Anyone with Samsung LED on T400..

So after lots of research I decided to buy a T400 laptop. I'm a college student and wanted a laptop that would hold up well and last a few years until I graduate.

I ordered the laptop last friday, and it shipped yesterday. To my dismay, when I look up the parts that come with the laptop I see that it is being built with the Samsung LCD part number. After searching these boards all i can find is people having nothing but negative experiences with these panels. Is this true?

Did anyone actually keep their t400 with the samsung screen or did they all have them replaced? If you still have yours how do you like it?

Maybe the quality has improved since the first launch of the T400? A big selling point was the superior LED backlit display and I really hope the samsung I receive is ok.

 

I don't know how accurate of a test this is, but here it goes:

I figure since no one has been complaining since the T400 release that the displays must be acceptable. People usually only join/post on forums when they have issues and I haven't seen a Samsung thread in a long time.

Take it for what you will.

 

I noticed this too, having searched a lot for information and not seeing much activity since october. Hopefully that is the case and the quality has indeed improved. I will post back when I get the laptop next week.

 

Its my pet theory that Lenovo held Samsung and LG to higher standards with the current models. I judge this because the LG screen I'm using to look at this thread is absolutely fantastic and way ahead of the photos I've seen of the T61 LG screens. Like StealthTH, take it for what you will.

Also remember you got the LED. The LED screens look better anyway. Do some more digging because I remember early threads comparing the two. IIRC they were pretty equal with one being a little cooler or bluer in its white colors and the other was a bit more vibrant/in your face with colors. Pure guess but maybe LG was a little blue and the Samsung punchy.

Also I think you have to remember you got the LED screens. It's going to look better anyway

 

I also got the Samsung LED panel, received mine last week.

As far as I'm aware, Lenovo sources parts from various manufacturers (as do most brands), it just so happens that the latest "batch" of LED panels must be from Samsung.

I don't know how accurate this is, but using Everest I see the manufactured date is listed as 2007. I am at work now so can't provide the exact part number, but it is the 14.1 WXGA+ from Samsung. When I did google the part number I couldn't find the exact listing, but the closest to it rated it at 500:1 contrast ratio, 25 ms response time, 200 nit.

How does it look? Hmm, well it's always hard unless you have something to compare right next to it. I will say it tends to be quite blue. I have tried to fix this with the ATI control panel and various ICC profiles- this helps a bit, but still seems overly blue to me.

Another note is that one notch down in brightness adjusting REALLY knocks it down. Each notch thereafter does seem more reasonable though.

I previously had a DV4T that shipped with an LG LED (although it was WXGA). I too thought that was too blue, but it is hard for me to compare that display with this one without having them together. I almost think I should have just avoided LED overall. I have read, however, that we are so used to the yellow tinge produced by CCFL panels that LEDs simply seem too blue. I don't know.

Regarding the panels used for the T400, there is a post in a thread here where someone has them sitting next to eachother. You can compare the colors there. After reading through it some preferred the Samsung, others the LG. Honestly, I think it depends more on individual units than brand. Some LGs will be better than others, same with Samsung.

Don't worry about the fact it's a Samsung. Just open it, look at it, and see what you think. It won't help that you're already assuming it will be inferior, so have an open mind when first experiencing your Thinkpad!

I will be interested to see if we get the same part#, so try to check it out with Everest when you get it. I'll post mine when I get home.

 

My T400 came with a Samsung screen (WXGA+ LED). It has some good qualities, but its poor color contrast is its Achilles heel. I can't seem to see black from any angle; the backlight makes it look gray. Colors look washed out, although they get a little better as the brightness setting is increased.

The vertical viewing angle is almost nonexistent, to the point that if the screen is displaying any solid color, it does not look the same at the top of the panel as it does on the bottom. (Yes, I know this occurs especially with TN panels, but this one is far from subtle.) Essentially, there is no "sweet spot." Also, it has an overall reddish tint.

