Hel80 screens - Is yours like mine?

I just don't understand. I received my Hel80 today from powernotebooks.com. Overall, it seems to be a decent computer. I heard great things about the screen and that's why I purchased it (I have the WSXGA+). However, even with the settings as good as I can get them and at max brightness I'd still call the screen grainy and not very white. I took a photo you can see here:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/tashina2/compalscreen.jpg
This has my 4 years old Toshiba 5205 on the left and the Compal on the right. I just want to take the Compal screen and scrub it clean. The whites are grainy which was my complaint with the Dell d820. This screen is better than the Dell. It had severe light leakage and this one only has minor light leakage. It was even grainier than this one.

Do yours all look like this? Since compal only uses one screen I expect that they are all the same. I just don't understand how it gets such good reviews if it looks like this?? Just plain confused is what I am.

Besides the screen, my main problems would be that the area to the left of the touchpad gets pretty warm. Not a problem for most people, but I'm a heavy touchpad user and also left handed and leave my hand right there the whole time I use the computer. It's the middle of the winter and I was ready to use an air conditioner after an hour or so. Don't guess there's a fix for that.

Only other problems are the terrible bouncy keyboard, which I understand could be fixed with tape if I kept it, and the really loud touchpad buttons but I do use the touchpad tap most of the time.

I don't know what to do. The hinges on the ole' Toshiba are about to give way again and it overheats and is pretty darn slow. Does nothing compare to its screen?

 

Do you have some digital vibrance turned up? or your colors adjusted funny? As for grainy that sorta comes with the whole "Matte" screen thing... but I can't say it's bothersome. Maybe that style screen just isn't your thing? To fix the hot spot try the latest bios + RMclock. Mine went way down using the two.. I dont get the problem with the bouncy keyboard that people complain about... I guess I just don't press the keys hard enough to elicit a bouncy feeling.

Final Answer = If you don't like it, send it back... you went into the purchase with all the info, if you don't like, replace it with something else

 

I'm not clear on what you mean by "that style screen". My Toshiba has a matte screen - I don't think they even had glossies back then.

I had a minor amount of digital vibrance on, but I just went back and put it at zero and that didn't help. I otherwise have it at factory settings. I tried to improve it, but the digital vibrance was the only thing that helped at all, and it didn't change the grayness of the white screen.

I understand I can send it back. I'm just frustrated by not being able to find a screen better than a 4 year old computer. I just assumed technology would improve in that time.

 

You wouldn't be the first person on the planet to get a dud for a screen, or had a system that didn't survive the shipping to your house... Give Donald (or whom ever at PNB) a call, (or the 24/h line) and have them give their two cents... When I repaired notebooks for a living I'd bet that 1/10th of the replacement LCD's were in some way imperfect and had to be replaced.

As for your older compaq, you didn't state how old, and I know glossies have been around for about 4 years now.. and to some people in the digital world, thats pretty ancient =P

 

I've realized that my photo does no good if you have the same computer that I do. On my Toshiba the difference between the two screens is quite obvious. But obviously, since the Compal has the problem, both screens look grainy. The "dirtiness" on the right hand side is really more or a viewing angle problem and not related to the sparkle/grainy issue. I guess some people are sensitive to it and some aren't. I'm an artist and I really can't take it unfortunately.

If anyone else is interested, there was a long thread on a mac discussion board about this issue - they discuss PC screens as well as you get farther into the thread. Most new screens have the sparkle - especially the matte screens. It appears to be something in the coating. The best way I can tell you about it is to open a window with a photo in it. Then move the window around. You can see the coating staying in place while you see the photo move around. This does not happen on my old computer. Here's the thread:
http://forums.macnn.com/69/powerbook-and-macbook-pro/316439/macbook-pro-15-grainy-matte-display/

I'm just going to hunt far and wide for another computer without the graininess. Luckily, my specifications are pretty broad. Reasonably fast processor and 2 GB of ram. Otherwise, it's going to be a hunt for a screen I can see in person. Thanks for your help.

 

i dont find mt screen grainy at all, what resolution are you using?
have you tried ,function button+f5? brightness up fn+f4 is brightness down

 

There isn't any coating that is holding in place, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.. What you are describing sounds more like Ghosting that all LCD's suffer from at some level...

 

charlotte,
Have you seen any screens at a local PC shop that you did in fact like? Perhaps a glossy screen would be more to your liking.

