Which business laptop screen is closest to Thinkpad but with a Macbook Pro 17" screen

[mrjoltcola]

I mention Macbook Pro screen because that is what I have to compare. I have a few laptops, one of which is a MacBook Pro 17" (circa 2008) and I absolutely love the display on it. I know there are others with good screens, but this is what I own.

However, it is actually my wife's laptop; I use a Thinkpad T61 (I'm an ex-IBMer and have always liked Thinkpads). I do a lot of coding on my laptop, sometimes from the couch or from bed (love Thinkpad's keyboard light); I never got used to the Macbook keyboard or limited trackpad, but I love the screen. Seems similar to my old Sony Vaio 17".

I also own a Dell D820 but it is a loaner for my employees, and I really don't like it either, and I'm trying to sell it.

What is the closest to the Thinkpad T series as far as chassis feel & weight, keyboard (non-latest fad chiclet style, but a real keyboard), great trackpad, that has a bright, sharp 17" display with good viewing angles?

I'm aware of the Thinkpad W700 / W710(ds) models, but those have been discontinued and I'm not sure if/when there will be a new 17" Thinkpad (I don't care for the Lenovo Ideapad 17 -- I tried it). I've considered buying a used W710 and putting an SSD in it, but I'm curious about the screen.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jrocks84]

You may want to look into the HP 8760w and the Dell M6600, both of which can be configured with a top-of-the-line IPS screen, definitely better that even the Macbook Pro's screen. The Dell seems a better balanced machine to me.

Dell Precision M6600 Review:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Precision-M6600-Notebook.65764.0.html

HP Elitebook 8760w Review:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4673/hp-elitebook-8760w-color-so-dreamy

 

[mrjoltcola]

Ok - yes I think one of my guys has a new Precision 15" version, I was impressed with it considering the Dell's I've owned in the past.

The only thing I forgot to mention, being a programmer, I'm not a fan of the HD format, I prefer vertical real estate, 1920x1200, but that seems to be headed for extinction.

So basically anything with an IPS is going to look good?

 

[jrocks84]

Ok - yes I think one of my guys has a new Precision 15" version, I was impressed with it considering the Dell's I've owned in the past.

The only thing I forgot to mention, being a programmer, I'm not a fan of the HD format, I prefer vertical real estate, 1920x1200, but that seems to be headed for extinction.

So basically anything with an IPS is going to look good?

Yes, but unfortunately those (and their 15" versions) are the only laptops that I know of with 1920x1080 IPS screens. The best bet for 1920x1200 is a used HP 8740w with the IPS (branded as Dreamcolor) screen if you can find one, or simply the Macbook Pro 17".

Hmm, actually the new HP Envy 15" that's coming out Dec. 7 is going to have a 1920x1080 IPS screen too, but it will unfortunately be glossy. If you're willing to put up with a glossy screen, that might be a cheaper option than the above laptops.

 

[Emulex]

Go see the screen in person. Apple has a knack for making cheap hardware perform amazing by controlling all aspects (o/s,system,screen) - plus they realize the $10 in time to calibrate a monitor to be pleasing to most people is worth it - where as other companies (ahem dell) will have a great disparity in a lot of $1000 monitors because that $10 worth of time to calibrate is $10 less profit - but rightly so if you can't afford a cheap calibrator or borrow one (i got two huey pro from woot for $25) - a very poor calibration tool - but it is far better than what most people can do by eyeballing.

go look and see - btw good used core2duo unibody 17's are going for avg $800 these days - expect to see all future laptops and even desktop screens as 16:9 - 16:10 is going to be extinct soon

 

[mrjoltcola]

I already have a Macbook Pro, along with 2 other Core 2 models. The problem with Apples for me is the track pad single button, keyboard, and the finish. The are beautiful, but I prefer the matte plastic Thinkpad for working on it for hours. It is personal preference but unless you've used Thinkpads you may not realize the contrast between the two. I used the Macbook for months before going back to my Thinkpad T61 and giving the Mac to my wife. But I still love the screen and mainly am wondering if anyone has used the 17" Thinkpad models I mentioned and know how they compare.

I've already tried to find them in person (Thinkpad) but the W700/710 aren't carried, and Thinkpads in general aren't numerous in Microcenter or Bestbuy.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Isn't the w520 still available? We have several here and they are very nice, espeically since you can put 16GB ram in them.

 

[mrjoltcola]

Yes, I think so, but I really need the 17", for programming. Visual Studio is really cramped on a 15". If I go 15", I'd probably just throw an SSD in my T61, since the CPU performance is ok, just not the screen, for my purposes.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

huh, I thought the w520 had a 17" screen. I guess it just looks so much bigger coming from 13" screens. lol

 

[Ketchup]

(love Thinkpad's keyboard light)

This.

Every laptop should come with one.

 

[mrjoltcola]

This.

Every laptop should come with one.

Thanks. Simple, but works.

Have you tried the Macbook backlit titanium keys while in the dark? It actually prevents you from reading the letters, because the backlit letters blend in with the light colored keys. I have to turn the keyboard backlight off with the MB Pro.

 

[apac]

Thanks. Simple, but works.

Have you tried the Macbook backlit titanium keys while in the dark? It actually prevents you from reading the letters, because the backlit letters blend in with the light colored keys. I have to turn the keyboard backlight off with the MB Pro.

