Swapping a W500 screen

I ordered a W500 a little over a week ago. It hasn't arrived yet, but I've been hearing some griping about the WUXGA screen, mostly about its brightness.

For the money I spent, I'd like it to be a machine I'm very happy with. So I wonder: how feasible is it, assuming I'm disappointed with the screen, to buy a better one from a different manufacturer and then swap it out?

I know such a thing would void the warranty (on the screen only? or on the whole unit?), but I don't even know if it's possible.

I would think that upgrading to a better, brighter (from what I've read, though, using an LED backlit screen isn't possible because of cabling/power requirements) 15.4" screen should be a relatively painless transplant, apart from drivers perhaps?

I've never had a laptop, so I'm not familiar with how proprietary the screens are.

I guess I'm mostly just hoping that the mediocrity of the screen is exaggerated and that my limited experience with laptops will keep my opinion from being too discerning.

 

Looking forward to how you find the screen when you get to actually see it! I think you should wait until then - you might be pleasantly surprised. The W500 matt-finish WUXGA is said to be 175 nits, which is the same specs as my Dell-provided 15.4" WUXGA, and I have been a very very happy user of it for the past 4 1/2 years. I would never go to an inferior PPI (these are 147 PPI). I have no problem with 175 nits. You may want an even brighter screen - though is there a point if, as many have reported with brighter screens (especially LED-lit), you have to turn the brightness down to be comfortable? I look forward to your report, once you actually get the computer. I am hoping you will love it! I also have been disturbed by reports of the W500 WUXGA screen, and would like to know more...Your experience soon will be of great interest.

 

Are you sure that the pentium M750 isn't rated in ghz instead of Mhz?

 

I'll be sure to post a review of some sort! I'm pretty excited to get it, even though I have no idea when it will actually be shipped. A guy on another forum I frequent ordered almost the same spec'd W500 at almost the same time on the same day (weird coincidence!) and he was due to get his today. Mine hasn't even shipped yet.

I'm thinking that it won't be as bad as some people make it out to be, and worst case I can just have it on full bright all the time, which may only be equal to 2/3 bright on an LED screen, but it should work indoors.

VVVVVVVVVVVV
Which I guess is my other/main question, how does laptop screen interchangeability work? I hope it's as easy as finding one the same size and type (ie, not LED..unless that is possible), but with more nits or contrast, and then just putting it together.

 

It is possible to swap another screen into a ThinkPad. The tricky part is knowing which screens will be compatible with your W500. It just might be more trouble than its worth though.

 

WAY more trouble than it is worth. Thinkpads Iv had generally have dimmer screens than others but it is not that bad.

 

I have a Dell Inspiron for about the same time now and I had the same opinion about the screen being fine. I think my screen got a bit dimmer, but however every day again at my university I look at the other guys notebooks and how easy it is to read text on them. And when I sit near the window my WUXGA screen is barely visible.
I have no problem at home. However my next laptop should not only be visible but more or less a pleasure to look at and read from. I spend a premium for my notebooks and I expect a better screen for my next nb.

 

I guess it is all subjectively experienced, as always. When I look at other notebooks in the university library I am so happy I have a WUXGA, which properly configured makes text so clear and eye-strain-free (all day and all night if necessary). I of course choose a place in the library away from having the screen reflecting light from windows. Non-natural light or low-light is always preferable anyway for computer screens. I would never by choice go back to less than UXGA on a screen from 15" up. Before my present 15.4" WUXGA, I had a 15" UXGA, and it was great too - it still looks great...I am in the midst of wondering where to go from here, though every option includes WUXGA - a feature much better catered for in Ubuntu 8.10 than in XP ( I don't like Vista). I am looking at the Dell E6500, but have had mixed reports; also the Thinkpad W500 and the W700 (though of course worry about the cost and the weight). My present screen is 175 nits. I would prefer a 17" WUXGA screen (with a PPI around the same as a 15" UXGA) over the 15.4", and 400 nits sounds amazing (same as a top-of-the-range 24" WUXGA), but imagine that I would turn that down - as I find 175 nits heaps (and turn it down at night).