Flexview dynamic range/contrast ratio vs. non Flexview

[sankaty]

Hi all,

Like many of you, I am trying to decide between T42/T43 models, and though I prefer the 14.1 inch form factor, I am attracted to the superior Flexview display.

I have read much about the superior brightness and viewing angles of the Flexview, but have not seen too much about how it compares in terms of dynamic range/contrast ratio.

Specifically, I currently have a T30 with an SXGA 14.1 inch screen, and I find that it does a poor job a displaying photos from my digital camera. If I adjust the viewing angle to properly expose the shadows, highlights are washed out. If I adjust for the highlights, shadows are way too dark. Of course, I just try to split the difference, which produces a mediocre image throughout. At home I have a Dell 2000FP LCD that displays the images great, presumably because of its better contrast ratio.

I have been told by an IBM rep. that the T42 14.1 inch screen is the same as the one on my T30, so I don't expect much of an improvement from that model. Would the Flexview do much better? I generally am the only one viewing the display, so the viewing angle improvement is not too important. If it is able, however, to more acurately display the dynamic range captured in my photos, I might be tempted to go for it.

Any help is much appreciated. I'd love to look at the Flexview in person, but I haven't been able to find a showroom that has them in central CT.

Thanks,
James

[esquire]

If you want better colour/contrast, you can't go wrong with the flexview. Its awsome. Another issue to consider is probably the size, the 15 is larger and has a different case than the 14. IMO once you go flexview you can't go back.

[asiafish]

For many the larger screen and larger case are a serious negative.

[baraider]

my guess is that they don't make flexview for 14" screen? if they do, then i may try to get one, if they only make for 15" then thanks but no thanks

[Leon]

u guess right.....

[s0larian]

I am a happy owner of a 14'' Thinkpad, I really like its size. At an IBM dealer I had a chance to look at a flexview recently and my spontaneous thought was that it is never worth to go with the 15'' just because of the flexview display. It isn't that much better and in my opinion the 14'' 1400x1050 has just the right real estate and resolution.

[craigg]

I love the size of the T43 but the lcd is a weak area. I too used it to view photos and found them to be washed out and with the limited viewing angle it only compounded matters. I started to play around with the ATI drivers / setup. I tried to automatically update the X300 driver and that was a mistake as the driver that was downloaded slowed everything down. I guess it was not an IBM customized driver so I rolled back to the original driver. Then I began playing with the color, brightness, and contrast and actually got it to look a lot better. I had placed my 15.4" UXGA Wide screen (Samsung LCD) next to the Thinkpad and with some adjustments I was able to make the T43 look pretty good. For the text on the T43 I did find that Cleartype did look better on this model.

[PinaColada]

Could you perhaps tell us the settings you have on the driver to make the screen look so good? Also, which driver is this - an IBM driver, or an ATI one?

[craigg]

I am using the most recent driver that the machine was shipped with:

6.14.10.6497

To improve the screen I went to ATI Color management. I decreased the Gamma, increased the brightness 15%, increased the contrast 10% and now it looks nice.

I had the T43 beside my HP with the 15.4" WUXGA with Samsung LCD as a comparison sample.

I think the color/brightness selection is a personal preference and each lcd is slightly different. I hope this helps you.