Looking at buying a T61p, how to tell if it has Flexview screen?

[gravy robber]

Like the title says, I'm looking at buying a T61p but have no idea how to tell the make of the screen.

I've read (I think) the Flexview screens are like night and day in regards to two things: viewing angles and colors. Obviously colors are somewhat objective but it should be fairly easy to tell viewing the screen while on from various angles I'm thinking?

The resolution of the unit I want to buy is 1900x1200 and the seller says it's great for digital photography etc. leading me to believe it's a flexview screen.

[rkawakami]

I don't believe that any of the wide-screen 1920x1200 T61p systems came from the factory with a Flexview (IPS) screen. And yes you can easily tell the difference between an IPS screen and regular TFT. Simply tilt the screen forward and back all of the way and if the image doesn't change colors or contrast, then it's an IPS.

[ajkula66]

No T61/p has ever left the factory with a FlexView screen.

You need to build/buy a FrankenPad for that, utilizing T60/p 15" (4:3) shell with an IPS FlexView screen and a T61/p 14" (4:3) motherboard.

[brchan]

No T61 units have flexview screens, only TN screens. The last thinkpads to come with flexview screens were the T60 generation. Only the 15" 4:3 ratio units had the option. I have seen a T61p WUXGA screen, but it wasn't anything to write home about. Decent colors and viewing angles, but nothing too special. The flexview screens in T60 15" units are much nicer.

[Cigarguy]

AFAIK no Flexview screen was ever installed on a production T61. Flexview screens were available for Thinkpads up to a T60/X60. That's why a T601 Frankenpad is so desirable, Flexview screen from a T60 with T61 hardware.

[brchan]

X60 tablet and X61 tablets were also available with IPS screens, but the latter model had bubbling issues and quality problems with the display.

[ajkula66]

Truth be told, if one is interested in *serious* digital photography, a FlexView screen is likely to disappoint.

HP's DreamColor and Dell's PremierColor panels are really the only laptop screens suitable for professional work of that nature.

[gravy robber]

Thanks all.

[600X]

The SXGA+ FlexView has somewhat decent color reproduction as it covers sRGB, but George does have a point. sRGB should be the absolute minimum for anything, including content consumption. Any kind of serious productivity work requires something more along the lines of Adobe RGB, which the HP Dreamcolor displays do offer.

If you want a T61/T500-like machine with excellent color reproduction, then look out for a Dell M4400 with RGB LED WUXGA display. In theory, you could also fit that display (LTN154CT04) in the T500 (not so sure about T61), but I can't promise anything.

[ZaZ]

The last thinkpads to come with flexview screens were the T60 generation. Only the 15" 4:3 ratio units had the option.

Of course there's the ones available in the newer models, but they'll be more expensive. Then there's the issue of the T60 being almost 10 years old, which would not be suitable for any heavy lifting and time being unkind to the CFFL bulb.

[Kasm279]

Seconded on the M4400, that panel is amazing.

[twillis449]

I had a T61P with 1900 x 1200 resolution and the screen brightness was really poor.

[ajkula66]

I had a T61P with 1900 x 1200 resolution and the screen brightness was really poor.

Likely a Samsung panel which are - in the WUXGA guise - infamous for shoddy brightness even when new and atrocious viewing angles.