Thinkpads Forum

I picked up a nice R52 with a 15" sxga+ lcd.

I know the R52 didn't come with a Flexview screen, but this lcd looks like one from the side. Glossy screen, not as bright, not super fast, battery life ok not super fast response but great colors.

What do I look for? Everything I've read tells me this is a Flexview.

Maybe this isn't the original lcd. I don't know. I have no complaints on the screen itself............

Just curious,

Ron

Vertical viewing angles. Flexview = zero distortion. Non-flexview = noticeable color distortion.

This program can usually give you the part number for your LCD panel. Then you just search for the part number via Google, IBM.com or Lenovo.com.

http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

underclocker wrote:This program can usually give you the part number for your LCD panel. Then you just search for the part number via Google, IBM.com or Lenovo.com.

http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

Excellent program but doesn't sem to help me. Tells me it's a IBM254D monitor.

Ron

All this is great for determining if what you already have is a Flexview. But, what I would like to know is how can I tell when I want to go shopping for a used Thinkpad that I'm going to get a 15" SXGA+ Flexview?

I mean I know what models offered Flexview as an option, but those same models offered non-IPS 15" SXGA+ screens also. How can I tell which is what?

With the help of the type and serial # you can do a parts lookup on Lenovo.com
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo

Neil wrote:I mean I know what models offered Flexview as an option, but those same models offered non-IPS 15" SXGA+ screens also. How can I tell which is what?

I don't know of a single Thinkpad model that offered both IPS SXGA+ screens and non-IPS SXGA+ screens.

dr_st wrote:I don't know of a single Thinkpad model that offered both IPS SXGA+ screens and non-IPS SXGA+ screens.

You do now - A31.

Just take a look at a TAWBOOK.PDF, some SXGA+ 15" models are FlexView, like 2652-J4U, some SXGA+ 15" models are not, like 2652-D3U.

I know it's hard to believe and I had to reach back six years, but it is true.

Well, no R52 has left the factory with a FlexView LCD...having said that, check the Display under Control Panel, and if it doesn't say IPS than it's not a FlexView...

ajkula66 wrote:BTW, no R52 has left the factory with a FlexView LCD...

I know George. I was just wondering if someone had replaced the lcd from non-flex to flexview? And how to check if so.

So far no one has been able to give me an exact answer. I'm sure this is probably not a flexview, but I would like proof of it.

Thanks,
Ron

Only for sure way would be to open up the lid and look at the part number on the back of the panel. I've never seen any software utility program be able to identify an LCD with the exact part number or type. As you found, they generally give you a generic display type (XGA, SXGA+, etc.).

edit: I just downloaded and installed PC Wizard and the Summary page tells me that I have an "IBM ThinkPad LCD - 16 inches" as the monitor type. Clicking the Video icon under the Hardware column tells me I'm using 1400 x 1050 display, which is correct for my 14.1" SXGA+ T23.

Yes, the utility gets the inches wrong, but eventually I found somewhere to click that showed the exact panel part number, from there, you can look up what you have.

Update: The panel model number is under Video, then Monitor Type, then read the fields Manufacturer and Product ID. (It even tells you the month and year of manufacture.)

Okay, it says it's made by IBM and the product ID is IBM254D, made the 35th week of 1999. My understanding is that the SXGA+ panel in this T23 (2647-5NU) is actually made by Hitachi (could also be LG I suppose).

Since the utility also says my panel is made in the 35th week of 1999, let's say that section may not be correct either (like the size of the display). I think my 14" T41 display is a little newer. The reported model is IBM0A55.

underclocker wrote:

dr_st wrote:I don't know of a single Thinkpad model that offered both IPS SXGA+ screens and non-IPS SXGA+ screens.

You do now - A31.

Ah, I knew I missed that! I thought that A31 might have had something like that, but when i went through the Tawbook, I did not spot it, because the IPS and non-IPS models were on separate pages. I will not forget it now!

dorronto wrote:So far no one has been able to give me an exact answer. I'm sure this is probably not a flexview, but I would like proof of it.

I have given you an exact answer. It takes exactly one second to distinguish Flexview from non-Flexview using your eyes only (just by tilting the lid back and forth). I really don't see the point of downloading utilities and disassembling the LCD to check for something that is so obvious.

If one really cannot tell an IPS screen from a TN screen using the simple viewing angle test, then (a) why would one care? and (b) one should apply for being recognized as legally blind, pardon my bluntness.

I agree with George. In XP "check the Display under Control Panel (or device manager), and if it doesn't say IPS than it's not a FlexView". I have never seen this method fail.

This thread brought me to youtube to find a video showing a definitive video of flexview, but alas my search skills were not up to the task.
Hmmm, I thought youtube had a video for everything!

Anyway, I remembered this photo layout by hoya. Maybe it will help a little.
LG / ID Tech FlexView comparison (Hi Res pictures)

Here is something else I found:

Tom's Hardware wrote:FlexView's 170 Degrees Of Freedom

The A31p features a 15" UXGA TFT screen, which uses IBM's FlexView technology with a max resolution of 1600x1200. The incredible thing about this FlexView technology is its 170° horizontal viewing angle. This allows the user to see the panel at almost any horizontal angle, which makes the new ThinkPad superior in presentation situations, where a wide-angle display is a big advantage. However, when traveling on a plane or a train, this could allow the passenger seated next to you to view what is on your screen, which could be a distinct disadvantage. Unfortunately, we found that the vertical viewing angle did not seem to have improved much. IBM claims a 25% to 50% increase in brightness and twice the contrast.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/ibm-thinkpa ... -42-7.html

Harryc wrote:I agree with George. In XP "check the Display under Control Panel (or device manager), and if it doesn't say IPS than it's not a FlexView". I have never seen this method fail.

In my device manager, under "Monitors" (there is no "Display" section) it just says "Generic Television" and 3 times "Plug and Play Monitor". I think it is because I have the Omega drivers and not the standard IBM drivers installed on my T42. And my display is Flexview.

Yours would be a non-standard install. Try the Lenovo drivers and check again.

Harryc wrote:Yours would be a non-standard install.

Indeed.

Harryc wrote:Try the Lenovo drivers and check again.

No, thank you. I much prefer the Omega drivers (performance and features-wise).

Thanks to all who answered this post.

I have to admit, though I still don't have a definitive answer.

I guess I don't have a Flexview. Like I stated before, I don't think this is the original lcd and cover. I'm not sure. The view is excellent from all angles.

Thanks again,
Ron

Make the screen all black. If it's Flexview, it has to remain very black even at the widest viewing angles. If it looks grey at certain angles, it's not Flexview.

Of course, you want to turn off all lights and close all curtains in the room so that you aren't looking at reflections from other objects. Then, please let us know your conclusion.

Hopefully, no one will walk in while your staring at the black LCD of a ThinkPad alone in a dark room

I suppose if they do, you can tell them how helpful meditation is for the mind.

P.S. Did you run the utility? If it detected a FlexView part number, then you probably do have a FlexVeiw LCD.

Yes, I ran the utility but there was nothing about Flexview in the report. I just might take pics of the R52 next to my T41p for contrast.

Ron

PS...Thanks for the utility.

I once took comparative pictures of displays - Flexview against non-Flexview:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... iew#340327

The biggest screen is IPS, others are TN. If that's not obvious, I don't know what is.