How DIM is your 14" 1400x1050 LCD (T41)?

[vwbmw]

I may buy a local T41 2379 with the nice 1400x1050 14" LCD. Owner noted screen is too dim for his use. IMO it's OK indoors in shaded room, a challenge to read in sunny room, and mostly unreadable outdoors in shade or seated in a car. So it seems to be an indoors-only TP. I don't have another TP for comparison, and am curious what was its as-new brightness (_nits?).

I'm asking: in what lighting situations can you use/not use this (aging) LCD? How dim is too dim? At what point is a new backlight (or inverter) worthwhile? ..and would the result still be too pale, compared to LCDs on current laptops?

[sktn77a]

Is the screen notably duller than other laptops you've seen? The T4x screens I've seen weren't noteworthy for having dull screens but I haven't been able to read any of mine out in the sun!

[vwbmw]

Is the screen notably duller than other laptops you've seen? The T4x screens I've seen weren't noteworthy for having dull screens but I haven't been able to read any of mine out in the sun!

Yes, but not side-by-side, and it's not fair to compare an aging T41 SXVGA+ to the glossy laptop panels displayed on BBuy shelves. (I don't have any other laptop for comparison; the seller kindly offered to let me try this T41 at my home thru today.) Perhaps what I'm asking is: even when new, were these 14.1" SXVGA+ LCDs less bright than the VGA version? Or: those of you with 14.1" T4x SXVGA+ of any age, are you not able to read it at a dining/kitchen table with sun filling the room, or out on the deck/balcony? ..but find any newer laptop readable most anywhere? etc etc ..I don't expect it to be readable IN the sun, but find that even under shade (tree, in car) on a bright day, it's brightness/contrast is too weak to be readable. So it's 'mobility' is limited to spots with: the less natural light, the better.

[vwbmw]

I forgot to include: I'm asking about aging SXVGA+ readability under indirect bright natural light using battery power (AC power improves LCD clarity)

[exTPfan]

I'm currently using an X32 (XGA) with a new screen and a T42 (SXGA+) with a very old screen (red tint at start up). The XGA is a lot brighter than the T42 (I think that new they are both 150nits), but, for me, the T42 is fine indoors even with fairly bright lighting (not direct sunlight).
That's with AC power, but it is possible to change a boot setting so that the screen is just as bright on battery as on AC.

[Binh]

I have owned a similar TP (T41 with Samsung SXGA+).

The screen is actually dimmer than the models of other vendors. But I found that the main problem is not the brightness itself, it is the low (very low) contrast. My eyes are strained after 1-2 hours of use under light of neon lamp (under natural light it is not so bad).

Recently I jumped to a T42p with UXGA Flexview. My eyes feel far more better though I set the brightness even lower than when using T41.

[vwbmw]

That's with AC power, but it is possible to change a boot setting so that the screen is just as bright on battery as on AC.

Thanks, that's good to know.

[vwbmw]

But I found that the main problem is not the brightness itself, it is the low (very low) contrast.

Yeah, my eyes need good contrast. In any case, I've decided I'll buy this T41 (if only to have a TP UltraNav KB again, and 1400x1050), and hope my eye-brain interface will adjust to its contrast/brightness limitations.

[sjthinkpader]

The only screens made for use under bright ambient condition are in the tablet versions. Most screens are made to around 150NIT to 200NIT brightness when new. Most used computers are around 100NIT after 3-4 years of use.

14 inch SXGA+ are worse than XGA because the pixel size is smaller than XGA thus letting less light thru and the font size is smaller and harder to see.