I won't buy another Thinkpad

I love everything about my ThinkPad except the screen. I can't even watch certain YouTube videos and playing some oldschool video games is impossible. After spending a few good hours at work I'd like to sit back and play some games, but the screen is just not good.

I don't think I'll buy another ThinkPad if this doesn't change. To be honest I haven't checked the Lenovo site in months all I know is the x220 has a good IPS screen, and now I think Lenovo may take away the IPS option from the W series .

Give me a T or X series IPS or even consumer grade not business grade screen.

Sorry about the rant I finally had some time to take out some games to play and it's frustrating.

 

I'm currently using a T410s and the screen seems just fine for me - and I have been using Asus and Apple before I came across Thinkpads.

Surely, the X220 IPS is nice, but the TN screens from the other series aren't that bad either. What specific problems do you have with them? What exactly do you mean by 'playing games/ watching youtube is impossible'?

 

It depends which manufacturer made your screen. Some are better than others.

 

My X120e's screen is definitely a very average consumer-grade TN display, with washed out colors and relatively poor contrast. With some color tweaking, though, it's more than bearable; I actually quite like it. Contrast is still lacking, but it's only really noticeable in a side-by-side comparison with my T500. My girlfriend's T420 HD+ display also has relatively poor contrast, but it's still more than usable for some media and general office tasks.

Maybe you should try tweaking the colors of your screen? It's hard to believe that the screen is so bad it's unusable.

 

+1. On every laptop I've had (All average screens), simply adding a little more saturation made a world of difference.

 

W series doesn't have IPS option.

 

Most TN screens aren't great, and ThinkPads are no exception. It's not that they have anything against gaming, it's just that gaming performance simply isn't one of the design criteria when selecting panels.

So yeah: if you like to do gaming and watching movies, ThinkPads probably aren't your best choice.

The X220 is the only ThinkPad with an IPS panel at the moment, though the FHD display option for the T/W series is *very* nice for a TN panel.

 

Has Lenovo ever offered IPS panels for 13 or 14" ThinkPads?

 

As far as I know, no. I don't think any 13" or 14" IPS panels were ever produced until LG started making some 13" ones for its laptops this year..

 

Screens are screens. Yes unlucky if you get an AUO and your friend gets an LG. My T410s (2904-GGU) didn't have a particularly bad screen, nor was it good. Luck of the draw mate.

 

Basically. The reasons presented by the OP are not enough to warrant a boycott of TPs in the future, in my view.

 

What exactly is wrong with the screen? Is it not working or are the pixel's dying? Glossy screen or matte? I personally like thinkpads. I have a x60 tablet and it has run very well for the past couple of years. I didn't have any problems with it until the hinge on the monitor broke. I tried to replace it myself and was successful but I think I broke my screen during the process. Everything on my x60 works except the screen. I connect it to an external monitor and it works fine. Besides for the hinge problem, and now screen problem, my x60 has served me quite well. I would buy another one if not for my need to play games.

 

My T61 screen isn't that bad. My X301's screen is MUCH brighter, somewhat better colors, it just has terrible viewing angles. The screen has to be tilted JUST RIGHT in order for the colors to really pop. Otherwise you'll just get this really bright white reflection from the entire bottom portion of the screen

Compared to a MacBook Pro / Air, these screes are HORRIBLE. BUT, I didn't buy the Thinkpad because of it's crappy screens. I bought it due to it's legendary build quality, and the fact that 5 years after I bought it my friends 5 year old MacBook like most likely look like a 15 year old laptop lol

 

Yeap after using my X220 and X1 i find that the X301 screen is atrocious in terms of viewing angle and contrast.

The X1 is the only TN LCD Lenovo has that can rival MBP and MBA. (Well the 15 inch FHD LCD are also very good and probably can give 15 inch MBP a run for their money).

 

All of the MBP's I've seen have this weird yellow tinge on all greys as soon as they're slightly off center horizontally. The FHD is really good, relatively speaking.

 

really? i didn't notice it when i had the MBP 15 inch, but they were the pre-unibody version, so things could have been vastly different now.

 

"Screens are screens".... I disagree.

That said, I simply don't understand what's going on with Lenovo and their screens. Are they really that bad?

I just read a review from Computer Shopper which said " Colors in photos and Windows apps looked terrific throughout our testing, and the panel did a good job with video, delivering smooth playback with no motion blur.".

That's a pretty solid review for a laptop screen.

I have an ancient T43 that's still kicking and the screen is "okay", but I have a hard time believing modern ThinkPads don't have improved screens... but maybe I'm wrong.

I wonder if the matte screens of the ThinkPad are being compared to gloss screens of consumer lines. If so, STOP! The gloss coating does make a difference folks. I'm not a fan of glass coats, but they do make colors pop.

Comparing to IPS screens is also a useless effort...

That said, it amazes me that Lenovo doesn't offer premium screen options on there T series models, which I consider to be their "flagship" line of products. This is especially true for the 420S which should have an IPS option for sure.

I'll tell you what, I have an Apple MBA for about 7 days now and it may go back. The screen is wonderful, but the keyboard and trackpad drive me NUTZ... even the Apple trackpad is considered the best in the industry! (it is nice as touchpads go, but not nearly as good the trackpoint). The Mac keyboard is nice too, but my T43 beats is hands down in terms of functionality

 

I do not think the 1366x768 X1 screen rivals the MacBook Air 1440x900 screen for color, blacks, contrast, or brightness. The X1 I had also had the screen door look like you see on the T420s. It was more subtle because the panel is behind the Gorilla Glass, but it was there.

Hopefully the rumored X2 IPS screen will resolve the 13" market for Lenovo.

 

Like other people have said, you can get the 15 inch FHD screen.

 

Are you serious?

 

yeap. But it was by no way scientific.

X2 will have IPS?

 

I thought you were the one that said it was going to be a 1600x900 IPS screen after some conference or training you attended. Someone did. I certainly hope it's true. If it is, it'll be my next ThinkPad.

 

mmmmm, you should see videos and games on my W520....

frikkin awesome !!!

 

i only mentioned higher resolution, i did not say IPS LCD. Maybe i said i wish if it was true, etc.

I certainly wish the IPS does come to the X2 if such LCD can be sourced. As it would be great.

 

Thanks man. Maybe it was wishful thinking on all our parts.

 

The screens on my T410 and SL410 suck, unfortunately. But what can you do?

 

Well you can choose another manufacturer...but other manufacturers are just as bad unless you purposefully buy a RGBLED/IPS screen = 550 dollars for DC2/Dell's RGBLED/IPS.

Plus T series is mainstream ThinkPad, most people just use it for work and that is all. W series offer high color gamut screen, which most people do NOT need. If you need that screen, then don't buy T series.

Also realize Lenovo ThinkPads are WAY cheaper than IBM ones.

 

I'm very happy with the HD+ screen on my T520. It's an improvement over my last laptop.

I can understand though that different people have different expectations. If you are looking for an ultimate multimedia experience, the ThinkPad line is probably not for you.

 

Even of the the X2 does not have a HD+ Ips panel, at least put a decent TN screen on your flagship model for the X series. I have no problem with the chiclet keyboard, I just wish for a good screen. I am sick and tire of looking at bad TN screen with narrow viewing angle and low contrast ratio. I might even consider switching over to the dark side and get a consumer laptop if I could get a laptop with a good screen, a decent graphic performer, and a portable footprints.

 

i only wish the X1's screen had the HD+ i will be happy and content.

 

I hope your wish comes true, and I hope the screen quality is much better than the X1. The current X1 screen was a big mistake in my opinion.

 

That's not gonna happen.