On the whole, to someone who isn't picky, the screen is probably acceptable. Compared to the many other fine screens available in laptops today, however, it is terrible (in my opinion).

I am in the process of getting the screen replaced, hopefully with the LG panel. Aside from the screen (and a separate issue I'm having with the DVD drive), this is one of finest laptops I've ever seen. Lenovo only needs to choose better screens for their otherwise fantastic notebooks.

 

Cheetah, how are you going about getting it replaced?

I too am considering this. I've had it almost a week and the blue is really getting to me. It seems more blue the lower the brightness, but I cannot handle it maxed out.

Have you already initiated the return process? I am wondering the turn around time. It especially sucks for me because I am now abroad and think I would have to send it back home to the US

Again, I kind of wish I would have just went with a good old CCFL. I have seen too few GOOD led panels.

 

ccol,

I have a depot warranty. I called Lenovo service recently and complained about the screen, asking them to put the FRU number of the LG display (42T0498) on the service order for replacement. My computer is on its way to the depot now; I'm expecting it back in a few days.

Depot service is chancy for something like this because the depot may not have the panel in stock. I'll let you know what happens.

 

Hmm still no one who really likes their samsung lcd. I will just cross my fingers and hope I'm happy with my display. I'm not super picky or anything but a screen is quite important to me considering its the one component that you inferface with the most and is like the window to your computing experience.

I should be getting my laptop by Monday. I'll be sure to come back and post a follow up when i get a chance to check it out.

Thanks for all your responses

 

Has there been any occurrences of someone with a FRU# of 42T0504 ending up with an LG screen or is this a sure fire way to get a samsung screen?

 

Does anyone know what manufacturer and model panel ships if you order the CCFL WXGA+?

Cheetah- is the depot warranty the standard 1 year one? I think that's what I have. I am still able to have the panel swapped? Do you know what they do if they don't have it in stock?

Definitely interested to hear what happens.

Has anyone switched the panel on their own?

 

Sure-fire Samsung. All the time. (At least as far as I've seen around here)

I have the 3-year depot warranty. (In hindsight, I should've ordered "on-site." ) Like I said, it's a gamble whether you'll get the part swapped: the depot may not have the part, or the technician may not swap it even if it's available. Who knows? I'm about to find out, anyway. My notebook is on its way back. I'll let you know.

 

Please do let me know. My laptop comes on monday and Im already bracing myself for the lower quality. I really hope the samsung isnt all that bad, its very disapointing that lenovo would go back and forth between good and bad quality lcds. Im a college student and 1300$ is a lot of money for me and I refuse to settle for a lower quality part...

Hopefully you do get the LG screen. Good luck and I hope to hear the outcome soon.

 

Hi everyone, I'm getting the Samsung screen on my T400. Should I just refuse delivery? It seems like it pretty much is a terrible screen from what I am reading.

 

So, I was just as worried about this too. When I saw that I was receiving the Samsung display after all the bad things i've heard about it, I was so upset. However, I just received my T400 today with the LTN141BT04002, which is definately the Samsung screen, and I think it's perfect! Whites look white, colors are great, contrast is great, brightness is INCREDIBLE. It's so much better than my T61 and E6400 with LED screen. I guess either they improved the Samsung quality or I'm just not that picky, but this display is better than my 22 inch Samsung 226wb desktop montior. I LOVE the screen and this laptop!

I recommend checking out the laptop before you send it back, do not refuse the shipment. I think you will be happy with it. I ordered last Friday and received the laptop today.

This is probably the nicest laptop I've ever used or seen! The keyboard is an NNM and it feels great and the screen is really great. Hopefully I helped ya out, I was really worried too when I read all the negatives about the samsung but honestly, I could never tell that this isn't the all mighty LG screen.

Good luck with your experience!

 

Cool! I'm glad you're happy with your ThinkPad.

Good advice. To anyone who might be "alarmed" about all this display panel talk: see it for yourself and then decide. No one but you can say if you're satisfied.

