x300/x301 Screen Discussion

Hello Everyone,

Let me start off by saying, I have scoured the forums and Internet at LENGTH on this topic but I still haven't found satisfactory results.

Here is what I know:

- Samsung & LG are the main manufacturers of the screens for these models. I saw one post claiming TMD as well but this is not confirmed by Lenovo reps.

- Some reports seem to claim the x301 may have received a new screen vendor as one user here says that the screen on the x301 looks much better than the x300. (could be just a different vendor for each he is looking at, however.)

- You can't figure out or request a certain type of screen before you order.

Here is my situation. I really only need the power and the capability of the x300 but am willing to pay for the x301 if I can get a better chance at getting a better screen. (paying more for better odds) I am a screen lunatic. I want NO light bleed, good viewing angles, and no graininess, period. The 15" MBP screen is beautiful to me and the caliber I am looking for.

Does anyone have substantiated evidence that the x301 uses more LG screens than Samsungs or perhaps a third, new manufacturer? Do I have a better chance of getting a better screen with a x301?

Those with x300s and x301s, will you comment on your screens some more?

Help? What do I do?

Thanks in advance.

Andrei

 

I've got an X301 and the screen is very nice. I saw an X300 in a store in Warsaw and the screen back then did look a bit dull and "mesh-like". It actually held me back from getting the X300.

My X301 screen is great. It's very bright and crisp and not at all grainy. If anything, the screen can be too bright and will hurt your eyes if you turn it on in a dark room. Fortunately, you can dim it down very easily.

There is no major bleeding from what I can see. The only thing I see is upon bootup before the Vista logo comes up. The screen has a "slight" light gradient visible towards the bottom. Once the X301 boots up, there is no sign of light leakage.

Viewing Angles are great for an LCD. I'm coming from a T61p and the X301 has a much brighter, crisper and clearer screen.

One more thing I would say is that the processor is plenty fast. The laptop is just as fast as the T61p. My only complaint is that there is no docking station available.

Other than that it's a great laptop and would highly recommend it. The lightweight has spoiled me and now I wonder how can anyone carry a 5lb laptop. You think a 2lb difference is not much but it's like carrying an old Nokia phone from 5 years ago to carrying around a Razr-Like phone today.

 

I haven't got a good camera (nor time) to take screen pics properly, but here's a quick comparison betweeen an X301 and an X300. The X301's screen (left) has cooler colours, while the X300 has a yellowish tinge to it. The X300 also suffers from a slightly grainy display, but the X301 doesn't. The X301's screen is slightly better than the X300 in this regard.

Both are TMD screens. I haven't seen an LG or Samsung unit.

 

in terms of Viewing Angle, is the x301 much better than the x300? I compared the viewing angles of T400, X300 and a 3-year-old T42. X300 and T400 are similar, however, both are much worse than the T42.

 

I find the viewing angles pretty good, but I don't have a T42 for comparison.

 

Wow Guys!

Thanks so much for all of this GREAT information! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to respond; the forum system didn't send me an email notification with any updates (grumbles).

Well a x301 it is then! I just PRAY I get a TMD or LG screen; if not, I fear restocking fees are in my future until I get it right.

One last question: do you find the 128dpi of the 1440x900 on the 13" sometimes a bit small? I'll be using XP without cleartype. I'm one of those crazy people that actually perceives cleartype as more blurry on an lcd than the un-antialiased text.

Thanks again.

Andrei

 

I went from a 14.1" T61p to the X301 so things were a just a bit too small for my liking. I did some minor tweaking with the DPI in control panel and now things are great.

good luck in your purchase.

 

You must be joking. The 1440x900 resolution (and the touchpad) for the X300/X301 is the main reason I went for the notebook. It's the perfect resolution for 13" screens.

 

If you're T42 had the IPS it should not be surprising. If it didn't, it's surprising as well.

 

Everyone,

I found a new, sealed-in-box x301 on ebay for a fantastic price. Best of all, I was able to check the serial number ahead of time and ensure it was a TMD screen which in fact it was. No more playing the guessing game from Lenovo directly!

So, I've ordered it. It should be here early next week. I'll give you guys an update on how it is at that time if anyone is interested.

Thanks again for all the help.

Andrei

 

define fantastic I'm in the market for x300/301 also and been looking @ lenovo cpp but can't say I'm overly impressed + can't really wait 2-3 weeks anyhow...

