Thinkpads Forum

While the X300 is a well built machine I just can't get use to the poor screen and the non-responsive touchpad. I'm now using the Sony SZ780. It does weigh a few more ounces but it's substantially faster (Intel T9300@2.5Ghz) and the screen is the best on the market.

Troels wrote:...throw the stock LCD away, and get yourself a Boe Hydis HV121WX5 AFFS LCD
See: http://www.beck-oled-lcd-tft-display.de ... X5-100.pdf

...

Is this panel in current use on any notebook anywhere?
If not, are you basing its merits solely on the technology behind the panel?

Andrew

duffy wrote:...The MBA and Sony SZ (TZ is even better) have some of the best TN displays available...

I agree completely. The MBA and SZ are the best 13.3" standard WXGA screens around, and the TZ is the sharpest notebook display that I have ever seen. It is 11.1" WXGA+ . Amazingly sharp.

Andrew

aamsel wrote:Is this panel in current use on any notebook anywhere?
If not, are you basing its merits solely on the technology behind the panel?

Andrew

Sorry, i simply forgot my post here. I'm not sure if the WX5 is in use anywhere, but the WX6 which is very similar is used in a Fujitsu T2010. And they also seem to use the 8.9" FFS LCD too in their P1620. This is according to others.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=60907

See some pics of the T2010 here:
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=9788
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4419

Actually, I just found this review of a X300. It's in German, and they unfortunately measured the screen performance to 117:1 on page two.
http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests/520/1

That's just far from acceptable. Maybe it's possibe to swap the LCD with one from an MBA which has a CR of about 600:1, but of course, the resolution is lower.

I got my x300 day, used to use T43p with a IPS panel. I have both of the notebooks sitting next to each other, wow.. the X300's screen is just sucks comparing to the T43p's one. Well I knew it gonna be bad.

I love everything else about this notebook, but the not the LCD quality

I got my x300 day, used to use T43p with a IPS panel. I have both of the notebooks sitting next to each other, wow.. the X300's screen is just sucks comparing to the T43p's one.

I have been using an X300 alongside my T60p with IPS for a few weeks now and the screen quality of the former is woeful. I had not really expected anything different, even at the top dollar cost of the X300.

What, however, I find really anoying though is the X300 keyboard, which can only be described as cr*p. It is tinny, entirely lacking in the classic TP feel and, like a couple of other posters, I also have the new "ASD-Flex", which Lenovo do actually seem to be saying is some manner of inbuilt design feature that I am too stupid to appreciate. Attempts to reseat the keyboard have been futile.

Having shelled out, in USD terms, close to 4K for the X300, I do not feel it is unreasonable to expect Lenovo to have spent barely a few dollars more on ensuring the machine came with a decent keyboard.

1 LED color is a little bit "cold white", can't compare with T43p IPS 15' UXGA

2 right conner of keyboard is soft

3 battery performance isn't so good as it was said


SSD do give X300 a faster performance in OS

How can the x300 display be rated in comparison to t61p wuxga display ? Is it comparable or is it as bad as 14" t60p sxga+ display which doesn't have any vertical viewing angles and completely washed ?

Here's one compared to my T61p 14" SXGA+. I have to give the upper hand to the T61 SXGA+ (Samsung panel). The colors are a little more vibrant. Resolution seems about perfect. I find that I strain my eyes a little with the X300. The vertical viewing angles are also better on the 14".


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/265 ... c9b3_o.jpg

with that note, I'll be selling my X300 and keeping the T61p. The price differential of $1,500 wasn't worth it for the reduced weight and horrible screen.

It seems as even Asus Eee PC has better display than ThinkPad X300. This review http://www.notebookcheck.net/Short-Revi ... 640.0.html says contrast ratio is 620:1.

Confirmed, the screen is really subaverage crap. According this review http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Len ... 852.0.html the contrast ratio is only 131:1 It is probably the worst Lenovo screen ever (in the most expensive notebook).

Puppy wrote:Confirmed, the screen is really subaverage crap.

I've seen people ask you this multiple times, but I don't think I've ever seen you answer it - have you ever actually held an X300 and used it?

nonny wrote:I've seen people ask you this multiple times, but I don't think I've ever seen you answer it - have you ever actually held an X300 and used it?

