T61 wide vs 4:3 displays

Update: This is all in reference to the 14" Thinkpad T61

Is there any noticeable difference in display quality between the T61 4:3 SXGA+ and widescreen WXGA+ displays?

My only real problem with my T43, other than the aging processor, is the substandard display. I'm guessing the T61's 4:3 display is the same, but I much prefer the standard ratio displays to widescreen; however, I might be willing to compromise there if the widescreen display is better quality; i.e., lower power usage, better brightness and contract, etc.

Thanks!

 

Yes, there is, the SXGA+ screens are just 150 nits vs. 200 for the WXGA+, and the viewing angles are worse. It probably won't be better than the one you have now... those screens are just like that.

 

There is a great thread (or maybe it was a review) on here about your question. I'll see if I can find it. Meanwhile, I know that there are fewer manufacturers building standard aspect screens, and all the re-builders a getting "widescreen" rammed down their throats. The widescreens are also cheaper to make. I know that on the 4:3 ratio unit, (this may or may not interest you) the headphone and microphone jack are loacted on the side, whereas on the widescreen unit, they are located on the front... This depends on whether or not you use external speakers when working from home. I prefer the jacks on the side, so to me it makes a difference. I'll go see if I can find you a link now.......

edit.......... http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4028

 

Thanks for the responses guys... I guess my only hope is that some things will change with the adoption of the Penryn processors.

I'm so frustrated by the manufacturers... a couple of simple additions or replacements to several systems would make them absolutely perfect to me, but the builders insist on keeping these design decisions from generation to generation, or adding new ones.

I mean, people have been complaining about the T-series Thinkpad displays forever... and what's the deal with having a 4-cell standard and 7-cell maximum battery on the T61 wide??

(okay, end of rant)

jrsryder, I do prefer the headphone jack on the side as well; I often work with a reference sheet on the table (between my arms), and having the headphone wire trapped underneath it is a pain. Mostly I like the 4:3 version just because I abhor widescreen displays on laptops; they have absolutely no plus side for me, and actually create problems for business users.

 

They haven't been complaining forever per say... The 15" T60 series had FlexView which was the best display in the notebook industry and probably still is.

 

Okay, well... the 'standard' thinkpad displays

 

Well then, be happy Lenovo still offers standard aspect. The biggest issue or quirk I hear about their widescreen displays are the off-center, wide left-bezel observation. Here is a thread about it, with some pretty heated discussion.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=202731


It also sounds like the jack locations might favour your working style. Also, if you use your system on airplanes, your travelling companions might appreciate your narrowness. Also, you can get some better graphics options with the T61P 14" which is ONLY available in the 4:3 ratio.(not avail. in a 14" widescreen). Sounds like a pretty easy decision to make then yenemy. Good luck !!!

 

Now, the 14.1" 4:3 screens are just what they are, I mean that's what the current technology is capable of... It's not anyone's fault, it's just that there is no other screens so far... complaining or not that's about.

Poor design, I hate that too, and I also hate that the 6-cell battery sticks out of the back, which I don't consider normal for a 14.1" notebook but as I said poor design.

 

I just love mine. It's battery doesn't stick out, and the so called "bad screen" actually looks pretty good, lol.

 

what size battery do you have?

 

If you're asking miro_gt, he obviously has a 6-cell battery....

 

miro_gt, thanks... yeah. I don't find the display on my T43 particularly bad, but after seeing some other notebooks out there I know it could be -so- much better. Even if it was the widescreen version (which I can't consider because of the ludicrous battery size).

Really the biggest thing the Thinkpad line has going for it, IMO, is the keyboard. Even aside from feel and key travel, I like the layout better than most I've seen. I'm a real freak about my keyboard layouts... I can't use Kensington keyboards because of their ridiculous giant "Enter" key, and the laptops with "Home", "End", etc. running down the right side of the keyboard drive me up the wall.

Sadly, that probably locks me into the Thinkpads for the foreseeable future. Not that I dislike Thinkpads (I love mine except for the screen), it would just be nice to have more options.

 

You know, there will be a 13.3" ThinkPad with a WXGA+ LED Backlit screen soon...

 

Yea, and it will also be $1000+ more Dreamer.....I'm making my decision to go with the 14 inch standard as of right now unless someone convinces me to go widescreen. Is there pictures of the two screens up against each other and color differences, etc.?

 

If it's a standard you particularly want, just get it, but the consensus seems to be that widescreens have "better" displays - more nits, better contrast, etc, etc.

However, I've owned a standard screen TP since last Sept, and not once did I regret my decision to eschew widescreen.

The 150 nits are plenty bright for my eyes.

 

I went back and forth on this for sometime.

Size wise for me it is a no-brainer, you gain 40 pixels in width going from std to wide, but loose 150 pixels in the vertical direction. See the image for a graphical representation of the screen size, that helped me visualize how much screen area I gained or lost in each configuration.

The brightness isn't as good on the standard. I find it fine unless I'm outside, and then it is a bit tough, but then again, my dell widescreen isn't that great outside. Inside I usually work at 50% brightness anyway. The viewing angle is as good as my dell D820, but I'm not sure how it would compare to a widescreen 14" lenovo.

The other nice thing, is the 6 cell battery is all enclosed in the standard.

I'm sorry the market is moving away from the standard aspect in general.

 

The T61 wide can't take 9 cell batteries?

 

It can. Just recently they released a 9-cell for the 14" widescreen.

 

OH, okay. Good. A 9 cell is what I would like to have when I finally place my order.