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    What is the benefit of LED backlight

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Riverasf, Nov 9, 2008.

  1. Riverasf

    Riverasf Notebook Enthusiast

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    What is the benefit of LED backlight. Please share your opinion and/or experience. Does it help you to read the screen EVEN under bright sun light outdoor?
     
    Riverasf, Nov 9, 2008
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  2. tumnasgt

    tumnasgt Notebook Evangelist

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    The benefits of LED backlighting:
    • Brighter - makes it easier to see it bright conditions
    • Lower power consumption - you get a longer battery life
    • Instant on - starts at full brightness, so you don't have to wait for it to warm up
    • For the hippies - it's better for the environment, as LEDs are mercury free
     
    tumnasgt, Nov 9, 2008
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  3. mr_bots

    mr_bots Notebook Evangelist

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    Also, I believe LEDs have a much longer life than a traditional CCFL backlight. Although most people don't keep laptops long enough to worry about that.
     
    mr_bots, Nov 9, 2008
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  4. jaredy

    jaredy Notebook Virtuoso

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    Also more even backlighting too...or at least more likely.
     
    jaredy, Nov 9, 2008
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  5. Matt

    Matt Notebook Deity

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    Pretty much everything has been covered. There's basically no reason not to opt for it if given the option. The benefits WAY outweigh the price.
     
    Matt, Nov 9, 2008
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  6. achaye

    achaye Notebook Enthusiast

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    LEDs may well lack mercury, but in its place it has arsenic. Just letting you know.
     
    achaye, Nov 9, 2008
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  7. jjmason

    jjmason Notebook Enthusiast

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    Am I correct in understanding that the LED backlight has no effect on the contrast ratio or colors of the screen? These properties are determined by the panel itself and not the backlight?

    If you're working indoors at a desk for the majority of the time, I don't think you'll notice much of a difference between LED and CCFL. Although there have been no side by side comparison pictures or benchmarks of the LED vs CCFL lit Thinkpads...so it's difficult to say exactly how much of an improvement LED backlights will offer.
     
    jjmason, Nov 10, 2008
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  8. louisssss

    louisssss Notebook Consultant

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    i'd udgrade to the LED screen if it was less than a $200 upgrade
     
    louisssss, Nov 10, 2008
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  9. The Oatman

    The Oatman Notebook Consultant

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    I'll receive my LED backlit X200s this saturday so I can post some pictures of it next to my flexview T60.
     
    The Oatman, Nov 10, 2008
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  10. jonlumpkin

    jonlumpkin NBR Transmogrifier

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    LED screens are brighter so they are better for outdoors. However, even more important than brightness for outdoor viewability is the type of screen and its coating. Glossy screens will not work, you can either get a transreflective screen or a matte screen with a really strong backlight. It also helps if you have an AFFS+ display (common in tablets). My x200 Tablet, 12.1" AFFS+ LED backlit 285 nits, is readable even under direct sunlight. The T400 with LED will be better under sunlight than the T61 due to brightness, but if you really need usability in sunlight, I would recommend you go for a tablet.
     
    jonlumpkin, Nov 10, 2008
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  11. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    There is no direct relation as far as I know.

    There are good LED backlit displays and bad ones. Contrary to popular belief a LED backlit is in no way a guarantee for quality.
     
    Phil, Nov 10, 2008
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  12. jjmason

    jjmason Notebook Enthusiast

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    OK thanks, that's what I thought!

    I got excited because LED backlighting is a new technology but it seems that, for indoor use only, some older CCFL screens are still superior - like the T500's screen for example (higher contrast ratio).
     
    jjmason, Nov 10, 2008
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  13. Riverasf

    Riverasf Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for all the inputs you shared.
     
    Riverasf, Nov 10, 2008
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  14. philosopherdog

    philosopherdog Notebook Consultant

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    This is what Wikipedia says about Backlight LCDs A backlight is the form of illumination used in a liquid crystal display (LCD). Backlights differ from frontlights in illuminating the LCD from the side or back, whereas frontlights are placed in front of the LCD. Backlights are used in small displays to increase readability in low light conditions, and in computer displays and LCD televisions to produce light in a manner similar to a CRT display.
     
    philosopherdog, Nov 10, 2008
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  15. jaredy

    jaredy Notebook Virtuoso

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    What does this have to do with LED vs CCFL <.<
     
    jaredy, Nov 10, 2008
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  16. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    sgogeta4, Nov 11, 2008
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  17. Animaitor

    Animaitor Notebook Enthusiast

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    Wish I could get the W700 with a LED panel... snif!
     
    Animaitor, Nov 14, 2008
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  18. menos

    menos Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    Don't cry! I asked my display gurus about CCFL and LED advantages and they said that " as of yet" LED backlit displays furnish inferior color rendition - at least for serious photo processing purposes.
     
    menos, Nov 14, 2008
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  19. Animaitor

    Animaitor Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey menos, I tried to look for a screen comparison review and the only thing I found was this... yup, very crappy article if you can call it that. I'm sure everyone who's into notebooks knows the specs of this machines and to make a ranking based just on this fact will take you nowhere!

    I'd like to hear more about what your guru friends have to say about this matter or a site with real info, side by side comparison and pictures. If anyone out there has more info, please illuminate us!!
     
    Animaitor, Nov 15, 2008
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  20. menos

    menos Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    I was almost purchased W700. However, the NBR review reduced my enthusiasm greatly!
    As all of us I'm waiting for a real "face-to-face-to-face" duel between Dell, HP and Lenovo.
     
    menos, Nov 15, 2008
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