For anyone making the move from the old desktop computers to a new laptop or netbook, some of the terms bandied about by salespeople and technical advisors during the buying process can seem a little strange. One area in which confusion seems to remain the norm rather than the exception is the actual display used by various types of computers. Terms like “LCD”, “LED”, and “OLED” are just so much Greek to most consumers. To be frank, you really don’t have to understand everything about each of the various display technologies unless you are planning to sell them yourself. Still, it is helpful to have at least a basic understanding of each if you want to make an informed buying decision.
The LCD
The first type of display you need to understand is also perhaps the most familiar to you: the LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display. LCD technology has been used in laptops since they first appeared on the market, and uses a series of liquid crystals which conduct a current of electricity to create images on the screen. These types of displays are easy to make and thus less expensive to use than some of the newer types of display technology. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for when it comes to computer displays, and the LCD falls at the lower end of the spectrum where quality is concerned.
LED technology
Light Emitting Diode technology has been around for decades, and is now used in some laptops as backlighting. You probably know it best from its use as the backlight in your cell phone. The advantages of using LED lighting primarily center on its ability to provide uniform lighting that offers a wide range of angles for viewing. Simply put, with LED lighting, you can look at your laptop display from almost any angle and still make sense of what you see. LED holds a tremendous amount of potential for actually lowering the cost of laptops over time, since the lighting technology is so easy and inexpensive to produce. Once it has been further integrated into laptop design, prices will inevitably come down.
Note: Both of LCD and LED screens are TFT LCD screens but using difference backlight. LED version is a LCD screeens using LED backlight instead of florescent (CCFL) backlight that use in normal LCD.
The OLED change
The latest technology being pushed by laptop makers is the OLED – or Organic Light Emitting Diode – display. Using polymers that can be made from almost any organic material, the OLED technology is supposed to be superior to other types of laptop display lighting, since it requires no backlighting. That change has the benefit of reducing the power consumption of any laptop with the technology, which should not only save power but improve the battery life of laptops using OLED in the future.
So, which is better? The jury is still out on that question, since the costs associated with OLED have yet to be balanced by the benefits the technology promises. In the near term, the important thing to recognize is that these changing technologies will probably have minimal impact on the lives of most laptop users, save for the slight increases they may see in the price of some models using the newer technologies.
Related Posts
Recommended Posts
-
How to buy the best netbook for 2011? | Netbook Buying Guides
For anyone looking to buy a netbook, here are some important netbook features to consider. -
The best budget 10.1-inch netbooks | Most powerful 10.1-inch netbooks
The best 11.6-inch and 12.1-inch netbooks and mini-laptops
How do you decide which netbook is the best one to buy right at this point in time? -
Netbook Comparison Tool
To compare netbook specs & prices, our netbook comparison tool will be a great help. -
Amazon Gold Box New Deals. Every Day.
Find the perfect gift for everyone at the best price. Hurry before the deal expires or before stocks run out !!!
(20)
(160)
