Confused about X220 tablet screen options

Can anyone explain to me the two X220 tablet scree options? How are they different, pros and cons?

I've read the spec pdf on Lenovo's website, but I don't understand how they differ?

Do they both have the Wacom digitizer pen and multitouch functionality with fingers?

 

The way I understand it, they both come with the Wacom digitizer. From here the similarities end.

For the Multitouch, they use an Infinity Glass display, which allows for multitouch (similar in concept to the iPad) and stylus interaction. This I believe is shown in the tabook as the "MULTI" option.

If you don't want multitouch, then the display is a Gorilla Glass display that can only be interacted with via the stylus. In the tabook, this is shown as the "OUTDOOR" option.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe both iterations of it include the IPS display.

Edit.

These are the specs for each of the screen options:
Outdoor: 12.5" (317.5mm) HD (1366x768) TFT color, anti-glare, LED backlight,
300 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 500:1 contrast ratio, 1.2% refl ectivity, multiple
anti-refl ectivity layers, IPS, Scratch Resistant Gorilla Glass Display

MultiTouch: 12.5" (317.5mm) HD (1366x768) TFT color, anti-glare, LED backlight,
300 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 500:1 contrast ratio, IPS,
MultiTouch screen supports pen & five-finger gesture

All: WideView (170° viewing), anti-refl ective and anti-glare protective coatings,
write on screen with standard digitizer pen, pen holder in side base (right),
rotate and swivel hinge, power, reset, and rotation buttons on display bottom

 

Does the outdoor display not use edge to edge "infinity" glass?

I'd like to know how the screens compare to eachother as well, especially differences in a "grainy" effect that may come from the digitizer/AG coatings (although I'm not too familiar with this subject). We probably won't be able to know with any degree of certainty until the tablets start shipping and user feedback starts pouring in though.

 

@Quickrabbit5: I thought Infinity glass was just a brand...? Is it some other technical lingo instead? I'm not sure where I heard it.. it was one of the various videos online for the x220t, but they specifically referred to one as the "Infinity Glass" display and the other as the "Gorilla Glass" display.

 

The Infinity Glass and Gorilla Glass is just the outer layer that protects the digitzer and and lcd panel underneath. If this Infinity Glass is anything like what's used in the Ipad, then the graininess associated with previous multitouch screens should be greatly reduced or completely eliminated. The only question then is how much grain is there in this model of Wacom digitizer. If there's no grain, I'd be very tempted to get a tablet. But don't have the luxury of being able to wait to find out.

 

@Vinuneuro: Do you know why Gorilla Glass and Multitouch are mutually exclusive? I thought Gorilla glass supported multitouch (in terms of the glass not interfering with the sensors and whatnot..) --> see the Droid X, which has Multitouch and gorilla glass.

edit:
I spoke with a sales rep the other day and asked him specifically this, if they were mutually exclusive or it was just a typo, because he initially cited some kind of technological limitation with gorilla glass and multitouch technology, but when I brought up the droid x he said he would email his product manager and reply. When he does i'll post here.

 

Hmmm. I am a bit confused and conflicted about the screen. One of the primary reason I want the tablet version is with the thought that when Windows 8 is released next year, I can take advantage of the potential tablet UI. With that in mind, I'm second guessing myself whether the Outdoor version (aka - Gorilla Glass) will allow me to fully utilize the "tablet" UI - such as pinch to zoom.

Now I am thinking that in order to get the full tablet UI experience, I'm thinking that perhaps I need to get the Multi version with the INFINITY GLASS.

So confusing as I want both the multitouch and Gorilla Glass....

Any thoughts?

 

The Outdoor version, to my knowledge, has 0 touch capabilities. You can poke and swipe and pinch all you want with your fingers and it will do NOTHING. It will ONLY respond to the stylus.

I was a little conflicted too, but I figured.. this is a laptop.. not a smart phone. I'm not too overly concerned about the screen getting beat up (after all, we've all used non-glass screens for the past how many years without much incident.. this glass screen upgrade should be much better right? no more yelling at friends who touch your screen when they point). If anything I'd just go buy a matte screen protector to throw on top of the Infinity display. Also, since we don't even have any details about what this Infinity Glass display is, maybe we shouldn't discount it too much. I realize that Gorilla glass is an established brand, but it definitely isn't the solution to all of our problems.

