How bright is your display, T40/T41/T42 owners?

[pau]

Hi,

some months ago I started this thread

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... sc&start=0


and now I am seriously considering to buy a T41 or T42 SXGA but recently somebody commented that the display of the T series becomes fainter and fainter with time. How serious is this? Will I have to buy a new display after one year or so (just after the warranty expires, as it usually happens)?

How bright is your display, T40/T41/T42 owners? Do you have the feeling that it has grown fainter with time?

Thanks

Pau

[jdhurst]

Every ThinkPad display grows fainter over time in my experience (one and a half decades of the them). My T41 is no exception save for the fact that after nearly 4 years, the display remains reasonably bright and usable. I have no issues with it at this point.
... JDH

[GomJabbar]

The display backlight went out in my first 14.1" XGA T42 after just a couple of years. I bought a used display lid on ebay and repaired it. My daughter is now using it. The display on my present 14.1" SXGA+ T42 is still fine at 2 years and 8 months since manufacture (I bought it used).

[kyrotech]

My LG-Phillips 14.1" XGA Display is still bright no dead spots

[pianowizard]

Will I have to buy a new display after one year or so (just after the warranty expires, as it usually happens)?

Few displays fade so quickly. I'd say most laptop displays stay bright enough for most users for at least five years. Of course, if you buy a 4-year-old T41, then you might indeed need to get a new display after owning it for just one year. So, if you're concerned, then try to get the newest Thinkpad that you can afford.

Also, the life expectancy of a display depends on how it's used. I dim down or turn off my laptops' displays when I am not using them, so I think they last longer than average.

[pau]

Thanksa lot to everybody for the answers. I like a lot this forum. People are helpful and take it seriously.

I think I didn't express myself clearly. What I wanted to say is more or less this situation:

Of course, if you buy a 4-year-old T41, then you might indeed need to get a new display after owning it for just one year.

Yes, I am going to buy a second hand laptop because I need one with APM support, and this is only to be found up to the t43p models. I prefer a t40, t41 or t42 because they are much better in terms of noise (fan).

This means that I will not know how old the laptop is. It has a warranty of one year, though.

Still, I have seen in ebay that new displays can be bought at a reasonable price.

[pianowizard]

This means that I will not know how old the laptop is. It has a warranty of one year, though.

Thanks for the explanation. Even if you end up getting a 4-year-old T41, I still think you don't need to worry too much. The LCD becoming very dim after just one year is possible but very unlikely. Most LCDs would last much longer than that. I owned three 600/600E's, which were 6 to 9 years old, and they all had very bright displays.

[rhema83]

My T42 display still works like new after 3 years. The owner must take care of the screen (clean with the proper cleaner and microfiber regularly, etc) to keep it in top condition. Greasy fingers and food don't go well with the matt screen at all. IMO brightness is very satisfactory indoors, although outdoor use (especially in sunlight) is a little problematic (as with ALL Thinkpad displays).

(I don't mean to hijack. When my X61 arrives, my T42 may go on sale. )

[pau]

(I don't mean to hijack. When my X61 arrives, my T42 may go on sale. Wink )

Funny... I am looking forward to buying an old T42 because I don't like the x61s I got from my institute (and I'll have to give it back anyway)

Do you ship worldwide?

In any case, thanks a lot to everybody for the excellent answers!