T42 w/ Glossy Screen - NuShield (pics inside)

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Kenn · #1 Post by **Kenn** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:15 pm

After several months of trying to keep the screen clean and unscatched, I figured it would be worth getting one of those NuShield LCD display covers.

They didn't a code for the 15" T42p, so I emailed them, and they told me to order the one for the Asus M6NE 15” Laptop, and include "SPECIAL: FOR IBM THINKPAD T42P - 2MM FH."

It arrived just a couple of days later, well-packaged and protected.

They said installation would only take a minute, and I'm sure it would have, but I wanted to make sure I did it right, which means sliding the NuShield between the metal frame of the LCD unit itself, and not just under the plastic bezel of the laptop display.

So I went through the whole rigamorale of removing the display bezel, and aligned the Nushield exactly on the LCD unit. Taking a cue from the Notebookforums post, I applied a couple of pieces of tape to keep the NuShield film from sliding around when cleaning it.

Here's a picture of the final result:
http://upload.pbase.com/kenn/image/39152599/large.jpg

My impressions:

First of all, I'm a HUGE fan of the original matte finish on the 15" T series. I think it looks great, and is perfect to protect against glare. It looks like a piece of paper on-screen.

The Nu-Shield does gives the screen a very "glossy" finish, and feels much like the glossy films applied to all the new laptop screens (Sony Xbrite and what not). However, since the NuShield is not bonded to the screen (it "floats" over the LCD), there is a bit of distortion that is visible on reflections, but this is only noticeable when the laptop is off - there is no distortion on any on-screen image.

The glossy finish looks pretty cool. Reflections of bright light sources do create specular highlights and glare much more than the diffuse matte finish, but in the last day of usage it hasn't really impaired my ability to read anything. People definitely noticed the difference, unsolicited (positive) comments, and some friends thought I got a new machine. I haven't run into anyone really familiar with thinkpads yet, but I'm sure it'll turn a few heads when I do (for better or for worse).

The finish is very smooth, and I have no fears of damaging the screen when touching it (which is why I got the Nushield). Cleaning and de-dusting the screeen is much easier now.

One interesting artifact is a some red/green chromatic hazing/moire that is visible in reflections and when the laptop is off. Just like the distortions, it is completely unnoticeable on anything on-screen (even a completely black screen), but you can see it when the laptop is off and it shows up much more prominently on digital pictures, as here:
http://www4.pbase.com/kenn/image/39152596.jpg

Overall, I'm very pleased. The glossiness is a novel effect, it doesn't attract dust like the unprotected LCD screen does, and it does a good job of keeping the screen protected. I'd say it was $15 well-spent.

A few non-scientific before and after pics, as well as some of the installation process: http://www4.pbase.com/kenn/webpics

rssb · #2 Post by **rssb** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:27 am

The pictures are great and look cool.

does anyone have any clue as to what display this might be

92P6736 92P6737 LCD PANEL14.1 SXGA+ HYDIS

is it by any chance made by hyundai

#3 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:25 am

kenn..

not sure i would do that to my Q1U..

but i must compliment you on your documentation of the process and the finished project..

Cavorite · #4 Post by **Cavorite** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:33 am

I love the ability to protect the screen more, very useful to me, however, the glossy look on laptop screens bothers the hell out of me, and i'm very picky about color calibration and whatnot so I would probably get pretty irked with it. I would love a nondistorting, non-glossy version of this if it existed, though.

Of course, if I could get a nice touchscreen on a T42, I would be in heaven.

-C-

Kenn · #5 Post by **Kenn** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:14 pm

Thanks for the comments, all.

I would also like to have something like a stiff, glass plate to get rid of the distortion (that would at the same time still not scratch the LCD underneath), as well as an option for a matte version.

I've never color-calibrated my display, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a very slight color shift in the image. I can't tell just by looking though.

The Nu-Shield + Flexview is a very interesting effect though. Because the viewing angle is so great, it looks like a printed image onscreen instead of an LCD (that color-and-brightness-shifts as you move your head). With the NuShield, it almost looks like I've pasted a laminated photograph of a desktop screen onto one of those fake computers they have in furniture stores!

#6 Post by **daeojkim** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:29 pm

That looks beautiful. Now I want one.

I wonder if the regular non-flexview screens will as good with Nushield.
I am rather concerned about the screen, even thoug it does not show any mark from keyboard or track point.

Thanks for all the pictures

Kenn · #7 Post by **Kenn** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:03 pm

daeojkim wrote:That looks beautiful. Now I want one.

I wonder if the regular non-flexview screens will as good with Nushield.
I am rather concerned about the screen, even thoug it does not show any mark from keyboard or track point.

Thanks for all the pictures

The regular screen is already more glossy than the Flexview, so I'd imagine the NuShield would have at least the same effect.

rideDPU · #8 Post by **rideDPU** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:16 pm

Would it be safe to assume that the same special comments ("SPECIAL: FOR IBM THINKPAD T42P - 2MM FH." ) would apply to a T42 (no "p")? I'm guessing the screen section of the laptop is the same (15" flexview is no different between p and non-p models)

Mark

ThinkPad · #9 Post by **ThinkPad** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:40 pm

That looks very nice. Where can I get some Nusheild material

lvlolvlo · #10 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:49 pm

Thinkpad wrote:That looks very nice. Where can I get some Nusheild material

ehm...*cough*google*cough*

http://www.nushield.net/

#11 Post by **aamsel** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:29 pm

If it is, in fact a Boe Hydis panel, the company was indeed formerly Hyundai.
They are making some wonderful panels. Motion Computing uses one of their panels on their M1400 Tablet PC, as does HP in their tablet. Not sure about anything for their standard matte LCD panels, but it has to be one of these two panels:
http://www.boehydis.com/Eng/products/pr ... ubBox=null
http://www.boehydis.com/Eng/products/pr ... ubBox=null
and I would bet big money that it is not the second one. The first one is a 200:1 contrast panel, the second is a 600:1 and I am QUITE SURE that you would know if you were working off a 600:1 panel because that is as good as most desktop LCD's.
The curious thing is that the FRU number is not showing up on IBM's PC Support site, don't know why.