I have actually owned both, my previous notebook had a "Ultrasharp" glossy screen on it and I actually like the sharpness and overall quality of this WSXGA+ matte by a large margin. There is no such thing as perfection when it comes to consumer electronics, however, maybe something like the Fujitsu or Lenovo ThinkPad Flexview (which is also matte) would be more to your liking. For every advantage, you will always give something up (as is the case with glossy reflection, glare, and eye strain or mattes not having the same contrast and brightness).

Regardless, I would definitely speak with Powernotebooks about your disappointment, as they may have a solution for you. It's worth the call, even if you do in fact end up returning the notebook.

Good luck with resolving this issue.

 

Superjrj, I am a proficient computer user (used to build my own desktops). I was in the highest resolution and the highest color depth. When I had the problem first with the Dell I ordered, the guy came to swap out the screen. I had to be very specific about what was wrong and he couldn't even see it until I showed him the moving photos thing. It's glaringly obvious to me. You see in the photo that the two screen are totally different looking. It's that obvious in person.

pyro9219, it's definitely possible I have a dud. The only clue that that could be true is that I ran Everest utility on it and it said the screen was a 2005. The prism tech was newer than that I thought. BUT, I also then ran Everest on my old Toshiba and it said that screen was from 1990 which I highly doubt since I bought it in 2003. Donald is going to take a look at it when it is returned. He says they haven't had any complaints about the screen - which is why I ordered it in the first place. I told him not to count my complaint as a real complaint as I seem to be some sort of anomaly. Until I read that thread that I linked to, I felt crazy. But lots of those people noticed graininess in various PCs. Here's what someone on that thread said:

chrisyano - As far as seeing screens I like, well, I dunno. They look so different under florescent lighting. I told my husband that if I buy one in the store, I'm going to take my Toshiba in to compare it to them. When I get to the store, I tend to compare them to each other. The Sony SZs are very grainy and I didn't like them at all - even the premium one. The only one I thought was quite good was the Sony FE and that's still a contender. However, I really will have a hard time going to that low of a resolution and don't like the way the pixels are in a grid when the resolution is that poor. The HP dv2000t wasn't terrible, but the glossiness isn't really my style.

This screen is very sharp...sharper than the Toshiba. Photos look pretty good as long as there isn't any white on the screen.

If I didn't have a gorgeous screen that doesn't hurt my eyes to compare it to, maybe I would never have known any better. Donald says this Toshiba is one of the best computers ever made and I believe it. My current thought is to get this one repaired (I found out this afternoon that Visa will cover the repair since it's less than a year out of manufacturerer's warranty.). I may then use this one for web surfing and get a desktop for Photoshop work. Next year some manufacturers will move to LED and maybe that will be better for me. http://digitimes.com/displays/a20070103PD210.html
I just can't compromise on this because just using the Compal for an hour made my eyes hurt.

BTW, if you go to the thinkpads.com forum, you will see a bunch of complaints about the new IPS screens. I guess they changed manufacturers? Is nothing sacred?

 

Not to burst anyones bubble, but matte screens aren't the ones shipping with anti-glare coating... the actually polymers in the lcd layers are physically different. Also, my understanding of prism technology is really just using refraction and bouncing the light off the back of the LCD's layers (sort of like a projection tv, but not crap).. I know one person on here had a "dud" screen, I think it had to do with the backlight not working as well as should be..

Do a search on here for something I posted to help text look really sharp, it's a tweaking tool for cleartype (just search compal for cleartype). Makes a huge difference for font's on Matte screens.

Other then that.. I claim shenanigans on your eyes!

 

Charlotte,

I had a defective screen and I returned it to PowerNotebooks and they replaced it. Mine was very dim on one side so there was a problem with the lighting. I did originally have a matte screen but the resolution was to high so I returned it for the glossy, while I had it I loved the matte screen but it was killing my eyes. I will say that in my opinion you sound like someone who is really looking for a great screen and the matte on the Compal is a great one but if you are dissappointed then I suggest you look into a Thinkpad T60p with Flexview. If you are not happy then return the notebook. I don't understand the heat issue mine is very cool and only gets mildly warm to the left of the mousepad. I have used other newer notebooks that were at least twice as hot as this one maybe even more. But if the keyboard and screen are not making you happy then the next step is too simply spend another $300 and get a Thinkpad or HP. I recommend the Thinkpad.

