Thinking of purchasing the Thinkpad W700...

Hi everyone,

So finally Lenovo has come out with the first ever 17" widescreen Thinkpad. It's pretty expensive at around $3,500 with the configuration I'd want (the WUXGA upgrade, a faster processor, amongst other upgrades).

They advertise that the WUXGA panel has 400NITS. I'm a total screen, and resolution junkie, and I'm still loving my AFFS IPS Flexview display.

Unfortunately, IPS screens are no longer made, as the demand for these high-end LCD's is apparently just too small.

Does anyone know what NITS means (I think it has to do with brightness), and since they're advertising that it has 400NITS, it must be something "special ". lol...

Does it ONLY mean brightness, or is there something else that is special about it?

As for the CPU. I upgraded my T2500 to a T7600 early this year, so I have a Core 2 Duo @ 2.33GHz. If I went with a T9400, I'd gain in 2MB of additional L2 cache (6MB vs. my current 4MB), as well as the higher FSB (1,066MHz vs. my current 667MHz).

Some of the CPU's also have integrated graphics. However, it comes with an nVidia video card with at least 512MB, with an option to go all the way up to 1GB! I have 256MB right now. How would I benefit from that?? I can play Bluray 1080 movies without them skipping even once! Hmm...

Finally, 802.11n. On Intel's website, I read the new Centrino 2's have some kind of wireless-N support "built in ". How would that make my 802.11n network better?? I have the Atheros a/b/g/n card, which continues to perform phenomenally. I don't understand as to how one would benefit from both an N card, as well as the Centrino 2's "11n support ", whatever that means.

I run Vista x64, and everything runs fast. Is it worth the upgrade? I am mostly concerned about the quality of the screen.

I'd like to make an informed, educated decision.

Thanks all...

 

Thanks Pete. This W700 Thinkpad has 400nits, so it's bright. I was hoping it would mean something other than merely brightness.

Do you, or anyone else, know if there is a manufacturer of laptops that DOES have IPS LCD's?