Lenovo W510 Owner's Thread

how are horizontal/vertical viewing angles on this screen? And is the "workable" vertical sweet spot wide? (i.e. do the colors start inverting when slightly off-center vertically?)

 

I've always had it plugged in for the most part...I will be testing the battery life under normal usage after I get all my apps installed

 

The view angle in terms of detail is very good, both horizontal and vertical. And I must really mention how vivid the screen is...It's REALLY nice...

The colours don't invert when I move my vertical viewing angle at all, although, viewing at a shallower angle (as the screen opens wider), the colours seem to get warmer (more red). bringing the screen forward will cool down the colours a bit...

Is there any software for that colour sensor, or is that all automatic?

Sorry about the U in colours...I'm canadian..

 

I would assume you have to run some type of calibration.....

 

Cool, but I noticed that your receipt said FX880 while others said NVS5100. I'm curious now if some people are going to be stuck with the NVS (since that's technically what they ordered). My guess is no, but nothing is confirmed until someone opens theirs up.

 

LYuan - Did you get the multi touch screen? If so would a stylus work on this screen as in using it to draw in visio or OneNote?

 

Nice.

Multi-touch models have not shipped yet.

 

No, I just got the non-touch FHD screen....It's really, really good though...I can't say enough how great the screen is

 

Dang, and I was just starting to consider the HD+ screen so I could keep my config under $2k. Now I'll HAVE to get the FHD b/c you like it so much.

 

On a side note...What I don't like: Gigantic 135W shoebox of a power brick...

 

under 2K? I got my w510 ELITE for 1740+taxes CAD =D

 

Wait for those visa perks to come back again...you'll be able to get it way under 2K...

 

haha, yeah Visa Perks was awesome. It's so cheap

 

I looked into this, but it didn't get any replies here. It's only a multitouch screen, so it only responds to fingers rather than a active stylus unlike the x200 multitouch which has two input layers on the screen for multitouch and for the stylus. However, I found that there is a pen used for capacitive touch screens like the iphone and macbook pro which looks promising.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=456266

 

Or you can buy a cintiq tablet

 

Pictures, pictures, pictures, review, pictures, pictures...

 

Only you Canadians got the stackable Visa perks...I wonder if that was a mistake.

 

most likely it was a mistake. Lenovo got taken off of visaperks this week. I made my purchase last thursday night!

 

There should be a TopSeller model with FHD for <2k. Probably not exactly the config you want but quite reasonable/consistent, and is usually available on stock, and you don't have to worry about coupons.
And maybe even available at a local reseller, so you can just go and pick it up (==instant satisfaction )

 

Before you dislike that 135 watt adapter too much go view the Dell forum where their machines are throttling back because they are overwhelming the 90 watt adapters they come with.

 

Thanks for the tip, but with the shareholder discount, I can get exactly what I want at the price I was shooting for.

 

Is the 820 processor upgrade worth the extra $200? Seems like a hefty premium for a relatively minor speed bump.

Also, the only benefit of the upgraded wireless adapter is the ability to use WiMax, correct? The wireless cards are otherwise the same?

 

Oh I'm torn!! the more I read the more impatient I get for my W510 to ship! But I just can't help it. I wish there were more reviews out there. It looks like Lenovo dropped the w700 from their line up wonder if they will update that to w w710. LYuan thanks for the info.

 

As always, it depends. What will you use it for? If you tax your CPU near 100% a lot of the time, then the extra power can actually increase your productivity. Otherwise you just have to decide if having more power for those rare instances is worth the price TO YOU.

 

Thanks, I imagine the money would be better spent elsewhere (like a SSD) as my computing tasks typically involve having 4-5 MS office (word, excel, ppt) and a web browser open.

 

I came from that Dell forum, and I have one of those Dell Studio XPS 16s with the throttling issues...I would take the 135 brick over the dell machine, but it don't make it any prettier!!!

 

Has anyone here purchased the multi touch display and received it? I'm curious to the functionality, and more importantly, the visual quality.

 

Alright...so I'm done formatting - And here comes the driver hunt....I've installed all the driver from the lenovo site, but I'm still getting a PCI Serial Port and PCI Simple Communications controler that is not accounted for in device manager....Anyone with previous Thinkpad experience know what these might be? I'm also looking for the fingerprint software...

 

Wouldn't installing the Lenovo System Update utility be the easiest way to get all your Lenovo drivers? I've also read that the 510 series drivers are a little hodge podged cause they are so new.

 

Are you getting the w510 for gaming then?

Also, SSD should do WAY more for your computing pleasure than upgrading the CPU.

 

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-73696.html

Here's the link for Client Security Solution 8.3

the W510's driver matrix doesn't link to this yet....

