Viewing angles - do you care?

Just seeing if anyone cares about this.

In my opinion laptop screens have worse viewing angles now than they did 3 years ago. Better colours, higher resolutions, faster refreh, but worse viewing angles.

Here's an interesting read, maybe the lcd tv market is to blame: http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=75

Another interesting read: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=930

For me, every laptop I see at Futureshop or Bestbuy have unacceptable viewing angles. I don't want to constantly adjust the tilt of my screen just because I've shifted my posture in my chair and now sitting 2" higher. I'm looking at a 15% restocking fee for my new ASUS M50VM-B1 because it just looks so bad compared to my old Compaq R3470 .

But enough about me, I want to know what you think...
- Are you annoyed by shifting/inverting colours as you lower and raise your head position?
- Did you own a previous laptop that had better viewing angles than what you have now?
- Are you OK with decent horizontal viewing angle but minimal vertical viewing angle?
- Are you annoyed that typically the only spec you have as a choice for screen is the resolution?

- What if any brand (brand of laptop *or* brand of screen) is best for this vertical viewing angle?

 

I don't actually particularly mind mediocre viewing angles; most of the time that I'm using my laptop it's right in front of me where it's easy to adjust, and I don't have to adjust it that often. And when it's not right in front of me it's usually to watch a movie, in which case I probably won't have to adjust it after I get it right the first time.

The only previous laptops I've used are so old that the screen don't even compare quality-wise - today's are much better.

I guess I'm ok with better horizontal viewing angles - mine's more limited by the characters themselves than distortion. Better vertical angles would be nice, but I don't have a problem even with the less than ideal vertical ones most of the time. LG made a pretty good screen for this Dell laptop and I don't think there's anything worth complaining about with it.

It does annoy me a bit that most laptops only offer resolution options (if that) for the screen - part of the reason I got an Inspiron 1520 is that it also offered a matté option. Most laptops are glossy these days, and that does annoy me quite a bit, not even in giving headaches but in waaaay too much reflection. Even if statistically the viewing angles are mediocre, the ones on most laptops today seem to be quite decent in terms of practicality to me.

Brandwise, from what I've read about the Dell Inspiron, LG is good and AUO is quite often grainy. But I'm fortunate enough to not be an expert.

 

i dunt even care about that... the only way that will become a problem is watching movies... and... cmon... for real? watching a movie in a 20 or less inches display? i dont think so

 

Yes I care, which is why I fought Dell for my LG screen as opposed to the POS Samsung that came with it. And I think your poll is too general. You can't lump ALL laptops into one of those categories.

 

OK, so which laptops are in different categories? Which ones have screens with good viewing angles that you wouldn't have a problem with?

Obviously not the Dell that you have since when you buy it you may get one of two screens, on that you like and one that you call a POS.

I just went to BestBuy during lunch and talked to some guy there and looked at all their laptops. There was Sony VGNZ555DNB which had a "XBRITE-DuraView" screen which had awesome viewing angles and then a Macbook Pro with a matte screen that had awesome viewing angles. The rest of the laptops... 30+ models all had what I would say is crappy vertical viewing angles.

 

i don't mind it really, but i would rather have better viewing angles.

 

alu, you may want to try propping the laptop up in the back, say about an inch. You can use small paperback books, duplo blocks, postits or whatever. That should help bring the screen up another 2" and then with that you can turn it a little bit toward you and you should get a better viewing angle from it.

I dont think its possible to mod the screen for better viewing angles, but I know tilting my laptop does help.

K-TRON

 

HP says on their spec that my screen is supposed to be WVA (wide viewing angle) the colour washes out pretty quickly, but doesn't invert until tight angles. Not that I care for viewing angles much anyway.

 

thanks for the input guys..

more people are choosing option 3 on the poll than i thought

 

That's what I am saying. Your poll is too black and white. Many laptops have good viewing angles, many don't. Your poll is trying to force me to say I think all laptop screens are either good viewing angles or bad. But really it's not that simple.

 

OK, forget the poll.

Which laptops in your opinion have good viewing angles??

 

I don't know all the models that do or don't have good viewing angles off the top of my head, but I think that topic would make a much more interesting and more productive thread than this one. Yes I think I like that idea much better. A thread all about laptops with the best viewing angles. You could ask people to post the laptop model, screen type, res, screen manufacturer (if known) or part number etc... Maybe users could even add pics of viewing angles like they do in the reviews. Anyways, just my 2 cents *shrugs*.

 

Good idea Thund3rball.. I'll start another thread.

Still surprised that you can't give me one example. I'm not expecting you to know all the models off the top of your head.. but do you know one?

 

Sony FW with HiColor screen.

I think the vertical angle as you tilt the screen away from you starts to lose it after a while but I can't think of a reason why anyone would want to work on their laptop that way, so all in all I'd say it has excellent viewing angles. I will happily test and show the viewing angles on my 1530 in your new thread too. Cheers

 

I have the asus G50V and it's brilliant. The screen's color shifts VERY little despite how I sit. All it goes is somewhat darker viewed from the side or top with no color shifts until I'm basically standing in front of my laptop.

I really don't see what all the fuss is about. Or maybe I got a good screen.

 

If you want the best viewing angles, look no further than a tablet PC.

