New T60 display settings, issues - should I return machine?

[Cochrab]

Just bought an new T60, my 4th ThinkPad, and I'm unhappy with the way text is rendered on the display... text often looks washed out (i.e., insufficiently black) and causes some reading fatigue when I read long articles on screen. I'm a writer, so I primarily use the machine to read and write text, and I've always been very pleased with the way ThinkPads render text... so this is a new one for me.... but I find myself gravitating back to my one-yr-old T43 for reading. Text is noticeably darker on that screen, and reading a markedly more pleasant experience.

Both have the 14.1 inch display; and identical settings as far as I can tell. (Resolution 1024 x 768, 32 bit color, normal size 96 DPI, Clear Type font smoothing is "on", etc.) The only notable difference is the graphics card. The T43 (the the display I like) has an ATI Radeon 7500, while the T60 has the Intel 945 GM.

So, is it possible that the graphics card is causing the difference in text display?

The T60 display is also much brighter than the T43... I've had to tone down the brightness setting on the t60 to -30 with contrast at 50. Haven't hit on any other combinations that do better.

I had a similar problem with a Dell UltraSharp monitor recently-- way too bright and text appeared all washed out. Fixed that by changing the RGB settings to 73-80-73, and now it's perfectly acceptable. Is there anything like that I could try with the ThinkPad? I don't really grok its color settings and the T43 has a noticeably "warmer" and more yellow tint to it... the T60 more blue and cold.

Is there any way to adjust the T60 so make black and white text more readable? Is anyone else having this issue?

Thanks for any tips or help!

[claudeo]

If you have ClearType turned on, that is probably the problem. IMHO the default settings for ClearType are such that you're better off without ClearType unless you can find a way to tune it for reasonable contrast. You may be able to improve things by turning off ClearType or by using the ClearType tuner from the Microsoft PowerToys for XP at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/down ... rtoys.mspx

[dr_st]

Never had problems with the default settings of Cleartype, except on some LG monitor where the RGB order was inverted. Had to use the tuner to solve that problem.

Anyways, if that's indeed the cause, the cleartype tuner can be used online without getting the full powertoys pack:

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cle ... Step1.aspx

[Cochrab]

Thanks guys! I tried the online tuner, and it appears to have worked very well indeed. So far, so good...

[TPMulanNo1]

Cochrab-

I encountered exactly your problem. Went through quite an ordeal (including having the brand new system board replaced and another hellish trip to the depot) and finally discovered that the "problem" is with Windows XP. Go to Display properties -> Appearance tab -> Effects.. button (lower right) -> second checkbox, you'll find XP selects standard font smoothing as a default (or yours may have ClearType selected) . Uncheck that box and fonts appear legible as before again, in my case at least.

[missee]

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=38511

No problem anymore Thanks !!

[Cochrab]

Yes, thanks to Claudio and dr_st for their help on the "font contrast" issue. Big improvement there.

But overall, I still like the T43 display quite a bit better.

I looked up the manufacturer's parts numbers (using aida32, free download) and my T60 display screen appears to have been made by CMO, while the older T43 was made by IBM (IBM0A55 part number).

The antiglare coating on the CMO screen isn't as good... I get quite a bit more glare... and the viewing angles aren't as good on the CMO... both of these factors very noticeable.

Anyone else have any comments on this? I'll probably just get used to the CMO screen once I stop using the T43, but it is this kind of refinement (good veiwing angles, excellent anti glare, etc.) that have made me always go for Thinkpads in the past. Disappointing... (Still, can't complain about the lower Lenovo prices!!)