Thanks

 

I've been avoiding the Thinkpad due to the recent issues with the flexview screens which are the best ones. They supposedly changed manufacturers to LG and people are talking about the screens being "sandy" and "grainy", just what I'm trying to avoid. See the thinkpad.com forum for more info:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=35305

 

Finding a suitable screen for your very picky eyes is going to be quite a chore, I think. I'd wait to see what Donald has to say about your unit.

Otherwise, as I mentioned earlier, you may want to look into the Fujitsu line. Their LCDs are widely recognized as very good.

 

Did you try my recommendations for the heat? Perhaps you could have Powernotebooks update the bios for you while they've got it.

 

chrisyano, I agree. I am interested in what Donald has to say. I don't think I'm going to find a screen as good as the Toshiba 5205 UXGA. I either keep this one as a web browsing computer, or do something like go for an ASUS A8jp (from Newegg that doesn't take returns so I just have to deal with it!) and DVI out it part of the time to a great monitor.

pyro, I appreciate your suggestions but don't want to mess with a computer that I am returning. I think between the screen, the warm left touchpad thing, and the bouncy keyboard, I'll probably pass on getting it back. It's a great computer for some people, I can see that. The features for the price are great. It's just not gonna be the one for me.

 

If the heat is an issue, though, you may want to consider a machine with a weaker GPU. Every notebook that I've ever handled has gotten at least warm, so it's not something that can be completely avoided.

 

Thanks...it's true that I don't need much of a GPU. It's not the overall heat that bothers me, it's just heat where my hands are.

My Toshiba is so hot that I can't believe it doesn't shut itself down, but it's only on the bottom and so I've dealt with it for over a year this way. I don't think it used to be quite this warm but it's never been what you'd call a cool running computer.

I've just been generally disheartened by the computer buying experience. I expected new and wonderful things, and I really haven't seen much besides speed that's improved over a 4 year old machine, and many things that are worse. That's why my inclination is to get this one fixed as best I can, and maybe hold out for the new LED screens.

 

Well, there are notebooks out there where the "warm spot" is on the right side--so you'll find one if you keep looking .

 

I didn't know Lenovo was having issues I have had the luxury fairly recently of helping to evaluate the Thinkpad T60p and the screen that it had which was the flexview was every bit as good if not better than my Dell 24inch screen. But if they are having issues than that is too bad it is an excellent computer hardly comparable to any Toshiba, Dell or Gateway that I have ever used. I think that you are correct get a computer with a DVI-D output and then just get an external monitor that suites your purpose.

 

I had a hard time adjusting to my Compal Hel80 matte screen when I got it a couple months ago - my desktop runs with a Dell 2001FP LCD, so I'm not using anything special , it's just that I had trouble tweaking the laptop to my liking - but I found the high resolution on that screen so problematic, that I was considering giving it to my son and getting a 17" lappy with the same resolution
It looks like I have the same machine configuration you have, right down to the RAM and HD....
I did this: left the screen resolution on 1680 x 1050 (after trying different resolutions and deciding I couldn't handle the scaling)
Under "appeareance" selected "effects" and chose "clearType" for font smoothing
Under settings - advanced, I chose DPI setting to be Large size, 120DPI
I have set the resolution scaling to "Display adapter scaling", of course that is the default at native resolution...
Digital Vibrance off, brightness and contrast at 100%, Gamma at 1.00, Image sharpening at the first "tick"

Having settled on that, I used a Monaco OptixPro XR colorimeter to profile the screen, and selected that for the default profile - I mainly use the laptop for photography purposes, which is why I wanted a sharp, clean, non glaring screen.

I use the Logitech VX mouse, it has zoom buttons on it that are a help when browsing.

YMMV.

 

I also had issues and tried literally hundreds of settings and I did ultimately get close to a usable resolution for my eyes. But alas I still didn't like it as much as a plain old screen with the 1280x800 resolution. I think this was the case because the fonts weren't as sharp and web sites and some of the help files I rely just didn't scale very well. I am happy for you that you could get it adjusted to your comfort level because I did love the matte screen a lot it was a great screen. I just wish Compal would crank down the resolution a little. You may want to check out Vista when it is available it supposedly can scale better but I have heard this from MS before and they haven't delivered we shall see. The Compal glossy screen isn't bad it is on par with others although a little too glossy but I have started to get used to the glare and it really hasn't been as bad a problem as I thought it would be. It is too bad that Lenovo is having issues with their Flexview because I got to use one for a day and it was awesome just plain awesome best screen I have ever seen on a laptop.