Lenovo X200
http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=1268

Lenovo X200T and HP 2730p viewing angles
http://www.gottabemobile.com/LenovoHP+Tablet+PC+Shootout+Side+By+Side.aspx

Fujitsu T2010:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4419

Other notebooks with wide viewing angles: Fujitsu T4220, T5010; Lenovo X60T, X61T; HP 2710p
Most of these are only 12" notebooks because tablets need portability(except T5010 is 13.3"). The popular low cost HP TX2500 uses a low viewing angle screen. There are few notebooks with wide viewing angles and a notable one was the flexview in IBM 15" notebooks.

The real reason most notebooks do not have these wonderful screens is because of cost. They would rather opt for lower cost(hence lower viewing angle) screens. 90% of notebook consumers probably wouldn't even notice or care that they have lower viewing angle screens.

 

I did notice today that my roommate's MacBook has considerably poorer horizontal viewing angles than my Inspiron 1520. Perhaps it's just because it's glossy and mine isn't, but their definitely was a lot more color distortion for the same horizontal angle than on my screen. Maybe that's part of the reason I don't find viewing angles that big of a problem.

 

Thank zunq, I think you're right... most people simply don't care so it doesn't make sense to put in the more expensive screens.

I would definitely buy a Lenovo and pay a substantial premium for a flexview screen - if they still carried them.

Thanks for the tablet recommendation. So far the only 15" screen laptop (which is the size I'm interested in) that has a really good screen viewing angle is the macbook pro.

Oh well

 

I personally don't see a problem. Better viewing angles practically mean that other people are watching whatever is on the screen because the user should typically be facing the laptop dead on. I mean they're portable, so you should be able to angle it in a direct viewing angle already. Therefore unless your PC is some kind of mobile media machine for you and your friends, current viewing angles satisfy needs.

 

I would like to see better viewing angles on current laptops' screens, but the current ones are not that much of a problem, the viewing angles are fine for now.

 

I don't have much of a problem with the current viewing angles. As long as I can move around in my seat and still see my screen, then I don't care. It's not like I stare at my laptop from some obtuse angle for fun.

 

You need a matte display. Also see the transflective display that Toshiba uses on the R500 - it looks better in bright sunshine (but has very poor vertical viewing angles). The LED backlit display on my E6400 is also good outside - see photo in my review.

While business people might prefer narrower horizontal viewing angles and more privacy.

John

 

MacBooks have poor screens in general. Not just viewing angles, but colour reproduction is borderline ridiculous. MBPs are much better though.

 

I have the m50vm-b1 too... viewing angles are pretty bad. I wish I knew about this earlier.

 

Yep, I'm looking at around $220 for restocking fee for mine.

It's funny, some people don't see the problem at all. But the colors on the bottom of the screen aren't the same as on the top. Lean back in your chair a bit and all colors change a bit.

Taigech, how do you like your m50vm-b1 otherwise? Everything else is cool?

 

IPS screens tend to have better angles than TN. But the cost factor has been mentioned.

And yes, I really notice the difference too.

 

I agree, the IPS screens really do have the best angles, but are so much more expensive.

The Sony Vaio SR's screen is very good. People can see pretty clearly what I'm watching or looking to at all angles and whatnot. I've never had any complaints of people viewing my screen.

I'm pretty darn sure the Sony Vaio Z has most excellent views, as it does have one of the best screens in the industry if I am not mistaken. It has a matte type finish too, so it is also easier on the eyes and might not fade quite the same as the glossy screens do.

I do agree that some screens could stand improvement, such as the laptops that my friends have. The viewing angles on their laptops are not so great, the horizontal view fades pretty shallowly.

 

Yep, I'll agree the XBRITE-Duraview I saw on the Sony is amazing.

Now is there any IPS or similar screens for 15" laptops out there? That's what I'm really looking for

 

I just posted something about this. I was wondering if it is normal, from a single position, to have the top of the screen appear dark and the bottom appear washed out. I bought the laptop a couple weeks ago, and don't remember if it was like that before I cleaned it or not... Can you narrow your viewing angle by cleaning your screen too hard?

 

I seriously doubt it... it's probably just one of the standard screens on most laptops with poor viewing angles. :/

 

I think viewing angles come into play only when 2-3 people are watching a movie on a laptop, and each one wants the best picture quality.

I dont mind adjusting the laptop if I move my position...gives me a bit of exercise...

I wouldnt pay a premium only for the viewing angle. If I have extra money to spend, id rather go for better display or a better processing power.

 

I'm very satisfied with my laptops viewing angles on my Sony Vaio (VGN-FE31M). The only thing i'm dissapointed with is the resolution, 1280x800 isn't enough for a 15.4" WS screen, should've been like 1400x1050+ or something like that. Can't fit much on the screen if you don't edit all font in windows to a smaller one and resize the boarders on all windows(like changing DPI).

 

My Thinkpad x200 (normal CCFL, not Tablet or LED) has respectable horizontal viewing angles, but horrendous vertical angles. I think it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2-3° rotation before colors get washed out badly and it becomes unusable.

Its not normally a problem for productivity work, but if I try and watch a video (by myself, no one else) it is almost impossible to find an acceptable angle. Blacks and dark colors become really bright and show blocks and defects everywhere. I am sending my Laptop in for service, and hope the replacement has a better panel. There is no reason it should be this bad. I can live with a screen that only has about 10° of good vertical angles, but this is ridiculous and I never experienced this degree of a problem on my 5 year old Thinkpad T40.