T/W520 series screen and heat output

I am due for a new ThinkPad. I have purchased the 14" screen versions on at least 8 ThinkPads ever since the early 1990's but unfortunately the current 14" screens are now among the worst in the Lenovo line. It looks like the T520 or W520 is the way I will have to go since the X220 screen with the IPE screen would be just too small for me particularly with the 16:9 form factor.

The Trackpoint is a must for me which prevents me from going with another brand such as an HP with dreamcolor display since I do not think I can get a trackpoint with those. Also, my experience with Lenovo/IBM over the years is that their technical support and repair service is second to none. With all the ThinkPads I have had, I have had to use depot repair a few times and I have always received a rapid superb result on the repair.

Everything about the ThinkPads is great except their displays (with the exception of the X220). I have been hoping that Lenovo would come out with a IPE/Flexview display again on the 15 " series but I have waited three years now and I am way overdue for an upgrade.

I am a physician and do a fair amount of my medical record charting at home sitting back in a chair with an ottoman using the laptop on my lap. Because of this, I am curious to know how hot the bottom of the T520/W520 gets. I assume those with an i7 processor and probably the W520 run more warm. The screen quality is important to me since all the newer 14" ThinkPad screens give me a headache going back to the T61p. I can sit comfortably all day staring at the screen of my T43p or T40p and neither is a flexview but all the newer ones with their incredibly narrow viewing angles and poor contrast just do not work for me.

So my main question, is the 520 series with a FHD 1920x1080 wide gamut screen considerably better then what is available on the 420 series. How does it compare to the screen on the MacBook Pro? Also, since the 1920x1080 resolution would be too high for my aging eyes, I am assuming I could drop that down in Windows. I just cannot find this model on display in Seattle where I live or I would look at it myself.

 

Thankfully, your assumptions are wrong. The W520 runs very cool for such a powerful machine. It runs much cooler than my W510.

The FHD screen is great.

And I highly recommend Logitech - Comfort Lapdesk N500.

I bought my last one on Amazon. See Amazon.com: Logitech Comfort Lapdesk (white/grey): Electronics

Awesome for any machine even the ones that throw a lot of heat. No worries with the W520.

One other thing, the W520 comes with a 170w power supply brick. I would buy an extra for the den. I did. However, the 135w power supply works fine with the W520.

 

The above is not true. Depending on what panel you get (AUO, LG, or Samsung). From my observation, LG seems to be the best of the bunch, followed by Samsung and AUO.

The is no IPE screen. You probably mean IPS.

You are lucky. Lenovo support has been hell to me for the past several years. Whenever I need tech support or replacement parts, always get the standard answer "will get a callback within 5 business days" DELL, on the other hand, always promptly send parts out same day if I called before 5pm using overnight express no question asked. Maybe Lenovo does not love me no more

The W520 with i7 actually runs pretty cool. The bottom should not be hot if properly vented; and you might feel warm air escaping from the sides. The air flow is very well designed. Cold air enters from underneath the laptop and warm/hot air escapes through the sides (left and behind). As long as the air vents at the bottom are not blocked from your lap. You should be good to go

It is best to run at native resolution in Windows. You can increase the DPI in Windows to get larger font size if you choose the 1920 x 1080; don't lower or drop down the resolution settings in Windows instead. Or, you can go with the 1600 x 900 if you think everything is too small with 1920 x 1080. The key is to run at native resolution (either 1920 x 1080 or 1600 x 900) in Windows and adjust the DPI for the font size to your liking. There is a website that lets you compare screens with different resolutions. I can't remember the url from the top of my head. Try google it; if you can't find it, post back here, and maybe others might be able to help.


Hope this helps

 

I forgot to address this concern. The FHD is very bright and clear for starters. I could never use it at the native resolution. 1920x1080 font sizes are really too small for my poor eyesight. But changing the DPI percentage is easy and overcomes the small fonts nicely. The screen at 125% DPI is very nice and easy on the eyes. Brightness can be adjusted easily to suit your mood and fatigue.

I would much rather have the FHD screen than the 1600x900 screen. At 125% is nearly identical but with better brightness, color and contrast.

 

You can get a dreamcolor on an HP 8560 (or one of the other Elitebook's) that also have trackpoints.

 

Thank you all for the excellent feedback. It is much appreciated.