T42p flexview display - gloss?

[apollo46]

Ladies & gentlemen,

I am about to upgrade from a T20 to a T42p (KXU model) with a 15inch flexview screen. However I have read that there are two versions of the sreen surface, glossy and matt. I would love the glossy, but no vender understands my request for one.

Does anyone know how I could procure myself a glossy version of this beautiful machine? Is there anyway to tell without opening the box? Do you know of a vendor who could gaurantee me one?

Any help dearly appreciated.

Regards,
Apollo.

[MrBeta]

Never heard of "glossy" vs "matt" on the 15" UXGA, but for what it's worth...

I just got my second T42p today, with 15" UXGA (the other one is T42p with 14.1 SXGA that I got ~2 weeks ago). The screen is very nice and sharp, no dead pixels, but it is not "glossy" like the Sony XBrite. The Sony glossy screens are virtually unreadable if you have any lights above or behind you, they reflect everything like mirror and completely wash out the screen. I find them very hard to work on, unless you can completely control the ambient light and move everything BEHIND the screen. Otherwise you have these glare spots all over the screen that are a pain to look at. The ThinkPad Flexview is more "matt" in this regard, no slick shiny reflections - ie: absolutely perfect in virtually any lighting conditions - I've played with it with lights above me, next to me, behind me, etc - works perfectly, with no light reflections at any angles.

Hope this helps.

[ian]

I think perhaps you're mistaking the discussions regarding the screens on the IBM versus SONY - as far as I know there are no current models of Thinkpad with a 'glossy' screen - of course you could always stick a piece of shiny transparent plastic on it I suppose....

[n3il]

apollo46 - Where did u read about the gloss?

[Greg Gebhardt]

Ladies & gentlemen,

I am about to upgrade from a T20 to a T42p (KXU model) with a 15inch flexview screen. However I have read that there are two versions of the sreen surface, glossy and matt. I would love the glossy, but no vender understands my request for one.

Does anyone know how I could procure myself a glossy version of this beautiful machine? Is there anyway to tell without opening the box? Do you know of a vendor who could gaurantee me one?

Any help dearly appreciated.

Regards,
Apollo.

All of the IBM LCDs are matte surfaced

[JaneL]

I've never seen a TP with a glossy screen from the 75x series on up until now.

[Kenn]

I think I know where this comes from.

I have both a 15" flexview and a 14.1" t42. The 15" is as matte as you can get, whereas the 14" indeed has a more glossy, reflective screen. See both of them together and it's obvious.

The 14" is nowhere near as glossy as the xbrite or its kind (inlcuding the nice 12" 1280x800 Dell 700m), though.

[MrBeta]

I have both a 15" flexview and a 14.1" t42. The 15" is as matte as you can get, whereas the 14" indeed has a more glossy, reflective screen. See both of them together and it's obvious.

Hmmm, I have both these T42p models (14.1" and 15") and the 14.1" is definitely not glossy. What it is is probably just the regular non-coated screen that doesn't cut the glare or reflections like the Flexview screen. I wouldn't say it's any more "glossy" than any other standard LCD though... and DEFINITELY nothing like Sony's Xbrite.

[apollo46]

Thanks alot for such a great response. Mr Beta, you have settled my dilemma, how could I have wanted the glossy reflective panel.

I definitely read this somewhere. I though it was on this forum, but I cant find it..

Anyway, thanks a million guys...

[Kenn]

I have both a 15" flexview and a 14.1" t42. The 15" is as matte as you can get, whereas the 14" indeed has a more glossy, reflective screen. See both of them together and it's obvious.

Hmmm, I have both these T42p models (14.1" and 15") and the 14.1" is definitely not glossy. What it is is probably just the regular non-coated screen that doesn't cut the glare or reflections like the Flexview screen. I wouldn't say it's any more "glossy" than any other standard LCD though... and DEFINITELY nothing like Sony's Xbrite.

I agree with this. The 14.1 is a standard LCD screen, which is more reflective than the exceptionally matte flexview.

However, it's unquestionable that the 14" is objectively more glossy than the Flexview - it's easy to tell by comparing the level of reflective dispersion on the respective surfaces. Again, not glossy like xbrite and not much different than most LCDs out there, but side by side with Flexview it's a very obvious difference.