T4x0 vs X series vs Elitebook screen quality?

I have been kind of unsure of what I want size wise, but I know what I want feature wise. So, I guess it comes down to which model will have the better screen(going to wait for reviews of the SB models before making my final decision).

Based on the current models how does the X201(either tablet or standard) compare vs the T410 series(res doesn't matter as much as quality does), vs the 14in Elitebook 8440p/w? I like do Photoshop work and watch videos all the time so accuracy and good viewing angles would be preferred. My current Vaio TT is something like a 240nit screen with a high color gamut(or so I keep reading) anti-glare screen, and has pretty much spoiled me there. Will these come close in quality, or are will they on par or even better?

I know its to early to tell, but will the update SB versions of these models offer improved screen quality? I know these models moved to 16:9 res screen, could that also mean better screen quality?

Thanks.

 

Then I would suggest getting the tablet or perhaps doing the AFFS mod if you're inclined. I don't think the HP is probably any better. The HP 2740p, which is also a tablet, has a Hydis LCD as well, but uses a 1.8" hard drive. Any of those screens should have better angles than you Sony, or the T4x0 or 8440p/w.

 

Really, I am now really curious to look at these models in store, because my Vaio TT from all angles is pretty darn viewable, with distortion being better than average at the 60 degs.

Well I didn't really want to go the tablet route anymore as a SB tablet with usb 3.0 would be more than I would like to spend. Plus, I would prefer a built in optical drive and only Fujitsu as you may already know, only offers it. I read about the Hyrdis on the 2740P on the sister site(and also the well liked Fujitsu tablet screens), but what about the HP 2540. Does that come with a Hydis screen, or do you have to like add it? Thanks.

BTW out of curiosity, any reason why the 12in models have better screen vs the the larger brethren? I would have thought it would be the other way around generally.

 

The Sony Vaio TT has an 8-bit TN display, so it's among the best of the TN displays. Understandably, you'd be quite spoiled display-wise

Display technology - the 12" tablets use S-PVA/AFFS+/IPS displays, mainly because those display technologies provide the better viewing angles necessary for tablet usage. Incidentally, they also provide much better color accuracy and contrast levels when compared with most "normal" TN displays.

Note that I said tablet - many non-tablet 12" laptops such as the X201 have pretty dismal screens, actually, so that's not a generalization you should make. Some of the best screens are HP's IPS DreamColor 2 displays (optionally) on its 15" and 17" Elitebook workstations.

 

So, it really is an 8-bit display and not just Sony talking. Do you by any chance know how that screen compres to th the good tablet screens(usually the outdoor screens)?

I read that the 15in and 17in workstations offer the IPS screen, but never check if the 14in model offers it. Does the 14in W model have it as an option? Because the largest I would go is 14in(and that is pushing it a bit).

 

No, I've never seen a TT in person, so I can't comment on its screen versus those of the X201 tablets' which I have seen and used.

I don't think there ever were 14" IPS screens, certainly not now. So, in your case, it would seem that you are limited to the 12" tablets.

 

Well I guess I can deal with an external optical drive if that means I get a more compact thinner tablet. I guess now I have to wait and see how the X220 and the 2740 update review and bring. I want to say the HP will have USB 3.0, but not sure of the X series as it seems like only the T420s has it, and not the regular T420. I dunno why manufactures do this to us and give us average screens.

 

We just got an HP 8440p in the office, and though the screen was nice I didn't think it was "super", like a Dell Ultrasharp panel or an Apple Cinema Display or such....

 

I thought the Samsung panel I got on my X200 was decent, but it was no IPS/AFFS.

 

I guess then if I want screen quality the tablets are the better choice? I guess I was kind of being lured by the fact I can option up the T420 or an Elitebook to get 24+ hours of battery life. What is the battery life on a full spec'd*battery wise) X201 or HP 2740? Do you guys think the X220 will get close to that or will some how the 12.5in screen counteract the gains SB made in battery life?

 

I got about seven hours on medium settings with the nine-cell on my X200, but that was with AFFS mod. They use more power. You'll probably do better with the standard screen. I would expect the same from the X220.

