Buying and x220

[slick]

Hello,

I have been thinking of purchasing a x220 for my sister. After searching around on ebay, I found most of them to be around 250-400$[1] and most of them have 15-30 days for returns/replacement. Here is the one I am thinking of buying.

Are there any things specific to x220 that I should be keeping in mind? I am planning on testing things during the break and then shipping it.

Thanks!

[emeraldgirl08]

I would suggest getting her one that has the IPS panel option. The screen on the ebay link looks to be a TN panel which generally gets very limited viewing angles. Here is a video of the comparison of a TN vs an IPS panel in an X220.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8MO-XaCZ_8

The panel on the right is the IPS and the one on the left is the TN panel.

[slick]

I would suggest getting her one that has the IPS panel option. The screen on the ebay link looks to be a TN panel which generally gets very limited viewing angles. Here is a video of the comparison of a TN vs an IPS panel in an X220.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8MO-XaCZ_8

The panel on the right is the IPS and the one on the left is the TN panel.

Indeed, the ips screen looks quite nice. Apart from asking the seller, are there any other ways to find out if the laptop has an ips display?

Thanks!

[emeraldgirl08]

Well it takes a little digging. Sometimes the sellers are just resellers who wouldn't know an IPS screen if it came up and bit them!

Look at the picture that has the BIOS displayed. Write down the alphanumeric digits for 'Machine Type Model' and 'System Unit Serial Number.' You will enter these numbers into the Lenovo Support site to get information about this (or any other specific one you want to know more about) x220 to see what parts it left the factory with.

Go here--> http://support.lenovo.com/us/en

Click on 'Search by Machine Type Model' >> enter in the 7 digits of the 'Machine Type Model' you wrote down >> a detailed description of the X220 will come up with some details of the hardware and software it was equipped with.

To get to the exact parts of the LCD>> click on the 'Product and Parts' tab >> click on 'Parts Lookup' >> enter in the digits for the 'System Unit Serial Number' and also the 'Machine Model Type' >> this will generate a parts list at the bottom of the page. There is where you will find important part numbers and FRU numbers which identify what parts the specific x220 you are looking up left the factory with.

Now download the HMM here--> http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 739_04.pdf

Save this file. It is a remarkable PDF that is very helpful! Okay go to page 128-130 of the PDF and there you will see the FRU of the TN panels and the IPS panels (which are identified as LCD panel, 12.5-in. HD LED backlight premium). If the numbers do not match with the 'premium' then it is a TN panel. Premium=IPS panel.

Sorry my response is a bit convoluted but it is one for sure way to find out how the specific x220 you are looking at left the factory. If you were to receive one with parts that do not match up then most likely the seller or previous owner replaced parts. You can sort of tell it is TN also. Look at that photo of the BIOS screen on that ebay listing. The blacks sort of wash out and look grayish. An IPS panel will not wash out and look gray like that. Black will remain black no matter what angle you look at it from.

Hope this helps!

[GomJabbar]

Ask the seller to supply the Type number which is on a sticker on the bottom of the X220. For example, the Type number on my X220 is 4290-33U. Next, look for that Type number in the "Personal Systems Reference" to check the specs. What you are looking for is listed as "12.5" HD Prem". It is the 'Prem' that indicates IPS.

Widescreen Display
Some: 12.5" (317.5mm) HD (1366x768) TFT color, anti-glare, LED backlight,
200 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 300:1 contrast ratio

Some: (Premium) 12.5" (317.5mm) HD (1366x768) TFT color, anti-glare, LED backlight,
300 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 500:1 contrast ratio, IPS, WideView (170° viewing)

http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/psref411.pdf

[slick]

Sorry my response is a bit convoluted but it is one for sure way to find out how the specific x220 you are looking at left the factory. If you were to receive one with parts that do not match up then most likely the seller or previous owner replaced parts. You can sort of tell it is TN also. Look at that photo of the BIOS screen on that ebay listing. The blacks sort of wash out and look grayish. An IPS panel will not wash out and look gray like that. Black will remain black no matter what angle you look at it from.

Hope this helps!

On the contrary, I found your post very helpful. While the process is a little long its foolproof

Thank you!

[skrble]

Anyway!
If you are looking for a X220 unit, count with fact, that IPS on X220 suffers from "ghosting" efect. This is something like "burned screen" on plasma TVs or Amoled displays (you can often spot it in phone shops), altough in this case we talk about temporary effect, it usually disapears within few minutes.
It just like when you are chatting on FB for a hour and then suddenly open a PDF, you will see there some lines from previous FB page. Just count with it, indeed on my previous X220 I had a TN panel only and this is something absolutely different!!!

[ZaZ]

If you are looking for a X220 unit, count with fact, that IPS on X220 suffers from "ghosting" efect.

Had two X220, one ordered the first day, and I never saw any ghosting.

[skrble]

Had two X220, one ordered the first day, and I never saw any ghosting.

Although the link attached below shows MacBook screen, I sometimes face the same issue. As I said, you have to stay some time on one page (as I said, it is usually visible after some Facebook chatting). TN machines are absolutely free of this issue.

I am very happy to listen that Your units are fine. I just wanted to notice user slick to keep it on mind. There are many topics on the internet discussing this problem. X220 is fine machine, but it has it's bugs (like each other laptop) and it is always good to know these facts, before you actually buy it.

Link to MacBook screen picture (example): http://i.imgur.com/Whkme.jpg
-----
edit: Link to X220 screen: http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8223 ... forum1.jpg

[dr_st]

Had two X220, one ordered the first day, and I never saw any ghosting.

Having now seen a fairly random sample of a few different X220 IPS screens, I can say that there is definitely a huge variance on how noticeable the "ghosting" is. On some it will be almost impossible to spot during normal usage - only if you specifically go looking for it. But I think they all have it, without exceptions.

[skrble]

But I think they all have it (ghosting), without exceptions.

All X220s and X230s come with IPS screen manufactured by LG, so there may be some differences, but they all are propably based on the same "platform".

Those IPS issues, extremely awful TN screens and badly designed palmrest & LCD bezel (they tend to crack or bend) are the biggest weaknesses of those machines. But I still love my X220 and would it recommend it to everybody Nothing is perfect.

[rjwilmsi]

Better screens are always worth having, though majority of used ThinkPad X220 models will have a TN screen. So it may well be cheaper to buy the TN machine and install an IPS screen yourself. Suitable IPS screens are readily available on eBay as well. Haven't done it myself though there are plenty of YouTube videos showing how to do it, looks fine if you're patient.