Just got my T41...

[ClayMan]

I'm not sure if I'm just being picky or not, but it seems my screen is really washed out compared to the other notebooks I've seen on campus. Toshiba satellites, Dell 600ms, 8600s, 8500s, HP pavilions.. the like. Is IBM known for having weak screens?

I'm currently in the process of looking for dead pixels... I really like the size and weight of this thing though, that's for sure...

[ClayMan]

well, at least there aren't any dead pixels...

[ClayMan]

Is there anyway to tell the manufacture date of the system? Just curious whether I got a Samsung screen or the older ones...

[jephhy]

Isn't it usually printed on the bottom of the system? Or you can look up the serial number on IBM's website and see when the warranty is up.

Jeff

[ClayMan]

found it. wasn't on the physical machine for some reaosn.. found it on the box

[Daniel]

Which screen do you have? The XGA or SXGA+ one?

[JaneL]

>found it. wasn't on the physical machine for some reaosn.. found it on the box
>

I haven't held a T42, but up unti the T40 I'm holding now, the date (MM/YY) was still being printed on the sticker with the Type and Serial number just like it has been for years. Has that changed?

[K. Eng]

This is a common complaint with the T4x series machines (except for the ones equiped with a FlexView display). The only notebooks I've seen with screens that are similarly mediocre are the Gateway 200X and Fujitsu S series.

IBM buys its panels from a manufacturer like Samsung or LG. I've heard it said that the LG panels are crap compared to the Samsung ones. Edit: Got LG and ID-Tech confused.

There was a similar problem with Dell 8500/8600 systems that were advertised as being ultrasharp and shipped with sub-par panels. Numerous complaints on Dell's forums sent Dell into a panic, especially because consumers were able to identify the brand of LCD in their machine through Windows Hardware Manager. People with Samsung LCDs had no problems, whereas people with another brand (cant remember which one) had dim, ghostly, and unevenly lit screens.

I'm not sure why there are so many T4x machines with lousy screens.

Edit: See http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1062 for another T41 complaint.

I'm not sure if I'm just being picky or not, but it seems my screen is really washed out compared to the other notebooks I've seen on campus. Toshiba satellites, Dell 600ms, 8600s, 8500s, HP pavilions.. the like. Is IBM known for having weak screens?

[andyk]

Like Daniel, I am also curious if it's XGA or SXGA+? When was it assembled?

It would be interesting to know when we stop seeing these LCD problems. I haven't noticed any report of a T42 having a disappointing 14" SXGA+? (Maybe the title could be updated and we track all 14" LCD issues?)


T41p display (brightness/contrast):

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1062

Manufactured in May likely still has an ID-Tech screen.


Disappointing LCD's:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=663

Possibly another T41p with an ID-Tech screen.


A little bit of good news for the 14.1 SXGA+ T42/T42P:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=819

Mofongo: "IBM started using Samsungs when the ID-Tech screens went out of production on March 31 (or possibly a little before then). How long it takes from LCD production line to T4x assembly line, who knows. For the T42, I would guess you are pretty much guarenteed a Samsung for the 14.1" SXGA+."


T42 Screen Problem? Advice Please:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1064

This problem doesn't appear to be related to LCD manufacturer.