Screen Brightness on T61

All -
Can anyone comment on the screen brightness on the t61 wxga+ screen? I currently have a x61t (1400x1050) and it is not very bright at all. I was wondering if the same issues are present with the t61? I have had a t-series machines for a while, and know there is always a brighter setting I would like to get to - like a few more notches up from the highest brightness. Just wondering - when I look at things like the MBP, there is no comparison.

 

Hi kona,

I can identify with that. I use Thinkpads a lot for my work over the years and I find that the screen brightness IS lower than other models. I usually try to turn up the brightness to the max using FN + Home but I find that at the maximum setting, the brightness is still too dim. In fact, when you plug in the AC adapter, the screen really brightens up significantly.

 

There is a BIOS setting to not dim the screen when on battery.

 

I've also found that jacking up the contrast helps, though you'll lose some detail in similar colors. I don't have a problem with my screen, but I'm also used to a 4-year old CL56.

Not sure how the contrast adjustment works with factory settings, as I've installed the wannabe-Geforce drivers from laptopvideo2go.com.

 

The Samsung manufactured LCD on the T61 is supposed to be brighter than the LG manufactures version. I've seen MBP screens and while they use MVA panel technology (unlike everyone else stuck with TN), I've heard they have a major issue rendering clear text. In my opinion, what's the point then? In terms of brightness, the T61 isn't that bad. If you really want bright, then wait for the LED verison. Otherwise, get the Dell M1330 and hope you get one that makes it out of production without defects.

 

My T61p WSXGA+ LG screen is very bright. I don't ever use Max brightness- I have it at 70% or 80% brightness at most. Any brighter it would be uncomfortable for the eyes but its nice to have that extra. The WUXGA screens are slightly dimmer than the WSXGA+ screens.

 

Thanks for the response. One additional question... The wxga+ screen is 1440 x 900 - this is only 40 pixels more then the 1400x1050 screen i have on my tablet right now. Will i notice the additional space/screen assuming i go with the t61 wxga+?

 

You won't have much additional space but everything will be larger when going from a 12.1" to a 14.1" screen. And i'm surprised that you say the screen on your x61t is not very bright. you have the SXGA+ screen which according to the tabook is rated at 180 nits. i had an x61s here a month ago with an ultralight screen and it's rated at 180 nits as well and was real bright. Maybe the Ultralight technology does something different? Anyways, the WXGA+ on the T61 you're looking at is i think 200 nits so it should be farely bright enough.

 

thanks again... all...

 

200 nits is the rating in the listed specs for the T61 14.1" Widescreen WXGA+ but both of the panels used in that model (LG and Samsung) are rated at 220 nits.

I know someone that just received the T61 14.1" Widescreen WXGA+ with a Samsung panel, and he finds it to be quite bright.

He has had a bunch of Thinkpads, T4x series, T6x series with various panels, and says that this is the best so far.

I will send him this thread link and ask him to comment.

Andrew

 

I'm the one aamsel asked to chime in.

I am now using a T61 14W with a Samsung 1440 x 900 panel. it is definitely not as bright as my LED-lit 15.4 MacBook Pro, but more than bright enough for my everyday needs. most importantly, it seems brighter than any of the 1400 x 1050's T4x's and T6x's I've owned over the years and there is ZERO graininess.

I previously owned a T60 15.4@ with an LG 1680 x 1050 and found that panel to be fairly bright but very grainy (the sparkeled effect that is very distracting).

This panel doesn't blow me away but I'm able to use it for several hours every day without any eyestrain which, for me, is saying a lot.

- John

 

FYI - just tried playing around with the contrast - that seems to make things better as well. Thanks...

 

Mine is doing something weird, when I put the computer to sleep while on battery, when I wake it up the screen is extremely dim. All the settings show the brightness to be max, however you can hardly see it. Its almost as if the back light didn't come back on, because when I do a restart, it comes back at normal brightness.

 

Check your Power Manager settings.
Under Power Plan>Idle Timers>Battery Settings (Lower Display Brightness). Set it to 'never' or any level you like.

 

thanks murphy that's what i needed to hear - the model you list in your signature was the one i had spec'd out. Thanks again all...