Who else offers IPS/FlexView type screens?

I need a laptop that will be used for heavy photo editing. Since Lenovo is not offering FlexView anymore (bastards), I have to look at other places for the screen.

Who would you recommend for under $1600? Screen size is to be 15.4 or smaller (preferably 14.1).


EDIT: Anybody else besides Sony.

 

HP has "wide-viewing angle" LCDs for their 8510p and 8510w. Not sure exactly what those mean though, probably not the same as an IPS screen.

 

I believe you can still configure a flexview T60 SXGA+ 15" model off their website.

 

I noticed that but it is MUCH more expensive and it requires an ATI card, I don't play games on the laptop and I need the battery life.

 

HP's wide viewing angle refers more to the horizontal viewing angle rather than the vertical viewing angle.

 

Yes, I remember one of their screens, DV4000. It was an OK screen but I would still much rather have a better quality screen.

 

Unfortunately, there are no IPS screens out there anymore, the previous ThinkPad FlexView screens are slowly being phased out due to production issues.

As an owner of a notebook with an IPS screen, this technology is worth every penny, it's a shame to see declining amounts of IPS screens nowadays.

 

What about the Fujitsu laptops? I heard those have amazing screens.

 

Do you have a Fry's near you? They still have floor models for Fujitsus so you can check them out in person.

As for HP, forget it. There is a huge lottery with what type of LCD panel you'll get with them as they receive shipments from four separate manufacturers, a couple of which are quite dismal.

Personally, I find matte screens to have better color accuracy and are just easier on the eyes.

 

Unfortunately, no Fry's around here (Milwaukee - Wisconsin).

I would agree, to a point. Lenovo's T61 screen is not one of the better ones to be had (according to Andrew). Look at the first couple of T61 threads so you know what I'm talking about.

 

As a new owner of a T60p w/flexview, I can attest to the great viewing angles and color reproduction. It was the main reason I didn't wait for the T61s. Regarding the issue of dedicated graphics and battery life, my understanding is that IPS screens require more graphics power -- hence the need for a discrete card. Even if you found another laptop with an IPS screen, they would likely require the same. As for the extra draw on the battery, the screen is 200 nits and can easily be turned down 2-3 notches to conserve power. I also purchased a 6-cell and a 9-cell battery which together provide enough for a typical day of travel. In short, if you want a great matte screen + great keyboard and build quality, you might want to consider the T60 15" w/flexview before they're gone....

 

Not sure if you're looking to buy a brand new one or a slightly used but in brand new condition, because I do have a T60p with 15" IPS screen that I'm looking to sell in the coming months.

 

Hi FrostKnight, greetings from Brewtown.

I love my Fujitsu display - it's a Crystal View. The problem is, unless you go with a big screen, the resolution that you can get with them isn't so great. My current laptop is an N5010 with a 16" screen at 1400x1050 resolution. I think most of the Crystal View screens available today are XGA, which is a measly 1024x768. I would recommend the Crystal View without hesitation - assuming you can get it in the resolution you want.

When the Fujitsu site allows you to configure an SXGA+ screen instead of XGA, it doesn't say anything about whether the SXGA+ screen is a Crystal View, so I'm guessing it's not.

 

Is Crystal view another version of the generic glossy screens?

 

Hey Turnerpr,

Was wondering what is your battery life with normal usage with the flexview and discrete video card. i am debating whether to get the t61 or t60 with flexview. Thanks!

 

Fujitsu screens do not have IPS, but their screens are brighter then average and more vivid.

IPS pretty much means absolute viewing angles, similiar to CRT screens.

 

Can someone please explain if IPS panels are so good, why aren't they being used in laptops today?

 

Having seen both, I say the Fujitsu Crystalview isn't in the same league as an IPS flexview screen.

Besides, the crystalview is glossy. It has reflections, poorer color reproduction and as someone above said, is hard on the eyes.

 

because too many cheapskates wont pay more i guess
they'd rather buy faster processor they dont need in most cases lol

 

No expert here, but I did a fair amt of research on screens before deciding to buy the T60p w/flexview. A great screen + keyboard topped my must list and I was surprised how hard it was to find the first, particularly if you don't want a glossy screen. IPS or "in-plane switching" is a type of LCD panel that has been around since at least 2001. The other major types are TN ("twisted nemantic") and PVA/MVA ("VA" = "vertical alignment"). Each technology has certain strengths and costs. The TN are by far the most common; comparatively cheap to build and with very fast response times, which makes them excellent for gaming. The slowest panels are IPS, but the technology enables great viewing angles and color rendering -- making them perfect for screen sharing and photo editing. Midway between the two are PVA/MVA. PVA/MVA and IPS screens are fairly common in LCDs > 21", where the profit margins outweigh the greater production cost. TN dominates the smaller screen (i.e. notebook) market. I believe there is only one company currently making IPS screens in 15"; that combined with the extra cost is why Lenovo is phasing them out.

 

That one 15" LCD company which produces the IPS screen is also having manufacturing difficulties as well.

As mentioned, IPS LCDs are easily 20-40% more in production costs, notebook LCDs already cost 15-20% of a notebooks total, thus many manufacturers don't feel like its worth it.

 

Performance of IPS screens has appeared. The ghosting that used to be noticeable (albeit only on fast moving images) has been largely diminished. Any IPS screens after the T42 model dont seem to have any user complaints.

 

I didn't have any ghosting issues on my T42 which had the FlexView.

 

Personally, I find it much more comfortable photoshop'ing on desktop with 21" Dell WS2005 lcd flat panel.

Though, if IPS Flexview was offered for 14.1" models, I would have jumped right on it.

Portability and lightness comes first, for me.

 

Is it safe to assume that Lenovo screens will not change until Lenovo switches to LED-based screens?

 

curious to know the answer to this.

also, the macbook pro has come out with the 15.4" LED since this thread ended. how does this IPS technology compare to LED?

 

There is a slight yello'ish hue to the current LED screens as many can tell you.

I would hope they would fix this before Lenovo offers them on their notebooks. It is the one reason I stayed with my pre-led macbook pro rather than upgrading when given the chance...

 

My only complaint is that they look dim in comparison to the latest non-IPS screens.

 

It's a shame that they aren't coming out with any IPS screens with LED backlights, that would fix the problem and probably make the best notebook screen ever.

With all the HD LCD TV craze going on it looks doubtful any notebooks will ever see IPS screens, unless they can make the panels cheap enough with all the R&D going on with their battle with plasma.

 

I too am bummed that IPS screens are so hard to find. My laptop progression has been A22P, A31P, T42P and now a T60P. I figured that after a year and a half on my T60P that I would buy the latest Lenovo T61P and get a better machine. However, I am very disappointed and will be sticking with my T60P.

 

Its not that Lenovo does not care to sell them anymore. The supplier of the Flexview screens could not guarantee solid supply for the demand and from what i recall they also were in financial difficulties. In short It was a great screen(I own a 15" flexview T60p) they they could not reliably offer because of supply issues. So rather than frustrate customers with long delays for delivery or even raise price because of limited availability Lenovo opted to phase them out, a difficult and sad decision for all. Lenovo also stated that the panel maker's willingness to make the technology for large lcd tv as opposed to the smaller 15" options for laptops because of better profit margins was another reason for the poor supply. Big business killed the Flexview IPS screens not Lenovo.