Yeah, that was my impression, too! ThinkPads are great for a reason. They have earned their reputation.

 

Interesting. Would you mind commenting on the T400 against the E6400? I'm still undecided (leaning towards the T400, but gotta love that magnesium alloy), and most comments are by people who haven't ever actually used the E6400 (or T400, as the case may be), or are comparing to the T400 before the keyboard was fixed. Go into as much detail as you desire

Thanks
Michael

 

I'm very glad that people are giving lenovo's a chance now.
Renee

 

Hehe, well I think that there is some truth to the urban legend that the Samsung displays are getting better, b/c it's not as hot of a topic as it was in September 2008.

FWIW, I was well aware of the yellowed bottom 1/3 LED screen problem of the macboook pro, and the issue was that they were usually Samsung screens. I saw the Samsung LED screens and they were a bit yellowed, but in terms of color and viewing angle, brightness, etc, it was fine. I think that I will open my T400 Samsung and will report back.

 

I bought a e6400 back in October '08, hoping to replace my T61 (with a really lame samsung display). I got a decent deal on it, paying around $1000 for it and getting almost the exact same setup as the T400 i currently have, sans the DDR3 memory.

The e6400 looked really nice on paper, and pictures. It was a well built machine, but to be honest, it was far from perfect. Fingerprints collected all over the place. Backlight bleed on the bottom of the screen drove me nuts, with the LED screen mind you. The brightness was decent, but nothing too special. It was pretty loud when it started cranking out software or using intensive software, and that thing got so hot i swear it must have roasted a few future children if you know what i mean (i use my laptop a lot on my lap, and I live in California). The keyboard was ok, but it definately wasnt a thinkpad keyboard (i received an NNB keyboard and its spectacular).

The battery life was OK, again nothing compared to the T400. I bought the 9 cell battery for the T400 and its incredible, the switchable graphics is the best feature i've seen in a laptop in a long time. The DVD-R is very quiet, much quieter than any drive i've ever used. The thinklight works great, and the performance on my machine is perfect with windows vista business. I love working on this machine, everything flows so perfectly.

The T400 beats the E6400 in every single aspect (with the exception of the backlit keyboard, which was pretty cool) Another thing i disliked about the E6400 was the smooth finish, the laptop got so hot it would make my palms sweat all over it after extended work. It was soooo annoying. The t400 stays so cool and SO QUIET i never hear or sweat on it.

So on to the most debatable topic, the Samsung LED screen. I read so many bad things about this LED screen that the moment I saw the FRU# confirming the hated part I was furious. I sweated out the days until the package arrived and when I opened the box the first thing I did was examine every inch, feature an color aspect of the screen.

ONE WORD, GORGEOUS. I think the Samsung LED screen is awesome. Not blue, not yellow, but white. The colors are not washed out, they are accurate. The monitor, which I am looking at while typing this post, is just a pure joy to use. I guess samsung got the hint and improved the display. The backlight is very uniform, colors pop and there wasnt a single dead pixel. It is even better than my Samsung 226wb wide screen LCD monitor on my desktop, and much better than any LED screen I've ever seen. My brother has a XPS 1330 w/ the LED screen and it looks like crap compared to the T400's "lousy" samsung!

But hey, maybe its just my laptop that is so awesome (although i havent read very many posts as of late that base the T400 screens, LG or Samsung, so maybe thats indicative that the times are changing and the screens are more on par with eachother)

My best advice is to just order the machine and experience it for yourself. This is by far the best laptop I've ever used or seen, and I've experienced a lot of laptops in my day (even though i'm only 22).

So yeah, I have nothing but good things to say about this laptop. The E6400 was a nice try, and the ONLY thing that is better about it was that it had a display port (or hdmi), but how often are you really gonna use that interface? That's why people buy HTPC's for their homes.

