which screen should I get for T61?

I'm planning to buy a T61 today or tomorrow.

This will be used for work, no gaming. So definitely getting the integrated graphics. A bunch of programming in environments like Eclipse, heavy internet & email, some local db work in MS Access, etc.

The one thing I'm still on the fence about is which screen format and resolution to get. I won't be watching movies on this thing so widescreen format doesn't matter to me, but I want to get a decent screen with a good amount of real estate. My eyes are pretty good so I'm OK with small size as long as it's not too tiny.

I'm leaning toward the 14" SXGA+ (non wide). Would make the thing smaller than a wide (a good thing), and seems would give enough real-estate. The one thing I hesitate about is that Lenovo rates the non-wide screens as lower contrast and brightness than the wides (according to ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitute/psref/tabook.pdf). I know these are only minimum standards, but should I expect a better quality screen if I go wide?

BTW, don't need super graphics quality or truest of true color, but would like halfway decent contrast so it's readable in a non-darkened room.

So would any of you advise me to go widescreen, given all of the above? Especially looking for opinions from people who have personally experienced both screen formats.

Thanks!

 

Can you find a store where you could look at them to compare?

 

I love my SXGA+. Makes for a slimmer lighter laptop. Reading it in a non-darked room right now, brightness is set at 5 out of 15. 14" standard (non-wide) has more pixels and is taller then 14" wide.

 

My SXGA+ is a bit dim for my tastes, but is good enough for me otherwise.

 

I'm happy with my SXGA+, too. It's even brighter than my HP nx6325.

 

If you plan to write code and use environments such as Eclipse (i do myself) maybe you want a screen with good analysis and wide, like the 15.4"
IDE's make good usage of the extra space at the sides of the screen, so i purchased just a few days before a T61 with 15.4" screen and WSXGA+ (1680x1050) screen resolution.

I am very happy with this package but i suggest you to go and see some notebook for yourself (screen, resolution etc ) before you order one!

 

well, I went ahead w/ the 14' non-wide SXGA+, I suspect that's be plenty wide for me.

Thanks everyone for the help!