Lenovo using old parts? Thinkpad LCD List and Date of Manufacture

http://wikizap.mobi/enthinkwiki/TFT_display#footnotes

Use PC Doctor 2008 (or newer to get part number) or use part number based on warranty list of compoents.

I'm shocked that the LCD on my TP was manufactured in 2005 when my T61 shipped in late 2007. Just shocked.

If you do a search on this forum, one other person reported it
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=244788.
I'm not saying the part was not new but 2005? A two year gap? There were delays when I bought mine. did they do just dig one up out of the back of hte warehouse?

I'm especially intersted in T61 owners providing the date of manufacture. Also some T400s have the same screen. 1440x900 WXGA+ You can search for a post by someone commenting about T61 parts used in the T400.

Specs:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70188

Mfg Part #
2T0456
FRU #42T0412
14.1 INCH LCD DISPLAY FRU YES


Per PC Doctor:

General Information :
Manufacturer : LTN141WD-L05
Product ID : LEN4033 Manufacture : 2005
Video Input Type : Digital in 0.7/0.3v
Max. Horiz./Vert. Size : 30 cm / 19 cm
Monitor Size : 14 inches (estimated)
Aspect Ratio : 16:10 Gamma Factor :
2.2 DPMS Active-Off : Yes
DPMS Suspend : Yes
DPMS Standby : Yes
EDID version : 1.3
Features :
Maximum Resolution : 1440 x 900 @ 59 Hz

 

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/42x3547_04.pdf

For those wanting to research on thier own, you can get the hadware manual at the Lenovo site. The manual shows my screen is listed as an appopriate part BUT why 2005? for a 2007 build machine?

 

I dont understand this question. You want a cheap as possible machine, top notch build quality too. Those two things arent all that compatible. if they bridge the gap for you then of course they got to cut corners elsewhere, such as running down their parts stock to zero instead of taking a loss on the cost just for fashion reasons. The parts are still meeting the spec they sold you, so its fair game. Something has to give if you want a better-than-average PC without paying more cost.

 

I hope you buy an EXPENSIVE item, not just a computer. When you make your goals and go for a Mercedes top of the line --- only to find out the engine is 2 years old and they pulled it off the shelf in the corner of the warehouse hiding behind some other parts and overlooked previously. Heck it met specs. lol

Or you purchase your newly constructed dream home and find out the materials are refurbed, taken from an old house that fell apart during an earthquake or flood. lol.

 

I'm pretty sure the profit made from this managerial decision wasn't transferred to the consumer. When you are designing a product that will go in the markets after 2years, you make future estimates of what components will be available at that time. I'd be ing pissed if I had bought a brand new - top of the line T61, paid full retail only to found out that the lcd is 2 years old...

 

You're dammed right I'm pissed. I actually let my T61 sit around for almost a year using it only a few times per month before using it more than 14 hours per day starting this year. So I'm noticing some graniness to the LCD and reseearch and research reading threads etc. and one thing led to another inluding a discussion among T61p (15 inch standard) with a similar complant and even some T400 owners. Yes, its OK with me too as long as its disclosed. If GM pulled a transmission built in 2005 out of a far flung warehouse and put in in a late 2007 vehicle and even mid 2008 vehicles Ralph Nader would jump all over it. If its disclosed then its what it is fair disclosure and no gripes.


I would be very appeciative if those running PC Doctor (ships with T61's and other models) would check the manufacture date of their LCD. You should be intersted in it too.

 

I'm not sure why you're going nuclear over this. An LCD is not like a carton of milk with an expiration date.

Now if it was a 2-year old battery in a new system, I could understand your ire since batteries have a shelf life.

 

Exactly. And sure, new cutting edge LCD tech has advanced quite a bit over the last two years. But show me a notebook that takes advantage of that cutting edge tech. And certainly, since the death of Flexview, Thinkpads are far from known for their LCD's.

The LCD is functional, and within spec. I don't blame you for feeling a bit disappointed. I think most of us are about the general state of LCD's, especially in laptops. But relax, it's nothing out of the ordinary, industry wide.

 

Why was BaldwinHillsTrojan Banned?

 

He should have been banned a long time ago.

Renee

 

LCD are purchased in huge batches, to take advantage of exchange rate, material cost and volume cost savings. So this is why computer companies horde stocks of LCD when they can get a good price on them. This was done for RAM modules at a point in time, when large manufacturers entered into anti-competitive contract with each other on how much they can collectively sell the modules at, as to artificially inflate the price of their ram products.

The point is, as JaneL have said, the LCD doesn't go off like food, when it is kept under wrap and stored in cool low humidity environment. With LCD older panel doesn't mean it is inferior, on the contrary some of the older panel have the best colour reproduction, which is no longer produced as of now. The thing that have improved in LCD is the refresh rate.

Now LCD is just a commodity, where the lowest price attracts far more orders than highest quality does.

 

The mods won't discuss it. It is considered a private matter.

 

Um, an engine is a different story dude. If the engine was properly stored and properly examined, hooked up to a testing machine, it would have been fine. Even if it was not tested but stored in original packing oil and packing material, it would have been fine. I'd have tooken it for a reduced priced on the car, then set up methanol injection for it .

 

your argument is flawed because you said you would be offered a discount and it was also disclosed. Lenovo did neither.

 

I don't see how this is an issue, as long as the displays in question are meeting the design specification (which they do) and your standards of display quality (as pertaining to display age).

If you want to go with the engine analogy - I personally would not mind if the engine in my car was 100 years old, so long as it performs up to par (design specifications) and lasts as long in my hands as would a brand new engine.

As far as I have read, I have not seen any negative impacts of an LCD monitor stored in a suitable environment over a long period of time without being used. I also do not think an LCD monitor "degrades" or loses lifetime over a storage period. So, I'm fine with it, and I'm not sure why it's an issue for you.

In fact, as some people have said, older panels may even be superior to modern panels in terms of color reproduction.

 

I agree 'older can be better', my T500's screen isn't very good and I'm actively looking for a new notebook because of it.

 

most of the replacement LCD you buy from ebay are quite old, as long as they are properly stored, it is not a problem. If nit picking is the whole purpose of this post, i guess it would matter, but quality and longevity wise of the LCD, it is not an issue.