 

Does this link work still? This is the item I purchased:

Link

Andrei

 

funny but been following your posts for the E4300 and wanted to share that after reading another guy's review I canceled my order too :/

i bought the new Macbook aluminum with backlit keyboard as an interim laptop but still can't decide between X300/301...

with cpp you can get the X300 with 6 cell / DVD-RW + AT&T Wireless card for $1700 or so and that's making my decision very hard. Originally prior to the e4300 i had ordered an X200 but got buyers remorse for the 12.1 screen + the feedback from others...

decisions, decisions, decisions.... lol

 

Hi sm1810,

Good to hear from you. I'm glad you canceled your e4300 purchase; you seem to be a discerning user and I believe you honestly wouldn't have been happy with the e4300. I'm sure its good for some folks but not for us.

I think you also did the right thing on the x200. I think a 12" screen might be a little bit rough for day to day work unless you always have an external hooked up.

I don't want to get this thread off topic, but I'd be very curious to hear what you think of the Macbook. In desperation with trying to find a laptop I can use/like, I actually bought a Macbook last night and returned it this morning before ordering my x301 which I think will be the final machine for me. PM me your thoughts about your Macbook if you would like....I'd love to hear them but again don't want to take this thread too off topic unless no one objects.

Andrei

 

i do like the Macbook.. the design is x10 better than the old black macbook that I have (previous revision to the aluminum) and even though my old MB has 4GB the new one feels snappier...

The screen is very reflective and as bright as my MBA and the keyboard is OK (much stiffer to the previous version and the same as MBA).. I'm very anal like you, and I'm just not happy with Mac OS X. I have a Dell 3008FWP display port LCD but I don't like to dock much I simply connect it to a quadcore pc..

Now, before anyone starts screaming apple hater I also have a 30" Apple Cinema LCD, a Mac Pro Octo-core 2.8Ghz, a Macbook Air 80GB and my old black Macbook so I appreciate the Macs for sure, I just have a bunch of proprietary software the just doesn't feel right running under parallels or bootcamp...

So, I'm also thinking of returning the macbook too just fed up paying restocking fees... I've not pulled the trigger on the x301 as I'm eagerly awaiting for your impressions I did see an x300 at a store the other day and felt really nice...

The e4300 seemed like a nice laptop and I got a great corporate discount if you recall $2K for maxed out Dell with 64GB Performance SSD, 4GB RAM, etc. ..

design wise I like the MB / MBA but i just can't justify running Vista on those machines... you lose the instant on benefits, and other stuff you got on OS X and running parallels drives me crazy....

PS Hope you like your x301 so that I can finally order one, but right now still can't decide between the x300 or x301... :/

 

sm1810,

You and I are on such a similar path. I returned the MB 2.4ghz 15 hours after buying because of the screen and the trackpad. I have been an Apple user since the first PowerMacs in 1995 and this is the first Apple computer I have been severely disappointed in. The screen was FAR too reflective for professional use in my opinion. I found this worse than the Blackbook I used to own due to the shiny bezel. The vertical viewing angles and contrast refraction was so bad, you could never match the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen. The trackpad occasionally seems unresponsive and erratic and if part of the base of your thumb leans on the edge of it, it throws it all off. (Of little merit but part of my grumbles as well is that I also think its the least attractive apple laptop since the clam shell colored ones. )

I will miss OSX the most to be honest....I LOVE the OS...but I agree when you have to use multiple Windows apps (as I do at work) it can be a little bit cumbersome despite the great alternatives. I'm in XP ALL day at work but OSX has been my personal OS since 2005.

As a hint, I didn't pay a restocking fee by stating, "I purchased this unit and the screen is unacceptable for design work. After trying to calibrate for over 3 hours with a colorimeter, I had no luck." It was an easy return to my surprise. The manager said, "I worry this is going to be a recurring theme with these new notebooks."

I will absolutely give you and the rest of the folks here my very honest opinions once I get my x301. I can't WAIT! I will say, however, from my research, it seems the x301 is simply the way to go, if for no other reason than most seem to come with a TMD screen and a far larger majority of folks seem to find the x301 to be much nicer.

Andrei

 

Another thing is the X301 has great ergonomics.

 

just received an email, that my x301 has been shipped. cant wait!

i have been struggling since july, which notebook to buy. i think, the x301 is the closest it gets concerning the perfect notebook for my needs:

nothing beats a thinkpad when it comes down to beauty (my taste).
i wantes a bright LED screen to be able to do some work outside.
i wanted a digital videoout without a dock.
i wanted something really mobile and sturdy.
i wanted something really expensive - just kidding

as i said, cant wait

 

Ochsentour,

That's so exciting! Congrats! Please let us know how you like it the minute you get it!!! I suspect I will be getting mine on Tues./Wed. of next week so probably roughly the same time you do!

Let's pray for little to no LCD backlight bleed!!!

Andrei