Thinkpads Forum

I've seen X6 series out and about, and these seem small enough to be a take-around device, hopefully removing the need for a tablet (ipad-class) gadget. I haven't handled or seen an X tablet; I understand they're not the same slim, just-small-enough size as the others but if I understand correctly only the tablets has a useful screen resolution (1400x1050).

How much larger/heavier is an X tablet vs standard, and how much, subjectively, does that degrade carryability and coffee-shop type use?
Does the screen wash out near a sunny window, or is it "transflective" like a phone screen?

I found the X200 and X200t to be pretty similar for portability, but this is highly subjective. I would expect the same of the X61t and X61. The benefit of X61t is it gets you a much better screen, but the touch surface adds a bit of noise to the screen.

I had an X61 tablet with SXGA+ for a couple weeks back in Dec 2007. Even with the small battery, it weighed 3.84 lbs, about a pound heavier than the X61s. It's even heavier than my Toughbook Y5, which is 14.1" SXGA+ and has an optical drive.

FredGarvin wrote:but the touch surface adds a bit of noise to the screen.

I disagree. It adds lots of noise to the screen, so much that I actually prefer low-end TN screens.

For these two reasons, get the X61 tablet only if you need tablet functionality. Don't get it just for the screen.

Then the X6 do not seem to be such great choice, it's either low res or obscured + thicker.

There is an X100e ( model # from memory not exact) in the lenovo outlet for less than an X61, I know nothing of that series tho. It's about 1360x768; not ideal but it is $250. How is the screen and construction on these?

pianowizard wrote:I disagree. It adds lots of noise to the screen, so much that I actually prefer low-end TN screens.

I can only speak from experience from the X200t. It had a bit of grain, but I didn't think it was that bad.

X100e is a cheapo low-end, hot-running unit. I'd leave it alone...a used X6x of any kind would be a much better choice IMO, let alone a newer X2xx series...

I've got to say that I absolutely loved my X60T with SXGA+ LCD and sold it only for the same reason most people get rid of their favourites - a dire need for cash at the given moment. It was my travel machine, and although not as light/small as I would've liked it, the sheer beauty of the screen made it palatable for silly old me...and I'm not a tablet guy whatsoever. If I pulled the pen out five times throughout the several months that I've owned it that was a lot...

My $0.02 only...

pianowizard wrote:I disagree. It adds lots of noise to the screen, so much that I actually prefer low-end TN screens.

For these two reasons, get the X61 tablet only if you need tablet functionality. Don't get it just for the screen.

i've had 3 SXGA+ X61 tablets, two had no screen protector and were very grainy. the one i use all the time doesn't really have much grain, but it has a glossyish screen protector like an invisibleshield or something. it sucks for writing sometimes but i don't want to remove it. this screen is also a lot brighter and white compared to the other ones, which were a bit yellowed.

the weight to me is nothing since i'm used to heavier 15" laptops.

I use an X60T with an 8-cell battery that I carry around regularly, and I find it to be just slightly heavier and thicker than I would like.

pianowizard wrote:I had an X61 tablet with SXGA+ for a couple weeks back in Dec 2007. Even with the small battery, it weighed 3.84 lbs, about a pound heavier than the X61s. It's even heavier than my Toughbook Y5, which is 14.1" SXGA+ and has an optical drive.

I agree with this assessment. The tablet features do make the laptop significantly heavier and slightly thicker. I would guess that an X60s/X61s size and weight would probably make me happy, but I wanted an X60T specifically because of the SXGA+ screen and because I wanted to have an opportunity to play with a tablet and see what I would do with it.

I find that I use the tablet functions primarily in two cases: when I am standing up or cramped for space (subway, bus, outside, whatever) and when I am doing a presentation (so I can write on the screen with a pen instead of using a mouse to circle something). Neither case arises too often for me, but when it does I am grateful for the flip around tablet option.

FredGarvin wrote:but the touch surface adds a bit of noise to the screen.

pianowizard wrote:I disagree. It adds lots of noise to the screen, so much that I actually prefer low-end TN screens.
For these two reasons, get the X61 tablet only if you need tablet functionality. Don't get it just for the screen.

I think there may be difference between the SXGA+ screen in the X60T and the X61T. The X60T had a reputation for being a bit washed out in direct sunlight, and they don't seem as bright as some other screens, but I would not say that the touch surface adds a lot of noise in my case. It is a very fine IPS quality screen, and even though mine is suffering from a slight yellowing effect, I still think it is an excellent screen. Note that mine is not a "multi-touch" screen that you can touch with your fingers: you need to use a pen.

By contrast, I think the X61T screens were coated differently with something that some people viewed as sparkles. This meant that the X61T screens were considerably better in bright sunlight, and overall they were just brighter looking than the X60 screens I think, but perhaps the sparkle effect is the "noise" that pianowizard and FredGarvin are referring to?

Note that I've never actually seen any X6x screen other than my own X60T screen in person, so I am just reporting on what I recall reading in other posts here on the forum.


Phil.

I have an SXGA+ X61 tablet. The SXGA+ screen does not have a touch surface, only a digitizer for the pen which is mounted behind the LCD, so any annoying effects on the screen are not from the digitizer. There is a slight sparkly effect on the screen, which I think is simply a side effect of the high density or IPS technology -- I can see the same effect on the iPhone 4 screen. It's not visible when you zoom close enough to see the subpixels. It looks kinda like sparkles or static and the pattern changes depending on what angle you look at it. Iridescent almost. Again, you can see the same effect on the iPhone 4 screen if you look closely, although it's a bit more intense on the x61t. It's hard to tell the sparkle effect apart from the noise of my camera's sensor. Will attempt to take better images if anyone wants them.

I have an eight cell battery in mine, and I'll say that the weight would be a bit annoying if you had to carry and use it in tablet mode for a very long time, but I don't know how it compares to other tablet PCs.

JakeR wrote:

There is a slight sparkly effect on the screen, which I think is simply a side effect of the high density or IPS technology

Your presumption is incorrect.

I've seen thousands of IPS and AFFS screens in every resolution ever produced and the Hydis ones used on these particular machines are the only ones with that "side effect". Even the ones used on X60T (different digitizer) show nothing similar.

I wasn't sure, which is why I said 'I think'. I thought it must have something to do with the screen technology because I recalled reading it somewhere. But now that you've replied, I looked up the thread and I see that it was the coating on the screen causing it, rather than the LCD technology. I hate when I misremember things and then look stupid.

I've seen about three different IPS screens in person, so I really don't know too much about them, but I had just noticed the effect on my machine, and so decided to comment on it.

Coating or technology - all the IPS screens I have seen exhibit more "sparkling" than your average TN screen. But nothing to bother me. It is possible that in these particular Hydis panels the effect is greatly magnified. Haven't seen them, so can't comment.

My first X6x was an X60t, which I loved. I later got my hands on a normal X60 and it was considerably more compact, in my eyes. I currently have an X60t with the sxga+ screen, and will most likely go back to a regular model for the size savings. People have mentioned the higher resolution screen is much nicer, and I can't disagree. The size difference is noticeable though, because of the larger area below the screen for the tablet buttons, the increased thickness of the lid to accommodate being able to close the screen either direction, and the seemingly wider housing to hold the stylus.

It does boil down to screen quality versus size, but if you're wondering about size difference, it's significant. I love my tablet, but I'm going to part with it in favor of the normal style machine.

Hope this helps

It is possible to retrofit the SXGA+ screen into a normal X series.