 

Interesting. For me it is the graininess on the light colors and the uneveness of the lighting as I move my head around that bothers me. I actually love the resolution. I have a UXGA on the Toshiba and have really enjoyed it, so my problem is that I have few choices in high res.

I saw the screen on the Sony FE in the store and found the whites to be nice and bright. But the resolution of only 1280x800 has been a deal killer. I keep thinking that I would rather go to 14" in the same resolution and escape the pixelization of the 15", but then I can't find anything under 15" with a good screen.

I would have taken a chance with the T60p except for the price and the lack of widescreen in the IPS flexview. I really like widescreens now that I've tried them. If only they made a 14" laptop with a screen like the Sony FE.

 

The Sony SZ is said to have an excellent screen--particularly the premium models. It is 13.3" though.

I've been rather pleased with the light distribution and viewing angles with this screen.

 

If choosing a screen is this difficult for you, perhaps you should just find a nice desktop LCD screen that you can hook anything into, and just focus on buying the best notebook for all the features other then it's built in screen..

 

I believe that's why charlotte mentioned she was considering an Asus A8Js a little while back--so she could do just that with the DVI output.

 

im so used to the 1680x1240 res now that when i look at anything different it seems wierd , i went to my parents the other day and tried to play wow on my dads machine at 800x600 and i couldn't do it

 

OK so is the screen problematic on this laptop?

I'm looking for a notebook and can't find one I like because I'm spoiled by my old Toshiba with 1440x1050 resolution. I really enjoy the higher resolution, and extra desktop space that comes with it. Is everyone having trouble with the higher resolution because it's hard to see, or is there a technical problem?

I just spent the last 2 years doing web dev on my work laptop at 1024x768 and it was just to cramped for my tastes.

 

I have used an Asus A8js with I believe 1440x900 resolution and that is a perfect resolution for me but no higher or maybe just a little like the 1440x1050 would also be okay. But any higher and forget it too much eye strain.

 

This screen is nearly universally loved. I quite like mine. The resolution is great too. I feel for you on the web dev thing. I don't even like using my macbook (at 1280x800) for tasks that aren't strictly single-app resolution insensitive ones, like consuming video/audio, or maybe typing a document or reading, though the last two also benefit from higher resolutions...

 

Thanks L33t c0w, your PowerPro is exactly what I'm looking at. I want to run dual boot win32/Linux. LAMP install on the Linux side for web dev. Windows just to VPN into my work, and the Nvidia for Battlefield 2

 

The general consensus is that the HEL80's WSXGA+ screen is excellent. charlotte was perhaps the first member I've seen who didn't like it--but I think it had more to do with her own personal preferences and selectiveness than anything else (read through this thread and she admitted as much more than once).

 

Hi all,

My return has been processed and I'm back with an update.

My screen tested as normal. I expected it would since it looked similar to the 2 dell screens I had that had the same "problem". From what I've seen online there are 3 groups of people:
1) a small group that can't tolerate the sparkly screens
2) a somewhat larger group (including my husband) that only notices the problem in comparison to other screens or only if pointed out, and
3) most people who don't notice it at all.

To me, it's so obvious. It's like I handed you french toast with powdered sugar and you couldn't see the powdered sugar.

Anyway, for any of you that are concerned about this, I repost this thread:
http://forums.macnn.com/69/powerbook-and-macbook-pro/316439/macbook-pro-15-grainy-matte-display/

This is the perfect way to test your sensitivity. I finally saw the matte 15" MacBook Pro at CompUSA the other day (didn't realized before that they are all hidden in their own section) and it had the same problem, except not quite so bad. This photo from that thread is pretty accurate:
http://homepage.mac.com/justspaztik/noisescreen.png

As people on that thread say:

Very annoying. Made me want to cry because I bought the computer on the strength of the screen recommendations.

Most people are able to find a place near them with a MacBook Pro. If you think it's sparkly or grainy, you won't like most Dells or the Compal Hel80. Otherwise, lucky you and buy away. And at least that thread sorta shows that I'm not completely looney.

You can probably see I'm scared of buying a computer now. You can't get high resolution screens in the store, or I would. I'm looking at the G1 and trying to "pull the trigger" as you guys say because one vendor who can see the sparkle says it doesn't have any, but I'm still looking at the low res WXGA Sony FE because at least I know it has a great screen.