This will be the second brand new X40 I'll be returning!

[daba]

A couple of weeks ago I got my highly anticipated X40 with Pentium M 738. Much to my dismay, it had a red pixel stuck right near the center of it. I took it back to the place I purchased it from for an exchange.

Today, my exchange came and all seemed well until I noticed three dead/stuck/lit pixels on the screen. On top of that, the hard drive makes an annoying whining sound. Tomorrow, I'm returning it again.

What's going on here? I thought Thinkpads were supposed to be top of the line, which is why they come at a premium price. I certainly didn't pay four digits for a computer that I have to keep on sending back in for replacement and repair.

I'm fed up. This third time better be a charm.

[leesiulung]

I am sorry to dissapoint you but IBM like any other laptop manufacturer gets their LCD screens from other manufacturers. This means they have no control over dead/stuck pixels. You are just as likely to get a bad pixel on any other brand.

The quality you get from an IBM is from the design, support, service and implemented technology.

I also noticed you are from Berkeley, Cal student by any chance? Getting the laptop through the TSW store?

[daba]

Yea, I go to Cal. Yes, TSW. Yourself?

[selvan777]

I've been hearing lots of complaints regarding dead pixels.

Whether or not these LCD's are from another manufacturer is beside the point. Fact is IBM has decided to use them. And if this manufacturer is churning out junk, how do you think that makes IBM look?

I'd keep returning it till I got one that's in perfect condition.

[K. Eng]

Three bad pixels is unacceptable and I agree that you should return that X40.

The dead/stuck pixel issue is really annoying, especially for end users who paid a lot out of pocket for a ThinkPad. Buying a ThinkPad from Bill and having him cherry pick a perfect display is a good idea if stuck/dead pixels really bother you.

[daba]

Indeed this is a real headache. On the 1600x1200 LCD screen I'm on right now, I have 0 dead pixels! My old Sony Z1RA also had 0 dead pixels on its 1400x1050 screen.

I do plan on returning these until I get one that meets my expectations. This was my first experience with IBM, and I'm not very happy with them.

Oddly enough, IBM's dead pixel policy is 5 or more dead pixels on an XGA screen. However, the store I purchased it from will give me an exchange (next shipment is Feb 21).

I am sorry to dissapoint you but IBM like any other laptop manufacturer gets their LCD screens from other manufacturers. This means they have no control over dead/stuck pixels. You are just as likely to get a bad pixel on any other brand.

That may be true; however, for the price justification, dead pixels on an IBM Thinkpad should be very little. The odds of getting two bad LCD's in a row is even more unacceptable and "unlikely." If I get another LCD with dead pixels, then I can say with confidence that IBM has an LCD problem.

[leesiulung]

daba,

Well the chance of you getting bad pixel on a screen that has 700k (1024x768) pixels is statistically pretty big. I understand that when one pays that much money one expect perfection. Unfortunatly no laptop is perfect. IBM like any other brand will have technical failures and sometimes bad design leading to recalls. Dead pixel is something that the industry itself has agreed upon and even published standards for what is acceptable (see http://graphics.tomshardware.com/displa ... index.html) I can symphatize with you as I had one bad pixel too and refused to accept that. So I sent it back for an exchange.

I think the fact of the matter is IBM did not make a lot of profit considering the high price they charge for their laptop speaks for itself. In addition a lot of their cost is in technical support and developing new technology that does not appear on most other laptop brands. Just the feel and touch of a thinkpad will tell you that this laptop is awesome. If you fail to see this and only focuses on an issue IBM has no control over, perhaps it is time to move to a different brand.

To your question, no I bought my computer straight from IBM. TSW did not have that great of a deal on IBM's at the time. Note, that IBM direct also has 30 day return. No questions asked.

[leesiulung]

I've been hearing lots of complaints regarding dead pixels.

Whether or not these LCD's are from another manufacturer is beside the point. Fact is IBM has decided to use them. And if this manufacturer is churning out junk, how do you think that makes IBM look?

I'd keep returning it till I got one that's in perfect condition.

Sylvan, first off IBM computers are generally not marketed at to corporations and business users. The types of users do not care about a few stuck/dead pixels. On the other hand they do care about technology that prevents interruption in work and this is were IBM shines.

I don't think that IBM will look any worse than any other company due to using these screens. Do you think Dell, HP or Apple has any better perfect screen rate? Probably all of them get their screens from the few large LCD manufacturers. They are all the same. IBM will not look any worse than Dell, HP or Apple. (see link I posted in another post).

But yes, if you are willing to put up with it. Just keep returning them as long as they are willing to take it back if you are unsatisfied. I did. Hopefully this will make big corporations like IBM and others to put more pressure on the LCD manufacturers to produce perfect screens. After all why should the consumer bear the cost...

[selvan777]

To each his/her own but I think that's plain ridiculous. I trust in the quality that stands behind the name IBM, whether or not I'm a single user or a purchaser for a global company, it should make no difference.

I myself purchased a TP due to their reputation. Fortunately for IBM, I had no pixel problems or I would have gone elsewhere.

And, yes, I do think IBM looks bad due to the LCD problem and it looks to me like another here does as well.

[daba]

leesiulung,

IBM may appeal to business professionals and corporations, but they cannot ignore the rest of their target demographic, that of which includes myself. Although the former may value productivity over aesthetics, I cannot see how dead pixels can be anything but a hinderance to efficiency.

I cannot just "accept" that I will receive at least one dead pixel on my notebook. You claim that IBM spends a lot of money on research and development; I pose the question: Which company, to survive in this day and age, does not? That is no excuse whatsoever to justify a lack in quality. IBM's unique traits, such as the fingerprint reader, are but a marketing technique to appeal to consumers. Analogous to this is the price we pay for Sony's stylish designs.

Although a dead pixel or two on ~700K pixels is very small percentage, I have received numerous other LCDs with even more pixels that have zero dead pixels. This certainly is not a statistical anomaly as most people expect that the product comes without defect. That is a weak argument for the price Thinkpads go for, and a definite black mark on IBM's reputation.

Just like you, I will be returning this ThinkPad until I receive one without flaw. Maybe I'll stumble across the rarity of getting one without dead pixels.

[leesiulung]

daba,

You are right in that all technological companies will invest in research and development. But I can't think of any company that includes technology like the airbag (accelerometer on mb), rapid restore, security chip and HPA. All technologies that is intended for continuous use and not as a gimmick. In addition IBM has great customer/technical service that I have been thorougly satisified with.

Statiscally there is a big probability that somebody will receive multiple laptops with dead pixels. Because you received screens with more pixels without the defect does not mean it does not happen to screens with more pixels.

Either way, I hope once you recieve your thinkpad everything works out. I wish you the best and hopefully you will love the other features that IBM laptops have to offer over any other brand.

[daba]

This is rather ridiculous. I received my third X40 today and there is another dead pixel. Luckily, this time it is on top of the screen about 1 cm away from the edge. Since I don't stare there much, it won't be too much of a problem.

Three imperfect X40's in a row... just ridiculous.