Don't like my X201T

At the end of July 2010, I bought an X201T (T for Tablet) system.

Turns out, it sucked:
1.) Screen is extremely grainy.
2.) There is small section of dead (or just bright white) pixels.
3.) WiFi problems.
4.) HDD began sounding like a helicopter a few times.
5.) Tablet/stylus parallax makes the writing useless for me (IMO).

It has been six months since I've had this device.

I would have done something earlier to get rid of this thing, but, I am in college and this is my only machine.

Now, I do have some time to fix this situation.

I don't want this X201T anymore.
If Lenovo offered me 50% of the cost of the machine for giving it back to them, I would do it.

Would Lenovo do this for me?

My system was expensive when I bought it for ~$1800 (w/o tax).

If Lenovo doesn't do this, then how much do you think I can sell this system for? (given that I get the issues fixed):

Here are the specs:
Intel Core i7-640LM (4M Cache, 2.13 GHz, 2.933Ghz Turbo)
W7PRO
RAM: 4GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ2DIMM
12.1" Multitouch (Capacitive) and Stylus.
Fingerprint Reader
2MP Camera
250GB, 5400RPM Harddisk
5 in 1 Card Reader and Modem
Bluetooth with Antenna
Intel Ultimate-N 6300 Wifi
8-Cell Li-Ion Battery
Warranty: 2YR Onsite + 2YR ADP (So, 1.5 Years left)

What can Lenovo do for me?

Any experiences with such issues?

 

My experience is similar. I recently got a X200T and the digitizer adds so much grain it completely overshadows the quality of the screen. Multitouch is even worse in this regards afaik. You have on-site warranty. Call Lenovo are try to sort out the other issues with tech support, and if that doesn't help they can start replacing parts.

Lenovo won't do anything like that for you, but I suggest you get it on ebay asap before the X220T starts shipping. X201T with your configuration are going for $1200-1300 (or slightly more).

 

How many times has it been in for repair? Lenovo allowed me to replace my x100e after it had gone for repair a total of 5 times in 3 months. I would call them up and get the ball rolling and explain the situation. Also, Mark at Lenovo Forums has helped others with issues.

 

I have never sent it for repair because I am college student who, up until these next 2 weeks, could not afford to send in my laptop as long as it was working because it is my only machine.
The HDD started sounding like a helicopter in 1-2 months. I just kept regular backups and somehow the HDD hasn't failed yet. I was utterly disappointed.
Every month I hear the helicopter HDD sound and cringe and pray.
I have never treated the laptop badly. Never moved it while the HDD was spinning.
It's funny that the HDD hasn't crashed yet because my friend had bought a MBP 2 months ago and now he can't recover ANYTHING. It started making a helicopter noise IN CLASS and then boom, it was all over in 1 shot. He didn't have any backups. Strange.

 

Exactly!!! You do have warranty and this is what it's for.

Renee

 

I'm going to call Lenovo tomorrow and see if they can do anything. If not, craigslist or Ebay it is.
The warranty on the machine is excellent enough for it to sell despite problems.
The helicopter sound may be the fan (I pray).
Whatever it is, I'm hoping to sell it for $1200 at best.

 

You have On-Site, there's no question of sending it in. They'll come fix it the next business day. As for the hdd, call support and tell them what's happening and they'll ship you a new hdd overnight. I've been there and they sent a new one no questions asked.

 

Renee, I'm not just unhappy due to the hardware issues of the laptop. They're the least of my worries.
The screen is killing my eyes. It is too damn grainy.
Moreover, the tablet aspect just plain sucks.

 

I think what these guys are saying is valid, we have all been there disappointed by a purchase ... but what their advice is solid, get it repaired.... and then try to sell it to someone and replace with a laptop you like.....

Good luck with Lenovo please let us know how they treat you with the repair

 

Interesting. What kind of screens do you have to see the grain? I thought it's only on the screens with multi-touch surface.

I don't know what's a "writing parallax" (I am familiar with the astronomical term) but I didn't have many problems when I used it for writing. I guess the only thing that bothers me a little is that the pen is still writing when the stylus isn't actually touching the screen (but have a feeling this might be corrected with some software...).

Now for dead pixels I have zero tolerance - so I'd ask for a replacement. I had a screen at some point with few dead (or rather, stuck) pixels and there's no way in the world I'd use that. Besides, there seem to be multiple issues on your machine.

What are the WiFi problems? (Have you tried new(er) drivers?) I have the older 5300 card and it works like a charm.

