Why can't Lenovo use the same LCD panels as ASUS?

I was at Best Buy today and saw an ASUS notebook. I was instantly blown away by the clarity and vividness of the screen. The viewing angle was superb--better than I had ever seen in a notebook. Infact, it was better than many desktop LCD monitors! At first I thought this might be the panel Lenovo discontinued, but it was a 15.4" widescreen. Were those high quality panels Lenovo discontinued widescreen?

I just wish we could have the best of both worlds--a solidly built notebook with a quality keyboard AND screen. Is this too much to ask for the premium prices we pay?

 

Do you remember what Asus notebook model you saw?

 

if you haent noticed the Thinkpads dont have a "premium price" anymore, and thats why you see cost cutting in components.

 

Was the difference because the Asus had a glossy screen? Those look great in certain lighting conditions. They're a matter of taste personal use though and its hard to compare them side by side and be objective.

 

I was very surprised at a brand new config of the T60p in terms of its low prices. I paid about $2200 fall of last yr for T2500, 1GB RAM, 100GB 7200, 9 cell and 15" IPS screen. they have lowered the prices of a similarly equipped by a few hundreds less, but can't say how the quality is, but I do know there's no more IPS screens.

 

I agree with donsell, what model did you see?

The Asus models I have seen look about normal to any other notebook (HP, Dell, etc.).

 

I think we can be certain that the lower prices for notebooks this year as compared to last year is due mostly to lower component prices: memory, hard drives, and LCD technology prices have all dropped like a rock for the past year.

 

It was either the G1 or G1s. The screen was glossy, yes. I always prefer matte. The glossiness was NOT the reason the screen was better. HPs and Sonys are glossy too, and they quickly dim to dark from above and to the sides of the screen. The ASUS was the only notebook I could find in the store that had maintained brightness and clarity from above and to the sides. And looking straight on, the screen was so vivid and clear, I felt my eyes had become rejuvenated by 10 years. Not kidding! lol I only wish the ASUS didn't look like a toy. I need a quality notebook to get work done, not play games. But if ASUS can use this panel, I don't see why other manufacturers won't take advantage of this as well.

 

Its probably the same screen as on the Asus V1J. It maybe a better option for you.

 

I believe the newer Asus use IPS screens. IPS + Glossy = really good looking screen.

I don't like glossy and I find the screen on my T60p's 14.1 really good it's better than most of the non-glossy screens I see. If you want your thinkpad to have a Glossy screen you can send it away to have the filter changed to glossy.

 

Like I said, I prefer matte. Why anyone would want glossy on any type of display, I will never know. But that is not the reason for the clarity.

 

any brand COULD use an ips screen and COULD use a glossy screen and COULD use a dual lamp an COULD use LED backlighting.
but they wouldn't sell. at least, in quantities that would justify it.

 

I imagine that screen image quality is at the top of most potential consumers' lists. So why do you say quality panels wouldn't sell?

 

Lenovo= Chinese

Asus= Taiwanese

that's my way of putting it. XD


But seriously though, Lenovo is meant more for business, rather than gaming.

 

you guys gotta remember that not all 'glossy' screens are not the same.
Best buy uses bright bright high kelvin florescent bulbs in their stores. And the glare from a Asus notebook may not be the same as one from a HP notebook. All glossy screens have some type of anti-reflection coating. Next time youre at BestBuy again turn the computers off and look at the screens. You should notice that HP notebooks almost look mirror-like. At least thats what ive discovered. On the flip side you'll notice a big diff in lack of reflections in some of the Asus and Sony notebooks

And if you like the G1 screen you should have a look at the G2 screen : P

 

Yeah, it used to be that way for me. I was infatuated w/crisp lcd's dripping with sharp color and deep blacks. Why vaio used to be my first choice. It seems like, unlike other manufacturers, their "glossy" version didn't even reflect the surrounding lights too much. Don't know how they do it.

Now since owning a TP, and having been spoiled to this keyboard and trackpoint, the latter have actually taken a priority over screen quality. I never realized how crappy notebook ergonomics were until having this one, then going back to toshiba, sony, etc.

TP's screens would have to get a whole lot worse for me to deal w/a less snappy and responsive keyboard and as nice a pointng device as the trackpoint w/scroll button. (whcih as i understand might actually be the case- hope not, but my z60m's screen is incredible. very bright, and it doesn't seem to degrade from extreme angle. i am actually dissappointed ot learn that the t61 screen viewing angle is more limited. don't know what's in mine, but it must be something different, because it's quality- but i think ultimately, as long as a screen is "good enough" for me, I still put a premium on other ergonomic factors, build quality, fit and finish, steel hinges, superior cooling system etc, ymmv).


Because one might also ask the converse- why can't manufacturers with those really ncie lcd's have tp keyboards! (j/.k obviously it's not just a matter of choosing a keyboard, that design is probably protected, anyone can probably put any screen in their desing).

But to the point of offering better screens as an option- of course it's what the consumer wants (more choices never hurt anyone), but for them there is surely a point where if enough people don't opt for it, it cost them money for the few.

 

The keyboard is the user's main form of input and the screen is the main forum of output. You would think that BOTH of these take priority. IBM uses the best keyboards, bar none. I've never felt better. After a few hours of use, you can certainly appreciate the difference in your fingers. But the same is true for the screen and your eyes.

 

Wow, I guess I'm the only one that would like a quality screen.

 

Everyone would prefer a quality screen. It's just that (as we've learned here), not only are each of our thresholds of required quality different, but where that requirement even ranks among priorities when choosing a notebook.

Both determine at what point does what % of screen quality increase result in what percentage of consumers are/are not willing to pay how more much more for each step up in quality. There is a point of diminishing returns. Manufacturers have to respect it, or fail.

But yeah, if I could choose between an acceptable screen and the best possible screen on the market, all else being equal, I'll take the highest end screen thanks. OTOH in the real world, where are all things are not equal, it is almost always the case where you have to decide b/t two makes, each with advantages, whcih of those advantages are more important to you. Or which feature you don't like is... LEAST unacceptable.

I get what you're saying, ":make them both a priority", but there is no perfect notebook. Well there is, I'm sure, but specialty boutique stuff. How much do you want to pay for it? Let's say you could pick and choose features from all your favorites- take the screen from your asus, the keyboard from an IBM, the build quality of a toughbook, etc... and pay whatever it costs? $10k? more? worth it? why not? am I the only one who would LIKE a quality... everything?!

 

Points are well taken. But you have to wonder what the price differential is between the two panels. I can't imagine it being more than $100.

 

The ThinkPad keyboard and pointing stick will probably keep me coming back for more. I am surprised that they competition hasn't caught on yet.

How hard could it be for them to buy a couple ThinkPad keyboards and see how Lenovo has been doing it?

 

Yeah I agree. Nothing seems to compare- I haven't tried everything, but it seems like all the reviews of those I haven't it's so common to read something along the lines of "the keybaord is good, far better than average, but still not in the neighborhood of thinkpad quality"; and that's when they are praising a given keyboard.

It's just probably harder to upgrade keyboard than screen quality; as JUstin said- an extra $100 or something. Just a differnt purchase= equals a little more cost, not a redesign which = alot more. Even though they are made for lenovo by someone else, I think keyboard designs are unique to each manufacturer, or much more so than screens anyways- some one correct me if I'm wrong, but Dell, say, couldn't just start buying a version of tp's keyboards from one of the three suppliers, right?

 

I am sure Lenovo has the keyboard patented and copyrighted so someone else cannot just use their exact design.

Many laptops share keyboard designs though of the cheaper keyboards, just not as nice