Advice requested - X60 screen problems, replacing LCD cable

[minionhunter]

Hi,

My well loved X60 has a problem in that the screen is unreadable (scrambled) when ever it is opened. Except that I can get it to work by positioning it just right, then it lasts for an indefinite time and any bumps and bruises knock it out requiring 2-5 min of work to get it back working. I am guessing it is the LCD ribbon cable and it is worn or something is wrong with it. So it needs to be replaced. I have three questions I would request advice on.

1. So I need a new laptop, I figure that I should get the tablet this time since the X60 is almost the X60t without the useful tablet features. Is the X220t the tablet correlate to my X60?

It seems like from Monday to today it changed from not for sale till June, to available for order right now. It does not advertise the core i7 processors that the pdf says it will have, just the core i3. I wonder if this will change. I want the lightest (#1, never going back to anything laptop/tablet/portable over 4 pounds, EVER) and most powerful (#2) tablet I can get for daily use (academic science use, being able to run molecular graphics software which requires significant processor power (and cores), but not to run molecular dynamics on its own).

Sub question, Is there anything else that would be better than X220t that is a tablet and is as light for the processing speed?

2. Any recommendations of things to have/get with a tablet that I wouldn't realize not owning one before, just having used my laptop?

3. I've read the X60 hardware manual, and the LCD ribbon cable looks like one of, if not the, most involved part to replace. I'm considering replacing it once I have my new tablet up and running so that my wife can have it if I can fix it. Can anyone with experience recommend for or against trying this? I would rather now have to pay someone a few hundred dollars to do the same thing. I've built three desktops from scratch, but I've yet to take apart a laptop. Also, I would love a recommendation to where I can order the cable.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I've UTFSE and found one topic on replacing the LCD cable. I've read the FAQ and tried to comply with all restrictions on posting, but I have only waited three days before posting. I just think my little laptop may die soon, so I wanted to ask for help before it does.

Sincerely,

Matt

[RealBlackStuff]

The cable should be available on eBay or you can order direct from IBM.
When ordering, check that you get the right cable, there are versions with and without BlueTooth, both in varieties for different LCDs as well (SPWG or TMD), AND this group also differentiates between X60 and X61, so beware!

For us to assist you better, what is the Type/Model and ProductID (see sticker on the bottom of the laptop)?

[minionhunter]

1709CTO is the type/model
X60 with bluetooth and the IBM wireless card, I never use the bluetooth since anytime it is on I get the worst headache and my ears hurt.

I backed up all my data, so I think I'm going to try and take it apart and just reseat the cable on the motherboard and make it less cockeyed looking to see if that helps. The X220t does not have the corei7 chip yet, so I need to wait if possible.