Received W3V last night-disappointed with screen

Finally received my W3V last night. I ordered it from ProPortable sight unseen based on all the positive reviews posted in this forum. Yes, the W3V is beautiful, built like a tank and is a perfect size for me. The right palm rest does warm up quite a bit after a while, just like it was mentioned many times; however, it doesn't bother me that much.

After the first night's use, the only disappointment for me is the screen. It's fine with a brightly lit background(Internet browsing, word processing) but quickly shows its shortcomings with dark images(DVD playback and digital photos). I first noticed it with the 3D Pipes screensaver. With a black background, the screen is very unevenly black and there are light leakage from all sides. The optimum vertical viewing angle is so limited that it's almost non-existence. When I angled the screen away from me, the light leakage on the top increases and images are washed-out while the bottom improves. The reverse is true when I angled the screen towards me. I tested DVD playback with a dark movie and can't seem to find a vertical viewing angle that provides a satisfactory picture from top to bottom. I know it's unfair to compare it to the Samsung 191T LCD monitor that is used for my desktop computer, but it's quite a compromise. Maybe my expectation is too high for a notebook screen.

I plan to go to J&R today to take a look at the Sony S360 again for comparison. That Sony unit has the best notebook screen I have seen so far.

Before I get bashed for posting this, just wanted you all to know that I really wanted to like this notebook. I just hope that I am not getting a defective screen.

 

You wont get bashed, at least I hope not, your quite welcome to post your thorughts (positive and negative) and please let us know how you go, esp how you think it compares to the sony.
Thanks and if it is a defective screen I'm sure Justin will be more than happy to help ya out
a


ASUS M6Ne 15.4" WSXGA 1.7 PM ATI9700 80Gb HDD 1Gb RAM

 

Is the display at maximum brightness? How does it look if drop a few notches to 75%-80%? I have never noticed a light leakage problem.

I would agree that when you are looking at dark images then the optimum viewing angle is very limited. However, I have had only positive comments from other people when they see the W3 display.

John

 

Yeah after re-reading most of the posts about the W3v screen, the most common complaint has been poor verticals, the light leakage is a new one, so maybe you do have a defective screen.
a


ASUS M6Ne 15.4" WSXGA 1.7 PM ATI9700 80Gb HDD 1Gb RAM

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by John Ratsey

 

I haven't noticed any light leakage. I'm quite happy with the W3V screen. It has poor vertical angles, but I was expecting that. Also, it's not like I'm going to put on a showing for a huge audience. So I get to adjust that viewing angle just for me. [ ]

 

Might be a defective screen.

You should return it if you are not happy with your lappy

 

Light leakage is something I've never heard attributed to a glaretype screen to begin with. Pictures would be nice.

If you've read anything in these forums, the limited vertical viewing angles shouldn't be a surprise at all. If you're not looking at the screen in the sweet spot (vertically)... blacks can look uneven. That's actually mostly due to the type of screen. Colors won't do that because that is when those pixels are actually lit up.

You can't compare a 14" widescreen to a 19" regular ratio screen at all..... especially if that other screen has a matte finish.

From reading what you wrote above, I think you're using the W3 in environments some of the other people may not have posted about. However, I just watched a dvd this evening in my car on my way home from a trip and it's exactly what I experienced. The only thing is, it's not just normal for this laptop, but I think it may be for all glaretype screens when used in low light. When you go to check out the Sony's...... there is not way you're going to be able to see those in a low light. There is no "light leakage" under normal use..... on something like the Z71v you see that during normal use. When the screen is all black, the backlights are still on, even though the pixels are not lit.

Let me know how it goes.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

I noticed the same thing when watching a DVD. The key to these "gloss" screens is you need to view it at the corect angle. I move the screen back and forth until the image looks right. For example, while typing this message, my sreen is actually pushed back past 90 degrees because I am looking down at it.

It's funny that these "color shine", "trubrite", "insert marketing name here", are all the rage just because they are shiny. But is it better? My roommate has a Sony with the fancy screen and he has mixed feelings. Sometimes I like my screen, sometimes I wish it wasn't shiny.

Peace!
Sygyzy

 

I'm not sure if you can tell me what angles those screens were when you shot them, but those three screens look very familiar to me in when in the dark..... it has a lot to do with lack of color rather than blacks.

Blacks look AWESOME in normal light, while colors really shine. In the dark, it's all about the backlight and I think glare off the inside of the screen. To me, I think you're normal.. remember, you have 3 years to exchange your screen if something gets worse, but right now I'd have to say thats normal. When you talk about your colors looking good today, during normal light... that's certainly more of the response I've gotten and especailly what I think. In the dark, colors still look great, but it's that lack of color in the blacks that seem to show this. If there is a lot of color in the screen you won't see this, but with all black, you will.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

I receive mine today. I will let you know as soon as I can. I'm hoping I don't have this problem because I plan on watching DVDs in bed and on airplanes too.

 

I took some pictures of the screen last night. These pictures by no means show the exact in-front-of-your-eyes images, but they are a good representation of what I am experiencing with the W3V.

This screen is slightly tilted towards me from the optimum vertical viewing angle. Notice that the lower portion is washed out as expected but there are light leakage at the top. See that row of individual sources of light at the top? They are like little discrete lamps shining down.

This is my 'optimum' vertical viewing angle. The lower portion no longer get washed out but there are still too much stray light from the top to get an evenly black screen. Notice that the individual sources of light at the top are less noticeable but I can still see them.

This screen is titled away from me. Everything is washed out but I can still see the sources of light at the top.

Can anyone see these sources of light on their screen? Just preview the Windows XP screen saver. If nobody has this problem, then it's just my unit.

This morning in very good light, I have to admit that the screen looks very good for both bright and dark images. The bright environment makes the blacks look blacker. Unfortunately, I bought this computer wanting to watch movies in very dark light on an airplane. So this screen is not acceptable for me. I will decide about returning it once I get some more feedback.