Advice for me and my T61...

Okay, I need some advice:

I recently purchased a T61 which I am using right now to type this.

I got it for a good deal but I do not like the Samsung screen. As of now, I am awaiting a response from Lenovo's guy Mark at the forums on whether or not they will approve the switching of dissatisfactory screens. The machine has great components, but as someone who works with photos and watches movies and uses the screen, my stomach just churns at how unhappy I am with the purchase.

I have created a poll, and here are my options:

1) Wait for Lenovo, if no, then sell

2) Wait for Lenovo, if no, then just order replacement LCD

3) Time is of the essence, hang Lenovo, sell it and just buy new

Should I bother waiting for an answer or should I sell and wait for LED? Thanks, I loves you guys out there in NBR land...

 

how about

4) sell it and quit whining about it here?

 

Since you already have it I don't its value will drop any more than it has already so I personally would wait to see what they say.

 

How recently? If less than 30 days, return it!

 

It arrived the 16rh of April at my house.

 

You might be able to return it if you're dissatisfied. Maybe at your own expense? (shipping)

Get in contact with your Lenovo rep

 

Hmm aiiee, you must be new to the internet. Here's some advice: if you don't like it, ignore it. It's not like anyone forced you to act. The world is uncaring, live with it

 

surfer: follow your own advice? If you don't like my post, ignore it? It does go both ways doesn't it?

 

If we were all following our own advice, we wouldn't get anywhere would we?

Anyhow back to actually discussing things relevant to the topic!
How can you tell what the make of the LCD is?

 

They actually sent me a DHL box. Do they refund the whole amount (including taxes minus 15% restocking for the before tax amount)? It says IBM Notebook Return Program on the box.

And nice job, aiiee taking all of that literally. I am amazed that you followed me all the way to the Lenovo forums as well. And any "big kills" I might make would be in the form bugs that live near my wooded home. So, I ask the educated (or mostly educated) forum community if I should sell it or do the LCD replacement myself and blow $200 bucks on an otherwise great machine to get it EXACTLY the way I want it. Most folks don't look at new posts on an old thread, and since it was a comment made by Zaz in another thread that got my gears turning, I thought I'd ask in a new one. I know I like looking at poll questions, so I thought it might attract other users who may be a little forum-comment shy.

"And in a multitude of counselors there is saftey." Proverbs 24:6

I'd like to make the right choice.

 

I looked up a parts evaluation of my machine and then compared those numbers to the parts manual. But whatever the make, I didn't like the screen and wanted to see if there were better options.

There is an ongoing problem in both Dell and Thinkpad notebooks with the WSXGA+ screen in particular (samsung seems to have problems in terms of this particular res).

 

Anyway, can anyone recommend a place to have the LCD installed in case I don't want to do it myself?

 

@techno_techie

if you think the 15% refund cost is much cheaper than the cost to buy new lcd i would suggest that you should return your notebook, given that the quality of the LG screen is about the same w/ the quality of the Samsung screen aside from the fact that they have better viewing angles- check out this info at one of the old thread in this particular sub-forum. since T-series laptops are specifically being marketed as business laptops i doubt that lenovo would pay that much of attention to the quality of its screen.

 

Two good points. I did look at the older thread (is the one you refer to jooooeeee's?) and it made me feel better while the order was shipping, but to see it in person is worse. I read keh's review and he noted dithering in the LG, which didn't make me too happy. Based on your response, I think I will return it and wait for a thinkpad with LED technology and an NBR review.

The other thing to consider - which is why I might pay more than what I would lose (about $150) is that the rest of the system was a great deal. I would be hard pressed to find a Dell with matched specs for the same price. I could also try HP.

 

Stop the internet bickering. Both of you. It's as useful as fishing for cheese.

techno_techie, if you're dissatisfied with your screen, you can send it back for an exchange and try for a new screen. Though, the likelihood of you getting a Samsung again is about 50%. And frankly, not all Samsung screens are bad. However, many have tired getting the screen replaced, and unless you have a good reason (like flickering, dead pixels, inability to do work at all with the screen, etc.) they are unlikely to replace it. Mark.... isn't the most reliable person to ask from Lenovo. You might as well call your customer service guy/gal.

Getting a third-party replacement will most likely void your warranty, and it'll cost a bit. And if you wait, the newer LED notebooks will, of course, cost a bomb.

My advice: Give them a call, ask ask them if they can get the screen replaced. If not, decide from there.

EDIT: Darn. bung beat me to it.

 

I ordered online, so I don't have a sales rep, which is the best way to go about it. It already went into the shop (LOL, like a car), I mean the depot, and they replaced the LCD cable (??? why? who knows!). I wasn't sure if it would void the entire warranty. It was my first thought that it would, but I read a thread where someone suggested it would just be the screen. I can't imagine that is true. It's just, I think every college student or recent grad would understand, eating $150 bucks on a brand new anything is hard to swallow, but bung makes an excellent point in the way that he worded the message - the new screen is $250 without a sale on the old LCD.

Just a question: is fishing for cheese a common phrase? LOL...

 

You DO have a sales rep. Just call them and quote you order number. What kind of warranty do you have?

 

Hmm... does this issue affect the X61t's? I just ordered one the other day. Though I doubt that I would notice/care that much about it

 

I have your basic DHL to depot warranty - I paid nothing extra.

And I will have this thread closed once I get your response - I have had to do it one other time.

