Will Notebooks ever move away from TN panels?

Most notebooks made nowadays use the cheapest and oldest LCD panel technology in the LCD market. It seems like we will never get away from TN (twisted nematic) LCD panels, sure theres probably a few exceptions (15" T60 with a S-IPS screen) but they are either phased out due to the lack of demand or only come with super expensive notebooks.

TN panels are popular for a understandable reason, they are cheap and have fast response time. But they also lack in viewing angles along with colors. Theres more info if anyone is more interested in learning about LCD displays, here on Wiki and on Anandtech forums.

The notebook industry knows about the lack of quality on notebook displays and their response is to add gloss to the display. I know a lot of you prefer glossy displays but its just a fact that they add it to make up for the lack of using better panel technologies. Things really didn't need to be this way but the consumer bit the worm and accepted it, thus the entire industry offers notebooks with gloss while saving money on cheap displays.

I know some of you think that I am just a glossy display hater with a Thinkpad and maybe I am. But I would really just like to see more notebook manufacturers at least offer better display technologies without the gloss. It doesn't need to be high end S-IPS displays but I would like to see MVA and PVA displays like the desktop LCD market has.

I know notebook manufacturers have little influence on what displays they use, they go to 3rd party manufacturers like LG Philips, AU Optronics, Samsung, Chi Mei Optoelectronics but they can at least get them to offer a alternative.

 

Slowly, but they will once LCDs become much cheaper to manufacture, but due to cost issues, it may not happen anytime soon with LCDs, especially with LED screens claiming to swipe the market share.

As an IPS screen owner, I totally understand where you are coming from, looking at screens nowadays are pretty pathetic, I barely ever have to fix the screen by moving it so I can see all the colours correctly. 6-bit panels would be nice even, since market is pretty much all 8-bits, but MVA(or S-MVA) would really be nice.

However, as you mentioned, in the market today, price rules, most people would not pay extra for a better screen, thus manufacturers of such screens don't have enough profit to continue, a main reason why the T61 screens are still a rarity unlike its availability in the past.

 

The market rules! Even if not the best! So it is said so shall it be! Or whatever.

 

I would/have paid more for screen upgrades.
I must say I'm quite happy with my TN WUXGA screen on the M90.

Though, I do have a longing for a WQXGA 17" screen.
Man, that would RU:LE.

 

Notebook are personal devices so viewing angle is the least of their worries. In fact it would be a plus if you like you privacy while on the go.

 

Most people don't even think of the screen when they buy a laptop. Instead some think (I've gathered this from threads read here) that viewing quality comes from the GPU.

 

*pats 4mb rage mobility*

 

Ah, yes, 4MB rage mobility, the ultimate gpu. It doesn't have more than 4MB, because if it had more, ATI couldn't release new GPU's. And would be sued by nVidia for monopolization. I had the desktop version, and man did it r0x0rz my Dell b0x0rz.

 

Wasn't there an 8MB version? ^^

The IBM X20 I sold recently had one of those beauties. Still 900 times better than the all time best - the Trident Cyberblade.

 

You hear from the name that they were fast. But still couldn't hold a candle to the 4MB rage. The 8mb was stripped. They werent allowed to make a true 8mb rage.

 

That does make sense that some people do think that, since some have posted worries about their gpu pushing Aero and Photoshop.

Viewing angle wouldn't make anything more private, it'll just wash out anything your watching on your computer. They'll still be able to see if your watching p0rn or read what you're typing to other people as long as they are close enough.


What I really can't understand is that OEMs don't have screen options for enthusiasts. It's pretty much a one size fits all except for different resolutions. People with more knowledge about computers should know to ask for more, just like in other parts of the computer market.

I'm not saying they should offer better screens at the base price but they could offer it for 200 or even 300 dollars more like what Lenovo did with their T60 IPS screen option. And it doesn't even need to be S-IPS, they could offer a S-MVA or S-PVA screen at a cost. If they would at least try to mass produce these type of displays they could reduce prices enough to be competitive with TN panels while giving a better picture with little to no gloss.

I can probably go on and on about glossy displays, how they are dragging down matte notebook displays just because they (screen manufacturers) refuse to mass produce anything but TN panels. If no one decided to put gloss on a notebook LCD I bet we would be using better panels right now because consumers would be asking for better. But instead they put up with all the drawbacks of glossy displays because of the contrast they bring out and in my opinion the draw backs are to much to be worth it.

 

Thing is that if there was enough demand, then there will be people to supply it.

Most people disagree with you, or don't know better to agree.

 

I'd have to agree with Tailic.

This is a latent issue most people give little or no thought. The simplest way to discover the inadequacy of laptop screens is to use one next to a Dell UltraSharp desktop display.

I have to admit though, the led screen in this MBP is fantastic. It's still not quite as impressive as an UltraSharp, but it's the best mobile lcd I've ever seen. Viewing angles turn things yellow, but otherwise, right on the money.

Anandtech wrote a great article on this. Here

Read and be outraged!!

 

Im not sure what kind of Screen my Vaio FE uses but the viewing angles and colours are amazing, Far superior to any other notebook i've seen, and its two years old, Made the 1520 I bought look like it came from the early 90's (Hence why I returned it) I hope Asus does better.

 

if only you all had the unknown graphics accelerator in my lappy, no one would be complaining about how bad their screens look

 

You really don't know what it is?

 

no, i have no idea at all lol, its from 1995 so im gussing it was some integrated piece of crap toshiba threw in

 

The biggest problem is that you can only do that with BTO online retailers which constitute a very small volume in the overall market. It will never work with mass market retailers. Walmart/Best buy/etc, will not carry two/three version of the same laptop.

I once had a talk with the marketing VP from one of the top 5 PC manufacturer in the world. I ask him why they are not targeting the enthusiasts market as some of their offering would certianly attract the enthusiasts with just some minor tweak. His answer is that the enthusiasts would amounts to less than 1% of their sales. They are more worry about hitting the price point that Walmart and other mass market retailer wants than catering to the enthusiasts.

 

Looks like that VP failed economics.

Often 80% of the income generated by a company comes from 20% of it's consumers, the enthusiasts/wealthy. Certain people will pay enormous amounts of money for a high quality screen because they need it or just want the best money can buy. Again, gamers are the enthusiasts in this market, but you can also consider graphic designers and the like. They don't know what they are missing out on, it's pretty silly.

 

Ok , let me re-phrase that. It would be under 1% of their sales in dollars, not quantity. Yes a lot of time 20% of your product volume will bring in 80% of your total profit. But not in this case.

 

I see, then I suppose you can't blame them until the world is educated in how crappy their laptop screens can be. Not that most people would care too much.

Darned Apathy!