The ThinkPad T40 keyboard is nearly perfect, but in my review I think I mentioned that the righthand side flexes ever so slightly. This can be 100% eliminated using this procedure:
(1) Find a very thin sheet of packing foam, with thickness a bit less than a penny. Foam of this nature is used to wrap electronics like alarm clocks, mp3 players, and so forth.
(2) Remove the T40 keyboard. You can find instructions on how to do this at IBM's website. Take out 4 screws next to keyboard icons on the base, then push the keyboard slightly towards the upper part of the base, and it should pop out (the quick version on removal).
(3) Look at the back of the keyboard - you will see lots of small holes. On the back of the righthand edge of the keyboard, there is an area without holes. You will want to tape a thin strip of foam to this area. Cut two smaller pieces of foam and tape them to areas without holes behined the arrow keys and behind the home/end keys. It is important not to cover the holes, or your keys will not depress and un-depress as easily. Air seems to come out of these holes when the keys are pressed, and having tape or foam restricts air flowing back in, creating a vaccum situation and making the key pop up very slowly as it tries to suck air in through tape or foam.
(4) Replace the keyboard, and make sure that the foam was not to thick. Don't force anything! I was lucky to find foam of just the right thickness. If it doesn't fit perfectly, find another sheet of foam to work with.
Remember this is all at your own risk! I beleive this is a very low risk operation, and so far it has worked out well for me. This is similar, but less intensive than a Dell D600 or 600m keyboard mod.
My T40 keyboard is now even better than it was before
(1) Find a very thin sheet of packing foam, with thickness a bit less than a penny. Foam of this nature is used to wrap electronics like alarm clocks, mp3 players, and so forth.
(2) Remove the T40 keyboard. You can find instructions on how to do this at IBM's website. Take out 4 screws next to keyboard icons on the base, then push the keyboard slightly towards the upper part of the base, and it should pop out (the quick version on removal).
(3) Look at the back of the keyboard - you will see lots of small holes. On the back of the righthand edge of the keyboard, there is an area without holes. You will want to tape a thin strip of foam to this area. Cut two smaller pieces of foam and tape them to areas without holes behined the arrow keys and behind the home/end keys. It is important not to cover the holes, or your keys will not depress and un-depress as easily. Air seems to come out of these holes when the keys are pressed, and having tape or foam restricts air flowing back in, creating a vaccum situation and making the key pop up very slowly as it tries to suck air in through tape or foam.
(4) Replace the keyboard, and make sure that the foam was not to thick. Don't force anything! I was lucky to find foam of just the right thickness. If it doesn't fit perfectly, find another sheet of foam to work with.
Remember this is all at your own risk! I beleive this is a very low risk operation, and so far it has worked out well for me. This is similar, but less intensive than a Dell D600 or 600m keyboard mod.
My T40 keyboard is now even better than it was before
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