T500 CCFL backlight better than LED backlight?

I found this document and it's written than ccfl has beter contrast ration and more nits.Does it mean that ccfl is brighter and better(of course if we don't need power save mode)

Some: 15.4" (391mm) WXGA (1280x800) color, anti-glare, CCFL backlight,
200 nits, 16:10 aspect ratio, 300:1 contrast ratio
Some: 15.4" (391mm) WXGA (1280x800) color, anti-glare, LED backlight,
190 nits, 16:10 aspect ratio, 300:1 contrast ratio
Some: 15.4" (391mm) WSXGA+ (1680x1050) color, anti-glare, CCFL backlight,
200 nits, 16:10 aspect ratio, 500:1 contrast ratio

 

Yes your interpretations of the specifications seems right. Unfortunately real world contrast and brightness are often different form what is specified.

There are 2 sites I know of that measure real life brightness and contrast. Notebookjournal and Notebookcheck.

Notebookjournal measured the 1680*1050 screen:
In Innenräumen kommt es dann auf die Helligkeit und den Kontrast an. Die Hintergrundbeleuchtung des WSXGA+ Displays (1.680 x 1050, LTN154P3-L02, matt) leuchtet im Durchschnitt mit 173 cd/m². Das ist nur unterer Durchschnitt. Deutlich besser schneidet allerdings der Kontrast ab. 384:1 bei 100 cd/m² lassen fast schon prächtige Farben auf der Anzeige erscheinen. Die Blickwinkel sind hervorragend.

You probably can't read german but as you can see it's not very bright but contrast is excellent. Viewing angles and colors are excellent too. http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests/649_lenovo_thinkpad_t500/3

Notebookcheck publishes their review in English, they measured the 1680*1050 screen too:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo-Thinkpad-T500-Notebook.11970.0.html

 

It seems strange that the WXGA LED lit screen has fewer nits.

Has there been any real life testing of the WXGA LED screen?
Based off the review of the T400 screen, the LED screen is much brighter than CCFL lit screens. Also, the contrast is supposedly 500:1 for the LED screen on the T400.

 

In theory, the LED backlight should stay brighter longer than the CCFL. The CCFL gets dimmer with age (like a year), where as the LED should stay the same brightness.

 

True although I was under the impression that it was longer than a year before CCFL light starts getting dimmer. Could be wrong though.

 

I was wondering this myself, and looked up some info online (e.g., http://www.marinepc.com/pdf's/Tech%20Doc%20Extended%20Specs.pdf, http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201805563). The half-life of a CCFL screen will depend on how long it is used, how it is used and the quality of the lighting components. CCFL screens degrade to half their original brightness after about 30,000 to 50,000 hours. Certain conditions, such as start-up in cold conditions and exposure to vibration, may reduce those numbers. Colour saturation may be higher and more consistent between monitors on LED screens. More info in the articles.