The newer MBPs have black keys, fyi, and the backlit effect works quite well.

http://switchtoamac.com/images/hardware/macs/macbookpro/late_2008_mbp_keyboard.png

 

[mrjoltcola]

Good to know they improved that.

 

[DavidMarie]

Yes, but unfortunately those (and their 15" versions) are the only laptops that I know of with 1920x1080 IPS screens. The best bet for 1920x1200 is a used HP 8740w with the IPS (branded as Dreamcolor) screen if you can find one, or simply the Macbook Pro 17".

Hmm, actually the new HP Envy 15" that's coming out Dec. 7 is going to have a 1920x1080 IPS screen too, but it will unfortunately be glossy. If you're willing to put up with a glossy screen, that might be a cheaper option than the above laptops.

Check out Photodon's line of screen "protectors" which also have the ability to convert a glossy screen to a matte type display. It will create a layer of slight graininess, but it will take a world class glossy IPS and turn it into an equally superb IPS screen minus the gloss - and making the finish appear just a bit grainy as a tradeoff. These people have been making these for years and they do a fine job of making a wonderful but glossy IPS/pVA/AFFS screen into one with the same great characteristics, minus the gloss ps

 

[hans007]

Yes, I think so, but I really need the 17", for programming. Visual Studio is really cramped on a 15". If I go 15", I'd probably just throw an SSD in my T61, since the CPU performance is ok, just not the screen, for my purposes.

as another ex-IBMer i'd agree with you on falling in love with the thinkpad when i worked there.


the W520 has a 15.6" screen. I'd recomment you buy it and either retrofit a 1080p 15.6" screen to it (you can buy them on ebay for $100) or just buy it with that option already installed.


17" laptops tend to be 1920x1200, but 1920x1080 on a 15.6" isnt bad. the W520 also has 4 sodimm slots (up to 32gb ram with new 8gb dimms) which is nice, and dual display port out (you can buy a dock with dual dvi/displayport) if you really want to program at home with it.

I dont even work at ibm anymore, and i bought a T420 with the deluxe dock. everyone, one you go thinkpad keyboard you'll never go back.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Don't know how leery you are about mucking around with the laptop, but I know that there's a WUXGA (1920x1200) screen option for the T61. If you can source a panel or an LCD assembly with one then you can just disconnect the screen, inverter cable, and wifi cables and do a clean swap. Might come out being cheaper than a whole new laptop.

I did that with my X61t when I went from 1024x768 to 1400x1050. Quick 20 minute swap, worth it to be able to keep using that keyboard and trackpoint.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Thanks. Simple, but works.

Have you tried the Macbook backlit titanium keys while in the dark? It actually prevents you from reading the letters, because the backlit letters blend in with the light colored keys. I have to turn the keyboard backlight off with the MB Pro.

uhh not sure what you're talking about. If you're in the dark, the keys themselves will be dark too. Thus the backlitness doesn't ruin the keys.

I've had my MBP for 3 years now and I use it a lot next to my bed. There are times I can't fall asleep and I just pull my MBP out to use. The keys are very usable in the dark....

 

[mrjoltcola]

At the right angle, with a bright enough screen in the right conditions, it makes it hard to read, trust me I'm not crazy. I appreciate the picture, but I've got one too, and the problem is real, I'm not the only macbook owner that has experienced it.

 

[vbuggy]

The problem is actually when there's enough light to see stuff, but the backlight is on - what happens then is the backlight blends with the silver of the keys in terms of luminosity.

Used to drive me crazy. I kept saying it should have black keys and the Applezombies used to say "why? it's perfect as it is!" "What? It would look like crap!". Moment it gets black keys, everyone is like "OMG THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER" Morons.

To answer your question OP, there are probably some HP 8740w Dreamcolors' in the channel still if you need 1920 x 1200. Otherwise, you are better off with jrocks suggestions.

I don't think you'll have many issues with the M6600 if you get a machine that's put together to spec correctly and if you don't get a Friday Night Special.

Personally I'm not a fan of Dell's build QA and customer service, and the M6500 Covet was the last Dell mobile workstation I owned - I'm pretty much the last guy with a sense of broke-student entitlement ("$1000 on a laptop? It *must* be perfect!!!!") but when you drop close to ~$40K on just 4 machines I think can have reasonable expectations that the buying process isn't going to turn into a flustercluck. And that's *just* for the M6500 - not to mention the problems I had with anything else. I just seemed to have a lot of ordering and fulfillment / QA issues with front-end (i.e. non-server) hardware as far as Dell is concerned in the last ~4 years. The M6500 was a *way* better machine than the Macbook Pro in terms of actually being a usable work tool and a lot more stable, but I just had a lot of problems with QA especially with detail elements of the build of each machine.

Again personally, I prefer the HP Elitebooks specified with the Dreamcolor displays. Significantly less QA issues I find, and all of my orders usually being CTO's, I find less errors. The hardware is also better built in general and also better thought out / developed IMO - and once again, a hugely superior work tool to the Apple.

However, you can usually get a better deal out of Dell. But again, I think you get what you pay for.

 

[mrjoltcola]

Thanks vbuggy, that is exactly it. You hit it on the head, it was in low-light conditions, like if there was a lamp or TV on in the room. Black keys solve the problem.