LCDs on T60/T60p - types, availability and other discussions

[DenTP4rm]

This information can be found in the T60 hardware maintanence manual.

Gator,
Thanks for the link. I think I had an older version of the manual. Is it as simples as it looks there? Have you swapped out an LCD? The reason I'm asking is I may be doing that and wanted to know if the cables would all be the same, assuming I had a compatible LCD.
thanks,
DenTP4rm

[gator]

I have not swapped a LCD panel before, but there are lots and ltos of people here who have done it. It is not that difficult, though a first timer might be a bit overwhelmed. If you follow the instructions carefully, I don't think it should be a problem.

[EOMtp]

Is it as simples as it looks there? ... if the cables would all be the same

Yes, it is that simple! All the cables for the T60/p series are the same.

You should know one thing that is not obvious: the LCD bezel has double-sided tape around the perimeter (two 2" pieces along each of the four sides, which you will have to "release" by applying gentle pressure upwards so that the tape "lets go". Start lifting the bezel from the bottom left side, then along the bottom to the right, then symmetrically along the left and right edges, and finally off the top edge.

[DenTP4rm]

Hey EOMtp,
Thanks for that valuable tip. I would not have known about that. I just started a new thread Thinkpad LCD Replacement Guides & Advice http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=42104. This is the kind of help I'm looking for.

What was your old screen and what did you replace it with? I plan to replace an ID-tech with a Boe-Hydis and just wanted to know if the connectors and power supply would be the same.
thanks,
DenTP4rm

[EOMtp]

I plan to replace an ID-tech with a Boe-Hydis and just wanted to know if the connectors and power supply would be the same.

As I mentioned above, everything inside the "top" of the machine -- except the LCD panel itself -- is LCD panel-independent, i.e., is the same for all T60/p series machines that have the same screen size.

Clarification: There are 4 types of LCD cables (with and without Bluetooth connector, for XGA vs. SXGA+/UXGA) but those differences are not dependent on the brand of the LCD panel.

[DenTP4rm]

EOMtp
Thanks for the clarification. So, as long as it's a T60p compatible screen I should be able to just disconnect the old one and connect the new one?
By the way, that thread got moved to the General Hardware and Software Questions category.
thanks,
DenTP4rm

[EOMtp]

I should be able to just disconnect the old one and connect the new one?

Yes. Please see the edit to the clarification above.

Note that the LCD cable connection to the LCD panel is covered by a piece of thick white tape shaped somewhat like a trapezoid. Peel the tape carefully away from the LCD panel side (not from the cable side) until you expose the connector, then pull the cable out of the socket. Pull on the cable only in the plane of the LCD panel; do NOT lift the LCD cable socket off the back surface of the LCD panel more than 1mm or so.

[garyd9]

Just got my replacement t60p (15.4") in. My old one had the samsung screen, and the new one has the LG. Tonight, I'll put them side-by-side for a more direct contrast, but I thought I'd give my initial impressions (these impressions are before having proper drivers installed on the new machine):

The samsung screen had quite a bit of light leakage on the bottom of the screen. The LG has nearly none. The Samsung screen had a "shadow" on the lower right-hand corner, while the LG doesn't. The samsung, however, has a much better viewing angle than the LG.

For direct "head on" viewing, the LG is nicer to look at. When viewing from an angle, however, the Samsung is nicer to look at.

More to come...

[garyd9]

Just got my replacement t60p (15.4") in. My old one had the samsung screen, and the new one has the LG.

Okay, I was able to put them side by side... I better understand why the LG looks less "grainy" than the Samsung. Not sure a better way to describe it... It's just that solid colors look more solid on the LG than on the Samsung.

However... I like the colors on the samsung a bit better than the LG. The LG looks a bit over saturated. This should be easily corrected with the catalyst driver settings, or perhaps an adjustment to the ICM file.

Finally, my initial impressions were right in that the LG loses its saturation and some contrast when viewed at an angle while the Samsung retains what it has at a steeper viewing angle. This is most noticable at vertical angles (even angles as slight as 10-20 degrees.) However, the screen is still usable at steep angles.. just not as... pretty.

Unfortunatly, I'm unable to take pictures showing the difference. Unknown to me, my wife sent my camera to Canon to have the sensor cleaned (apparently she didn't didn't know I have a thin rubber spatula I use for that purpose.)

