New BIOS Available ... and a strange side effect

[primedude]

Alright, first thing is that there's a new BIOS (1RETD4WW, 3.08a) available for the following models: ThinkPad R50/p, R51 (1829, 1830, 1831, 1836), T40/p, T41/p, T42/p

Here are the list of changes:

Version 1RETD4WW (3.08a)
NOTE: This BIOS version will only work with Embedded Controller Program version 3.03 (or higher).

(New) Support for ThinkPad T42 new models.
(New) Internal Network device enable/disable function is added in the IBM BIOS Setup Utility.
(New) Internal Wireless device enable/disable function is added in the IBM BIOS Setup Utility.
(Fix) The system hangs when booted from the 2nd FDD in boot order.
(Fix) (Linux) Hibernation function does not work correctly under the partition environment created by lphdisk.
(Fix) Some words are incorrect in the IBM BIOS SETUP Utility.
(Fix) Memory data will be corrupted if the timer resume is aborted when "Timer Wake with Battery Operation" option in the IBM BIOS Setup Utility is disabled.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-50273

I applied it and have not yet observed any changes... except one, which I could very well be imagining.

Ever since I put on this BIOS, my screen seems noticibly brighter and more vivid. The so-so quality of the non-Flexview LCD is my only possible quibble with the Thinkpad, and truth be told, it doesn't bother me that much. But, since applying the BIOS, it seems like my complaints have gone a long way to being addressed.

I know this sounds vaguely ridiculous -- unless "Support for ThinkPad T42 new models" somehow encompasses new LCD controller code, this does not seem like it is something the BIOS revision addresses. But I would swear that whites look a bit whiter and colors are generally more vivid. The blacks are not as black as I would like -- about the same as they were before -- but everything else seems to be improved.

I haven't done much testing yet, but where I'm currently using it most closely approximates my most frequent type of use -- indoors, plugged in, full brightness, primarily natural lighting. Over the last couple days, I had made a couple changes -- changing my background and re-enabling ClearType -- but I've changed both those settings back to how they were for the majority of my laptop ownership period. And the screen seems better than it used to.

Also, what really made this evident to me was my single dead pixel. Before the BIOS update, I could only see it upon very, very close inspection. It never bothered me unless I was looking for it. Now, though, it's much more visible. It's visible during normal use when a white background happens to be over the dead pixel whereas I'd never notice it under that scenario before the BIOS update. It still doesn't bother me too much, but I'm virtually certain I CAN see it better than I could before.

So... I have to think I'm imagining this, and seeing what I want to see (a brighter screen), but who knows, maybe they've somehow made some improvements of this type. That would be cool. But whether my screen is brighter or I'm just imagining it, I do love my ThinkPad more than ever.

[sktn77a]

I believe screen brightness is a variable in the power management settings. Maybe the new BIOS does soemthing to power management?

Psychology is a very strange thing, though.

[First Light]

Screen brightness can be changed by pressing Function (lower left of keyboard) and Home (upper right) to increase screen brightness, and Function-End to lower screen brightness. Notice the "Bright" and "Arrow signs on the Home and End keys.

[eriqesque]

Screen brightness can be changed by pressing Function (lower left of keyboard) and Home (upper right) to increase screen brightness, and Function-End to lower screen brightness. Notice the "Bright" and "Arrow signs on the Home and End keys.

lol

[Daniel]

I just tried the BIOS update. I didn't notice a difference. I'm guessing it probably just bumped up your brightness setting.

[primedude]

Nope, I'm comparing the screen at full brightness pre-BIOS and full brightness post-BIOS. In both cases, I've had it running on AC power.

Like I said repeatedly, I'm probably imagining it. But it sure looks like something is different, and it's not the screen brightness setting, unless the individual levels are intrinsically different.

[Kenn]

Screen brightness can be changed by pressing Function (lower left of keyboard) and Home (upper right) to increase screen brightness, and Function-End to lower screen brightness. Notice the "Bright" and "Arrow signs on the Home and End keys.

lol

I've also heard there's some kind of key light or keyboard light or keystone light? Where could I find that?

[Kenn]

Does 3.08 still let you update the bootup image?

[K. Eng]

I did the BIOS update and took digital photos of my desktop before and after. Both times I made sure that the screen was at full brightness. I can't discern any difference at all.

My screen is still useable, but fairly mediocre.

[First Light]

<< I've also heard there's some kind of key light or keyboard light or keystone light? Where could I find that? >>

If your laptop is so equipped then pressing "Function" and "Page Up" will toggle the light on and off. The light is located at the top of your screen, on the inside of the frame.

[MrBeta]

Hmmm, I was wondering about this issue because I just got my new T42p last week, and the screen (14.1" SXGA) is so bright that I have to turn down the brightness to level 5 or 6 to be "normal" in indoor conditions and not have a blinding effect. Perhaps my new machine simply has the new BIOS already - I haven't checked yet, but the screen sure doesn't feel dark to me, like a few people here have reported in the past.

My second T42p with 15" UXGA Flexview is arriving this week, so I'll be able to compare the brightness and other screen aspects first hand between these two models, but at least in my first week with the 14.1" SGXA I have to say it's very bright (too bright at full brightness level), much better than other laptop LCDs from Dell, HP and Toshiba, the picture and brightness is very uniform across the entire screen, and... zero dead pixels. In a word - it's GREAT.

About the only brighness issue I have noticed so far is when I'm with the Thinkpad outside in bright sunlight (is there any other kind in San Diego, CA?) - yes, it feels a little dim - about the equivalent of my brightness turned to 1 or 2 indoors, when I crank it all the way up while outdoors. But that's normal, any LCD would look the same in sunlight, so I don't think this is a valid complaint.

[Kenn]

<< I've also heard there's some kind of key light or keyboard light or keystone lite? Where could I find that? >>

If your laptop is so equipped then pressing "Function" and "Page Up" will toggle the light on and off. The light is located at the top of your screen, on the inside of the frame.

lol2

[ZPrime]

anyone else have problems using the "no floppy" version of the bios update? when I run it, windows starts to shut down and then sits there at a blue screen (the default blue background behind a normal logon screen) and never actually shuts off. I lose the mouse pointer, and all of the status lights other than the "battery charging" one shut off, but it never actually reboots into the bios update utility.

I've seen the utility work on an A22 so I know what it should do, and it isn't. I had to use a floppy disk to update the embedded controller; i'd like to avoid that with the bios. any ideas?

[mrbjr]

No problem updating with my USB floppy drive. T41p and T42p

[geobel]

anyone else have problems using the "no floppy" version of the bios update? when I run it, windows starts to shut down and then sits there at a blue screen (the default blue background behind a normal logon screen) and never actually shuts off. I lose the mouse pointer, and all of the status lights other than the "battery charging" one shut off, but it never actually reboots into the bios update utility.

I've seen the utility work on an A22 so I know what it should do, and it isn't. I had to use a floppy disk to update the embedded controller; i'd like to avoid that with the bios. any ideas?

Login with administrative privileges and be sure to disable all encryption software including Windows EFS before attempting bios update. At least "Document and settings/user name/local settings/temp" must not be encrypted and should be without access restrictions.
Gosha