So a quick review:

T400: Excellent screen! (samsung), blazing performace (see specs below), great deals with the sales they've been launching lately, WHISPER quiet, cool as a cucumber, excellent battery life, switchable graphics, BEST KEYBOARD ever, functional thinklight, quiet DVD-R drive, trackpoint, and of course awesome thinkvantage power and other system utilities.

E6400: Backlit keyboard is great! Glossy metallic covering attracts fingerprints on lid, LED screen washed out and bad backlight bleed on bottom, loud when it got working, really hot palm rest and bottoms (makes my hands sweat!!), loud DVD-r drive, not DDR-3....

T400 > E6400.

Hope i answered all your questions, please feel free to ask anymore!

Here are my system specs if anyone cares:

42X6338 SBB INT.CORE2DUOPROCT9400 $0.00
42V8010 VBB MS WIN VISTA BUSINESS $0.00
44C1128 SBB GWIN VISBUS 32 US ENG $0.00
43Y3484 SBB MW XP PROFES. US ENG RDVD $0.00
42X6318 SBB 14.1 W X G A +TFT $0.00 LED
42X6315 SBB AMD M82XT HYBRID 256MB $0.00
42X6308 VBB 3GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ2DIMM $0.00
42X6355 SBB KYB US ENGLISH $0.00
42X6322 SBB ULTRNAV(TRACKP+TOUCHPAD) $0.00
42X6348 SBB 160GB HDD/5400RPM $0.00
42X6345 SBB DVDRECORD.8XMAXDUAL,ULTBAY $0.00
42X6312 VBB EXPR.CARDSLOTXN7-1M.CARDR. $0.00
42X6325 SBB INT.WIFI LINK5300 $0.00
42X6328 SBB INTG.WIR.WIDENET UPGRAD. $0.00
42X6334 SBB 9CELL LI-ION BATTERY $0.00
39T6442 SBB COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA $0.00
42X6388 SBB LPACK US ENGLISH $0.00
41C9170 THKPLUS TP 3YR PICKUP DEPOT $67.83



Cheers,
John

 

Fantastic. +1 rep

 

I honestly don't think Samsung "got the hint." I think it is more a "lottery within a lottery."

Download Everest and see when your panel was manufactured. If it was 2008/2009, maybe- but I just received my T400 with the Samsung panel and it gets detected as 2007.

Can anyone else comment on this? Is this date not even accurate?

 

Hi, I just got a T400 today.

I am typing on it now. I ordered it 2/13 and it's 2/19.

Samsung LED screen.

OK, it is a hard choice, but I'm going to send it back.

COMPARED TO ITSELF:

Brightness: incredibly bright. Bright as the brightest screens on the market. A++. I need this b/c when watching videos, I tend to think that the extra brightness helps to overcome ambient lighting.

Bad parts:

Whole thing looks milky, frosty, like the light is coming from the front side instead of being backlit. It's probably not that bad, but it does look milky. For reference, I have had extensive experience with laptop screens, so anyone who has never seen a laptop screen would probably be alright with this.

Horizontal angle: about average. It is reasonable.

Vertical angle: below average. It is very bad in this regard, and this is entirely consistent with what others are saying. I would say that you can find a sweet spot, but just barely. Now let me say that others have commented that the LG screen has poor vertical angles as well. The vertical angle is the primary problem with this screen. If the LG and Samsung both share this problem, then I think that LG vs. Samsung is a moot point. There. I said it. If LG has significantly better viewing angles (such as with my LG W500 screen), then there is a decision that needs to be made.

Colors: average. They seem pretty true but are a little bit tamed by the "milkiness" to the whole screen. I'm not sure if this is a product of the brightness or what. It is not overly exaggerated like the Sony Z. I would say that if it weren't for the milkiness, the colors would be spot on.

Backlight bleed: Again, I think it's the milkiness, but the panel has backlight bleeding, but I can't figure out if it's a byproduct of the atrocious verticle viewing angles, b/c any backlight bleeding is "uniform", towards the bottom 1/4 of the screen. In a dark scene in a movie, you can kind of notice it, but it's not a dealbreaker.

