Anyone notice how some newer laptops are "blurry"

[sindows]

Its hard to explain but it primarily exits on HP/Compaq screens. The colors themselves are fine but when you look at words, the blackness isn't very black. Its more of a gray color. The laptops don't have cleartype turned on so I know it isn't that problem. Anyone know what I'm talking about and can explain it?

 

[thirtythree]

Originally posted by: sindows
Its hard to explain but it primarily exits on HP/Compaq screens. The colors themselves are fine but when you look at words, the blackness isn't very black. Its more of a gray color. The laptops don't have cleartype turned on so I know it isn't that problem. Anyone know what I'm talking about and can explain it?

Well, I might describe a laptop screen with the brightness turned down the same way, but I'm guessing that's not what you're talking about.

 

[Paperlantern]

I would describe a screen that is not set to the proper resolution in that manner. It always looks somewhat blurry. LCD's jsut plain look sharper when they are set to thier native rather then stretching pixels accross pixels to display something lower then they are intended.

 

[corkyg]

Expanding on what Paperlantern said, make sure your resolution is set at the screen's native res. Also, check Display Properties - Appearance - Effects and make sure CLEAR TYPE is checked.

 

[Brainonska511]

Also, if you're using Windows XP, make sure the DPI is set to 96. Sometimes, manufacturers turn the DPI up higher, but XP does not scale very well.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

PEBKAC.

- M4H

 

[sindows]

Nope, it has nothing to do with the resolution being set below the "native res". As far as the cleartype issue is concerned, I always felt that screens looked better with it turned off. I don't know why, its just a personal preference(and yes I've used the cleartype tuning application that you download off of Microsoft's website). And yes, the screens were all turned up to their maximum brightness.

Its a very subtle issue and I'm pretty sure that most people wouldn't notice it but I do. Asking the salesrep certainly wouldn't help considering that most of the time, they know almost nothing about computers. I also noticed that this issue exists with the Dell e1405 but absent from their other models...it actually extends to more than the text, it seems that the screen overall is less "colorful" is the best way I can describe it. Its as if someone added a shade of white to all the colors so it becomes slightly fainter and not as crisp...

 

[6000SUX]

Text is definitely easier to read with ClearType off-- no contest. The edge contrast is higher. M$ included it to keep pace with Mac OS, which had already done text antialiasing for a while. It's a crap feature.

 

[TheStu]

I personally have no problems reading text with ClearType turned on (or whatever Apple calls their version). I have noticed some visual differences between Windows and OS X, but those are pretty minor (meaning colors, brightness, text readability...)

 

[justlnluck]

I have also noticed that the quality of most notebook LCD screens is no where near the quality of desktop LCD monitors. The viewing angles are much weaker and yes, the colors do look washed out. I have seen a couple notebooks that had S-IPS panels and they looked fabulous. But unfortunately, they were 4:3 screens and now everything is becoming widescreen.

 

[juktar]

On my Dell, power is cut considerably to the screen when your on a battery. The screen goes dim. Plugging the power back in, brings back the screen.

Could this be what your seeing?

 

[sindows]

Not, its not the dimming. Its like justlnluck said about the "washed out" look. For some reason, the text doesn't seem to be as black as it could be.

 

[shortylickens]

I have to agree with justinluck. Laptop LCD's arent as good quality as stand alone monitors.
They cut back on quality to help bring the overall price down, and I'm guessing HP/Compaq is one of the worst offenders.

As was also noted, they limit the max brightness and contrast to help save power too.

EDIT:
I should think the hi-end gaming laptops from Alienware, Falcon Northwest and VooDoo would be a little better, not to mention Apple Powerbooks vs. iBooks, or whatever the hell they have nowadays.