Andrew
Austin, TX

rssb wrote:The pictures are great and look cool.
does anyone have any clue as to what display this might be
92P6736 92P6737 LCD PANEL14.1 SXGA+ HYDIS
is it by any chance made by hyundai

Kenn · #12 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:02 am

rideDPU wrote:Would it be safe to assume that the same special comments ("SPECIAL: FOR IBM THINKPAD T42P - 2MM FH." ) would apply to a T42 (no "p")? I'm guessing the screen section of the laptop is the same (15" flexview is no different between p and non-p models)

Mark

Yeah, I assume it would be the same for any 15" T-series. I was just being complete when I sent them my model number.

rssb · #13 Post by **rssb** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 6:52 pm

Thanks Andrew,

I got the laptop today, the display looks much brighter than the 14.1SXGA + samsung LCD, when both are powered by AC and running at full brightness.

The Screen seems to be much whiter / Reddish compared to the samsung ( may be the samsung has more blue tint ?? )

Since my eyes got used to the samsung LCD, somehow i like it more than the new one....

Also would the Fire GL T2 / Mobility 9600 have a effect on the lcd color ?

My old one is T41p, the new one is a T42-M3U

I have taken an image of both side by side, is there anyway i can post an image directly here .

thanks

sugo · #14 Post by **sugo** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:52 pm

That's great rssb. Most people would LOVE a brighter screen here.

When I first read about NuShield months ago, I was interested. I didn't go for it though as it's not exactly what I want: a sony xbrite screen on a thinkpad. Also the fact that you need a tape to make it stick kind of bothers me.

rssb · #15 Post by **rssb** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:06 pm

dear sugo,
actually i havent put in the nu shield yet, i was referring to the FRU part number which says HYDIS, and my new 2373-M3U came with it.

This is screen is much brighter than the samsung, i have a picture of both of them side by side trying to see if i can upload anywhere.

I am not sure if i got what you meant correctly.

thanks

sugo · #16 Post by **sugo** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:10 pm

Yes, I was commenting on your Hydis LCD being brighter than most other 14.1" SXGA+ thinkpad screens out there, including Samsung and IDTech.

Applying NuShield is not going to make a screen brighter

rssb · #17 Post by **rssb** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:49 pm

Thanks sugo for helping out with the image, the image might not be very high resolution as i have a 2.0 megapixel camera.

I took the image with samsung on the left and HYDIS on the right, i turned of all other lights so that i can take this without flash and capture only the light from the screens.

Kenn · #18 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:01 pm

sugo · #19 Post by **sugo** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:11 pm

http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~yau/download/DSC00582small.JPG

original picture:
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~yau/download/DSC00582.JPG

edit
Dear Moderators, the small picture is Only 26 kilobytes

Edited by Moderator. Links, not pictures, please.

Kenn · #20 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:20 pm

Wow, that does look like a big difference. One important question though - how old is the screen on the left? Backlights and inverters get old, and all LCDs will dim AND get warmer (shift to orange/red) with a few years of usage. This might account for at least some of the difference here.

Either way, the new screen looks fantastic, enjoy it!

rssb · #21 Post by **rssb** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:13 pm

Hello Kenn,
The samsung one the left is exactly 6 months old. It seems to be the same as when i got it, so i am assuming that the backlights and inverters are good.

thanks

Kenn · #22 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:27 pm

rssb wrote:Hello Kenn,
The samsung one the left is exactly 6 months old. It seems to be the same as when i got it, so i am assuming that the backlights and inverters are good.

thanks

For a properly functioning unit, there should be no noticeable dimming or color shifting within 6 months. That's good enough for me, though of course it would be nice to address the small n, though that's understandably impractical. If we're talking about the same power draw, my vote is definitely for the Hydis screen.

gunston · #23 Post by **gunston** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:16 am

Looks great.

tric · #24 Post by **tric** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 4:20 am

nice docs/review. me on the other hand couldnt help but noticed your laptop sleeve. hehehe. Care to shed more info about the sleeve. thanks

BlueDevilTide · #25 Post by **BlueDevilTide** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:47 pm

Hi there, sorry to bump such an old topic but any idea if the 14.1" T30 nushield would fit a 14.1" T23 like mine? Or for that matter, any of the T4x ones? If the 14.1" screens are almost exactly the same size, I would presume no trouble, right?

My T23 is rather dim even compared to my X30, and is downright dull next to my 19" LCD monitor. While I am usually averse to glossy screens, the dimness is a problem.

T42 w/ Glossy Screen - NuShield (pics inside)

T42 w/ Glossy Screen - NuShield (pics inside)

looks cool

Re: looks cool

92P6737 LCD PANEL14.1 SXGA+ HYDIS

hello

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