T42p: 14.1" SXGA or 15" UXGA

[MrBeta]

Dilemma:

Looking for a new notebook and at first I considered the X40/1.2GHz/512MB/40GB/wireless b/g option. Seemed like a small and light enough unit that would be great for traveling or carrying to the coffee shop or the beach with my wireless card (Verizon wireless broadband). However, looking at the specs, I'm afraid the 1.2GHz would literally become "too slow" and obsolete within 6 months. Been there, done that, with a tiny little Sony C1 Picturebook (2lbs!!) with an 867MHz Transmeta CPU (it's still GREAT for light traveling, especially if all you do is web access and office-type apps, but too slow for MY liking for Photoshop, for example... if anyone wants it, it's a PCG-C1MWP with several extras, up for sale)

So, I decided I'd rather splurge on a T42p, with faster CPU, bigger/faster hard drive, better video card and LCD screen, etc. My only dilemma is which screen to get - the 14.1" SGXA or 15" UGXA with Flexview. Specifically, after reading messages on this forum, it sounds like the Flexview screen is really nice (other than ghosting in some games?), but the models with this screen are not only noticeably larger but also heavier, and I'm trying to strike the best ballance of performance and mobility. That's why I'm leaning more towards the 14.1" UXGA screen. Is it really that "bad"? I like the size of these units better, the weight is definitely better, and 1400x1050 is plenty enough desktop space for my mobile needs. About the only thing I do like about the bigger 15" screen is the wider viewing angle that everyone brags about.

Considering that IBM doesn't make 14.1" Flexview screens, will I really be terribly disappointed with the smaller SXGA screen? Keep in mind, I don't play games so it's mostly a "work" and internet access machine. I don't intend to watch DVDs on it either, so the extra brightness of the Flexview is also not very important to me. As long as the 14.1" SGXA is crisp and clear, and reasonably bright, would you recommend this one or should I really abandon all hope of portability and buy a backpack for lugging around the bigger 15" model?

Thanks.

[Chun-Yu]

I've never seen a 15" T42, but I can say that I'm perfectly happy with my T41's 14.1" SXGA+ screen and would never trade it for a 15". When it comes to a perfect balance of weight and features, I think the 14.1" is really the way to go. Personally, I think the 14.1" looks much, much nicer too (the 15" looks too fat like an R series).

[Leon]

you will love whichever you buy. the decision is difficult because they are both such wonderful machines...

[Kenn]

I have both. They're both nice. 14" doesn't "need" flexview since the screen is small enough where your corner-to-corner view angle is fine for head-on viewing. The 15" is big enough where you'll start to see a little light fall-off without the flexview.

As has been said before, flexview is more functional that inspirational (like Sony's Xbrite). Its main benefit is its slight advantage in brightness (200 nits v. 150) and the ability to see the screen clearly at non-optimal vertical angles. You will NOT be disappointed with the 14" even if you see it next to the 15. Compare either to xbrite on the other hand, and anyone with a heartbeat will feel at least a tinge of jealousy. No big deal, the tp is still the better machine overall

UXGA alone is worth the 14 to 15" jump, assuming you're used to working in high resolutions. However, most people I know run 1024x768, I doubt they'd be able to tell the difference between SXGA and UXGA. Adjust for your own experience.

The size difference is very noticeable. While the 15" is still very portable, the 14 is much more compact. After using both for month or so, it almost feels like the difference going from 14 to 12."

[Daniel]

Don't forget the almost $600 price difference between the 2373KXU vs the 2373KTU. That and the reasons above made me go with the 14". I thought about it a lot, and I decided that the 15" goes against IBMs design philosophy for the T40 series. Sometimes I do long for the flexview screen, but only when I'm showing a movie on my computer. For your personal use, the 14" SXGA+ screen will do fine. It's definitely MUCH crisper and brighter than the display on my Dell Inspiron and Toshiba Satellite.

[Daniel]

Compare either to xbrite on the other hand, and anyone with a heartbeat will feel at least a tinge of jealousy. No big deal, the tp is still the better machine overall

I wonder if some company will just come up with something aftermarket to give our antiglare screens that glare that makes it look THAT much better.

[smartblue]

Not sure why I see lots of 14' inch in the IBM certified thinkpad website. May be 15 inch is still new??


http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Id=2576396

[MrBeta]

Thanks everyone for your comments - much appreciated. I think I'll just stick with my original desire and go for the 14.1" SXGA. The T42p with it is smaller and lighter - both a huge plus. It's not the price difference I was worried about, just the portability factor. If I wanted a 17" 14lbs concrete brick I wouldn't be shopping for a laptop.

