z61m WSXGA+ 1680x1050 Display

[charlestek]

I'm shopping for a laptop. I initially purchased a 300 N100 directly from Lenovo because it was the first model
to be offered with a Core 2 Duo processor. Now they have started selling Thinkpads with a good a la carte selection of
Core 2 Cpu's.

I was looking at the z61m widescreen. However I get conflicting info from the web on the brightness of the optional 1680x1050 display, PLUS considerations whether the smaller type of high resolution would bother me. I intend to do some visual studio programming on the machine, real estate might be important, but there is the tradeoff in smaller visual size. If anyone has this model with the high res display, please comment on its brightness and readability vs a slightly lower native resolution on another machine.

The n100 I have has a 15.4" 1280x800 screen that is glossy and extremely bright. This screen is also an option for the z61m.

Finally, I was trying to compare the keyboard of the n100 to the z61m. The key layouts for function and ancillary keys are different, but I'm trying to see about the width of the keyboard and key spacing. I can't find anyone who sells them locally side by side, but I went to Micro Center and tried typing on one of the Thinkpads they have. It seems actually a little worse than the n100 I have, but the keyboard width is identitical. I have extremely large hands, so a large keyboard is nice.


I would have to see if Lenovo direct will take the N100 back. It is within their 21 day return period, but the return policy states 21 days unopened, and what I gather from forums is that they may take it back with a 15% restocking fee.

Any opinions would be welcome.

Thanks,

Phil

[mikemi]

I am a bit concern about reading tiny fonts on the screen... I ordered a Z61m with 1680x1050 on Nov. 5 but have not received the computer yet.

But keep in mind in Windows Vista, there is a new DPI scaling feature that will allow you to scale the entire screen (instead of just telling the video card to display at a specific resolution). So you can make the screen to display more like a 1280x900 but using native resolution (so fonts don't look blocky or blurry). From the beta version of Vista I saw, it is still a bit buggy (didn't scale everything perfectly). But, at least in IE7, you can set to display the entire webpage at a specific magnification (125% for example), that seems to work really well (images get magnify too). But knowing all this, I am still a bit concern...

[charlestek]

Mikemi,

Thanks for your reply. I'm checking with Microsoft on Vista.
Other people have had different opinions on the brightness of the high resolution screen on the z61m. The 1280x800 screen on the z61m can be ordered with a "brite" screen.

Phil

[Bu11dog]

Hi Phil

I have been using a Z61m with WSXGA+ 1680x1050 Display for about 1 month now and I love its brightness and resolution.

I also use VS for programming in office and at home. I did notice that many people complain about its brightness but for me I don't like the screen to be too bright when I code because my eyes get tired easier. In addition, I don't think glossy screen is good for coding. It is great for viewing pictures or watching movies.

I will definitely recommend a WSXGA+ display for coding. Anything below that you will scrolling around.

Thanks.

[Forsbrunn]

I also have an Z61m with WSXGA+ 1680x1050, which I've been using for two months now. I agree with Bu11dog that the brightness and resolution is good for coding and documentation which is the mainpart I use the laptop for, as an software consultant.
I can't say that the screen is extremely bright, but for me I don't need that for coding and until now I haven't used it for looking at movies, play games or anything else like that.
I had an HP nx8220 before with the same size and resolution on the screen, and it was ok that one too, but I like this screen better. I use VS for coding also amongst other tools and it fits well in the screen.
I also agree with Bu11dog that a lower resolution will get you scrolling.

[z/svc]

Hi all,

Please let me add my own thoughts about hi-resolution LCD like 1680x1050.

For few days already I own Z61m with 1680x1050 LCD screen. By the way: this is my 1st ThinkPad and I DO LOVE IT already Anyway: I was a little bit worried about this resolution on 15'' size screen, if the fonts won't be to small and hard to read.

When I was choosing this machine I didn't know about the Fn+Spacebar feature. I set it up to switch between 1680x1050 and 1280x800. I was (and still I am) really shocked about the quality of fonts after decreasing the native resolution of the LCD screen. Of course, fonts are NOT so sharp and clear as on the native resolution but they are comfortable to read what makes this feature usable.

Firstly I thought that this is due to the LCD quality, but it is not. So what makes fonts and everything else looking so good after changing the native resolution? The answer is: hi native resolution!

A colleague of mine who owns laptop with native 1280x800 LCD screen on 15'' screen also has this feature (Fn + Spacebar) but on his laptop change of the native resolution makes everything simply not readible.

That gave me an answer. Lets think: if you have a screen with low native resolution and you are going to change it, you have relatively big pixels what destroys a quality of the display.

If you have high native resolution and you are changing it, you have smaller pixels what means that the display is better.

Do you remember the story with normal (pre-LCD - sorry, don't know it's name in English) screens? Manufacturers were working to make the spot (not sure if this is the right word, the dictionary gave me also blob/fleck) smaller and smaller to make the display sharper, clearer, better.

So think about the pixels like about the spots: the higher native resolution of the LCD screen, the smaller pixel, what makes non-native resolutions looking better.

So on the daily basis I am using 1280x800 on my screen (what is better for my eyes) but when I need more real estate/better quality or simply I want to enjoy hi-res pictures on my screen I switch to the native resolution.

Conclusion: Next time I will choose the highest available resolution for my LCD/Laptop screen. I will have more pixels what will make lower resolutions, like 1280x800, more clear and sharp and when I need more space on the desktop - I will have a possibility to have even more I need.

Hope that helps with the choice of the LCD resolution.

Best regards.

[sapibobo]

I am using Z61m with 1680X1050 for about 9 months. Installed with Vista Business, upgrade it from XP.

Never have any problem with the small fonts. DPI works like charm, custom size 106 DPI work best for me. And Vista handling the various size of fonts and icons very well. Aero with high resolution certainly looks better. Everything is crisp and clear.

[pianowizard]

So what makes fonts and everything else looking so good after changing the native resolution? The answer is: hi native resolution!

I made the same discovery two days ago too. My new R50p has 2048x1536 resolution (highest laptop res ever made) and when I tried changing it to 1024x768, things still looked incredibly sharp. And that's with Windows XP, not Vista.

[jkahng]

pianowizard,
you can literally have 2 xga windows side by side in your 15" screen!!!! talk about realestate...

[FRiC]

The DPI scaling feature is not new to Vista, even Windows 98 had it. What's new about Vista is that the icons are scalable, so instead of just large and small icons like before, you can now choose a size that you like.

What most people don't know about DPI scaling is that the DPI screen shows a sliding ruler, and you are supposed to hold up a real ruler to the screen and adjust accordingly, so you end up with the same size text no matter what display you use.