Not yet (and I understand your doubts) but I'd like to of course. We can speculate whether the contrast value and pictures in the review are correct or not. I tend to believe it because the reviews looks very precise.

When I was looking for a LCD monitor I could choose from about 50 models. In perfect world I should have seen all of them. Unfortunately it is impossible in real world so I have select them somehow, using the specs presuming they are rather correct in mid-range and better category. The constrast ratio value in the review is so bad together with "One other weakness of the display panel is its limited perspective stability" indicates the display must be very below average (typical washed out look known from former 14" SXGA+ models) considering it is premium price notebook.

I'm happy with my X300 screen.

I haven't compared it to other Lenovo screens but even if it is inferior by today's standards (which I don't believe) it nevertheless is better than anything available a few years ago. It isn't a bit worse compared to my 1½ year old 23" Apple Cinema Display, except for resolution of course.

Speaking of resolution, 1440x900 is excellent for a 13" laptop, especially when used to a 12" notebook with 1024x768 resolution.

Puppy wrote:According this review ... the contrast ratio is only 131:1...

The German c't magazine (magazin für computertechnik) measured the X300 display panel's contrast to be 200:1. And i am under the impression that the people at c't magazine do know what they are doing.

Puppy wrote:

nonny wrote:I've seen people ask you this multiple times, but I don't think I've ever seen you answer it - have you ever actually held an X300 and used it?

Not yet (and I understand your doubts) but I'd like to of course. We can speculate whether the contrast value and pictures in the review are correct or not. I tend to believe it because the reviews looks very precise.

I prefer to believe my own eyes over reviews. The screen that I'm looking at as I'm writing this message on is on an X300 and is fine. It's clear, bright and sharp with good color.

There are so many positive aspects of the X300 that I would buy one in a heartbeat except for the marginal screen. I saw a colleague's X300 and the keyboard, form factor, trackpoint, and everything was great but the screen was a real letdown.

The most recent August 2008 issue of PC World last page article "Laptops: In Search of Bearable Lightness" looks at all the current petite models and states all the positives of the X300and then says "but the 13.3 inch LED backlit screen is rather dim" and goes onto the next model saying the Sony's VAIO TZ screen is "by far the best of the bunch". If Sony can put good screens on their laptops, what is the problem where Lenovo cannot do the same thing.

I would really miss the trackpoint after using Thinkpads since the early 1990's but have came to the conclusion that I cannot live with their horrible screens no matter how good the rest of the components are. My T61p was a real letdown as soon as I saw the harsh contrast and horrible viewing angles of the screen. Everything is so nice about it except the terrible screen. What a shame! I hope Lenovo sees the light and at least starts offering a good screen even at an optional price. I would gladly pay significantly more for the good screen to have the rest of the Lenovo quality.

billj32, are you coming from using an IPS screen?

No, I have never had an IPS screen but have seen them. They are incredible. I sure wish they were still available. I would gladly pay $1000 more for a top of the line Thinkpad with one. The screen is such an important component of a laptop, it would be one of the first items I would want to upgrade. Even my old non-IPS T40p screen is far superior to my T61p screen when I set them side by side. I was hoping that the backlit LED screen on the X300 would be better but it seemed mottled with poor viewing angles just like my T61p.

I was looking forward to the X300 for the longest time. It would have been the perfect laptop. However, the LCD was the biggest disappointment. I could live with the lower power processor, but that LCD is the absolute worst. Unless, there are dramatically different panels used in the X300; I don't see how anyone can say that it's a "not bad" LCD. To me it was just horrible. The brightness was great, but the colors were washed out. I compared it to a new 14.1" SXGA LCD on my T61p and it night and day. The optimal horizontal viewing angle range was only 10-15 degrees. The resolution was not very good either. I had a headache using the X300.

RaysMD wrote:Unless, there are dramatically different panels used in the X300; I don't see how anyone can say that it's a "not bad" LCD. To me it was just horrible.

<shrug> I guess it's just a YMMV thing because mine is fine.

I have to say my screen although not as bright as other laptops, I'm fine with it, I don't get headaches or eye strain, resolution is perfect.

Anyway, I would not have even thought there was a problem with the display if I had not read it here first.

