Thinkpad Screens and Programming?

I've heard thinkpads like most business notebooks have below average screens. Most programmers from my "google" research say you should always select the best LCD monitor for programming. So now I'm not sure if the thinkpad would be ideal for me. Thinkpads have amazing keyboards which is a plus but not so amazing screens with is a minus.

Any of you programmers having difficulty with programming for long periods?

Any of you office users having difficulty with browsing the web,email, and office related software for long periods?

 

You aren't planning on using an external LCD panel?

 

Programming is just like any other office based activity. It has no special needs as far as I am aware. Indeed, regardless of what you are doing always selecting the best LCD is a must.

However, if you need the mobility then you are limited. I would think going with a higher resolution is the better choice as then you can see more of what you are doing which is useful.

Note, I am not that experienced a programmer, a beginner in fact, but I have not had problems with my T500 for what I have needed it for.

What situation are you going to be in where a desktop is unsuitable?

 

I suspect that the "select best monitor for programming" advice were from the CRT days, where monitor quality can have a big impact on text clarity, especially at high resolutions.

In the LCD age, monitor quality is judged mostly by contrast, color gamut and accuracy, color and brightness uniformity, and blacklight leakage. None of which matters much for programming use. I am a programmer, and for me, what matters are physical size and resolution. If you can afford it, hook up an 24"-30" external LCD monitor, and you will be much happier.

Oh, and I have been programming for almost 20 years, if that matters.

 

Yes....LostinLaptopland is correct. The whole essence of programming is not to have special needs.

Renee

 

As for office use, the 16:10 ratio screens make office work far less annoying than 16:9.

 

Thanks everyone, I'm actually a beginner and I wanted to make sure I had all the necessary tools. I'm planning to use this thinkpad so I could learn programming, my current notebook is not in the best of conditions.

If I get more advanced I'll be sure to hook up that external monitor. That however brings up the question, how would I use an external monitor with a notebook? I know I'm just simply connect it to the notebook, but do I simply type using the notebook keyboard and look over at the monitor? That will surely give major neck pain. I'm guessing with an external monitor and an external keyboard, right?

Also to answer the poster asking, why not use a desktop? I have very limited space and mobility means a lot to me I'm a student.

 

They do make SFF desktops that are quite small.

 

HP also has a line known as USDT - ultra slim desktop, which is a bigger version of the mac mini.

my x60 that I am on now, has a decent screen, I don't see why it would be bad for programming.

 

Sorry this is a little bit off topic from my original post, are thinkpad screens grainy. I've been using the dells at my school and the graininess is just horrible.

 

If you want a good screen for programming, get a WXGA+ (T410), HD+ (T510/W510), FHD (T510/W510), or WUXGA (W701).

The higher the vertical resolution, the more lines of code you will be able to see at once. The higher the horizontal resolution, the longer your lines can be without extending off the page. (or wrapping)

I am a CompSci major and my laptop has FHD 1920x1080. Things are definitely tinier than on most laptops, but it's really easy to get used to, and it's really nice to have the extra display room.