Comparison of Laptop Screens
A laptop's screen size is directly associated with its price and weight. It can sometimes even correlate with processing power. When purchasing a laptop, be aware of commonly neglected attributes, such as screen resolution. Knowing about laptop screen varieties can empower consumers to make smarter buying decisions.
Other People Are Reading
-
Common Display Type
-
The industry standard display as of 2010 is the LCD (liquid crystal display). LCDs can be passive or active displays. Active displays are brighter and more responsive than passive displays. This means that they will load images sent by your computer faster. This can improve user experience by preventing lag and slow frame rates. LCD displays can be found on a vast range of laptops, from basic $300 models to $1,000 gaming machines.
Resolution
-
Laptop resolution determines how much of the computer screen is displayed at a time. For example, a larger range in resolution means that more of a user's desktop will show at a time. This will result in icons appearing smaller. The most common resolution on most consumer laptops is 1280x768.
-
Widescreen Displays
-
Wide-screen laptops are by far the most common kind. The letter "W" will be placed in front of the screen type in DX diagnostics displays. The most common configuration as of 2010 is WXGA, 1280x768. Wide-screen displays are the best for viewing high-definition movies, as they are rendered in similar dimensions.
Screen Size and Price
-
Fourteen-inch laptops are generally the most expensive for their specifications. This is because smaller models are still expected to be reasonably powerful, yet still portable. This requires more expensive components. Retailers also inflate the price knowing that they can still market to people who desire small, lightweight systems. For example, a 14-inch laptop with the same processing power as a 17.1-inch laptop will cost much more. As of 2010, a 14-inch laptop with a quad core i7 processor and good graphics card will cost $200 to $300 more than a 17-inch laptop with a similar configuration. In fact, some 14-inch models do not even offer the same options as larger machines.
Dynamic Laptop Trends
-
Laptop screen information trends tend to change every few years. A consumer does not need to worry much about the screen type. Rather, he should focus on the resolution, as screen types are generally the same across the entire laptop market. Also, other computer specifications will ultimately carry more weight in the buying decision. This is because high definition LCD screens are already the industry standard. Technology trends upward, so consumers can look forward to high-definition as a minimum.
-
References
- Photo Credit Laptop image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
