Faint Ghosting on X220 IPS screen [ Edited ]

[abesmith]

I'm having the same problem whith the X220 IPS screen.  It is plugged in and on Energy Saver mode.  Had OneNote open for a little while and when I closed it there was a noticable ghost image, burn in, not sure what it is called exactly, left from the application.  Also noticed this after closing my browser or other windows.  For example when I closed this browser there was a clear ghost image left from the form where I'm typing this message from.  This happens after a very short time.  It goes away after a while but what worries me is that if it is so easy for it to happen temporarily, then perhaps it is easier for it to happen permanently.  If it is just a temporary thing then I don't mind as much.  

If you got a bad screen again then it wouldn't surprise me that all their screens have this defect.  Probably not worth getting a replacement at this time.  One option is to downgrade to the regular screen which might not have this issue, but then again the colors won't be as rich.  Another option is to wait and see if they get a better IPS screen and then replace it, if it is in fact the screen that is the problem and not a software setting.

[ColonelONeill]

I heard it was just an issue with LG-produced IPS panels.

[coupas]

I have a IPS, but I can't say that I am experiencing this.

Give me a couple of steps to follow and I will test it and take a picture of it.

I do have some bleedthrough, but I don't really mind that.

[abesmith]

Maybe try it with a dark desktop.  Mine is black and the picture taken by previous poster was also a dark background.  

[mogunus]

Some more information: I use a text editor with a soft grey background, because I find it easy on the eyes for long coding sessions. To test if you have the issue, all you need to do is leave a web browser with light-colored chrome (like google chrome or firefox 4) open, fullscreen, for about 15-20 minutes. Feel free to browse the web or whatever while you do this, it won't impact what happens to the chrome. Then, switch to a fullscreen text editor with minimal chrome, and the color scheme linked below (which, btw, I very much recommend) in the "dark" variant:

http://ethanschoonover.com/solarized

Make sure that your editor is sufficently lacking in UI elements or a menu bar such that the grey background is where the browser's chrome used to be on the screen. If you have the issue, you will very clearly see an afterimage of all the UI elements of your browser chrome. I have had this issue with two custom x220's, both configured with the premium IPS screen. Since I use that color scheme for my terminals, code editor, and email client, the ghosting is very obnoxious: the only other application I use besides those is a web browser, which leaves behind these very noticiable artifacts on the upper region of the screen.

It's really too bad, because I like everything else about the laptop. I'm considering getting a service call and swapping out the "premium" screen for the normal one, but I'm still within the return for a refund window for the laptop, so I'm unsure what to do.

I've been doing a bunch of research on this issue, and "ghosting" is NOT normal for new IPS displays; it tends to show up in defective or old displays. The issue is called "image persistance" (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_persistence), and is generally not permenant to begin with but some resources say it can become so. I'm hoping someone from lenovo will comment on this. I'd happily go through more hassle to get a new laptop, screen, or whatever, if I could have an IPS display that doesn't suffer from this problem. The backlight bleed is a non-issue, by comparison.

[RichardW]

I tried the following test on my 2 week old X220 with upgraded screen. I used this page for my test (literally, this thread in the Lenovo forum). As you can see, this page is almost all white with black text and some orange bits, and a gradient grey band separating each post.. I displayed it on my default browser (Chrome with the "Minimal" theme) at full screen and full brightness for 20 minutes. I then switched to a black command line full screen. Viewed in a dark room, I could see some very faint ghosting but it wasn't obvious. The most visible ghosting was the bands between the posts, but it wasn't easy to see and I don't think I would have noticed if I wasn't looking for it. Unless I'm not doing this right, the amount of ghosting isn't enough to bother me.

The first time I turned on my X220, I immediately noticed bleed spots along bottom of the screen during startup. It was not subtle, and a disappointment when you turn on your new laptop for the first time. The funny thing is that I just tried to look for it now, and I cannot duplicate it. Not during startup nor if I drag a black window to the bottom edge of the screen. It is either no longer there, or conditions are different. I never noticed it when I was actually using the laptop.

My major disappointment is the color resolution. This may be the fault of the integrated Intel graphics adapter rather than the display itself. Gradient banding is easily visible even though it is supposed to capable of 32 bit color. The gradient banding is very obvious on the "Think " sign-in screen after sleep or hibernation. The background is black except along the bottom where it transitions to a light grey. There are bad horizontal bands in the transition area. I don't know if it will be any better with an external monitor, but it means I won't be able to use the X220 for some graphics editing work.

[mogunus]

Weirdly, the effet is much more apparent with a greyish background than a black backgound. I can almost read the text on my bookmarks bar on the background color linked above.

[neocaesar]

I've been noticing a very faint burn in when I go from something bright (white or light grey for instance) to a darker color. An example of this is Chrome's top bar being minimzed with a darker walpaper and you can still see a faint image of the top bar. I've tried moving a window around in the area to see if it had something to do with that, but it stays there. I haven't determined if it goes away with time or how long it takes for the burn in to appear. I only notice it with dark colors though. Lighter colors seem to be fine. I have the Premium HD Display with a 2x2 Antenna. Should I be worried?

EDIT:

Sorry just noticed there was a previous thread on this topic here:

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/Faint-Ghosting-on-X220-IPS-screen/m-p/435201

Mod, please close. Sorry for the Inconvience. 

Moderator edit: Moved

[neocaesar]

I am having the ghosting/burn-in issue as well. Has anyone heard from Lenovo yet?

[mogunus]

I've talked to the IBM service center in Atlanta, and they've requested that I send in my x220 so they can replicate and analyze the issue. Of course I said they could, and I'll be sending my laptop out in one of their depot boxes as soon as it arrives at my location. Support was very helpful and reasonable; if you are having this problem then I recommend that you call in and let them know. Apparently, it was the first that they had heard about the issue, or it is not yet marked as an "official" issue in their databases. If more people call in, they can get an accurate idea of the extent of the problem and respond appropriately.