Is View Anywhere worth it?

[Pastymage]

I'm about to get an LE1600 for sketching, possibly doing a webcomic or something. Upgrading the memory to 1.5G is an easy decision, but is View Anywhere worth another 15% more in price? I suppose it's *possible* I'll get all rabid and want to carry it around outdoors sketching things, but battery life and my own dilettante nature says that's not likely - I'll probably be using it indoors 95% of the time. -Dave

[John Hill]

Yes. The VA screen is brighter and crisper than the standard display. While most people think about sitting out on the porch, we've found that it has a lot of benefit under bright fluorescent lights and in other bright situations that frequently occur indoors.

[HeavyHanded]

My le1600 used, purchased Un ebay with 2.5GB of RAM has VA. It is great. I can use it near the windows of the and outside. It's worth it!

[Pastymage]

Yes. The VA screen is brighter and crisper than the standard display. While most people think about sitting out on the porch, we've found that it has a lot of benefit under bright fluorescent lights and in other bright situations that frequently occur indoors.

That's what I'd thought would be the case. But I recall someone else on here mentioning they'd tested a VA one and they thought it was *harder* to see indoors - I presumed that meant that the VA glare-protection might have darkened the screen somewhat. If VA is actually brighter, I'm fairly confused how it could seem worse indoors to someone.
Could the VA reduce back-lighting, so it looks brighter under bright incident light, but if you're *not* under bright lights it's darker?
95% of the time, I expect it'll be in my mildly-lit (one CFL indirect) living room.
-Dave

[bmhome1]

VA is simply superior LCD technology, particularly for off-angle freedom from color variances common to non-VA screens. It's a MUST HAVE for artwork.

[jcaldwell]

I think it is very much worth it, even if you will mainly use it indoors. It makes quite a difference under various types of indoor lights and esp fluorescent ones. You definitely will not use a nonVA one outdoors because it basically impossible to see anything, but it is more possible with the VA (still not a great viewing if in bright sunlight).
John