Does LCD screen absolutely needs a screen-saver?

[GenerationYscorpio]

Today's CRT screen dont really need a screen saver for personal everyday use, with an exception for corporate business use which often time one screen will be shown for hours or days. But my concern is for my personal use, I was wondering does LCD easier to get screen-burn than traditional CRT screens?

 

[Utterman]

I don't beleive there is much of a chance for screen burning happening on a LCD. Even on a CRT, an image has to be displayed for days or even weeks to behind to burn it. If you use power saving features with the monitor, then there is no chance of anything getting burned on.

 

[ProviaFan]

No, they don't need a screensaver, but with both CRTs and LCDs (especially the latter, to save on backlight life, I assume), you should use the powersaving features to automatically put the monitor into standby after a period of 20 minutes or so of inactivity.

 

[Garion2K]

FWIW, several months ago I saw an LCD on a cash register with an image burnt in. I think it was a 17" Viewsonic. As jliechty said, I'd atleast put the monitor in standby mode to save the backlight.

 

[StormRider]

The manual that came with my Philips LCD stated that leaving static images on a long time can burn it into the screen. Because of that, I'm really nervous about leaving my LCD alone for a long period of time. I have a screen saver but I've seen times when sometimes the screen saver doesn't come on for some reason.

 

[RSMemphis]

Originally posted by: Garion2K
FWIW, several months ago I saw an LCD on a cash register with an image burnt in. I think it was a 17" Viewsonic. As jliechty said, I'd atleast put the monitor in standby mode to save the backlight.

Well, at most you could start modifying the liquid crystals so that they don't move anymore. It's possible, I guess, to have a ghost image behind, but it's a very different process from burning in.

-------------------------
If we weren't here, where would we be?

Duh, somewhere else.

 

[Gosharkss]

Screen burn Is possible with LCD technology?

Yes, it's possible and in fact quite common. Look at just about any ATM machine and you will see what I mean. However it is not really screen burn like CRT?s get. In terms of LCDs it is generally referred to as "image sticking" which looks just like screen burn on a CRT monitor.

The cause is a bit complicated, but it generally comes from not maintaining the proper voltage (i.e., having a net zero DC voltage, long term) across the LC cells. Any amount of leakage current will turn a cell on slightly causing an image to appear.

It is my recommendation to use a screen saver and change the background pattern. On the bright side, unlike CRT monitors in time the effect may fade. If your LCD has this phenomenon, try running a pure white screen for a period of time, this also can reduce the effect but may not remove it completely.

Manufactures typically will not warranty against image sticking (screen burn)

Lets put one thing to rest, to my knowledge color CRT monitors today are using the same (p22) medium short persistence phosphor that was used many years ago. Thus monitors today are just as susceptible to phosphor burn as they ever where.

 

[OldSpooky]

I'm sure an LCD can get an image stuck on it... the computer lab at my university had several flat panels that had the EMACS text editor window burned in :disgust:

 

[corkyg]

LCD's can get a burned image effect - but the backlight conservation is also important. The best thing I have found is to simply turn off the LCD when you are gone - or set it to go after after "X" minutes of inactivity.