Elitebook versus Thinkpad Screen ....

I had really hoped the X200 screen would be good enough but simply put it is abismal. Now considering changing the screen, but keeping options open. Does anyone on here have an X200 and an Elitebook 2530 or so? Would like to know if the HP has a better screen. As I had suspected the X200 screen is a far cry from my Samsung Netbook screen ... amazing given the price difference but true. A huge letdown in an otherwise great laptop.

By the way: Is the T400 CCFL screen similar/same as the T61 CCFL ? As in there should be no issues in movies/Youtubes etc?

And is the T400s touch screen better than the regular T400 screen ?

 

I don't know about 2530p, but 6930p comes with only 2 options: WXGA LED and WSXGA CCFL.

T400 takes the advantages of WSXGA LED and high-nit screens. Screens quality, IMHO, are equal. Both use TN panels, which will make no significant differences.

If I'm not mistaken, T400s touch comes with a S-PVA panel, which is far better than TN panel in T400

 

when you said you had finally picked what computer to buy, i thought, you sought perfection and came up with the x200?

 

Yes I thought so to ... that I finally found what wanted, but the screen is really much worse than I thought would be somehow allowed on a premium laptop without causing civil unrest so to say. In the words of Pufftissue from a while back:

Thinkpads are not marketed as low-end laptops, nor are they priced that way. So why should it have a decidedly low-end screen? 2. Thinkpads are so close to being such a great laptop and they fall flat on the screen. It's like tripping over yourself at the finish line when you've got victory in hand. 3. Screen quality is only increasing in importance as online video goes fully mainstream. Ask yourself, aren't you watching more videos, movies, and tv shows than you were 3 years ago? I know that I am. Makes sense to place a premium on it.

I will get rid of it and probably get a T400 CCFL and stick to the netbook for travel, good enough, great keyboard & really nice screen. I simply did not believe earlier reports that the screen of the X200 was really not up to standard. Now I know LOL. Changing the screens etc well it's an option but I don't think I can really be bothered.
I read review that the CCFL on the T400 and T500 is actually quite nice and plenty bright. That will be the next step. I think there is still a niche in the ultraportable market ... actually a WIDE gap for a true premium product with a premium screen. Lenovo ... close but no cigar.

 

Gosh! I was planning to pick up the X200/1 for the wife instead of a netbook, but now I think I will get her a T400 too!

 

Depends on what she uses it for ... if she never watches a movie on it then it may suit her. I simply need a travel laptop that does it all ... The Samsung NC10 has been a great little travel companion, now my wife's. I may get an N140 with 10 hour battery life for on the road. The screen on the Netbook is lightyears ahead of the X200 screen ... So yes maybe the T400 would be an option for her.

 

But she does watch movies, does her writing and trawls the web...I thought of the X200/1 because it is light in weight, but on second thoughts (and after reading of your experience), I think the T400 (or R400) is the best option.

 

T400's screen is not very suitable for movies watching. It's low viewing angles and limited color gammut will prevent your wife from enjoying movies.

 

Thanks....! And here I am trying to convert our home into a ThinkPad den. No more Sony, no more Acer, no more Toshiba...

 

I've seen my buddy's T400 and don't see how why someone wouldn't be able to enjoy movies. For sure, the black is a bit lacking but it's definitely not as bad as some may think as long as there isn't a group of people watching it.

 

It always depends on what do you compare it to. If you're used to 100" external IPS monitors - t400 might look unacceptable.

 

You definitely can watch movies with T400. But if you've ever watched movies on some better screens, you will know why I said that. Suggestion: you can try Dell XPS 16, which has a really good screen.

Anyway, I'm using both T400 and a desktop with HP w1907 monitor (which uses a TN panel, too), and I can say that w1907 far surpasses T400's screen in movies watching.

 

My better-half will be watching movies alone! If not... ...Unless, of course,...