 

Wait, I must have misread that. You can send _just_ the screen back, and ask them for a new one?

 

No, you send the machine and they might replace it for you, but you have to have dead pixels, a burned out backlight, or other damage caused by the manufacturer that would be covered by the warranty. Questions and concerns about quality are not attended to unless there is a lot of noise made about it, which was the case with Dell. Dell would not service the bad screens, but they received so many complaints that I think they finally do it as a matter of policy with their XPS notebook systems.

 

Hey Techno,
Are you in a big rush? I mean can you wait a bit for the answer from Lenovo? If so, I think Mark will have an answer but Lenovo can be a little slow in their answer from other things similar to this that I have read. I am sure that if Mark asked for volunteers for giving them test machines, he will come back with an answer and their findings(not necessarily in your favor).

The point about the warranty being voided by another member was a good one. There is actually another thread in this forum where someone is asking the same thing. Not sure what the answer is, but I will bet that Lenovo will make a big stink about it if you had to send them your machine for warranty repair in the future.

Could you do us all a favor and please post up various screen shots of your screen?

I am extremely curious about what it looks like. Everybody has different ideas of what is bad. I am pretty forgiving with screens and actually view most of my screens with with the lowest brightness setting. But you being a photo editor might have a higher standard.

Last weekend I actually found 1 place in my area that had a couple of thinkpads on display! It was a 14" T61 with a LG screen(1440x900) and a 15.4" Z61m with a screen IBMxxx(not sure who makes these??) at 1680x1050 res. The 14" machine looked good and was brighter than the 15.4" one. The 15.4" one was not bad either but was not as bright as the 14" version. Overall I thought the screens were ok, but I wished they were a couple ticks brighter, especially the 15.4" one. I felt that the max or one below the max brightness was necessary to view the screens properly in store lighting conditions.

All in all I would say you wait for Marks reply. If he comes back with "no, we won't replace your screen" then I say you sell it.

 

Just that if I return it, it must go back to Lenovo Friday for me to be within my return period. I took photographs, but with a wide-zoom lens, which distorts the picture (it does show the backlight bleed and the angles though) - I will see if I can borrow my sister's camera, which is a standard lens point and shoot. But, if you want to see it now, look at Penguinchris's posts of his screen. Mine is EXACTLY like that - and the photos will not replicate the cloudy whites and grays that shimmer. Look for my photos late tomorrow night (I have work at 7AM and HAVE to leave the forum).

 

I like polls when the info helps people out. In this case I think you are right on as many T61 owners have complained about the Samsung display.


I use a 22" Samsung 226BW desktop display at home which looks great IMO. I managed to tune my T61p's Samsung display to my likes using the NVIDIA control panel and by using 175.16 drivers which recently went WHQL certified by NVIDIA.
Have you tried to "calibrate" your display? It may help.

 

Yes, and the funny thing is that when I set the gamma, the "lighting" is different. When I set the contrast to accurately reflect the checkerboards, I get gradient banding when I do the gradient calibration.

 

I just had to edit this whole thread. For those of you who have drifted off-topic, consider this a warning before infraction or ban. If you have nothing helpful to post, then don't bother posting. Those of you who have contributed to the thread, thank you for the cooperation.

Arkit3kt

 

Thanks, much.

Has anyone found that digital vibrance helps?

 

Without the option of increasing digital vibrance, I think I would have returned my notebook immediately (Samsung screen). Without it, the screen looks almost black and white to me, just a tiny bit of color. With DV at 65%, the screen colors look great though IMO. If only it would help with the dreadful viewing angle limitations!!!

 

All right, I am going to try that tomorrow, if not, I may just go with another thinkpad once they're updated and user-tested (if the economy is still suffering, prices might not be so bad) - man I hate to part with this thing! a Dell couldn't be nearly as quiet nor as well priced! And it really does have a stellar design - people have to appreciate the design because, in-person, you can see that it really is clean and fit.

 

I'm (possibly) getting a new screen from screentek

www.screentekinc.com

It costs a little over $100 but you'll have to switch you glossy

^That was me. = ) It's crazy how these things happen in conjunction.

I guess for what it's worth, if it is "the perfect laptop" as you say, perhaps a new screen would be worth it. Thinkpads are built well, and some people don't even bother with a warranty.

Don't you just wish you had all the money you could ever need for these things?

 

If screens are issues, you can try a Mac or Vaio. Those tend to have better screens.

Wait and see what Mark or your CSR says. Then make a decision.

 

thank you.

 

Well, no reply from Mark @ Lenovo. Tomorrow is the last day for return...rough.

 

That's what I said. Mark isn't fast. At all. Give them a call.

 

Reply to you from Mark

 

that seems to be a link to a different issue

 

I looked at my inbox, no reply yet. I got a great deal, so I guess you get what you paid for. We'll see what happens in the next couple of weeks, for now I will keep this but make no modifications (wanna do linux and clean install :/) If no luck, I may just keep it since my specs are great and I can save up for a new screen or maybe upgrade in June-July to LED.

 

You're right - that was another cross-over from here. Sorry.

 

May the Force be with you. And do keep us up to date on it!

 

Did you have a chance to take any pics yet?

 

I am so sorry! I was going to Thursday, but I started a job with a catering company that day and work was 15 hours and then another 14 hours yesterday. I feel so bad. Tomorrow. It is done then.