SCREAM YES! X220 will have IPS screen option!

[khtse]

Whoa!

I'm definitely getting one!

http://shop.lenovo.com/ISS_Static/ww/wc ... asheet.pdf

LED-backlight with IPS panel!

[ausmike]

Yips........x220 = love to see the RETAIL VERSION (saw prerelease model long timeago)

12.5" Premium HD (1366x768) LED Backlit Display (w/ extra bright wide-viewing angle IPS display)

Only available with i7model as per PSREF

Available > March 7th approx. (and our account manager stressed on APPROX)

[khtse]

which file on the link you posted? I couldn't find anything about X220 there...

I doubt the March 7th availability date, probably that's the date that Lenovo is going to officially announce it? All the other announced Sandy Bridge ThinkPads won't be available anytime soon...

EDIT: There is nothing related to X220 in the link you posted. Prior to X220, IPS panels are only available to X201t, which is equipped with Core i7. That's why all those IPS panel equipped Thinkpads comes with Core i7 in the link you posted.

[pianowizard]

Without the iPad (which popularized IPS) and the people who have been constantly whining about how terrible Thinkpad screens were, I doubt this would have happened. So, I thank both. Hopefully, there will be an "s" version (i.e. X220s) that weighs at least 10% lighter, is also IPS, and, mostly importantly, has 1600x900. After using 1366x768 on my HP Mini for several months, I have come to *HATE* 1366x768. Perhaps if we keep whining about 1366x768, we will eventually get nicer resolutions as well, just as we convinced Lenovo to bring back IPS.

[GomJabbar]

Hmmm, this one might get this T42 owner off his duff!

[Harryc]

Correct me if I am wrong here, but isn't the most interesting aspect of this IPS LCD the fact that it is LED backlit? I don't recall seeing anything other than CCFL backlit IPS screens on a Thinkpad, even the AFFS mods for the X200 were CCFL. So this would be the first LED backlit IPS LCD on a Thinkpad, right?

[ssd_thinkpad]

Without the iPad (which popularized IPS) and the people who have been constantly whining about how terrible Thinkpad screens were, I doubt this would have happened. So, I thank both.

I thought about buying an x200s AFFS but the ipad configuration is not so bad, either. You have 600g for the ipad and then put a quality keyboard on ipad camera adapter (which is ipad>usb) and there you are. The iPad has a great vertical display size on portrait mode. If you have pre-defined applications you use mostly, the iPad can outperform an x2xx very fast. I only hope Lenovo got the LEDs refresh rates right and not have these low refresh rates that hurt my eyes on the x300!

I am now reconsidering buying an x220. There are two nice things:
1. With the new full format pci slot, you can replace the hdd by putting in the new intel ssd inside the pci slot, which will give you up to around 80 g reduced weight. My ssd including the T60 ultrabay adapter weights around 100 g. Most important part for me is a light notebook.
2. You can finally put the x220 in the standard 3 series replicator.

[yak]

Aren't all panels produced today LED backlit? The news here is the return of an IPS option which was gone from non-tablets since T60 (even W70x targeted at graphicians used TN, albeit better ones). The LED backlight is there because AFAIK it's the only option today no matter what panel technolgy (TN, IPS, etc.).

[Harryc]

Aren't all panels produced today LED backlit?

Yak, I am not saying my above statement is accurate because I am not sure, but I do know for a fact that many LCDs manufactured today are still CCFL. For example one of the IFS LCDs in the X200 tablet is a Boe Hydis CCFL backlit LCD.

[Puppy]

WOW

It looks interesting. Now I hope the LED backlight will not exhibit the "rainbow effect" and the lowest possible brightness will be below 40 nits.

Another question is availability in "eastern" countries.

[ssd_thinkpad]

Yak, I am not saying my above statement is accurate because I am not sure, but I do know for a fact that many LCDs manufactured today are still CCFL. For example one of the IFS LCDs in the X200 tablet is a Boe Hydis CCFL backlit LCD.

And I heard that the x200 series tablet screens are rather bad with their low refresh rates I hope the x220 has a high quality refresh rate background led. Most likely the specs are nice (IPS!!!) and the rest is bad (lowest possible led quality with high nits !!! and low power consumption).

[ausmike]

Seems the "linked" doc was updated ........humnnn ,,, and yip yet again . another DELAYED /Backward fli[ from LENOVO towards delivery of decent hardware...

