Thinkpads Forum

i had a discussion going here:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=109027

but the topic changed from the original post title.

i'm lookin for the most color accurate 15" ips laptop screens, comparing
1) t60p's flexview
2) hp dreamcolor
3) dell precision color
4) macbook pro retina

flexview i believe has 6 bit, and no info on adobeRGB gamut
hp and dell seem to have 10 bit per channel ips panels, and close to 100% adobeRGB color gamut.
rMBP 8 bit, 67% color gamut, and kind of glossy.

but do these specs really matter?
if you're photographing, scanning film, and editing for print, w/o access to external, traveling, small apt, etc.

curious if anyone here has experience with them.

thanks,

allen wrote:
i'm lookin for the most color accurate 15" ips laptop screens, comparing
1) t60p's flexview
2) hp dreamcolor
3) dell precision color
4) macbook pro retina

flexview i believe has 6 bit, and no info on adobeRGB gamut
hp and dell seem to have 10 bit per channel ips panels, and close to 100% adobeRGB color gamut.
rMBP 8 bit, 67% color gamut, and kind of glossy.

but do these specs really matter?
if you're photographing, scanning film, and editing for print, w/o access to external, traveling, small apt, etc.

curious if anyone here has experience with them.

thanks,

My questions could go a couple of different ways, but let me throw this at you:

a) Have you used any of the screens listed above?

b) Are you willing to spend a significant amount of $$$ on software to properly calibrate the screen?

I've seen all of these and am willing to help, but need to understand where we are going in the first place.

IMO, from little that you've stated about your needs, MBPr is a non-starter.

great, thanks.

i've been using the t60p flexview since dec 2006. it's been great.
now it seems dimmer and yellow, especially compared to any new led backlit screen.

i do like to use my laptop in various places, including outdoor.
i wouldn't do photo work outdoor, but i can barely do emails or spreadsheets outdoor on my t60p.

i plan to calibrate with a spyder or similar, as i have my flexview.

aside from the screen, the processing power is something i'm considering.

my most intensive computer needs are prepping large scan files, 20x30" or 30x30" (300dpi) which turn out to be 1-1.5GB w/ layers, in 16 bit rgb mode.
i'm currently limited to 3GB RAM, and running HDDs.

i feel 8GB RAM, SSD and penryn could suffice,
though i haven't had the opportunity to try it.
i know that i7 and SSD is very fast w/ those files.

i feel to go with a heavier than t60p (w/ dell or hp) would have to be very worth it.
part of this depends how much the bits and percentages really matter.

if only this t60p had all the new parts, it would be perfect.

i'm exceted to hear your thoughts!

My thoughts...take a look here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=108270

Chances are, if you were to order one of these from RealBlackStuff, you'd be far better off financially than buying a 8740w with a DreamColor panel.

New LED-lit Hydis IPS panels are nothing short of amazing, and while DC will beat them in adobe numbers, they are still the best option available if one is keen on keeping the 4:3 format along with some type of portability.

The only reason I'd advise anyone to get a 8740w would be if they needed 32GB of RAM, as opposed to the maximum of 8 on a T601 FrankenPad. EliteBooks are fine machines, but are bulky ba$tards with questionable keyboards as well.

well, it's good to hear the hp and dell aren't really worth it.
i've calculated out that a frankenpad will cost around $1250.
this is for the led flexview, 256 GB SSD, 8GB RAM, win7 pro 64 bit, and penryn, and an ebay t60p.
the ebay t60p is so i can continue using my current t60p, and be able to retain what i'm familiar with in win xp, to adjust to and set up win7.
even if i went nos sxga+ cffl flexview, it's still close to $1200.

then there is time and effort needed for modification.
a refurbished rMBP w/ similar SSD and RAM, + equivalent parts for what i have for t60p: a USB3 drive to make up for no ultrabay drive, 2nd power cable, comes to $1955.

basically it's a $705 savings to spend more compiling parts and modding a t60p,
to hold onto 4:3, ultrabay, windows OS, keyboard, and trackpad buttons.
for 1.6lbs more weight, technically lower bit depth, slower processor, and i think even the RAM and video RAM speeds are slower? if those even matter...

are we sure frankenpad is still the best choice?
anything to share to shut down the rMBP?

just checking, because i had always heard the rMBPs were $3000.
but at this point, a refurb'd puts the price difference much smaller.

thanks!

