Differences between T61 T400 T410/420/520 keyboards

[TonyJZX]

Been a point of discussion. Which one do you prefer.

I never greatly liked the T61/400 but realise this is by miles better than anyone else. But the large delete key 410/420 seems to be the pinnacle. Never had much issue with key flex etc.

[brchan]

The T60/T61 keyboards have a less "spongy" feel because they retained a solid backplate.

The best Lenovo Thinkpad keyboard goes to the X300/X301 models. The typing experience is practically on par with my 600X.

[Puppy]

The best Lenovo Thinkpad keyboard goes to the X300/X301 models.

X31 NMB is my personal top one.

As for .20 keyboards there are big differences among various vendors. My original X220 keyboard FRU 45N2149 was much better than 45N2219 I got as a new one becuase of broken trackpoint button. The new one is way too soft and all F and navigation keys have somewhat shorter travel than rest of keys.

[RealBlackStuff]

The T6x/R6x keyboards were/still are the good guys with solid backplates.
The T400/T500/W500/R400/R500 keyboards instigated the "holey cheese" feeling by having thin, wobbly backplates with numerous holes (as in some Swiss cheeses).
The above two keyboard groups are fully interchangeable.

These are the T/Wx10-T/W/Xx20 (US-layout) keyboards you're talking about:
45N2071 / 45N2036 Alps
45N2141 / 45N2106 Chicony
45N2211 / 45N2176 NMB
They are the last of the Mohicans (i.e. Classic keyboard layout) before Lenovo went all FRUITY and introduced chicklets.

[TPFanatic]

The model numbers also changed between T60 and T61, with the only noticeable change afaik being the icon on the Windows key. The emblem was off-center on T60 / Z60 / early Z61 / R60, and centered on T61 / late Z61 / R61.

Z60:
39T7118 - ALPS
39T7178 - Chicony
39T0958 - NMB

T61:
42T3209 - ALPS
42T3273 - Chicony
42T3143 - NMB

Maybe there are some internal differences as well, but I haven't touched enough of them to determine them.

My favorites would be A31's NMB, T42/R50 Chicony, T61 NMB, X200 NMB, and T500 Chicony. The swisscheese Chicony feels more solid compared to perforated Alps and NMB. I like the deep keypresses and soft mouse buttons of the Chiconys. My only T42 ALPS is broken, but otherwise feels solid. T42 NMB meanwhile has wobbly keycaps, so I don't like it - the keycaps are much more stable in T60/T61 NMB. The T500 swisscheese NMB got redesigned, the 4 part scissor mechanism is replaced with a 3 part one, the parts and keycaps are incompatible with previous NMBs, and it's ridiculously flexible - T500 NMB keys are also prone to sudden stiffness and spontaneous ejection. Z60 through T500 ALPS have noisy, high-pitched rattly, cheap-sounding peripheral keys and wear out very quickly.

I've meanwhile had very hit or miss experiences with the T400s/T410 mutated keyboards. My latest T410i has a brand new ALPS which feels decent, but every other used condition ALPS and Chicony mutated keyboard I felt must not have aged well. They would miss keypresses off the keycap's center, had irregular key feels, and the ALPS are prone to losing their clicky trackpoint button feel. You can get into a funny situation with the ALPS: the left button gets soft like a Chicony while the less used right button stays clicky - guaranteed to drive you nuts!! I haven't gotten a mutated NMB yet.

[Ibthink]

Never liked the T410/T420 era keyboards. They just feel more mushy, the flex more (compared with T60 ear keyboards) and also, I think they tend to look used much faster. The keyboard in my R60 was great, the keyboard in the T420....meh.

[Puppy]

The keyboard in my R60 was great, the keyboard in the T420....meh.

Oh yes, R51 keyboard is more solid than X220 one (even the better one). But there was no better choice since X220 is the last ThinkPad with keyboard.

[Whitieiii]

I maybe I'm the only person here that likes the T430/T440 keyboard for it's backlight capabilities... but I've never used a Thinkpad older than the T410 so I don't know how older thinkpads are in terms of keyboards but I can still say I like the T430/T440s Keyboards the best so far... I may upgrade my x220 with the x230 but that won't be for awhile.... I can say my other branded Laptop has a crappy keyboard but unlike the Thinkpads the backlight stays on all the time and comes on when the machine is turned on something I wish Thinkpads did....

[dr_st]

I love the backlight capabilities. But given the choice between a classic layout and backlight, I go for the layout, especially since Thinklight is available, and while not quite as nice as a backlight, it does get the job done.

[initself]

I put a 42T3937 NMB in my T60p and I am very, very happy.

[MikalE]

I ordered a German keyboard for my T500 when I purchased it in March or April. It's the best one I have in any machine. The travel is the longest and firmest of all of them with a very positive feel. Unfortunately I didn't check to see which FRU it was.

Whatever the best one is, I believe I have that one. Wish I could get one as good in German for my T520. That German keyboard feels OK too, but not as firm or positive feeling as the model in the T500.