 

I have THE 200 NIT LED PANEL. since I'd NEVER READ about GRAIN in non MULTI Touch SCREENS It Really SURPRISED ME. I IMAGINE it's not NEARLY as APPARENT in THE SUPER BRIGHT and out Door SCREENS.

-THIS post written From THE TABLET.

 

My X201t also have bad wifi signal, is this fixable?

 

LOL!

I honestly can't see any grain. You can see individual pixels, however, if your vision is good and come really closely to the screen.

BTW, this sentence is written on my X200t. It just sucks at recognizing smiles.

 

I have a capacitive multitouch display.
These models are apparently notorious for their horrible-looking screens.
The problem is that the graininess will eventually wear your eyes out.
Within an hour or so, it starts to take its toll on me.
YMMV.

 

May I ask what the "grainness" is? Are you referring to the AG coating effect?

 

It's as if someone put another layer of screen on top of the original screen.
This layer seems to have some hard gel inside it that makes it look like there are fine dots of red, yellow, and green everywhere.

You know the color made in water from the emission of a car.
It's as if someone evenly and heavily diluted this color and then placed it in an layer above the actual screen.

I have a capacitive touch screen on top of my regular capacitive stylus.
My recommendation: don't get the multitouch.
It helps in panning and zooming in the screen when using it for intense notetaking but not for anything more.

Nonetheless, this thing writes equations and big drawings pretty well.

I don't think these things are ready for prime time.

I want to see a capacitive stylus with impeccable accuracy on a Samsung Super AMOLED Plus 10-inch multitouch screen with gorilla glass (and nothing else on top). This is going to take a while to go commercial/cheap though.

 

Unfortunately the multitouch screen is the crappier one, though it should still be very good compared to the tons of crap laptop screens out there. One thing to check is which screen model you have (open up device manager, go to "Monitors" , then right click on "Generic PnP Monitor"; go to the details tab, choose Hardware Ids and tell us what it says (the models that are the best around are the BOE Hydis screens) The SEC ones are known to be crappy, and there are a few other ones that are crap). when you get your screen replaced because of dead pixels, see if you could get a Super Bright (you have to be nice to them, and make give them some reasons to do so)

The grainess is part from the multitouch layer, part from the AG coating. My HP 2730p has a bit of "grain" but I got used to it quickly, and I love the matte finish. there are Tablet PC's that have the Hydis screen, and no grain (such as the ASUS EP121, the Lenovo X200t/ X201t with Super Bright Outdoor screen, and some of the Fujitsu Tablet PC's)


The writing parallax will be there in pretty much any Tablet PC; even in the $2000 Wacom Cintiques. you just have to get used to looking where the pen is actually drawing on the screen, and not where the pen is writing (I have been using a Tablet PC since July last year so I am more than used to it; but it takes time). you can try calibrating the screen using either the in built part of Windows 7, or the Wacom pen driver)

I don't know what kind of Wi-Fi problems you are having, but it is probably because the card is bad (or an issue with the router). But you should get the Wi-Fi card replaced


I am not sure what you mean by helicopter noise, but it is not normal. it is either the hdd, or the fan; if it were the fan then the noise would be varying as the fan spins up and down when more or less cooling is needed; so it is probably the hdd going bad (get it replaced under warranty)

The OnSite warranty would be great to use in this situation because they will come to your house and replace the parts in 30min-1hr and make sure everything is good.

I don't know if you are into doing any Digital Art, but that is usually the #1 reason to get a Tablet PC; but you should at least try the trials of Artrage, Corel Painter, Photoshop, and a few other of the art programs.

As a quick FYI, the pen that came with your Tablet PC is called a active digitizer pen, and there is a digitizer board behind the LCD screen to read its position. For touch, there is a capacitive sensing layer fused to the protecting layer in front of the LCD (in the case of Lenovo Tablet PC's this is a hard plastic)



IMO a Tablet PC isn't for everyone, because in order to get a small, light, form factor with the digitizer screen, they sacrifice a lot of performance to get that (mainly graphics power)


Sorry for the wall of text, but I think some of it might help. If you would like more help with the X201t in terms of it as a Tablet PC, feel free to go to the sister site http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/, and look over the Lenovo section http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/lenovo-ibm/

-this post partly hand written, partly typed on my Tablet PC <--- hand written smile

 

I knew grainness was referring to AG layer of the screen. I have a BOE Hydis screen and feel the same. My external 24'' IPS monitor also has this problem when displaying lighter colors.