Hmm.. mysterious indeed. If you refer to the silvery part, to me it looks like an EM-shield. Maybe to guard the digitzer from interference. Do they say that's the rollcage? I'd imagine it should be an integral part of the chassis, not a removable plate.

[kvirtanen]

I think it should look like this: http://hothardware.com/articleimages/Item1340/thinkpad-t400s-roll-cage.jpg

[kvirtanen]

I decided to watch the Complete system disassembly video of the X220 Tablet on LenovoServiceTraining.com (http://www.lenovoservicetraining.com/ion/X220tablet/index.html).

At some point of the videos they switch to the non-tablet, X220 laptop. :/ There seems to be a rollcage-like black subassembly. After a while they switch back to X220 Tablet — it also seems to have a similar black subassembly. It is nothing like the rollcage on the T400s I linked to above, though. I think they switch between models in the videos to save money — because the internals of X220 and X220T are almost identical, to an extent, of course.

Further in the videos they remove the assembly (after switching back to non-tablet X220) and it's thin, floppy plastic/metal — not the rollcage, obviously. Probably a heat sink of sorts, or just a cover for the internals.

EDIT: It's called the keyboard bezel, and for some reason a rollcage-like part on the T400s service pictures is also called keyboard bezel, even though it's a lot more than just a bezel. The major difference is, that on T400s it's solid, stiff metal and, to my untrained eye, could also work as a reinforcing rollcage.

Based on the service videos, I'd say the X220T — or X220 for that matter — doesn't have the kind of rollcage the T-series has (don't know about previous models though), like in the picture I linked to a couple of posts above. The machine seems to be solidly built though. Molded magnesium alloy, I guess. I recommend surfing through the service videos to find out if the construction is solid enough for you.

Now, I don't know what constitutes 'a rollcage' in Lenovo-terms (EDIT: I do now, see post below), but if the very sturdy-looking construction on the T400s pic above is one, the X220(T) doesn't have it. You can browse service videos on other models too (e.g. the T-models), and they clearly have a totally different construction. On some pictures, the rollcage-like feature is called "structure frame". There's no mention of such component on the X220(T) videos. In fact, I didn't find it from any of the X-series videos or pictures — maybe I'm missing something here? (EDIT: yes, I was, see post below)

As to why Lenovo is marketing the rollcage feature on the X220T, or X220, I don't know. Maybe the technology has changed, and the roll-cage is something hidden inside the casing (EDIT: it is, seriously, see post below), I'm no expert on the subject. It would not surprise me if the marketing team just wasn't aware of this specific detail when writing about it on the website.

Any arguments against this are most welcome.

BONUS: A video of what a rollcage looks like on the Thinkpad T400.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziWOEImJa0E

[kvirtanen]

It turns out it might have a new kind of rollcage after all. See the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tufw-AuSK0M

At the part where they show a see-through picture of the laptop's screen and wireless antennae, they seem to claim that the grid-like structure – also visible on GMAC's post — that's embedded inside the magnesium alloy case is the rollcage.

The video shows a laptop that also incorporates 'a structure frame', which, to my knowledge, the X-series models lack.

So there. X220T and X220 do have a rollcage, but it's very different from the separate 'structure frame' that I referred to in my post above. Maybe that's what GMAC was also referring to?

As to the original question — if it makes a difference — according to Lenovo it does, and they seem to be proud of it

[Azfargh]

kvirtanen:

So... what are you saying is:

- x220t has a roll cage.
- it´s not a conventional roll cage construction
- doesn´t have a structural frame (wich I thought to be the rollcage)
- Lenovo discard at the comparison chart the roll cage at the "X convertible tablet" section because it´s not the default roll cage system

Hmmmm... it´s very well explained but... still feels "fishy" about that.

There is a way to draw attention from one of the Lenovo Staff here at the forum to end this doubt once for all...? Need to read that from someone there,

Ah yes, I really aprecciate your aid. You just did a great investigation there.

[kvirtanen · Accepted solution]

Lenovo calls it 'next generation rollcage' (like GMAC said). I don't know if they make those structural frames anymore at all (maybe they do, but not in X-series models, tablet or non-tablet).

I'm guessing the requirement of "mobility" prevents them from incorporating structural frames to X-series laptops in the same way as on the T-series for example. T-series laptops are a bit chunkier and have enough room for the rollcage frame.

Just guessing here, though.

[kvirtanen]

Also, consider that the same kind of rollcage is found in the x220. In the comparison chart the X220 is quoted to have a rollcage. This means there should be a 'proper' rollcage on x220x too, because they're the same in that regard (according to the service videos).