Why must our spouses be so helpful?!

[asiafish]

I'd love to try Flexview, but I'm not willing to go with a 15" laptop. Even a 14" T series is the absolute limit of bulk that I'm willing to tolerate (why I'm always bouncing between X and T).

[ennma]

So has anyone made a comparison on the 3 manufacturers

I want to replace my lcd, not bright enough and the white point
is a bit on the yellow side,

lenovo parts look up my mfg is 13N7060 but replacement 13N7061
This is BOE,

I am wondering if the Samsung or TMD are better, I can only find specs on the BOE


Thanks

[aviography]

Just got my replacement t60p (15.4") in. My old one had the samsung screen, and the new one has the LG.

Okay, I was able to put them side by side... I better understand why the LG looks less "grainy" than the Samsung. Not sure a better way to describe it... It's just that solid colors look more solid on the LG than on the Samsung.

However... I like the colors on the samsung a bit better than the LG. The LG looks a bit over saturated. This should be easily corrected with the catalyst driver settings, or perhaps an adjustment to the ICM file.

Finally, my initial impressions were right in that the LG loses its saturation and some contrast when viewed at an angle while the Samsung retains what it has at a steeper viewing angle. This is most noticable at vertical angles (even angles as slight as 10-20 degrees.) However, the screen is still usable at steep angles.. just not as... pretty.

Hmmm, I felt exactly opposite! I am actually in th process of having the Samsung 15.4" screen replaced with the LG screen.

The unit I bought for myself has the Samsung screen, but we bought a few of the exact same machine type at work that came with the LG screen, so I brought my unit in and set it side by side for comparsion, everyone from our IT people to engineers all liked the LG screen without exception.

I find the Samsung screen to be artifically bright in the direct cone of vision, but the brightness outside of this cone drops off quite noticeably, such that I see this drop off if I move my head just a few inches off center, it gives me a headache after a while, where the LG screen is much more consistant and evenly lit across the screen even when I move my eye point a few inches from the center.

As for Samsung looking better from the side, who cares? I don't look at my laptop screen from the side, and I sure as hell don't want other people to look at my laptop screen from the side!

[asiafish]

[quote="garyd9I don't look at my laptop from the side, and I sure as hell don't want other people to look at my laptop from the side!

Thats why I never wanted a laptop with a FlexView screen.

[Puppy]

A bit OT here but there is review of N200 with 15" WSXGA+ having pictures comparing the display with 15" SXGA+ IPS. It hurts to see how crappy current displays are ...

[zhshj444]

Can anybody tell me if I can replace the LCD without voiding the warranty? cos I just got my 2623 T60P and found its LCD is IDTECH, now I want to order a BOE lcd and replace it by myself.

[brainpicker]

A bit OT here but there is review of N200 with 15" WSXGA+ having pictures comparing the display with 15" SXGA+ IPS. It hurts to see how crappy current displays are ...

A friend of mine just bought a T60 with a 15" SXGA+ Flexview. Where he found it I haven't a clue, but when I saw it next to my wife's R60 non-Flexview I was sick! Then he tells me he's going to have to sell it due to financial problems and I starting feeling better! He sold me his 2 day old 2007-7KU and I am one happy man. My wife was amazed and asked why I didn't get her this one in the first place! I don't remember my R50p screen being this nice. I sold her R60 today. Yeah I know it's not a wide screen, but to us it's SO much better than the other panels we don' care. Knowing that this may be the last SXGA+ Flexview ever I might just have to keep this T60 forever. UXGA is too small for us in a 15" size at this point in our lives.

- Yak

[ricka01]

The first post in this list says that there are no 14" T60 flexview models. However, I just saw some one claim to have one for sale. Can this be true?
Thanks.

[brainpicker]

The first post in this list says that there are no 14" T60 flexview models. However, I just saw some one claim to have one for sale. Can this be true?
Thanks.

No.

[Redmumba]

So I guess as a soon-to-be T61 (14.1" WXGA+) owner, I can kiss any chance of getting a decent screen goodbye?

[Jaydoublem]

hello everybody, I am also currently looking for a T6X,
is there any chance that there will be 14" non widescreen models available sometime, or will I have to buy used to get it?

[brainpicker]

hello everybody, I am also currently looking for a T6X,
is there any chance that there will be 14" non widescreen models available sometime, or will I have to buy used to get it?

