What's the most vibrant laptop screen?

[Smokestoomuch]

I've been using a couple of Wacom pen-abled laptops to draw on, the X200 Tablet (flexview, pen only) and an X61 (pen only). I've heard that the LED screens wash out with age. The X200T looks completely washed next to the much older, X61T. But I pulled out an even older P42, and it's got better colors than the X200T or the X61T.

So, what machine has the best colors? I'm most interested in the color on Wacom pen-abled machines but any answer will do, especially if you have some insight on the matter.

[ajkula66]

Machine or ThinkPad?

[Smokestoomuch]

LOL Got an opinion? I'll take either one, machine or thinkpad, as long as it's portable.

[ajkula66]

LOL Got an opinion?

Always.

I'll take either one, machine or thinkpad, as long as it's portable.

Define "portable". If you are intent on sticking with a 12" range or thereabouts, newer IPS-equiped ThinkPads (X220/230) are a reasonable choice, be it in the tablet guise or standard - presuming an IPS panel on the latter - format.

If you can see yourself carrying around a 15" machine, HP's DreamColor is impossible to beat, and its Dell sibling (PremierColor) is just as good.

[Smokestoomuch]

From what I've been reading, anything with any type of LED backlighting is going to color-shift over time. I guess that's great if your Lenovo and want to sell new stuff... not so great for those of us addicted to buying quality used Lenovo products. I'm looking at an X200T plugged in next to a T40P. A blind man could spot the difference, Colors look muted and faded on the X200T and some colors don't show up at all. So, as I was once excited about LED displays bacause of they have lots of nits, I now think I'd be better off to avoid them. If you use your tablet to draw, color shift is a BIG factor.

Real portable? Yeah, I definitely like something under 4 lbs, because 4 lbs is just light enough that I can lay down and set the machine on my chest. Then, I can make believe I'm in an I-Max movie theater (you have to get your face really close to the screen for that effect). But I could also live with a bigger machine that would never leave the house. I think I lean a little towards small, though.

PS: Will you define IPS for me?

[600X]

What you'd probably like is an RGB LED display. These have very vibrant colors. (but are very rare among laptops) What you need to be looking out for is color space. Anything that covers at least 90-95% of sRGB should provide very vibrant colors. All displays change over time, which is why you need to calibrate them regularly.

You can see the difference between IPS and TN here:

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

[ajkula66]

So, as I was once excited about LED displays bacause of they have lots of nits, I now think I'd be better off to avoid them. If you use your tablet to draw, color shift is a BIG factor.

The problem that you're going to face is that no laptop manufacturer - at least to my knowledge - offers CCFL-lit panels anymore. Everyone has gone LED. And trust you me, I'm not happy about it myself.

Real portable? Yeah, I definitely like something under 4 lbs, because 4 lbs is just light enough that I can lay down and set the machine on my chest. Then, I can make believe I'm in an I-Max movie theater (you have to get your face really close to the screen for that effect). But I could also live with a bigger machine that would never leave the house. I think I lean a little towards small, though.

You have a significantly better chance of obtaining a bigger machine - be it Lenovo or not - with a good screen IMO.

PS: Will you define IPS for me?

Start here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPS_panel

http://www.pctechguide.com/flat-panel-d ... d-monitors

[ZaZ]

I'll take either one, machine or thinkpad, as long as it's portable.

The best notebook screen you can buy would be the HP ZBook workstations with the DreamColor LCD, though there was a few Dell Precision workstations that were pretty good too. Bad news is none is close to four pounds.

It's true CFFL screens tend to have better color, the bulbs can and do dim over time, though that can vary widely depending on the panel. If you can live with the integrated trackpoint buttons, the T440s might not be a bad choice. Otherwise, the next gen ThinkPads are supposed get them back.

[Puppy]

There is difference between vibrant (unreal, oversaturated) and precise (calibrated) colors. Most of LCD displays with LED backlight are worse than CCFL ones except some Eizo desktop monitors in $25000 range and/or the overpriced DreamColor display in notebook segment regarding the precise color reproduction (it is question whether the price justifies your needs and typical usage scenario). You might want an AMOLED display, the color fidelity is horrible but due to very high contrast that any LCD display regardless of backlight technology can never reach it looks like having those "vibrant" colors. Currently AMOLED displays are used in tablets or 2in1 devices only.

Check Sony VAIO Pro 13 notebooks with IPS TRILUMINOS LED backlight displays.