Dead pixels: 0.

COMPARED to my W500 WITH LG WSXGA+ 1680x1050 screen:

This is a CCFL screen.

Brightness: The Samsung LED is brighter of course. But only by about 1-1.5 notches. The difference b/w the last notch and second brightest is significant. Others were correct in that there is a big dropoff. This is more or less par for the course, though, in my experience with laptop screens.

Clarity: There is no graininess on either screen, but there is a clarity to the LG screen. I guess what I'm saying is that there is no milkiness.

Eveneness: The Samsung panel is more even no doubt about it. The LG is a bit darker at the sides.

Colors: LG seems truer and reds are a bit more intense. Black is actually black.

Backlight bleed: really not much at all, and I've been very happy in that dept.

Horizontal angle: very wide, definitely on par with the best of the laptop screens not ips type.

Vertical angle: quite wide as well, and better than my Sony Z.

Conclusion: If you're not into milkiness, and don't mind the terrible verticle viewing angles, then the Samsung screen is ok.
Also, if you're watching movies alot on this or working in brightly lit environments, I think that you might be happy with the Samsung screen.

I will break it down like this:

If you're not picky, the screen will pass.
If you're somewhat discerning, then you've got a major problem on your hands deciding what to do.
If you're picky, there is no way the screen will pass. No. Way.
Note: Some think that the Samsung screens have improved. I doubt it; the reason I say this is b/c I saw an identical screen about 3 months ago, and I feared for that type of screen when I got around to getting a T400, and that's exactly what I got.

I would post pics, but my experience is that pics just don't capture anything meaningful.

EDIT: If you go to the T400 official review: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4569
You can see that the T60 screen appears to have better vertical angles than even the LG screen. This mirrors my experience exactly; my W500 has better viewing angles than my Samsung LED T400. So I can tell you that the vertical angles on the LG used in the review and mine here both stink.

I am not sure if switching to an LG screen and the stink it would take would even be worth it b/c I doubt it would make a difference.
The vertical viewing angle I would liken to the new unibody macbook aluminum. It is no where near that of the macbook pro.

 

How'd things end up going for you?

 

He's been very busy with classes lately, so not much time to post here. I think I can answer for him though (he's my brother and we've been working together on this).

Apparently it was sent back from depot without swapping the LCD at all, only a note on the invoice that said they reseated the LCD cable (typical Flextronics ) and that doing that has rather obviously not helped in the slightest.

I think at this point it will take either an escalated case or Lenovo hardware support actually telling the depot to swap the part outright, as leaving any sort of diagnosis other than "does it turn on?" to the depot is a futile task at best.

 

Yes, I've been busy with classes lately (music is not a light major, for anyone wondering )...

Anyway, I received back my T400 on Tuesday. No change in the screen. Indeed, the service depot simply "reseated the LCD cable" and returned it to me. At this point, I don't have loads of time to deal with the issue, but I plan on pursuing it a little further. It will take some time.

To sum it up: I agree with both UltraCow's and pufftissue's analysis of the T400 WXGA+ LED Samsung screen. "Milky," "washed out," "frosty"—I believe these are all describing the same attribute. As I said before, there is no such thing as black on this panel. If it weren't for this factor and the atrocious vertical viewing angle, this would be a fine panel.

About the differing opinions on the panel: I will say again, try it and see. I am sure there are many people who are not picky and like the panel. For those who are picky, the panel may be a deal-breaker. It's a shame because the T400 is a wonderful notebook in almost every other category (durability, battery life, keyboard, pointing devices, noise, heat, etc.).

If anything changes in my case, I'll post here.

 

"Milky" really isn't a word in the videophile vernacular, however, it sounds like what you are describing is a kin to a high gamma. Try turning the gamma way down in the display preferences or run window's display calibration tool.