 

Just perform the FlexView mod and be done with it. It's the only way you're going to be satisfied,

 

People declaring Thinkpad screens as unwatchable (for movies) are really pushing the definition of the word. Unless you are entertaining multiple people and therefore require a wide viewing angle, and furthermore some of those folks are videophiles (thus easily distracted and offended by less than cinema quality contrast, etc.), then the screen does the job just fine. I say that about my old T43 and my newer T400s. I suspect the T400 screen is of similar quality.

 

Agree ewthopson but you have not seen an X200 screen.... now I kind of read about it on here a few times but I did not know how bad it was and it's really that bad.

 

is it possible to do side by side comparison of x200 and another laptop with good screen?

 

T510 with HD+ has a pretty decent screen, you could also wait for the FHD which is best screen offer by Lenovo in the last couple generation of Thinkpad.

 

+1, especially after going through hell and high water to find a system able to accept a CCFL AFFS+ panel with minimal effort.

if swapping displays isn't an option then it's time to move to the HP forum and cease your agonizing over Lenovo's offerings.   complaints, while appreciated within reason, only serve to antagonize IBM/Lenovo forum members.   we get that you don't care for the display.   now it's time to make a decision.

 

+2

If I had a penny for every post you made about the screen perfectionseeker, I would be a very rich man

 

Beginning to look rather trollish to me.

 

Just to be clear, limited color gamut does not make a screen less suitable for movies. In general, wide gamut screens are unsuitable for movies. Somehow, people have become convinced that wide gamut = better generally.

 

2510P/2530P has had complaints of poor LCD quality, with limited angle viewing. You may wish to look at the 2730P tablet with a indoor/outdoor BOE Hydis panel described here and here. It uses only a 1.8" sata SSD/HDD.

 

He's just annoying...It's well-known that TP screen are average yet he keeps complaining about it given his eyes' ultrasensibility.

 

his nick should reveal as much... haha... jk.

 

most matte LCD in 12.1 inch widescreen format is pretty ordinary.

If you want a real good LCD, then prepare to to pay for it (but the OP said he doesn't want to spend the extra dough).... and get a Tablet laptop with the AFFS+ LCD.

Netbook have good LCD, because they are produced as ODM product by a selected few contract manufacturers and they are in glossy format. The economy of scale means that they have more leverage with the LCD supplier in terms of price, quality and format.

Thinkpad unfortunately are not a off the shelf ODM product, and nor are they produced in large formats so economies of scale are lost.... and the oligopoly parts manufacturers really don't care about these sort of customers, which usually mean they get the left over parts.

 

Yes I am indeed annoying I admit. I am annoying to myself ! I just expressed yes that I had expected it to be not perfect but much worse than my 2005 Toshiba Portege screen is a bit over the top. The Tablet I agree but I find them not really ultra-portable anymore. My Samsung netbook is a matte screen by the way, best ever seen. I tried to see if they exist in 12.1 inches but they only go up to 11.6 As said the Boe Hydis matte screens are not to be found, have looked for weeks. Yes there was one for 300 on Ebay but that is too much.

Put up or shut up seems right at this stage... if anyone knows where a matte Boe Hydis can be obtained please let me know.

 

Come on guys, be nice.

 

Thanks Talin but they do have the right to express their feelings I guess. No offense taken, have gotten used to it on here. Anyhow the screen modification is a nice idea but the screen in question is not available & I really cannot work on this scren, so it going back to sender.

 

also the CCFL backlight used in LCD contains mercury and leaks a small amount UV radiation....

 

Lead org I was not aware of that but I had a Toshiba Portege for quite a while ... always been OK: Thread can be closed. I have tried to find the matte Boe Hydis for weeks now... none available. So meanwhile the X200s has been returned. All was excellent apart from the screen, shame really. On to a T400 CCFL.

 

Just use an external monitor...

and put up with a laptop on the go...

 

I have given up on ThinkPads because of the screen quality. If people need good screens, simply do not buy ThinkPads.

However, I haven't found a good alternative other than the MBP...but I have never seen the Elitebooks

 

The 17" Dell Latitude/Precision and HP Elitebook screens are supposed to be the best TN panels, while Lenovo W700 uses the same panel as the Apple MBP 17.