........
And I heard that the x200 series tablet screens are rather bad with their low refresh rates I hope the x220 has a high quality refresh rate background led. Most likely the specs are nice (IPS!!!) and the rest is bad (lowest possible led quality with high nits !!! and low power consumption).

ATleast on the "demo hardware" I played around for few days had THESE ISSUES..... I much rather have Higher NITS, BETTER OVERALL display , THAN get 'wide-angle view" ability......

till Than , I will continue to play on the TAB..

[ssd_thinkpad]

ausmike, did you test the x200 tablet or the x220?

[gaphic2]

Good news! Wonder if it's an LG panel?

[ssd_thinkpad]

i7 sandy bridge has 45 watt. i5 sandy bridge uses 35 watt. It's going to be a hot notebook.

[khtse]

i7 sandy bridge has 45 watt. i5 sandy bridge uses 35 watt. It's going to be a hot notebook.

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52231

Core i7 2620M's max TDP is still 35W. And it doesn't tell you how hot the laptop is, since all it says is its MAX power usage. For example, the slowest CPU option for the X220 (according to the pdf) is i3 2310M

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52220

and it also has the same max TDP as the i7 2620M. Since the 2620M has a much higher maximum clock speed, one can safely expect that it runs a little bit warmer at sustained full speed than the 2310M. But since the clock speed are adjusted on demand, you probably won't notice any difference in temp between the two in day to day use. And on average the two are probably still way more power efficient than some 25W counterparts of the last few generations. Not to mention that different chassis designs make a big difference.

[ssd_thinkpad]

khtse, thanks for clarification! Do you know anything about ultra-low-volatage sandy bridge cpus which could be used in a x220s?

[khtse]

khtse, thanks for clarification! Do you know anything about ultra-low-volatage sandy bridge cpus which could be used in a x220s?

No idea. From all the roadmaps leaked so far, it doesn't seem like there would be a "s" model for the X220. It isn't surprising, considering the fact that X201s has not been available for order on Lenovo.com for a long time.

[ausmike]

@ssd^....
non tablet am sorry 2 say.....>was slightly dissaponted as no HDMI INTERFACE (WHICH WE asked FOR) WAAS PRESENT

ah well ........ seems NORMAL > LeNOOOOvo = dont woerry about Business customers!

[ajkula66]

A step in the right direction, most likely...I'll comment when I test one personally.

That being said, I'm NOT getting in line to purchase it, since I have zero use for 1366x768 resolution on ANY screen size...

[dr_st]

It's a bit unfortunate. 1366x768 on 12.5" is the right pixel density for me to be able to work on it for prolonged times with no eye fatigue (it is about the same as 1400x1050 on 14.1"). 1600x900 while infinitely more useful, may be too high a DPI for me. Pity there isn't anything in between.

[Puppy]

That being said, I'm NOT getting in line to purchase it, since I have zero use for 1366x768 resolution on ANY screen size...

Yes, the (vertical) resolution sucks but that's another story. I've given up on idea that a notebook can act as a workstation now anyway (no more 1200 vertical pixels on any size). I consider notebook as a second portable machine only so a 10" or 11" ThinkPad with IPS display would be even better.

The good thing is that Lenovo "finally noticed the problem". The sad part is that Lenovo ThinkPads weren't the first nor the second on the market bringing the option of quality back. I believe there wouldn't be such display option without HP and Dell (and Apple) being offered non-TN display option first.

Again, selling the ThinkPad division from IBM to Lenovo was probably one of biggest marketing mistakes in computer industry history

[pianowizard]

It's a bit unfortunate. 1366x768 on 12.5" is the right pixel density for me to be able to work on it for prolonged times with no eye fatigue (it is about the same as 1400x1050 on 14.1"). 1600x900 while infinitely more useful, may be too high a DPI for me.

The high quality of IPS may help you tolerate a slightly higher pixel density.

[dr_st]

The high quality of IPS may help you tolerate a slightly higher pixel density.

I don't think it's relevant.

[pianowizard]

I don't think it's relevant.

Besides pixel density, the awful viewing angles, low contrast and washed out colors of crappy TN panels contribute to eye fatigue. I know many people who have no difficulty reading newspapers for prolonged hours but hate to read web sites or Word docs with much larger text on computer screens. That's one of the reasons Apple opted for an IPS panel for the iPad.

