Quick Qn: T60 15" & IPS

Just a quick question...

Do all 15" T60 models with SXGA resolution come with an IPS screen? If the reseller doesn't have a clue as to what I'm talking about, is there anyway of finding out before I buy it, or can I just safely assume that any SXGA 15" screen on the T60 is IPS?

Thanks!

 

If the reseller doesn't know what an IPS screen is and can't find out for you, I would rethink buying from them.

 

To my knowledge all the 15" SXGA and UXGA screens are FlexView or IPS.

 

Here in Singapore, actually finding a shop which sells a particular notebook model is a feat in itself, hoping to have knowledgeable resellers would be like expecting a miracle. Even the sales-people at the Lenovo concept store here don't know what an IPS screen is... I pretty much don't have a choice.

Thanks! I'd appreciate it if you could point me to a site which corroborates this or at least someone else who can confirm this.

cheers!

 

I don't know what IPS is.

I believe I understand what the FlexView is. Searching the Lenovo website... I cannot find a definition of " IPS" or " FlexView"..

 

Play safe, don't assume anything. If it's a FlexView (IPS) screen, it will be mentioned in the specs, on the Lenovo site.

Another way is to use the current Systems Reference Book.

You could also list the specific models the shops have, and knowledgeable users could confirm which are (not) IPS.

Regardless, ZaZ is probably right.

 

I grabbed this from somewhere else...

I've never actually seen one so I can't attest to that though.

I've read in a number of places that the 15" FlexView screen has some sort of ghosting effect. Does this problem (which I read to exist on the T4X series) still exist on the T60? Is there anyway I can check this out when I'm buying the notebook?

 

Office Depot carries ThinkPads. Don't know if they have a FlexView. I have never seen any ghosting on mine.

 

We don't have any OfficeDepots here in Singapore...

I've never experienced ghosting before so don't know what it looks like. Will it affect video watching and game playing?

 

If you have it then yes it will effect gaming and videos.

 

All LCDs have ghosting effects, the question is how much of one bothers you. The IPS/FlexView screen will be better in that regard than the TN screen, though.

 

I never noticed any ghosting on my old E7010 or on either of my parents' Thinkpads. My PC is connected to a 7 yr old CRT and so no ghosting.

Better... meaning, better at reducing the effects of ghosting, or better (in sarcasm) at producing it?

cheers!

 

Basically, TN panels have mediocre viewing angles, contrast, and color, but the good panels have very good refresh times so they exhibit little ghosting or trailing. IPS panels have very good viewing angles, contrast, and color, but have very slow refresh times so most of them exhibit some trailing and ghosting issues. This is why TN panels are typically found in those LCDs marketed at very fast response times for gaming, and IPS panels are used for presentation-oriented systems (such as IBM business laptops) which require less motion rendering. This is an unfortunate compromise that must be made between the two panel types.

However, there's also MVA and PVA panels. PVA is not found in laptops as far as I can tell, but MVA panels are found in Fujitsu laptops and some other laptops that use panels from one of Fujitsu's technological partners (including Chi Mei Optoelectrics). MVA and PVA panels have very good contrast, color, and viewing angles, and in addition have response times that rival (but not surpass) those of TN panels. This is the reason Fujitsu generally have the best laptop screens.

Sony's XBrite is yet another thing, a TN+Film technology that also uses more powerful fluorescent backlights, and even LED backlights, to increase brightness. It is based on TN technology so it's response times are comparable to TN panels.

 

http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/products.nsf/$wwwPartNumLookup/_2687d4u

replace the 2687d4u at the end of that link with whatever your machine type is. the page should say Flexview and IPS if it is.

and from my experience VA panels are not as good as IPS for viewing angles, esp. vertical

 

Thanks to all for replying,
@Chirality,
That's a lot of very good info in your post, most of which I never knew. I never realised why Fujitsu screens were so great... good to know. I would buy the E8210 in a heartbeat, but the lack of a high-res WSXGA+ screen in locally available models has made me turn to the only other brand with fantastic build AND screen quality. I don't suppose there is anyway of transferring my Fujitsu screen to the 14" T60 if I were to get it instead of the 15"?

What I'd like to know if any current T60 users are actually experiencing the ghosting or whether it's too minimal to even notice. I know the shadow which some claim to be appearing in the bottom corners of the screen probably won't bother me, but I'm pretty sure any obvious ghosting would.

@strikeback,
Apparently, part/model numbers differ somewhat here in Singapore, so that wouldn't do me much good. Anyway, resellers don't reveal part numbers, so I can't even check up on them. Sad thing is, it is only the resellers which seem so to have the 15" coming in next week; Lenovo Singapore still don't know anything about it ever coming to Singapore.

 

I posted my question as to whether the 15" IPS screen on the T60 had a ghosting problem at the thinkpads forums and received the good news that it didn't. Here's the thread for your reference:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=25289

cheers!

 

I am also preplexed by the unbelievable ignorance of the sales people in Singapore. At the Lenovo store, I wanted to know whether they can sell me a flexview IPS screen. He had no clue. What was it again, he asks? I repeat "flexview". What? "F-L-E-X-view". A few times more like that. Then he calls somebody to ask whether they had "scratchview". LOL