If you want my opinion I'd do the X200/X201 with the AFFS mod. The tablets are nice, but more expensive and if you don't want/need the tablet part, why pay for it. If you don't want to do the mod, they come fairly regularly on the ThinkPads.com.

 

I like the idea of a tablet, but don't like the premium you have to like pay for it. Plus, I am not that comfortable with swapping screens out. Do you know if the HP 2540 has a similar mod? Do you know how AFFS mod compares to the outdoor tablet screen?

Is it possible that HP may bring give the 14in Elitebook workstation model and IPS screen?

 

Was attempted on a 2530P: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...ks/481746-hp-elitebook-2530p-screen-swap.html

Note: the user should have obtained the CCFL backlight and extra cables from a HP NC2400, then tried to mod in the CCFL AFFS LCD, as is done on a X200. There will be a battery life reduction due to the CCFL's higher power consumption.

 

I highly doubt it, as there historically haven't been 14" IPS displays. The main reason for this is likely because most people who are willing to pay a high premium for a quality display also need more screen real estate for photo editing, etc work, which isn't as available on a 14" laptop. Personally, though, I would love to see a 1920x1080 14" IPS screen

 

I'd be fine with a 1600x900 14in IPS screen. Is there any screen mods to do on the aforementioned 14in models? I just want a compact high quality screen device in a durable body. I am not asking for much, am I?

 

Since the trend is moving towards 16:9 displays(I have to preference on aspect ratio), will these new line of SB tablet continue to have the good screens the current models have?

 

To the best of my knowledge there's never been a 14" IPS offered on a notebook.

If you're uncomfortable doing the mod, there's a X200 here with the mod already done for $625 on ThinkPads.com. That's with an SSD. Plus they tend to be more honest about what they're selling than eBay or CL, which has a lot of value, especially on a used notebook.

 

Well I am looking for a i core model for the better cpu and igp. I guess I will wait and see what the X220 and HP 27x0 update offers.

One issue that is becoming apparent is, different reviews state different things(about screen quality) and it can be confusing on who to trust. Beside notebookcheck, and this site(I'd like to think?) who is pretty accurate with reviews in terms of screen quality?

 

The P8600 is plenty fast. Unless you've got a specific need to push the CPU frequently, I doubt the iX makes much of a difference and integrated is still integrated.

You can of course consider the X220 or HP 2750p, but those will most likely be 16:9 greatly reducing the possibility of some sort of swap. Being able to do a drop in replacement is pretty rare, which is why the X200/X201 AFFS mod is so sweet. There will be tablet versions of those too, but those will likely be much more expensive.

I guess I assume if it's a TN panel, it won't have great angles.

 

I guess only time will tell. I dunno why but I kind of starting to like the idea of a 12.5in screen. Hopefully it will have a screen even better than the current model, plus it has an option higher res doesn't it?

 

Given the world we live in where people run to SlickDeals and the like to in an effort to rest every last dollar of savings, completely understandable in today's world, that would seem unlikely, but I'd love to be wrong.

 

I guess now I am playing the waiting for reviews game(while saving my cash that is).

 

HP Elitebook 8540 IPS + Trackpoint! Goodbye Lenovo ThinkPad. I have had many ThinkPads over almost 20 years and have waited patiently ever since the T60p with IPS. However, with their terrible displays lately which give me headaches, I am glad to see that there is another company that takes it customers comments seriously. I like so much else about the ThinkPads with their excellent build quality, great keyboards, and the wonderful service experiences I have had. I just cannot tolerate looking at their low contrast displays with the narrow viewing angles and poor colors. Looking at the tests done on displays last year, one study showed the Lenovo at the bottom for contrast. Why oh why would a company use such low end displays on an otherwise high end product. It just does not make sense.

 

Except the keyboards for the new Elitebooks look like crap. We'll see how they feel when they come out though...

 

I'd say most buyers aren't willing to pay the $2k+ HP asks for one of it's DreamColor 2 LCDs. If you want that and are willing to part with the cash, that's a good choice. You'll get a better screen, but an inferior trackpoint.

 

rip off the HP trackpoint cover and replace with your favorite Thinkpad cap and you cant tell the difference.

