Best LCD - No compromises

RedOctober · 11-25-2007, 10:15 PM

I've spent hours researching this topic and I have yet to come to a definitive conclusion:

What is the most sunlight-readable LCD available?

It seems like a simple question, but eventually all discussions seem to involve some compromise when it comes to price.

My requirements:

10.4", Touchscreen, LVDS panel that can use the Commell LV-671 LVDS out.

I need it to have maximum readability in direct sunlight (Jeep with top down) and high-temperature (desert) operation.

So far I've narrowed it down to BOE-Hydis, Fujitsu reflective (eg ST5111), or whatever panel they use in the GD-Itronics tablets.

In short, what's your "dream" display?

Thanks for the help!

2k1Toaster · 11-26-2007, 12:31 AM

You may want to ask turbocad. He is like the master of sunlight-readable laptop screens.

JLemieux · 12-04-2007, 03:54 PM

Come on LCD guru's. This is a valid question.
What has been your experience and did you settle for the monitor you have or do you think you bought or built the best available?
If you had an unlimited buget, would get the same monitor you have now? If not, what would you get?

2k1Toaster · 12-04-2007, 05:15 PM

It is very easy.

I would say 90%-95% of the screen used are regular.

The rest are all forms of sunlight readability. Mostly transflective, but there are other ways as well like just really high brightness, and more.

All are better at different things. There is not 1 screen to rule them all. For instance the high brightness is nice, but not at nighttime... See what I mean?

Halwa · 12-04-2007, 09:36 PM

http://www.planarembedded.com/products/in-vehicle/ ? What you guys think?

http://www.planar.com/products/touch...tallVideo.html

2k1Toaster · 12-04-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Halwa

http://www.planarembedded.com/products/in-vehicle/ ? What you guys think?

http://www.planar.com/products/touch...tallVideo.html

Just a transflective screen... that is a 12"... That is all. Transflective is much much better than regular, but there are better yet if money is no option. Think aircraft-grade.

JLemieux · 12-05-2007, 10:45 PM

Well, I just ordered my no compromise monitor. Here are some specs:

This display is 10.4" XGA (1024x768) resolution. VGA, S-Video and RCA inputs.
LED Backlighting
Brightness is rated @ 1000 nits, (which I'm told can be compared to a 1400-1500 nit CCFL display.)
Power consumption 18w
The contrast ratio is 800:1
The viewing angle is 75 degrees in all directions.
This is also a wide temp. display. It is rated for operation from -20 to +60 c.
Infrared touch screen with AR coating

Haven't decided whether to use an optical sensor or a dimmer for night time use (Dimming ratio 200:1)

I'm told this same monitor is used in the F15 fighter jet and many Coast Gaurd vessels. I won't see it for about 3 weeks. Then I need to fab a housing for the lcd and touch screen, and another for controllers.

turbocad6 · 12-06-2007, 12:26 AM

how much was it & where did you get it?

to me, absolute best bang for the buck is a fujitsu st5031 with a 10.4" fully reflective screen. to me, if it was just the screen for $800 it wouldn't be too bad, but considering that $800 or so should get you the screen, a digitizer & a whole ulv pentium m machine, with ram, hardrive, legit copy of tablet edition operating system, it's definatley a great carpc & includes almost everything you'd need, great bang for the buck & 100% sunlight viewable always.

fujitsu also has a newer model that's a core solo with this screen but more $$$

JLemieux · 12-06-2007, 07:32 PM

Turbo - Did I understand you correctly? I just googled the st5031 and came up with a $2400 price tag. What was the $800 you were referring to?

This LCD is manufactured by LiteMax and is their "DuraPixle" model. Duayn from MotorcityTech is putting the components together along with IRTouch panel, AR coating, and custom wiring with quick connectors to remove the display from the vehicle.
I will be making an encloser for the LCD/Touch screen and mounting it seperatly from the controllers. It's going into a Jeep, so the touch screen needed to be resistant to scratching from dust and dirt.

As far as the price goes you would have to talk to Duayn as he has given some special pricing to me for this project and it wouldn't be fair post it. It will likely be too rich for most. Let's just say it is well over $1500. This is the first one he has put together so there is going to be a small learning curve.

My thoughts are that the display is the only part of the PC that I look at and interact with daily. If I can't see it or it agrivates me every time light hits it I don't want it. I'm sure I'm going to be happy with this one.

turbocad6 · 12-06-2007, 08:27 PM

sounds like a cool screen, I've gotten stuff from duane several times, the touchscreen i use over the tablet screen is also from him

a while ago fujitsu was blowing out these tablets on ebay thru the fujitsu store, they were going anywhere from under $600 to just around $800, I still see them occationally on ebay in that range too, not refurbs from fujitsu, but some good used ones too. if your going to take it apart anyway & use your own touchscreen over it too then used won't even matter much, as you would be eliminating the plastic layer that would be scratched up or marked in any way from a used one.

the newer version with the core solo is up there over $1,500, but these st5031's should be available under a grand for sure. I paid like $700 direct from fujitsu for mine over 6 months ago... gotta hunt a little maybe

turbocad6 · 12-06-2007, 08:34 PM

oh, I just checked ebay & there are none right now... haven't looked for one in a while, back when fujitsu was selling them that cheap I was telling everyone here that was THE deal but I don't think too many here jumped up & bought them, I regreat not buying another one back then as a spare...

I'm sure they'd pop up on ebay time to time. I only see one in completed items used that went over $1,100.. I'm telling you 6 months ago they were easy to get & cheap... could this be a rare case of computer stuff going up as it gets older ???

turbocad6 · 12-09-2007, 08:24 PM

ok, I looked a little more & the st5031d is the same, also, the newer ones are the st5111's... sick same scren with a core 2 duo... look at the one I just almost got here, that price is insane for what your getting.... there out there... I'm trying to snag another one.... even at the $830 that st5111 went for is a steal

these are by far the best deal going in a carpc if you can fit a 10.4"....

cloned_impalaSS · 12-09-2007, 10:06 PM

where can i get a 10.2 wide screen usb touch overlay?
also need one for a 15.4 wide screen...

solo44 · 03-26-2008, 07:21 PM

J Lemieux what did you pay for that screen?....those are some crazy specs.

JLemieux · 03-27-2008, 03:25 PM

This screen is made by LiteMax. It is their DuraPixel line of LCD's.
I can't really tell you what I paid as this was a special deal due to some circumstances I won't go into here.

I bought the LCD, AD board, LED power board, IR touchscreen with A/R coating and custom cabling from Duayn at Motorcity Tech. I can't say what he would sell another setup like this for, but it was at leats two and a half times the cost of any other sunlight readable screen I have seen on this board. Talk to Duayn and he can quote you price.

I must say there has been some problems that are being ironed out, but so far everyone involved has been helpful and professional about getting them resolved.

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As you can see, these pics have sunlight on the screen. The only time I have found this screen unreadable is when there is a direct reflection of a very bright object (i.e. the sun) directly on the screen. Just having sunlight on the screen has little effect on the readablity.

Another intersesting thing is that the polarizer on this screen is aligned in a way that my polarized sunglasses do not affect the readability of this screen and they cut the glare substantially. If you turn the sunglasses 90 degrees to the screen it is very difficult to read. I mention this because some people like to install their screen in portrait mode and that would not be good with this screen if you wear polarized sunglasses. Viewing angles are equal in all directions though.

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