Edit:
I will be emailing my sales rep soon with this list of points and ask him to confirm or deny each point. Are there any more to be added?

+ There are 2 display types: Multi and Outdoor

+ For the Multi display, this supports multitouch (the usual gestures, 2 finger scroll, pinch zoom, etc), along with the WACOM digitizer technology. This display does NOT have a Gorilla Glass branded exterior.

+ For the Outdoor display, this display does not support any type of finger touch (aka you can poke and prod at it all you want but nothing will happen) and the only way to get a response from this screen is to use the included stylus. This screen however DOES have a Gorilla Glass branded top layer.

+ For both screen options, the IPS display is standard and included.

+ There is no other combination of display types. IE: We can not get the multitouch functionality but also have a Gorilla Glass branded panel.

 

I thought that "Infinity glass" just referred to the fact that the glass went from "edge to edge", which basically means that the glass is flush with the bezel, and as of such the bezel doesn't stick out. I didn't think that they would may such a large structural change on these two models, which is why I was confused when you made that distinction.

I don't know why the multitouch version doesn't use Gorilla Glass, or if it interferes with any of the multitouch features and thus couldn't be used. However, a possibility could be that the multitouch display was dubbed as an "Infinity" display since it just uses generic "Infinity" style glass, rather than Gorilla Glass.

I think the main thing that I'd like to know is how the changes to the screen used in the "Outdoor" display affect its quality. Would the AR layers add grain? Would the Gorilla Glass add a certain amount of "glossiness" to it? I probably won't be using it outside too much, and would much prefer to have some sort of glossiness over the graininess that tends to come with AG coatiings, although I believe AR isn't exactly the same thing. I guess I'll just have to wait for some people to share their experiences when they buy it.

 

I've seached to find information on what infinity glass but there isn't much information. I did find someone saying that the 'glass' runs to the edges of the bezel.

It appears that some HP laptops have an Infinity "Display", like the HP Envy 14 and 17. Some information I was able to discern is that while the screen looked nice, it tends to be glossy.

It's hard to believe that there isn't much information about the infinity glass.

 

This is the exact response I received from the rep:

"There will be the Outdoor panel and Multi-touch panel. Both are IPS, but the Outdoor will use the Gorilla Glass. The Multi-touch screen does not use the Gorilla glass though. You are correct, there is no combination to get both multi-touch and the Gorilla glass."

 

well... I'm not doubting that the outdoor/gorilla-glass option has no multitouch, what I'm not sure about is which one to get!

Multitouch + Pen Display
or
Outdoor (Pen only)


Now how matte/grainy is the Multitouch version of the screen? Is it really as clear as an iPad? I thought it was matte and might turn out to be milky in brighter situations like with a bright overcast sky in the background (on a train). Which is it now, milky/diffuse with a lot of light scattering thus hard to read or glossy as an iPad?

 

With regards for that, I suppose we will have to wait until the release to know.

Here are a few videos of the Multitouch flavor:

(This blogger Jesse B Andersen apparently has released several videos of his demo unit, which appears to be a multitouch version as shown by the first video)
YouTube - Lenovo X220 Tablet - Finger Touch Gestures (up to five fingers)
YouTube - Lenovo X220 Tablet - Graphics Performance (Batman, Half Life 2, Rome Total War, Shogun 2)

Not sure how well you can judge the screen from those videos but I figured I'd throw them out there incase you haven't seen them.

 

Here's an unbox from Lenovo. He says it's the Outdoor model but it's pretty reflective when he folds it flat toward the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOd0KFouWJY

 

Ok ninesd debating between the T420s with GPU, X220, or X220T. After watching the videos I'm sold on the X220T. That is a gorgeous screen (from the videos) and the tablet should make my photo editing easier. Hope it comes tomorrow!

 

So anyone have any insight on screen grain yet?

 

maybe this could help:
Lenovo X220 Tablet Infinity Glass Screen Glare
YouTube - JesseBAndersen's Channel