Is the non multitouch x61 a good buy

[ddutta]

Hi, I had ordered a X61t with multitouch a few weeks ago. I received an email that the multitouch screen is not available and they are going to transition me to another screen .....

How worse is the non multitouch screen? I have only used a X200T with multitouch so I would love to get some feedback from this forum.

[zl0ca]

I received the same email, I'm not sure what to do. I wish somebody would say something!!

[rek]

I'm not sure just how much the screens have changed between the X60t and X61t, but my X60t was originally configured with the Multitouch screen -- it was quite dim (needed to use it on full brightness pretty much everywhere), and the screen coating was a fingerprint magnet.

I replaced the LCD assembly with the pen-only SXGA+ panel, which is much brighter and easier on the eyes.

IMO, unless you actually have a need for the touch panel, may as well go without.

[ddutta]

Thanks! Where did you get the SXGA+ assembly. I am sure Lenovo will charge you a hefty sum for that!

[rek]

I managed to find the LCD panel + digitiser on eBay. First a used panel with some minor imperfections (which turned out to be negligible) to ensure that it works, and more recently picked up an as-new spare. Lenovo aren't making any more FlexView panels, after all... at least ones with a good resolution The second one, which I can't tell the difference from brand new, ran about US$250 plus shipping. The guy I got it from seems to have a ready stock:

eBay link

(note that the X60t and X61t SXGA+ panels are different; -100 model vs. -101 for the X61t. They also use a different digitiser)

I found that the existing cable harnesses and mounting holes/brackets all lined up properly and worked just fine. You need to find a panel with the digitiser though, you can't swap out the XGA digitiser to work with the SXGA+ panel.

[thormdac]

my best bet for a compatible lcd would be blisscomputers at ebay, a.k.a. user "browngranite"
good luck