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EMC · Dec 2, 2004, 02:12 PM

My girlfriend just bought a laptop last week, and we went to Fry's to take a look at all models. I encouraged her to look at Powerbooks which she did, but she ended up deciding on the new HP dv1000 with a BriteView screen.

How many of you are familiar with the new laptop screen technology? Sony has XBrite, and Fujitsu has Clear View. HP has licensed the XBrite (called BriteView) and Dell has a single model licensing Clear View.

All of these names coorespond to the same technological improvement, which is a glossy LCD screen (rather than the traditional matte) that has enough antiglare coating to reduce light reflections. These screens show much more vivid colors than any standard LCD and can even be viewed well outdoors in sunlight.

Fry's had all of the laptops (Apple included) lined up next to eachother. Seeing a Powerbook display next to a Fujitsu laptop display really makes the powerbook look bad.

Any chance Apple will jump on the horse and license this stuff?

robby818 · Dec 2, 2004, 02:42 PM

I noticed the same thing, also while I was at Fry's. I really do not like the glossy coating that is becoming more and more popular on PC laptops because despite the anti-glare coating, I still notice reflections. Even without the coating though, i suspect that the lcds from sony are superior in brightness + contrast compared to the powerbooks. The screens on Apple's laptops look washed out in the Apple stores as well.

cenutrio · Dec 2, 2004, 03:47 PM

Originally posted by robby818:
I noticed the same thing, also while I was at Fry's. I really do not like the glossy coating that is becoming more and more popular on PC laptops because despite the anti-glare coating, I still notice reflections. Even without the coating though, i suspect that the lcds from sony are superior in brightness + contrast compared to the powerbooks. The screens on Apple's laptops look washed out in the Apple stores as well.

I've been checking this new screen technology too and I agree that looks great in dark condition while watching a DVD for example. However, they are terrible when outdoors or indoors with bright light conditions. I still did not make my mind if they're really an improvement.

ibook_steve · Dec 2, 2004, 06:40 PM

Also, you probably pay for that brightness with battery life.

Steve

emuexplosion · Dec 2, 2004, 07:32 PM

Before I got my powerbook, I got the Sony S270. (sent it back to Sony)

The screens have 3 more layers on it than normal lcd screens. They do more color filtering and sorting. They do NOT increase brightness, contrast, refresh, or anything. They just appear more vivid in color and glossy.

Battery life is the same.

-emu

hldan · Dec 2, 2004, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by emuexplosion:
Before I got my powerbook, I got the Sony S270. (sent it back to Sony)

The screens have 3 more layers on it than normal lcd screens. They do more color filtering and sorting. They do NOT increase brightness, contrast, refresh, or anything. They just appear more vivid in color and glossy.

Battery life is the same.

-emu

Okay you need to "read" what you wrote. It doesn't matter what type of technology is used for the Xbrite screens it only matters how they look. As you said, "They just appear more vivd in color and glossy" and to the computer user that's all that matters is how it appears.
Those new screens kick the crap out of the Powerbook screens, however I am not in favor of the glossy look either, too much relection.

emuexplosion · Dec 2, 2004, 11:16 PM

I never read what I write. That's silly.

I simply mean that there is no difference in the LCD or the driver itself, it's only the 3 layers on the outside.

The Sony's screen was the best I've ever seen. The clarity was amazing. That made it hard to send back and get something else.

I'm not down playing those screens (unless you are outside, woah).. they are nice, like big black mirrors. I'm just happier with the PB's screen even if it isn't as clear.

-emu

robby818 · Dec 2, 2004, 11:39 PM

having just spent 3 years in law school I have seen a lot of laptop screens (80% of the students have laptops). Overall, I thought hp and sony had the best screens. Just as an aside- the best pc laptops for reliability was either ibm or sony. the worst was compaq and gateway. dells were ok, but seemed to fall apart after a year or two.