I love my Thinkpad but the monitor is disappointing

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Dancalio · #1 Post by **Dancalio** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 2:50 am

This is my first notepad so I don't have much experience with notebook monitors, but this one certainly leaves something to be desired. I'm not sure exactly what kind of monitor it is, but I measured it to be 15" diagonally which I guess makes it XGA? These are the flaws:

1. Tough viewing angles. You have to be looking straight at the thing at about a 95 degree angle and even then you won't get the exact proper color in areas around the periphery. You can still view the screen at even more extreme angles but the picture is greatly degraded.

2.Dim screen. Even at high brightness on ac the screen still seems kind of dim.

3. Poor colors. Whites have a bit of a yellow tint to them. This is possibly related to the dim lighting. It is sometimes difficult to see the contrast between white and light yellow colors unless I view the monitor at like a 100 degree angle. I cannot fix this with color management without screwing up other colors.

4. Kind of washed out. Though this may just be due to the dim screen and poor colors.

As I mentioned, I don't have much laptop or even lcd experience so I cannot determine just how typical this is. Also, I bought this computer to mostly sit on my desktop hooked up to my 19" crt Samsung flatscreen so the monitor was not my top priority. Still, I find this monitor quite disappointing.

Is my monitor typical? Would IBM care about this? I bought the computer less than a month ago, if I took it in to the ibm service shop about 30 minutes away from me would they replace the monitor?

I recently checked out some monitors on sony laptops at the mall and the difference was extreme.

Thanks,
Daniel

#2 Post by **BillMorrow** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:54 am

your 15 inch XGA is the only 15inch that is not flexview..

check the settings and adjust the angle..

and get rid of that crappy wallpaper with the world "clock"..

get wallpaper with some color and you might see an improvement..

beeblebrox · #3 Post by **beeblebrox** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 2:18 pm

I remember that in almost every IBM notebook review where the 15" XGA was involved, the results were quite sobering and disappointing.
The 15" XGA is really poor. IBM is saving money on that model and got a very simple TN+ technology that is quite aged.
If I were you, I would change to the SXGA display (far higher quality and much brighter!)

Dancalio · #4 Post by **Dancalio** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 2:59 pm

beeblebrox wrote:I remember that in almost every IBM notebook review where the 15" XGA was involved, the results were quite sobering and disappointing.
The 15" XGA is really poor. IBM is saving money on that model and got a very simple TN+ technology that is quite aged.
If I were you, I would change to the SXGA display (far higher quality and much brighter!)

Is there any way for me to change to the sxga without buying a new notebook? I just got this one less than a month ago.

Dancalio · #5 Post by **Dancalio** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 10:05 am

I am changing my tune about the monitor on my notebook. I think I have expectations too high for a standard notebook lcd. It's 15", lcd, and has to be extremely small and portable. It's not right to be disappointed while looking at this monitor next to my 19" flat crt.

I have been able to compare my monitor with a few other notebooks at shops and mine seems to be at worst slightly yellow and this isn't even clear. There is of course a large difference between this screen and the Sony bright screens. I did notice that the standard sony XGA was slightly brighter but it's nothing for me to get too upset over.

Moroner · #6 Post by **Moroner** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 12:25 pm

First, the 15" Flexview screens are as good as desktop LCDs (apart from being somewhat less bright), so why settle for less? Secondly, while you need to change notebooks to get the better display, you should be able to swap harddisks, and be up running with your new notebook in no time.

Dancalio · #7 Post by **Dancalio** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 2:50 pm

Besides the technical difficulties of changing the master hard drive from one computer to another, how would you recommend I change computers? While tossing this one and buying a new one would be quite convenient, I just spent a large sum on this one.

Guest · #8 Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:32 pm

changing the notebook is a matter of minutes.

Check waht is different between your current and your future notebook, and then deinstall all drivers of the concerned system parts. Also install all necessary drivers of the new system
Shut down the system, put the drive into the new notebook and start windows. It will find all differences and install the appropriate drivers.

I have been using a drive from a T20 to T23 to T40p now, without installing the business software or anything (which would take me days...)
Again, it is a matter of minutes.

I love my Thinkpad but the monitor is disappointing

I love my Thinkpad but the monitor is disappointing

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