Questions about part identifcation for my new T42

[metaman]

Hello - my first post,
- I just bought a like-new T42 2373-JXU, which is supposed to have 15" IPS Flexview display (15" SXGA+ IPS). I did a parts lookup and it shows IPS for the monitor, but the basic product information (the one which seems to extract model information automatically) shows only "15 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD". The screen is very smooth and clear but not as bright as I expected based on what I've read, nor is the viewing angle much wider than in my old 390X (14" XGA): I can clearly see an image even when viewing from a shallow vertical angle, so technically the vertical viewing angle is very wide, but I still find myself adjusting the LCD angle in order to get maximum brightness as per usual, and the corners of the screen are a bit dimmer when viewing head on, so the optimal viewing angle still feels very narrow. Does this sound like an IPS (Flexview) screen and my expectations are simply too high? Is there a definitive test to decide between the two?
- A second question: What is the difference betwee Pentium M and Pentium Centrino? I know there is some small hardware difference, but what are the practical consequences, if any, of this difference?
- Third, I am curious which keyboard I got: I've read the threads about the various keyboard parts codes, but this one has codes which wasn't mentioned in those discussions: 39T0674 and 39T0704 are listed side by side. (The keyboard feels looser yet easier to type on than another keyboard I've tried which was the Chinese one.)

Thanks!
David

[Initial D]

2) Centrino is just a nickname to indicate that the laptop has an INTEL-brand wireless card built-in w/ a Pentium-M Processor.

3) You have the ALPS keyboard according to this site:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-58491

[metaman]

Thanks for the keyboard reply: This is very strange! I recently tried out another 15" T42 with a keyboard marked as 93P4840, which is also supposed to be the Chinese (ALPS) one, yet it felt completely different: more flush with the wrist panel, buttons felt more metallic, harder feel, and more noisy as the key is depressed. The current one is more plasticky yet feels deeper because there seems to be less resistance. Is there such a large difference between individual samples? Quite interesting. I like my keyboard more but am curious about the supposedly best Thai one...