Lenovo ThinkVision L201p review: Lenovo ThinkVision L201p

The LCDs formerly known as IBM?
Though the 20-inch Lenovo ThinkVision L201P is admirable for its adjustability and easily navigable onscreen menu, the bland design is screaming for an update, and at $649, it's too expensive for its basic set of features. In the competitive category of 20-inch business monitors, such as the Samsung SyncMaster 204T, the Dell UltraSharp 2007FP, and the HP LP2065--all of which feature above-average image quality, ample adjustability options, and USB hubs--the Lenovo ThinkVision L201P is easy to forget. For general productivity, the Lenovo ThinkVision L201P delivers adequate performance for most productivity tasks, but for a bargain, look to the Dell UltraSharp 2007FP, or for superior image quality, the LaCie 120 is a much better choice and costs only a few beans more.

Placed in back of the monitor are DVI-D and D-Sub ports, and Lenovo includes cables for each. Unfortunately, Lenovo completely ignores cable management; we like to see at least one loop to thread the cords through, or better yet, three loops as found on the ViewSonic VP930b.

The wave-shaped onscreen menu buttons are well labeled with gray and blue icons that describe the main and secondary functions of each button. Though this layout is a bit busy, it makes the onscreen menu very easy to navigate; we like the dedicated enter, exit, and navigation buttons and the menu legends that further explain the buttons' functions. We also appreciate that the exit button doubles as a switch between the digital and analog inputs, so you can easily toggle between two computers. The Lenovo ThinkVision L201P doesn't include a USB hub, but Lenovo offers a ThinkVision USB Soundbar accessory that costs $29 and connects to your computer's USB port.

The Lenovo ThinkVision L201P shines when it comes to screen uniformity and displaying moving images. We ran CNET Labs DisplayMate-based tests at its native resolution of 1,600x1,200. The image quality was very sharp, with little noise fluctuation, and text looked clear, well-contrasted, and easy to read. Grayscale quality was average: the display produced a nice, even fade from dark to light gray, but there were some fluctuations in intensity along the way. Color test screens showed some hue shifting and a slightly muted quality overall. We were particularly impressed with the ThinkVision L201P's screen uniformity: the left side of the panel appeared slightly brighter than the right side, but very little light leaked through along the edges and corners.

Despite the display's slow, 16-millisecond pixel-response time, DVD playback showed very little streaking and ghosting and a high level of detail in dark and light areas. Game playback was also surprisingly sharp and revealed no ghosting or streaking and a similarly high level of detail.

The Lenovo ThinkVision L201P comes with an industry-standard three-year warranty that covers parts, labor, and backlight. Lenovo does offer a number of upgrades to the basic warranty, however, ranging in price from $60 to $285. Toll-free phone support is available 24/7, and the support Web site offers driver downloads, access to documentation, hints and tips, and ESC+, which is an onsite electronic support call request service. With ESC+, you submit a query or request online (after creating a user account), and a technician calls you back with an answer. We like this system as an alternative to impersonal e-mail support. It feels much more helpful to have a two-way conversation with a support rep; it also allows you to submit multiple requests and escape the hassle of placing a call, navigating a support menu, and spending time on hold.