I tried the autodetect on the lenovo site, but I think the unit is so new that it can't even dectet it yet!

EDIT: So this installs the software for the security stuff, but it have the actual driver for the fingerprint device....

 

You need the Intel AMT driver interface for the "PCI Simple Communincations controller"

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-74374

 

You are correct! Thanks!!! I installed every driver but somehow missed that one!

 

SAME here all above is TRUE I pity those who are still waiting PARTY!!!

 

Arghhh.

I'm really torn, I really want this machine but the FHD display doesn't appear to be available without multi-touch (in Canada anyway).

This is what i'm considering hitting the buy button on;


Intel Core i7-820QM Processor (3.06GHz 8MBL3 1333MHz)1
Genuine Windows 7 Professional 6412
15.6" FHD Multi LED w/WW Ant
nVidia GLM DG 1GB, AMT
UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader for Colour sensor
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 (2 DIMM)8
500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm4
DVD Recordable, Ultrabay Enhanced5
9cell, LI Battery TWSL60
Integrated Bluetooth PAN 2
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 630010
None65
1 Year Depot/Express Warranty5

Estimated total: $1,697.57 (including a backpack)

Can anyone guess if the FHD Multi-screen will be as good as the FHD screen?

Also, I don't plan on running windows 7 (gonna put linux on it). With the recover disks can i restore the windows 7 at some point down the road?

 

I just got my latest update on my Multi touch FHD. Pcconnection has 4 coming in directly. 1 of those was placed for me as well as the Feb 12th ship date straight from lenovo so I will get which ever one comes in faster. Once I get it I will def give a review on the screen with multi touch.

 

I'd just wait on it until the screen option becomes available. Try calling and ask them when they think the option will be available again.

 

Agree mate you should wait... its worth it

side note whats the best easiest image hosting site?

 

I'm getting a pretty good discount that expires mid-February. The coupon also says "while supplies last" so I'm guessing that means what I see is what I get.

Plus, waiting is no fun.

 

photobucket.com is what i use.

some pictures of the screen from different viewing angles would be very appreciated!

 

I'd simply take the disk out and archive it as win7 disk. Buying a new disk is just cheaper than spending many, many hours to burn recovery disks and re-install the system, the driver, and get it all to work.
Unless you're into that sort of activity...

 

Actually, I do like that kind of thing. So, it is possible to do then?

I'm going to get the 500GB drive and replace it some time later when I can get an SSD for cheaper - I hope.

 

If you're talking about the 15% off of epp pricing, those have been pretty much constant since the summer I believe. I'm starting to think it's lenovo's marketing strategy.. set the retail price higher than it should be, and keep offering coupons so people think they're getting a deal. Not to say that it's not a good buy!

Point being, there'll likely be other discounts available when the screen you want is available on the Canadian site.

 

I got mine with FHD for under 1600 google the "visa discount us" also epp cpp and all that. max discount is about 35% - 40% for "super geeks" but NY tax is 140$ does anyone know if i can get it back when I leave US? oh and thanks for the tip zenit.

 

This is one says 22%. The xmas was ones were 28% and the ones for Sept were 20%. Guess you are right! they do this stuff all the time.

Guess I'll wait for the reviews on the FHD with multi-touch and if they are good I'll pull the trigger on that. If not, I'll just wait it out for a FHD screen.

Thanks everyone! This forum is extremely informative and very helpful.

 

I didn't think that stuff was stackable? The best I've found in the US for the w510 is spp (15%). Is there anything I can stack on that?

 

I'm really thinking about purchasing this laptop, but can anyone actually confirm that the battery life is close to 18hours as Lenovo says it is?

 

I think you are referring to the T410. The W510 (with slice battery) can only last for 9.9 hours according to the tabook. (With slice)

A T410 with a discrete card (slice battery as well) would only run you 16.6 hours.

A T410 with integrated (slice battery as well) would run you 22 hours, without a slice battery it would be 11 hours.

I don't really know where you got 18 hours for a W510...?

 

Quick Update:

- I love the keyboard. I like the action of the keys...It feels right to me, and I wouldn't change anything about it.

- The Centrino Ultimate N (Intel 6300) is great as well...

- Charged it all the way to 100% this morning at work, unplugged it from the power supply and did installs, checked e-mail, surved the net...Solid usage...Looks like about 4.5 to 5 hours under moderate use.

@ bananaboi - battery life is not 18 hours....I think that's the T410 with slice battery or something. W510 is a quad core...I think the only way it'll get to 18 hours is with a car battery ;D

L.

 

Yea I was kind of confused when I searched google for "Lenovo w510 battery life" and I got this: http://www.insidehw.com/News/Hardware/Lenovo-ThinkPad-W510-18-Hour-Battery-Life.html