Do HD+ panels have IPS?

[JJVens]

Hey everyone,

I'm new here and I've just ordered (but not yet received) a T440 with these specs:

- 4th Gen Intel Core i5-4200U Processor (3MB Cache, up to 2.60GHz)
- T440 14.1HD+ WWAN
- Intel HD Graphics 4400
- 8GB PC3-12800 0GBBS+8GB1D
- Keyboard Backlit - US English Euro
- 128GB Solid State Drive, SATA3
- ThinkPad Battery 3 cell Li-Polymer (23.2Whr)
- ThinkPad Battery 6 cell Li-Ion (47Whr) Cylindrical
- 65W Slim AC Adapter - EU
- Intel Dual Band Wireless 7260AC with Bluetooth 4.0

According to http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/th ... eries/t440: "... the tough but mobile T440 features ultralong battery life and an HD+ IPS display"

However, there is no mention of it on the features page, and the criticisms of the older HD+ display have got me worried that the HD+ display is in fact a TN panel. Can anyone confirm the HD+ display on my new T440 will be an IPS panel?

[Ibthink]

No, the HD+ displays on T440(s/p) are all TN, only the FHD displays are IPS.

[JJVens]

No, the HD+ displays on T440(s/p) are all TN, only the FHD displays are IPS.

Argh. Looks like I will have to cancel my order and go for the T440s (which has an FHD option) instead of the T440. Are there any other differences between the T440s and the T440? Their pictures look exactly the same.

[JJVens]

UPDATE: I spoke with two Lenovo representatives over the phone.

The first one said: "It looks like HD+ on the T440 is an IPS screen, but since I'm not sure let me transfer you to one of my colleagues.". He was probably looking at the same overview page I was, where it says "HD+ IPS display"

The second one said: "The HD display is a TN panel, but the HD+ display that you ordered is definitely an IPS panel". He stated this firmly like he'd gotten this question before. On the other hand, maybe he was just a good bluffer.

This is all very confusing, especially since the tech specs of the T440 lists these screens:

• 14.0" HD TN (1366 x 768)
• 14.0" HD Touch TN (1366 x 768)
• 14.0" HD+ TN (1600 x 900)
• 14.0" HD+ Touch TN (1600 x 900)

However, I am located in the Netherlands and the website for the Netherlands doesn't list tech specs at all (nor do any other European Lenovo websites). Could it be that HD+ IPS panels are only available in European countries? Or were the two sales representatives I've spoken with simply mistaken?

Anyway, I've cancelled my order and will re-place it once this is sorted out. I'd rather not have a 1920x1080 resolution on a 14 inch display because I'm afraid the fonts will be too small. However, I do want an IPS screen for the color accuracy and viewing angles. I also can't decide if I want the no-nonsens T440 or the slightly smaller T440s. Or maybe the T440p after all? Any advice?

[Ibthink]

The best source is the PSREF, and according to the PSREF, there are no HD+ IPS Displays for the T440(s/p), only HD+ TN and FHD IPS.

Also, see this test: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Len ... 199.0.html The same displays are used in the T440(p). I think the sales reps are mistaken.

If you want IPS, than the T440s or the T440p with FHD are your only choices. I would decide between those two, T440s is really a mobile machine with long battery life and a smaller and lighter chassis. T440p is a near to a mobile workstation with Quad-Core option, 16 GB RAM (T440s is limited to 12, as well as the i7 T440 models, the i5 T440 models are limited to 8 GB), GT 730M and an UltraBay. But it is also much heavier and bigger with shorter battery life. It depends on what you want to do with your new ThinkPad.

[JJVens]

Wow that was a really thorough review, thank you for linking that. The reviewer even noted that: "Lenovo advertises its product with an HD+ IPS and a Full HD IPS screen on their German website. However, this seems to be a translation error, since the English website clearly only marks the Full HD display as an IPS display."

Well, it's not a translation error, since the US website also advertises with HD+ IPS. It's downright false advertising. And I completely fell for it the first time and had to cancel my order.

After a day of being torn between the T440p and T440s, I finally decided to buy the s version. I'll be using it as my main work machine (I'm a freelance developer), but I can easily acces a more powerful server over the network when I need the processing power. The only time that ever happens these days is when I develop RAW photographs using RawTherapee (an open source Lightroom alternative). Hence my need for an IPS screen. The rest of my work is just using a text editor

[brooklynboy]

Ibthink,

What about the displays on the T540p? The Lenovo configuration page specifies that the 15.5" 3K (2880x1620) screen is IPS, but remains silent about the 15.6" HD and FHD.

Thanks.

[Ibthink]

Yes, only the 2880x1620 display is IPS for the T540p. The HD and FHD displays are TN type displays.

[brooklynboy]

Alas. That complicates things.

Thanks again for the quick answer.