Not sure how to explain - laptop causing some degree of uneasiness

I used to have a V2000 Presario. I work with my laptop nearly all the time (I bring it with me even when I'm on vacation).

Just a few days ago, my Inspiron 1520 arrived, so I switched to it now.

Previously since I'm always at the laptop, I always take a 10-minute break after every hour or 90 minutes. However, with this new laptop I noticed something else. I can't sit for more than 30 minutes without getting a *tad bit* nauseous and slightly watery eyes.

I started noticing this after I got motion sickness when I tried to play Half-Life 2. I'm an experienced gamer and never had this problem before. But my point is not HL2 though.

Is it something wrong with my laptop or is there just something I need to change? Having to take a break every 20-30 minutes is just not going to cut it, especially since it's not just taking a break per se, but having to will the uneasiness to ebb away (if I do make any sense at all).

Someone suggested changing the refresh rate. My understanding is that 'refresh rate' don't really apply to laptops, but on my old flat panel monitor (which I've played the entire Half-Life 2 before without getting sick) had a refresh rate of 75. Is there a way I can change that for the laptop? The maximum Windows allows is 60.

Or is this nothing to do with refresh rates at all?

 

do both screens have the same resolution? are they both glossy/matte?

 

Yup, both are widescreen @ 1280x800. The presario is matte and the 1520 is glossy.

 

You are correct in assuming that LCDs have fixed refresh rates. I noticed a bit of a difference when I first got a laptop-within a few days I started to get used to it. Do you wear glasses? It may be time for an eye exam.

EDIT: Gloss may cause a little more eyestrain, especially if there is a source of glare such as overhead lighting, window, etc.

 

I don't wear glasses (despite what I do everyday), and just had my eye exam two months back.

I picked glossy because I almost never am in a place where there's so much lighting (like an office). I would be surprised if gloss is the reason though. I never had this problem last year when I had the glossy Pavilion something notebook.

 

i'm thinking it is the glossiness that may be causing you problems. glossy screens, in addition to the glare, are a good bit brighter. the increased brightness + glare => eye strain. you may also want to consider moving slightly farther away. motion sickness may occur if you when you are too close to the screen, and since this screen is slightly bigger, you should move farther back.

 

You should submit this headline to The Onion.

 

You can also try adjusting the display brightness. I for one find it easier to look at a dimmer screen over a brighter one.

 

My current brightness is 25% of the max level (the 1520 has 8 'levels', I set it at level 2). It's just nice, the same lighting level as my room. Below that it'll be too dark and above that my eyes start to hurt.

Maybe I'll have to try moving farther back, since I tend to sit nearer when I'm typing. But would you say it's not the fault of the laptop? Or something I did wrong?

 

This happened to me about 2 years ago....I stopped playing. I think the refresh rate or lowered frames per second may be to blame. For me it had gotten choppy due to a bad video card.

 

http://www.tweakguides.com/Graphics_7.html
scroll down to screen flicker

http://forum.notebookreview.com/archive/index.php/t-176455.html

 

in the display settings you should be able to change contrast and brightness of the video output which runs to your lcd screen.

K-TRON

 

I do that via NVIDIA CP, but I don't think brightness is the reason here. I saw a 'Digital Vibrance' entry though, that was kinda fun.

 

I used to get very dizzy playing some games on my HP, but not with my new Toshiba, I made a snowboarding video with my helmet cam going down a very steep tree filled mountain side, it has very fast action quick turns avoiding trees, and I cannot watch it without wanting to hurl, i even get cold sweats! Other than that no problems

 

HL2 does give quite a lot of people motion sickness, even if they don't normally have a problem with FPS'es. They use a slightly different field of view than most FPS's, which some people's eyes don't agree with.

(You can change that in the console however)