My comments in regards to what was said about Flexview vs Sony's Xbrite: I haven't seen any Thinkpads in stores so I can't comment on Flexview usefulness, but I have seen some Sony notebooks with Xbrite. While they do look brighter and feel like have better contrast, I absolutely HATE the intense super-shiny screen - any lights in the room reflect off of it like off a mirror, making it for very difficult machine to look at. Maybe if you are in a dark room or with no lights above or behind you it's no big deal, but who has time to look for those ideal conditions every time they need to use a laptop. If you look at them at say Fry's Electronics which has dozens of lights above your head, these Sony screens with Xbrite are virtually unusable. Not good. I can only imagine what they look like outside in bright sunlight - probably unusable at all.

Resolution: I currently have two Samsung 21.3" LCDs on my desktop (213T) at 1600x1200 each, so I definitely like the high resolution and that's indeed nice to have. One is in horizontal mode, the other in vertical (LOVE the pivot option!!). While it would be nice to have 1600x1200 on a laptop as well, I'd rather settle for a still very respectable 1400x1050 to save a pound worth of weight. That's plenty of desktop space when on the road. Heck, even the X40's 1024x768 is very adequate on its 12" screen for most general office type work + surfing the net and doing email. (if it was only faster and had slightly bigger/faster hard drive... <sigh>)

All in all, I think you just convinced me to stick to my gut feeling and go with the 14.1" SXGA screen. I think it will strike the best balance between being a "full desktop" quality with better mobility option. If there was one thing I would indeed love would be to see Thinkpads carried by some retail stores, or have IBM open stores similar to Apple, where you could touch and test them first hand. I've had Thinkpads before so I'm fairly confident this one will be top notch too, but it sure beats the guesswork if you can go and see these machines yourself to determine which one would work better for you.

Thanks everyone!! I'm off to order my shiny new T42p.

[Conmee]

I've seen quite a few 15" Flexview and 14" T42p all side-by-side, and the Flexview is superior in terms of viewing angle and brightness, no question about it. But the most important difference to me was the color saturation and contrast on the Flexview. Black is 'blacker' and white is 'whiter' and the colors in general are much more accurate. Most of the 14" T42p models I've seen look like they have a blue or whitish tint to them when side-by-side with a Flexview.

For instance, open up a full screen of Windows explorer, and select a folder like Windows or something with alot of files. Then select Details view... you'll see on the non-Flexview screens that the gray highlight on the Name column washes out or lightens up as it reaches the bottom of the screen. This doesn't happen on the Flexview screens. The color uniformity on the Flexview is far superior. Just my experience. Maybe Kenn can add two more cents regarding is experience...

Daniel.

[MrBeta]

I've seen quite a few 15" Flexview and 14" T42p all side-by-side, and the Flexview is superior in terms of viewing angle and brightness, no question about it. But the most important difference to me was the color saturation and contrast on the Flexview. Black is 'blacker' and white is 'whiter' and the colors in general are much more accurate.

Daniel,

Thanks for your insight. I will not be doing any graphics intensive/Photoshop work on this thing (but occassionally, yes, that too), as for heavy duty graphics I already have two decent 21.3" LCDs on my desktop. For a laptop however, for traveling, I think the 14.1" SXGA sounds like a better compromise - it's virtually a pound lighter and an inch narrower, a little less deep and thinner as well. I'm not looking for a desktop replacement, just a decent machine to work on on the road.

Points well taken about the color saturation - but for my particular needs, the size/weight is far more important. If I had it my way, I'd prefer the CPU/hard drive specs of a T42p in something the size of an X40 with 12" LCD at 1280x1024 I have a tiny Sony Vaio PCG-C1MWP Picturebook (2lbs) that is a dream to travel with - just barely the size of two PDAs side by side, with 1280x600 resolution and 170 degree viewing angle. AWESOME. Just need something faster at this point, that's all.

Having said that, I already ordered a T42p with 14.1" SXGA screen today - I think it will work best for what I need it for - without the extra size/weight the 15" model adds, and without the slow LCD response time with ghosting and artifacts as well.

[mouse@cheese.storage]

I've been to a comp shop this weekend in particular to see the difference between normal screeens and Sony's X-bright. and that was quite impressive I thought, so I kind of concluded the Flexview would be a better option, as I am also in doubt which one to take, and the size difference and weight difference would outweight the better screen, but now I start doubting again as it sounds like flexview is not that bright as X-bright, which one is better acoording to you lot ?


PS: Can't go and see the IBMs as no dealers aroudn as far as I know, I've seen a 14" T41, but can't compare if you've only seens one obviously ...