Are the Screens really that Bad?

[tomartom]

I have just ordered (but not confirmed by a sales rep) a new T61, this one;

6459A11 ThinkPad T61

* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
* Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
* 15.4" WXGA TFT
* 2 GB / 4 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
* 0 SODIMM / 2 SODIMM
* 160 GB, Serial ATA
* DVD Recordable (Dual Layer), 24X Max
* Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
* Integrated Intel® PRO/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
* 128MB nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M
* Fingerprint Reader
* 6 Cell Lithium-Ion
* Customer Carry-in Repair - One year parts and labour (system battery: one year)


Is the screen really that bad as opposed to previous models (i have an R40 (1440x1050) and an older T21 with a 1024x768. Both these are okay for what they provide, but I have read that the newer screens are far inferior to previous models and that offered by other manufacturers.

Are people making comparisons to older ThinkPads, similar offerings from other manufactures in the current market or possibly a mix of both.

Your opinions is much appreciated

[ZaZ]

I guess it would depend on how much you'd like a good screen. Compared to the older ThinkPads with the IPS screens, the T61s screens are clearly inferior. Viewing angles are not as good and backlight bleed can be an issue. I sort of have this argument with myself as well. My current R60's screen is OK. My old T42 had the IPS screen which I miss sometimes, but I like the 14" form factor. If I can find a IPS at decent price, I may pick one up. It sounds like if you were happy with your old screen, the new ones won't be any worse if you don't mind the widescreen.

[tomartom]

Thanks for that,
I am unsure whether my R40 has the 'Flexiscreen' or 'IPS' however it is a nice screen to work with, good also to watch a DVD with as well!
Additionally I cannot find any reference to this monitor as being linked to the 'flexiview or IPS' screens. Maybe someone can assist.

All I can ascertain is this under monitir type

General Information :
Manufacturer : IBM
Product ID : IBM254D
Model : ThinkPad LCD
Manufacture : Week 35 of 1999
Video Input Type : Digital in 0.7/0.3v
Max. Horiz./Vert. Size : 33 cm / 24 cm
Monitor Size : 16 inches (estimated)
Aspect Ratio : 4:3
Gamma Factor : 1
DPMS Active-Off : Yes
DPMS Suspend : Yes
DPMS Standby : Yes
EDID version : 1.2

Features :
Maximum Resolution : 1400 x 1050 @ 60 Hz

Video Modes Supported :
Mode : 720 x 400 @ 70 Hz
Mode : 640 x 480 @ 75 Hz
Mode : 800 x 600 @ 60 Hz
Mode : 1024 x 768 @ 87 Hz interlaced

Video Modes Standard :
Mode : 1280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz
Mode : 1400 x 1050 @ 60 Hz

[carbon_unit]

Give us the model number from the bottom of the R40 and we can tell. Example, 2647-75U.

[tomartom]

Sorry Carbon_Unit
The model is 2722 - C3M

Thanks

[underclocker]

The FlexView IPS LCD's are on another level, they look great.

However, I really can't recall a bad looking non-IPS screen on serveral dozen T4x, X2x, R5x Z6x machines that I've owned.

Recently, I've owned three R60's with 14.1" XGA LCD's. None looked good. All had slightly off colors and very poor visibility at angles. My 14.1" XGA T60, on the other hand, has an LCD that looks great, just like my older T4x's.

I think it's a little bit luck of the draw, but all of the R61's and T61's I've seen have nice displays (I've seen about one dozen).

[carbon_unit]

According to IBM:

Original description: P M 1.4GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB HDD, 15 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 24x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD, Wireless upgradeable, Modem(CDC), Ethernet(LOM), Secure Chip(TCPA), 8 cell battery, WinXP Pro

I'm pretty sure it is not a flexview.

[Harryc]

Carbon_unit, I'd guess the same thing. It just sounds unlikely that an R40 with an ATI 7500 GPU would have a Flexview LCD. If the OP has the serial number from the unit we could check the original shipped parts list to be sure. PM it and do not post the serial # please. Also, under device manager/monitor in XP it would say whether or not it's an IPS LCD.

[ajkula66]

No R40 unit ever had an IPS/FlexView LCD.

These LCDs are nicer TN panels than most, though, especially 15" SXGA+ ones.

[Troels]

Uhm, there is no way it could be IPS.
IPS was not available on the R40 series. In the R series, it was introduced with the R50 15" versions, and beginning with some of the A30.
In 1999 Idtech didn't even exist - they began operation as of October 2001. And if the screen is that old, it wouldn't look physically the same as the newer flexviews.
Before this, the same joint venture was called the Display Business Unit of IBM, where regular to high-resolution (mostly) TN displays were produced. Not IPS at that time for notebooks according to
http://www.idtech.co.jp/en/technology/index.html.

As a small anectdote:
What we all usually call "flexview" isn't actually from Idtech, although it says Idtech on them. The newer Idtechs are made by Chi Mei, has become a bit thinner (from 7.2 mm to around 6 mm) and the backside of the LCD has changed from metal with plastic reinforcements to white plastic appearance. Also, screen brightness has changed to 200 nits from the original 150 nits.
The original old Idtechs were called IAUX14S for UXGA, IASX12S for SXGA+, IAQX10S for QXGA. The first two were moved to CMO and produced - with the mentioned changes - as N150P3 and N150U3. The QXGA production was kept unchanged, and produced by Idtech in Japan until it was closed.

According to http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/TFT_display , only Hitachi and Samsung made a 15" SXGA+ which was used in R40

[tomartom]

Thanks for the replies,
The flexiview must really be on another level. I consider the screen on my older R40 to be very good.

If what i feel is a good screen on the R40 is adequate then I would assume that the newer technology of the T61 should be fine...

May I thank all of you for your input and advice it is really appreciated.

HarryC I have sent a PM to you showing you the serial as well.

I would be interested as to the brand of the screen as it is fairly good to me!

Regards Tony