Anyone have a sparkly/grainy screen?

My 15.4 T61 WSXGA+ has a somewhat sparkly and grainy screen. I haven't heard anyone else complain about this on the forums, so I'm thinking it's an isolated condition. At the same time, I've heard of a lot of complaints on other PC boards, so I'm thinking it's not. (since many use the same panels)

So does anyone have this? I'm wondering if I should bother sending it in, or just try to live with it.

 

i hear alot of complaints about a sparkly screen o nthis forum, most of them seem to pertain to the 14.1 inch widescreen models

 

Amit... There are two manufactures of the WSXGA+ lenovo uses, LG/Phillips and Samsung. I had a Samsung and experienced the problem you have (terrible viewing angles, grainy, whites being grayish). Most people dislike their samsung WSXGA+.

The LG WSXGA+ has a much better reputation... I'm crossing my fingers my order will be shipped with LG...

 

I notice a bit of sparkling on my LG wsxga+ screen. For the short while i owned a D820, i also noticed some sparkling on the LG wsxga+ screen. The graininess seemed much more apparent on the D820 screen.

 

Just check what screen do you have (Samsung or LG/Philips) to determine if that grainy look might be because of the Samsung screen (mine is like that).

 

I know I have a Samsung. Now I'm considering sending it in for a screen replacement, if it's even allowed. I don't see why not.

 

How long have you had it?

 

I got in on Monday. I have no idea what to do. I feel like asking for a replaced screen won't do anything, and may just screw up an otherwise amazing computer. But at the same time, the screen is kind of annoying.

 

Did you buy direct from lenovo?

You could complain about the quality of the LCD, reorder and hope for a LG.

 

I thought it was predominantly Inspiron owners (esp. 1520 1440*900 TL) who suffered from grainy screens, not those who bought Thinkpads.

On the Dell boards, it seems usual for such disgruntled owners to either demand a new machine or a replacement screen, neither of which, unfortunately, is guaranteed to solve the problem.

 

My T61P (built 19mar08) 15.4" WSXGA+ Samsung screen unfortunately has the grainy, sparkle appearance making regular sized fonts and standard XP 96dpi text difficult to read. The problem is very apparent when set right next to a Dell Inspiron 5000e 15" SXGA+ screen with a native text size/dpi almost exactly the same size as the T61P. When viewing, for example, a simple Explorer window the5000e screen has a very smooth, very slight grain, white background but the T61P has a grayish, mottled, sparkly white background.

Trying various ClearType settings changes the T61P's text but it still always shows an odd, slight blurring. I can not ascertain for sure if it is the grainyness/sparklyness that is really causing the poor text on the T61P, but it might have something to do with it. I have 5 notebooks, 2 LCD's at work and a Dell 2405 - all have very smooth white backgrounds, so what is up with this new panel? I see this grainy/sparkly/poor (small) text issue has been a problem going back 1 or 2 years.

This new notebook is replacing my wife's 5000e, and she noticed the problem right away. She was fine with the 5000e set at the native 96dpi; but, we have to set the new T61P to something higher.

I have heard the LG screen might be better. I talked to a local Lenovo warranty depot and they said there is no way to specify a replacement LG screen since both the Samsung and LG screens have the same Lenovo part number. Is this true? If so I may have to send this T61P back.

 

That's not true, they have different FRU numbers (an internal Lenovo control number).

Samsung: 42X4641
LG: 42T0417 or 42T0423

MB

 

You can use your serial number and build code (probably 6459-CTO but double check) to find out what parts were used in your computer. However, take that info with a grain of salt, since it could have been typed in incorrectly.

There are programs you can download that will give you the manufacturer, like PC Wizard.

 

So there IS a way to specify an LG replacement screen? Has anyone done this? I asked the guy multiple times, he said they get what they get and there is no way to specify an exact screen mfgr. I even asked if I could purchase an LG screen on my own and he said there was no way to specify an LG.

(I already did verify the screen I have is a Samsung)

 

I didn't mean that you can specify a screen, I just wanted to point out that when tech support says both LG's and Samsungs have the same part number, they're fibbing. Okay, lying through their teeth.

Since it sounds like the computer is still pretty new, I would call tech support and speak to a manager. Or, if you dealt with a salesperson to purchase the computer, give them a call to see about an exchange.

I had a pretty negative experience with Lenovo tech support and ended up bypassing them entirely to return the comuter (I had an LG with stuck pixels).

Don't put up with a subpar screen.

 

I have a 15.4" Samsung and it's a little grainy, but compared to the Dell M1530 and another machine based on the Compal JFL92 the T61p screen is not grainy at all.

I experienced first hand the graininess of the Dells and and after being through that the T61p screen looks beautiful. Maybe Dell lowered my standards to Lenovo's benefit? Anyway, I think it's partly because they are matte not glossy so the grain is less apparent.

That's not to say they are all not grainy. Mine is a little grainy but nothing I'd try to get a replacement for. No screen is perfect and the bottom line is that if you can't live with it then you can try to do something about it.