[dr_st]

the awful viewing angles, low contrast and washed out colors of crappy TN panels contribute to eye fatigue.

None of it matters when the screen is viewed straight on, which is what happens most of the time. I can't honestly say that my 14" SXGA+ TN fatigues my eyes more than the 15" SXGA+ IPS.

I know many people who have no difficulty reading newspapers for prolonged hours but hate to read web sites or Word docs with much larger text on computer screens.

So do I, but I don't think the panel type has anything whatsoever to do with it. I think it's simply the difference of looking at ink on paper versus staring at a huge bulb (or a set of small bulbs, if you are talking LED).

[khtse]

Besides pixel density, the awful viewing angles, low contrast and washed out colors of crappy TN panels contribute to eye fatigue. I know many people who have no difficulty reading newspapers for prolonged hours but hate to read web sites or Word docs with much larger text on computer screens. That's one of the reasons Apple opted for an IPS panel for the iPad.

The reason to use IPS panel on a tablet device like the iPad or X200t is that the screen is intended to be moved around, and users typically do not stare at it at an fixed angel all the time. Therefore a display with wide viewing angel is necessary. But the reading printed media versus reading on computer screen is a different issue. People have difficulties reading text for prolonged period on a computer screen because most computer screens are backlit. So staring at a computer screen is not really that different from staring at a lightbulb. IPS panels don't help with that.

That's why e-readers that utilize non-backlit screens, like the Kindle, are still selling well, despite the fact that they do nothing well beside displaying text, when compared to the iPad. I have both the iPad and the Kindle. Reading short articles on the iPad is okay, but I can never stand reading a whole book on it. For that I go back to my Kindle.

[penartur]

khtse, i agree with you on what you say about backlit LCD vs. E-Ink; however, IPS is really better than TN for reading even when looked at a straight angle. This might be subjectively and depend on a specific person, but i had this experience.
We used cheap TN displays on my work (don't remember the exact model unfortunately) and it really caused a great eyestrain even after a short time spent working; and after we moved to better displays (*VA, IPS) things went much better (i moved to Viewsonic VX2435wm with a MVA panel).
Recently i went to another company and used TN for a couple of weeks (it was Samsung 2243EW or B2240MW, don't remember it exactly), and it was really awful and again caused a great eyestrain and headache even after half a hour, so they purchased Samsung F2380 (C-PVA) by my request, and eyestrain and headache are gone. Now, with my advice, the entire department is switching to a Benq VW2420H (MVA); it is a curious thing, but this 24" MVA LED-backlit display is now cheaper than that old 22" TN Samsung was once.
And i guess there is no need in describing my feelings after upgrading X200 to AFFS/PVA, because stock TN panel also features worst viewing angles, so that even when looking straight on it, upper and lower part are different.

[pianowizard]

None of it matters when the screen is viewed straight on

Having narrow viewing angles is just one of the shortcomings of TN panels, and even if you view the screen perfectly straight on, there is still some variation in color as you go from the top to the bottom of the screen. This effect is not as pronounced for smaller screens, but it's still there. And the other shortcomings of TN panels, namely low contrast and inaccurate colors, exist regardless of what angle you view the screen at.

I think it's simply the difference of looking at ink on paper versus staring at a huge bulb (or a set of small bulbs, if you are talking LED).

Well, I think both factors (staring at a light source + the poor quality of TN) contribute to eye fatigue. Last year, for a reason I won't get into, I had access only to a lousy Acer monitor for two full months. Other than these two months, I have been using my fancy Dell PVA and IPS monitors most of the time since 2006. Believe me, the Acer's negative impact on my eyes was very significant. Perhaps if you use both TN and IPS frequently then it's easier for you to adjust, but I have been spoiled.

The reason to use IPS panel on a tablet device like the iPad or X200t is that the screen is intended to be moved around

That's one reason, but not THE reason. IPS does improve one's reading experience, and that's why so many people on this forum prefer IPS over TN even for conventional, non-tablet laptops. Some of these people are graphics designers and so they need IPS for color accuracy, but the others (including me) just want to have a more pleasant viewing experience. I used to print out pretty much every long document that I had to read. But after switching from TN to PVA/IPS, I stopped printing documents almost completely because it has become so comfortable to read them on the screen.

[GomJabbar]

A review with prices

Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Video Review and First Look

EDIT: I see the OP beat me to the punch in the ThinkPad X200/X30x Series forum.