 

there is still an noticeable difference even if you do that, and it doesn't work as well using the thinkpad cap.

 

hmmmm I cant tell my 8740W's from my T60 or my T410. I have the same cats tongue on all 3
the trackpads on the other hand I sure can.

 

Haven't tried on this generation elitebooks, can you take a picture of how this setup looks on your elitebook keyboard.

 

Even if that's true, you're not getting the center button on the HPs.

 

shameless ripoff but Aikimox and I have the same unit. He was the one who told me to use the lenovo caps
http://forum.notebookreview.com/not...32-hp-elitebook-8740w-dreamcolor2-canada.html

oh its there but I agree its not as functional

 

One gets a somewhat less functional trackpoint and keyboard that is not quite is good but an IPS display ($450 add on in the custom build HP page) on the HP EliteBook 8540p. That is a tradeoff I am willing to make for the IPS display since that is the window that I am looking at much of the day. I love the Thinkpads with the IPS displays and I am typing this on a T43p and also have a T60p but it is time to upgrade with no IPS displays in sight for Lenovo. I could wait years for it on a ThinkPad.

Our local University Bookstore stopped carrying most of the ThinkPads on the floor. A salesman told me there that students and faculty would look at the ThinkPad displays compared to the Samsung, Sony and Apple laptops that they have out as demos and the difference in what the prospective buyers would see in display quality was so great that hardly anybody was buying them.

 

I haven't used a trackpad in like years and that was for a short time on a buddies T40(or was it 41?), so that not a factor. And I can live with the looks as function is more of factor that looks(plus the rumors are the Workstation models are going to be a nice gray color).

Sure it nice to to have the Dreamcolor screen, but so far that is only a rumor on the 14in Workstation model. I prefer to stay 14in or under, and there in lies the lack of a decent screen choice at a fair price, even more so for business marketed models. If Lenovo offered a better screen on the T4x0 line I'm sure a few more people would have it on their lists.

 

X201 with the AFFS mod?

 

If there was a built in optical drive that could have been a good choice(pending I got the one with the AFFS mod). Part of why I started looking at the T4x0 and Elitebooks.

 

My X201 (Laptop, not tablet), with an I7 proc, and zero power management fiddling, will get 7 hours. Dropping screen brightness to half will get me close to 11, and I've stretched it to 13+ running without WLAN antennas on. I'm sporting a 9 cell battery. I can't speak to the 2740p units, but the best I've seen out of the 8440p units my company buys is about 5 hours.

On the screen issue, I've done some testing with my eyes as the gauge, and viewing angles are ever so slightly worse on HP's Elitebook panels than on my X201. My X201 is definitely brighter than the 8440p I'm working on right now, and at native resolution, the 8440p looks ever so slightly fuzzy. The 2540p units that come across my desk often are about comparable to my X201 in screen quality, but 16x9 and a major loss in battery life gets a thumbs down from me.

 

Lets just ignore the X2xx series for a moment. Between the Elitebook 84x0p/w vs the T4x0 series, which is the one I should be looking at if screen quality matters, specially for photo and video viewing/editing.

 

Hard to say, considering neither of those machines are released yet. If the new 14" Elitebook uses the same screen as the 8440w, then you can take a look at the pictures from NBR's review and judge for yourself. Overall, the screen seemed above average in the review. As for the T420, it isn't released yet, but from preliminary specs, don't expect anything much different from the T410.

 

I do know what, but I was referring to current models out now(T400/410 vs the Elitebook 8440p/w). I saw that review, and a few other ones, and each one had a differing opinions on that matter.

 

... and you won't settle those differing opinions in this thread.

To my eyes, the ThinkPad T410 16:10 1440x900 display and the EliteBook 8440w 16:9 1600x900 display are about the same, i.e. not too exciting: colors okay, contrast okay, brightness very good, vertical viewing angles bad, horizontal viewing angles good.

If you like ThinkPad, the T510/W510 16:9 1920x1080 display (by AU Optronics) may please you.

 

Well 15in is larger than I prefer these days(14in is even pushing it a bit), or else I would be looking at the 15in models with the better display.