T520i versus E520 Display

Hi,

Can't decide which one to buy. The specs are identical; the only difference
is the T520i has a 15.6" HD (1366 x 768) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready...and the E520 has 15.6 W HD (1366x768) Anti-Glare, Midnight Black.

Can someone explain the difference to me? I'll never need the mobile broadband capability. I'm happy with the low resolution on both of them.

Thanks in advance.

 

Extremely similar. I highly doubt that one is going to be much better than the other.

Are the prices are same? The T520i is a much better laptop overall.

 

Thanks, AboutThreeFitty.

The T520i is about $126 more.

Could you explain how it's better overall?

Also, I'm wondering which display would emit more UV radiation (I'm a health nut!).

Thanks.

 

The T520i embodies traditional thinkpad attributes, including a better keyboard, roll cage design, matte screen, etc.

I would strongly recommend getting a higher resolution (at least 1600x900) screen though. 1366x768 on a 15 incher is way too low

 

If you have the option to upgrade to 1600x900 in the T520, Do not buy the T520 with 1366x768. 1366x768 is too low of a resolution for a 15.6" screen because it makes things onscreen very big and makes it difficult to fit more than one window onscreen at a time. 1366x768 screens almost always have very bad image quality as well.

The screen resolution generally makes the most overall difference for the usability of your laptop because it affects everything you do. Don't skimp on the screen.

The 1366x768 display in either laptop will have:
- a mediocre contrast ratio (blacks look very grayish with a possible hint of blue)
- image griddiness (solid colors appear textured)
- lackluster color representation (in part due to the low contrast)
- The same amount of desktop workspace as a typical 12-inch laptop.

The 1600x900 display in the T520 ($50 upgrade, must get if it's available) will have:
- an exceptionally good contrast ratio (I've seen many of these around NCSU campus and can say this with confidence)
- sharp smooth picture with no apparent gridlines
- slightly above average color representation
- The same amount of desktop workspace as a typical 17-inch laptop (which should be standard in 15-inch laptops instead)

 

Lets see,

1. Thinklight
2. Much tougher construction. Throw magnesium alloy skeleton and carbon fiber into the mix, while E520 is all plastic.
3. Ultrabay
4.

Also listen to edit1754. Order the T520 with 1600x900, unless your eyes are horrible. You will appreciate the extra space. Or if the T520 is too expensive L520.

 

Thanks, everyone.

I saw a 15.6" in a store and the low resolution looked okay to me.
(I'm nearsighted, but vision is corrected). I just want to avoid eyestrain.

Regarding build quality, how would you compare the Edge to the older Thinkpad
R61i? That's what I have now, and three of the keys have fallen off.

But on the other hand, I am going to get a 3-year warranty...

Sorry to be so undecided.

Thanks!

 

The only reason low resolution looks okay is because you've never seen anything better.

The fact of the matter is that the resolution of your screen makes more of a difference than any other spec because it affects everything you do. 1366x768 severely cramps your workspace.

1600x900 is not generally an eye-straining resolution. It's got the same text size as 13.3" 1366x768 laptops. It's commonly regarded as the perfect resolution for the 15.6" screen size.

Nearsightedness generally isn't as much of a problem for high resolutions as other vision defects. I know plenty of nearsighted people who are fine with my 1920x1200 screen (way higher density than 1600x900 in 15.6")

In fact, it's possible that the 1366x768 screen will strain your eyes MORE due to how awful the image quality is going to be in the T520 and E520. The higher contrast of the 1600x900 screen means things onscreen will look more defined.

 

I'd go with the 1600x900 on the T520i. For one, it has better black levels, which helps with boosting contrast of text. If you want to compensate for the increased pixel density, you can up the scaling in Firefox with the NoSquint extension and/or increase Windows' DPI scaling factor.

What if you just replaced the keyboard on the R61i? XD

Do note that if you're sensitive to flicker, the newer LED screens will flicker slightly at lower brightnesses due to it's brightness adjusting mechanism. It's not noticeable unless you're extremely sensitive or you wave your hands in front of it (you'll see a strobe effect).

 

Sorry for hijacking but is HD+ 1600 x 900 on a 14.6' a bit too much for most people to handle?

 

It's 15.6".

Generally no, it's commonly regarded as the perfect resolution for the screen size.

1366x768 is an insanely low resolution for this screen size. It's acceptable in 13-inch laptops and ideal for 12.5-inch laptops.

 

I agree that the 1600*900 is a better resolution, plus the contrast ratio on it is better than the regular HD screen. As for radiation there is no difference between any computer.

 

I appreciate all of your helpful responses.

I'm wondering...if I'm currently using a 15.4" with 1280x800, with my eyes 22" away from the screen...
do you think I'd be comfortable with a 17.3" with 1600x900, sitting 38" away from it? I'd obviously use an external mouse and keyboard, but I wouldn't be using the laptop on my lap anymore. I need the portability of one, but only for rare instances. And I'd get the Dell Vostro 3750 since I don't think Lenovo offers a 17.3 matte screen.

Thank you again.

Colonel O'Neill -- ...because I'm really tired of the whole thing! It's always run super slow.

 

17.3" 1600x900 screens are junk, much like 15.6" 1366x768 screens. You have to get a non-standard resolution like 15.6" 1600x900 if you want anything that will remotely resemble "good quality."

 

Thank you again, edit1754.

 

It's simple:

The R-series were ThinkPads with slightly cheaper designs.

The Edge series are IdeaPads with ThinkPad labels.

 

ThinkRob,

I'm not that familiar with Lenovo's product line.

Are you saying the IdeaPads are inferior?
As far as being rugged, I won't be carrying it around much, and I
will get a 3-year warranty.

Do you know how they compare to the Dell Vostro 3550?

Thanks!

 

IdeaPads are standard consumer-grade notebooks. So: yes.

Well ultimately it's your choice. I tend to prefer business notebooks that offer better build quality, cleaner design, and fewer gaudy/flashy features. There are many people who don't have the same priorities, and for them it might be more important to save $50 or $100 than it would be to get a proper ThinkPad. Nothing wrong with that. Only you can determine where on the cost/quality consumer/business spectrum you lie.

 

OK, here's my take on this.
I've been an owner of a T400 for three years, and of a T420 for 6+mo, until it was stolen.
So I went ahead and bought a E420 for <$500.

- The construction is not as sturdy, but what the heck am I doing with it, anyway? I've got a backpack and I've dropped it several times and nothing happened to the E420.

- The Thinkpad goodies are all there! My T420 had 3 drives: mSATA SSD, SATA HDD, Ultrabay HDD. Guess what.. my E420 has a SATA HDD, an Ultrabay HDD, and there is a slot for an mSATA SSD. Same configuration. I've also got a second 4GB on the way, which will speed up the memory access.

- The screen on my T420 was 1600x900 and my E420 is 1366x768. OK, but I hated the T420 screen from the time I first laid eyes on it. It was more than 3/4" shorter (heightwise) than my T400 (1440x900), and about 1/2" shorter than my friend's T410s with 1440x900. Or maybe the my T400 and his T410s were the same, I never had them side-by-side. But the 900 line screen was crap, format-wise. I am not much unhappier with the 1366x768.

- Discrete graphics? Wasn't using it, anyway. And your T520i won't have it, anyway.

So?

If you're going to spend >$1k, I'd get the sturdier one. If you're going to go cheap like I did, why spend more for EFFECTIVELY the same thing? This thinkpad does not FEEL one bit different than the others I've had. And for <$500 it was a bargain.