Apart from the cost of the unit, I love this laptop, the keyboard, form factor, the speed is fine for what I use it for, connectivity options, 64 Bit, weight, DVD, Fingerprint, Camera, funky email notification, Thinkvantage suite and build quality.

There's a lot to like, nothing in my mind to put down after three months, it still looks like new.

Now where's my W500?

i think this thread just sealed it for me. i went into RCS in nyc to pick up an x300 and the only thing that stopped me was the screen. the salesman told me that the screen was meant for business users, not for entertainment, which is why the screen looked bad. so i went back with my t43p (flexview) and my t60. the x300 screen was actually worse in my opinion than my t60. and there was just no comparison to the t43p. so i passed on it. for me, the screen is a deal-breaker b/c i do a lot of cad and graphics on it. i too would gladly pay more for a top of the line screen.

absolutely agree, your t43p is worth 10 X300 machines

craigg wrote:While the X300 is a well built machine I just can't get use to the poor screen and the non-responsive touchpad. I'm now using the Sony SZ780. It does weigh a few more ounces but it's substantially faster (Intel T9300@2.5Ghz) and the screen is the best on the market.

Sure but the keyboard layout just plain sucks.

The only downside of the x300 screen is the fact that its blacks suffer from bleeding from the outsides, but with normal use, even viewing a 720p tv-series downloaded h.264 mkv, you won't notice a thing.
The Macbook pro my gf uses has the exact same 1440x900 pixels, but a glossy screen. Practically unusable outside or with too much light around.

RaysMD wrote:However, the LCD was the biggest disappointment. ... The optimal horizontal viewing angle range was only 10-15 degrees. The resolution was not very good either. I had a headache using the X300.

The screen resolution is horrendous. Unless you are looking at this from the perfect angle, the screen appears cloudy and is unreadable. Even from the direct angle the sharpness is terrible. I have been working with this machine for 4 days, and yes the machine is light and the SSD drive boots Vista quickly....
BUT - Do yourself a favor - save the 15% restocking fee - and don't order this one - because you will surely wish to send this back because the screen is that bad!
-----
x300 6476CTO 1.2GHz L7100 4GB WXGA+ (on its way back to Lenovo)
X60t 6365CTO 1.83GHz L2500 2GB SXGA+

EnergySka wrote:The screen resolution is horrendous.

Hmm.. that is just a lie. There's nothing wrong with the "resolution". You can simply set the font DPI higher (around 100 or so) and it'll be fine.

But I do agree when you classify this as a bad screen. I'm actually surprised lenovo dares to sell it for this ridiculous price. The screen of my 7 year old Toshiba Sat. notebook is much better. You can get ANY Dell for a third the price that is both completely silent (in comparison to the x300) and has a much better screen.
I also found the F-keys to be terribly positioned on this board. Because the Esc key is not at the left of the F keys, the F-keys are shifted way to the left. Where you normally would have the F8 key above the 9 and 0 keys (precisely in between), on the x300 they are somewhere else.. Takes a lot of getting used to..

Really, I too am more than disappointed in this product. I have not felt so ripped off in ages, to be perfectly honest.

good. take a look at the resale prices on ebay. they're horrendous. glad I was able to get rid of mine for a good price. only took a $200 hit.

billj32 wrote:The most recent August 2008 issue of PC World last page article "Laptops: In Search of Bearable Lightness" looks at all the current petite models and states all the positives of the X300and then says "but the 13.3 inch LED backlit screen is rather dim" and goes onto the next model saying the Sony's VAIO TZ screen is "by far the best of the bunch". If Sony can put good screens on their laptops, what is the problem where Lenovo cannot do the same thing.

I was asking myself the same question. Why did lenovo use this panel for this laptop? So it uses LED backlighting. What are the extra qualities of that?

mmm wrote:Why did lenovo use this panel for this laptop?

Because Lenovo wanted the X300 to have a higher resolution than the X200, the MacBook Air, the Dell m1330 and all other 13.3" laptops. So they needed a 1440x900 panel, and this was (and still is) the only 13.3" panel with such a resolution.

EDIT: There's now a 13.3" panel with 1600x900, but Lenovo can't use that because its aspect ratio is 16:9 whereas the X300 is 16:10.