Well, possibly. I have a brand new one coming tomorrow (a 14" 4:3 T60p) that I bought to evaluate side-by-side with my 15" Flexview. If it's not as bad as all the other T60 & R60 screens I've seen to date I'd like to keep it and sell the big Flexview to get down (finally) to one laptop. If not, then I will sell that new 14" T60p, so stay tuned!

- Yak

[egalvan]

I have a T60P, SXGA IPS.

Which would be a better replacement? I want the brightest, sharpest screen.

13N7076

or

13N7194

Do I need any other parts changed out? cables or inverter?

Thanks

[crashnburn]

How does the price go down with VISA?

PS: Did you guys ever meet up in Houston?

[wern_er]

Hi, I come from Czech Republic so sorry for my English

I want to buy my first ThinkPad, ThinkPad T61 14,1". In the Czech Republic is available in three different models. I want integrated graphics card for longer battery life, but with integrated graphics card from Intel is available only 1 model with WXGA LCD type. I am PHP programmer and I want T61 for my work. Is better the WXGA or WXGA+ for programming? I don't want "zoom" letters in Windows! I am affraid that with WXGA+ will be not programming comfortable. I used HP nc6400 with 1280x800 and it was comfortable and adequate. Is better for my needs WXGA or WXGA+ display?

[gator]

wern_er, Welcome to Thinkpad Forums!

A WXGA+ display on a 14" is really good for programming, simply because you can see more lines of code than you can see on a WXGA screen/ The fonts will be a bit smaller, but very importantly, they will be sharper due to the increased resolution. This is something people usually miss when they think about high resolution screens.

I strongly suggest you go see a WXGA+ display and compare it with an WXGA display before you make your decision.

[wern_er]

Thx. I want to go to Lenovo centrum, but they have only 1 type of T61 at stock now. With WXGA+ display are only T61 with discrete graphics card, but I want integrated for better battery life and lower price (battery life at first). I use notebook only for my work, I don't need graphics card from nvidia.

[GomJabbar]

@wern_er

I also feel that you will be more pleased with the + model. You can change the DPI in Display Properties if the fonts are too small for you. That's what I did with my SXGA+ display. I chose a custom DPI setting of 111%. My previous ThinkPad was XGA, and I can say I prefer the SXGA+ display.

[Ted_E]

The first post in this list says that there are no 14" T60 flexview models. However, I just saw some one claim to have one for sale. Can this be true?
Thanks.

No.

Maybe. I recently bought a refurb 2007-C4U T60 from IBM Canada. Somewhere in the docs, possibly in ThinkVantage stuff under XP (I rarely run windows and am not at present), I read that it is flexview. I cannot find an unequivocal assertion on the Lenovo site but I did find a table under replacement parts that states that it is SXGA+. I can also tell you that side by side with my T23 there is no comparison. The display is brighter, crisper and viewable with minimal degradation from a much wider angle.

Ted

[ment2b]

Ok, new to this forum and wish I had come by before I bought my T60.(14.1 SXVGA+)

The display on this model is absolutely terrible IMO, compared to my T23 (XGA). Very washed out and unviewable anywhere other than a dimly lit room.

The t23 has settings (other than brightness) that adjust for different viewing conditions. The T60, via the Catalyst, display has very limited adjustments and no amout of tweaking has allowed me to get the screen anywhere near the quality of the T23, which is sharp, crisp and vivid.

So I'm posting this to ask if I'm missing something because I'd like to keep the machine. But if this is as good as it gets

BTW, as an aside, I tried a HP6400 from Costco, for half the price, and the display was far better.

[Ted_E]

[quote="ment2b"]Ok, new to this forum and wish I had come by before I bought my T60.(14.1 SXVGA+)

The display on this model is absolutely terrible IMO, compared to my T23 (XGA). Very washed out and unviewable anywhere other than a dimly lit room.

Have you checked the BIOS settings? There is a setting for brightness range there. What model is yours? Mine is a 2007-C4U and the screen is anything but dim. At home in a well lit work area I normally run two steps below max brightness.

The t23 has settings (other than brightness) that adjust for different viewing conditions. The T60, via the Catalyst,

Never heard of Catalyst. I assume that's a windows thing. What version do you have?

Ted