Thinkpads Forum

I think computer experts here would kind to figure out what is typical lifetime for laptop LCD? Is LCD TV sharing the same technology with laptop LCD?

Quite often the user will break the LCD before it dies, they last quite a while. I have a laptop here from 1996 with a great LCD, and I believe it's the same one from the factory. My LCD monitor is several years old too. It's not something you should be expecting, but if you're having problems post them. LCDs do die, depending on their use and quality.

The power inverter usually goes first, then the CCFL tube(the backlight tube). Some ribbon cables and the connectors do get old or damaged and therefore can't serve their purpose any more. I've only heard people broke the LCD glass panel and I believe that's the only cause for the death of LCD glass panel itself.

From howstuffworks "TV Buying Guide" http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/tv ... guide8.htm
It seems like there are three different kinds of LCD TV on the market:
Flat Panel LCD TV, Rear projection LCD, Front projection LCD.

Actually the backlight lamp gets dimmer with years, just like flurascent lamps - there is even a guaranteed period of time b4 lamp loses 20% of it's intensity. I have a P-II toshiba laptop with very dim lcd. It is almost invisible in the daylight. It outputs some 1/4 of the brightness of my Thinkpad T21 laptop, which in it's turn gives only 1/2 of the modern new Tpads.

Thus the trend (hopefully in the next few years) of CCFL backlights being replaced by white LEDs. That would eliminate the inverter and the bulb, both of which do not seem to have the lifespan of LEDs.

rkawakami wrote:Thus the trend (hopefully in the next few years) of CCFL backlights being replaced by white LEDs. That would eliminate the inverter and the bulb, both of which do not seem to have the lifespan of LEDs.

I've already seen white LEDs being used on automobiles that is even better than H.I.Ds.

I have twice worn out on my (now gone) A31's (had two of them) the 1400 x 1050 IPS screens. They lasted around 2 and a half years being run very hard: max brightness (or one step below, did not make a difference) for 14 hours / day, 7 days / week.

Now have a Z61m WSXGA (1680 x 1050) and have had this for half a year. (This is not an IPS screen btw.) And to-date I have not noticed any deterioration which I would have noticed on the 1400 x 1050 IPS (after about two months some darking would show up at the bottom corners).

Have come accross some advertisements on the web of firms selling "refurbished" screens which had supposedly the backlight replaced. Don't know how true this is or if it was only some sales talk. Have saved somewhere an address of a third party firm selling LCD's for all kind of computers at a fraction of what IBM is charging.

Previously I did always extend my warranty to three years but no more. After the first year I know if I got a "lemon" or not (if it was it would have gone after approx 6 months) and then I carry the risk of failing myself.

Hope this helps
Marinus

My A31 SXGA+ IPS TFT blew out with a bang after several days of flickering like the old florescent light above the kitchen sink. It was about 3 1/2 years old with heavy use. I bought one of those reconditioned ones from E-Bay and it is remarkably bright. I hadn't realized how dim the old one had gotten before it died.

Hi sausage. If I may ask, how much did you pay for the LCD? Thanks.