X200 - Discrepancy concerning Information about LED-Backlight

[ÄpflelAde]

Hello,

I hope that someone can help clarify something (I did perform a search, though without any luck).

Here is the issue:

The following Lenovo support page seems to suggest that ALL thinkpads X200 have an LED-backlit display:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-73155

Yet, this other page (product and parts details), also from the Lenovo support, lists various models with CCFL and LED-backlit displays:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-70520

My concern is the following:

Do certain retailers advertise (knowingly or not, depending on where they get the specs from) x200 models as LED-backlit altough they are CCFL-backlit?

Or do Lenovo get things mixed-up in their support pages?

How can you buy a laptop if you can't know for sure, which type of display is built-in?

Thanks for your help.

Regards

Ä

[ColonelONeill]

Some X200's are CCFL backlit; those can have an AFFS panel modded into them. You can sometimes find out by entering the machine type on to http://support.lenovo.com

Lenovo's support pages sometimes are a bit contradictory, so always make sure.

[ÄpflelAde]

Thanks for your reply. It tends to confirm what I feared.

However, my concern is more about finding out what I'm buying before buying it, as there is a price difference between a CCFL and LED x200 as advertised by the retailers...

To change the panel afterwards would only increase the costs

[bananaman]

Hi ÄpflelAde, and welcome to the Lenovo User Community!

The most reliable source for system specifications is the Personal System Reference:

http://www.lenovo.com/psref/

Look in the "Withdrawn products" section for the X200.

Hope this helps!

[ÄpflelAde]

Yes, thank you "crazy volunteer"

I'll have another look.

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

Some of the early model X200 was shipped with CCFL backlight LCD, while the latter ones more likely to have the LED version.

[ÄpflelAde]

Yes, that's what I think too, thanks.

But I am having trouble to get reliable information.

The PSREF doc does not list all the models (or retailers make references up?!).

As for the "Product and Parts Details" page (which one can look up at http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product-and-parts/detail.page?DocID=PD004392 for the x2xx series), it does provide information for groups of model (i.e. all models starting with 1234-Axx) but not (always) for precise models.

Concretely this means:

7458-G37: does not have LED-Backlight according to the a.m. official Lenovo link
7458-G38: neither does this one,...
7458-G42: nor this one!

For ALL THREE models I had an offer stating that the notebook DOES have LED-Backlight.

This is why I am confuse and looking for more information.

Who is right? Lenovo or the shops I might order from?

(obviously, I do not have the possibility to "physically" check the panel myself prior to buying)

Hope this helps to answer my question (if it is ever possible to answer it )

I am thankful for any clue.

[ÄpflelAde · Accepted solution]

I have clarified things with a retailer.

Apparently, the only way to know for sure what is inside the machine, is to perform a lookup through the serial number (which one normally does not have yet as a potential client).

So, my advice: ask the shop to check on serial number and don't rely too much on Lenovo's model/type-related information (at least as long as you do not know the SN).

If you feel it's necessary, you may ask the retailer to give you the info in writing prior to purchase (e.g. for things that really make a difference, pricewise).

This thread is, as far as I am concerned, closed.