If you PM me your FrankenPad requirements, I'm sure I can come up with a price that will pleasantly surprise you!
Just be specific about these:
-T61 Motherboard graphics (integrated Intel/nVidia NVS140M/nVidia FX570M)
-Penryn CPU (T8100/T8300/T9300/T9500/X9000)

allen wrote: are we sure frankenpad is still the best choice?
anything to share to shut down the rMBP?

Glossy panel that you'll never be able to properly calibrate.

Pretty but not really durable in the *real* work environment.

Severe throttling issues reported by "power users".

Let me not even go into the keyboard aspect of it...

how bout the t530 or w530?

i know i know, not ips, but there doesn't seem to be much other option for a laptop with current processing power, to sustain future years of use.

thanks,

If you need "current processing power" and a top notch screen, Dell and HP are your friends, not Lenovo.

FHD screen on W520/530 is OK but I'm underwhelmed...as was one of my customers who returned his brand new W series ThinkPad after seeing the Hydis LED panel on my modded T43p...

thanks,
it's kind of a tough situation when internal hardware (chips) seem to be getting more powerful, but screens and machine size/weight are not improving, and then software is becoming more resource heavy, instead of getting more efficient, whether it's internet browsing or photoshopping.

The FHD screens of the W510+ series have 95% gamut and 270 Nits LED backlight, so thats quite good for a TN panel.

If you are sitting right in front of your laptop, that might be an option

The best answer is: none of them. Color accuracy also needs backlight uniformity compensation, NEC and Eizo monitors only delivers it (using CCFL backlight).

I still believe that all notebook (e-)IPS panels are 6 bit only but consindering the HP marketing fluff, the DreamColor panel might be 8 bit (no more). Due the crappy uneven LED backlight the panel still does not give you the quality you are expecting.

And of course, 6 bit IPS panel is still far better than any TN crap with so called 1000000% gamut that is no longer valid when you move your head by a single centimeter from the center viewing point.

do NEC and eizo use ccfl?
i mostly have read people are considering cffl the outdated backlight, though that it was more well distributed light.

from the bit of research did, i noted that t60p flexview was 6 bit, hp and dell laptop ips are 10 bit, and retina macbook pro 8 bit.

allen wrote:do NEC and eizo use ccfl?

Yes, professional-level monitors still use wide gamut CCFL because it delivers better results than LED backlight yet. The technology (NEC X-Light and Eizo DUE) uses RGB sensors to compensate aging of tubes.

allen wrote:from the bit of research did, i noted that t60p flexview was 6 bit, hp and dell laptop ips are 10 bit, and retina macbook pro 8 bit.

I don't believe that, the HP/Dell might be 8 bit + 2 bit FRC. Real 10 bit panels are P-IPS only.

Any T60 FlexView panel will likely suffer from aging effects now that might be disturbing if you need color accuracy, MacBook ... do you want to use that ? I'd go for HP/Dell but check the minimum brightness first because HP/Dell consumer grade monitors are usually overbrighted with lowest brightness around 140 cd/m2 that is too much for working in dark environment. Good monitor should start at 30 cd/m2.

Puppy wrote: And of course, 6 bit IPS panel is still far better than any TN crap with so called 1000000% gamut that is no longer valid when you move your head by a single centimeter from the center viewing point.

^^^^^^^ This. Times seven zillion and thirteen.

Good monitor should start at 30 cd/m2.

One of the things that I like about these new Hydis LED panels is that they can (in a T6x setup) be dimmed to the levels that Puppy was referring to above...

According this post Dell no longer have the IPS panel option for M4700 Precision model. So the HP is the only choice.

The post states "The IPS in the M4700 had tint issues and was removed from the configurator for that reason". I'm wondering how it was possible for ID Tech and Boe-Hydis to made IPS panels without any serious issues nine years ago that works till now. Lenovo (X220/X230) and MacBook retina panels have image retention issues. Is cutting costs the reason ?

i ended up with a retina macbook pro:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=109784

To be honest.. that's a Little strange, when you want a "wide gamut"/may colors.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1432348

It might be IPS.. but who views their laptop other than head on, when working?

Best regards

QWERTY Andreas wrote:.. but who views their laptop other than head on, when working?

It's impossible to view the ENTIRE screen head on, only the center of the screen.

yes, i read the thread about inferior color gamut before deciding,
I believe the FlexView I was using also had inferior gamut.