How do I actually identify the IPS screen?

[Karakasa]

There are way too many offers out there with no mention about IPS - even if included (as I learned on enquiry). Is there any way to tell IPS by resolution or other acronyms?

[ZaZ]

Tilt the screen back. If the image does not invert, it's IPS. There's very few IPS screens on the market.

[Vempele]

Enter the type number in http://lenovo.com/think/support.

[sanjuro]

Combination of large viewing angle ( > 170 degrees) and color gamut - e.g. how smoothly colors changes - is a sure sign of IPS. Having used IPS displays for a while, it's easy to tell whether the display is 6 bit TN or 8 bit IPS.

[erik]

...it's easy to tell whether the display is 6 bit TN or 8 bit IPS.

every IPS notebook panel ever found in a thinkpad is 6-bit.   this is easily proven in panel manufacturer datasheets.

[dr_st]

Right. And while it is very easy to tell a TN from an IPS, I have no idea how to tell a 6bit panel from an 8bit in a glance.

[Q-Ball]

Check this out: (http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/news_archiv ... our_depths).

Apparently, for the regular user, you can't tell the difference. So it would be difficult to see the difference.

[GomJabbar]

Watch the movie!
http://www.youtube.com/v/p8MO-XaCZ_8

"IPS" aka "HD Premium" aka "WideView" [don't confuse with widescreen]

[sanjuro]

It seems like one has to know the manufacturer part number and the spec to be certain.

I use Apple Cinema Display which uses LG IPS panel and is very nice. Most other LCDs I see around work seem to be TN. Their viewing angle and color palette are such that I think they are 6-bit, but I can't be sure since I haven't looked up the manufacturer spec.

Some have 30 inch non-Apple LCD and I am pretty sure they are IPS, but not as nice as Apple's. May be it's the difference between S-IPS vs E-IPS. Or how evenly and brightly LCDs are illuminated. Not too many Samsungs or those I suspect to be PVA panels... Few Dell monitors I encountered seem to be non-IPS and mostly cheapo TNs.

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

If you look on eBay.nl, there are only two ads that mention IPS; one X220 Tablet from the USA and one X220 from Austria.

So is the IPS screen very rare, or are the others not stating it clearly?

[sanjuro]

If you look on eBay.nl, there are only two ads that mention IPS; one X220 Tablet from the USA and one X220 from Austria.

So is the IPS screen very rare, or are the others not stating it clearly?

Most IPS LCDs don't state they are IPS. Many times it's necessary to look at spec or actually LCD manufacturer's part number. Most consumers don't understand IPS so some don't advertise IPS.

Some companies often have multiple sources, some IPS and others non-IPS. These companies, if they are honest, will not label them IPS. So you can get a panel lottery as well.

Thinkpad tablets have multiple sources: AFFS, PVA etc. Even the tabook says so.

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

I meant: if you look on ebay.nl for 'thinkpad x220'

Yes, you're right that most LCD's, even if IPS, aren't marketed as IPS. Fortunately LG finally started a marketing campaign around IPS as having better color and viewing angles.

I have some Dell 2007FP LCD's, so I know all too well about lottery

[sanjuro]

So is the IPS screen very rare, or are the others not stating it clearly?

IPS for notebooks is still rare. Aside from X220, HP and Dell are selling some notebooks with IPS. HP calls it Dreamcolor and claim 10 bit. Not sure about Dell's marketing other than it may be Precision line.

In desktop LCDs, Dell, HP, NEC, and LG sell IPS displays. Most don't call it IPS though mention IPS in their description sometimes. Dell does panel lottery.

IPS panels are used by Apple for ipad though panels are also supplied by Samsung now, which don't build IPS. There is panel lottery going on there, though most don't know better. IPS is used in some LCD TV's. LG is infamous for doing panel lottery on some of their TVs.