Thinkpads Forum

Hello everyone,

Need some advice one what I should do. Some of you may have seen by horrible past experience with an R500 I ordered earlier in the year. The screen seemed very washed out and while I could have sent it in for repair I didn't think the problem was the screen, rather a very poor LCD screen.

For my posting you can check out this topic:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=74760

I'd like to know if the T series uses a different LCD screen. I don't particularly need the + series for the additional resolution (I actually prefer the regular res) but am planning on getting the LCD backlight rather than the CCFL that I ordered with my R500.

I love my old T41 (which I am typing on) for the awesome keyboard (and the unique clicking) but when I had the R500 it seemed like that was lost and wasn't any better than any of the other manufactures out there.

I am hoping that the T series uses different parts than the R so any help would be appreciated. If for anything I would rather pay extra for a Thinkpad over a Dell but if the keyboard isn't the same as my T41, then there really isn't any reason to get this over a Dell.

Any input would be appreciated. It is difficult to get a good feel as there is only one local store that carries Thinkpads in my area. I just don't want to take another $150 hit like I did with my R500.

According to ThinkWiki, they use the same screens, though I believe the parts numbers are different. There's two screen - a LG and a Samsung. The LG is generally regarded as better than the Samsung. Perhaps you got the Samsung before. The R500 varies more from the T500 than the R400 does from the T400. It uses a bit more plastic in the case, and is thicker and more heavy. It lacks the roll cage in the lid, which the T500 has.

Have the keys on the keyboard changed? When I went to take a look at them today only had an R500 as a demo; I'm guessing Microcenter is phasing Thinkpads out. The keyboard sure didn't have the same feel like my T41. I guess I'm going to pass on these since the LCDs could be the same. As much as I like some of the features that a Thinkpad has, the screen is a big killer if it isn't on par with Dell or other manufactures.

I would not say Dell screens are any better.

FredGarvin wrote:I would not say Dell screens are any better.

Maybe I just got a bad screen. Someone else in my other post said it was a problem he noticed with the R500. The screen was much much better on the Vostro 1510 my friend has. I'll try to find a local store which I can at least try to see the T400 before pulling the trigger on it.