Choosing your screen

[alltp]

Back in the day (you know, way back to 2004) there weren't too many choices for tablet PC screens. You got either a 10.4" screen or a 12.1" screen with a resolution of 1024x768. Later, a couple tablets had higher resolution displays (up to 1280x1024) and there were some 14" screen options.

Now, there are many more choices. Most UMPCs have a 7" screen, the Fujitsu P1610 has a 8.9", the Motion LS800 has an 8", Asus offers a 13" and Gateway has a 14" screen. In addition, various resolutions are available from 800x600 to 1400x1050.

But that's not all...now you can choose from pen only (active digitizer), touch only (passive digitizer), pen and touch (like the Sahara i440D, Lenovo X61 and Motion WriteTouch), indoor only, indoor/outdoor, wide viewing angles, etc.

So how do you sort it all out?

Like all purchases, the most important consideration is for what job you want to use it. I'll go over some of the most common choices and make some suggestions based on your industry and general use.

Wide Viewing Angle - Once the realm of a select few tablet manufacturers, wide viewing angle (the ability to easily read what is on the screen while the tablet is laying flat on a table or any other angle) is a component of almost every tablet screen. The only places you will see viewing angles that aren't at least 160 degrees is on some ultra portables or very inexpensive, retail tablets that sacrifice this for cost cutting.

Bottom line: You should choose a tablet that offers a screen with wide viewing angles.

Indoor/Outdoor display - Also known by a manufacturer's marketing term (Lenovo has SuperView or MultiView, Motion has View Anywhere), not all indoor/outdoor displays are created equal but IMHO they are all very good and suitable for most environments. Many people I talk to state they won't use their tablet outdoors. While that may be true, you will still use it under bright flourescent lights, in sun-filled conference rooms, maybe even on your hammock in the backyard. If your use is strictly inside or for a single purpose that doesn't require the upgraded screen then save the money and buy a standard display.

Bottom line: If it isn't cost prohibitive, choose the indoor/outdoor display option. It will be a worthwhile investment.

Screen size - While this seems like the area most likely to be fraught with controversy, I don't think it will be. You should choose the smallest screen that will allow you to easily read and work on your main applications without having to scroll left and right at all, or up and down too much. A little scrolling is fine, but if you have to work on an application (like a spreadsheet, a PDF or an electronic medical record) that requires you to scroll left/right AND up/down, you'll quickly become frustrated. Keep in mind also that certain tablet PC models have resolutions that might not accomodate your application. The Motion LS800 running at max resolution (800x600) works great for a pilot using flight software designed for a small screen but isn't so good for an Excel spreadsheet with many rows and columns. Conversely, the Lenovo X61 with SXGA+ (1400x1050) won't be compatible with EMR software that was specifically designed to run at 1024x768. Let your application (not your conscience) be your guide!

Bottom line - You'll be tempted to choose the smallest, lightest device but be sure that the screen size AND resolution is the best fit for the software programs you'll be using most frequently.

Screen resolution - It may seem as if I just covered that but there is more to the picture than meets the eye. Even if one of your applications is designed to run in a lower resolution, that doesn't mean you shouldn't choose a hi-res screen. Remember that you can easily go into the Control Panel and change the display setting. This would allow you to run different applications at the optimal resolution - just be sure you won't have to switch back and forth frequently as it isn't a one click change. Even if you choose a hi-res screen you can still make it usable by setting the icons and buttons to a larger size. For many years I used a 12" screen with 1024x768 resolution. I heard many folks on the Buzz say that couldn't use a slate tablet because the screen resolution was too low. Now that I have a device with 1400x1050 resolution, I finally see the light - if I chose another tablet to use I'd give strong consideration to one with the higher resolution screen.

Bottom line - Choose the highest resolution screen as long as your main applications can take advantage of it. You can always reduce the resolution, but you can't go the other way.

Screen protector - Tablet PC screens are VERY durable and none of our customers has every come back and said the screen got scratched from normal use. Not even scratched a little. A screen protector has two functions: peace of mind, fingerprint and glare reduction. The first one is like any other kind of insurance - you are reasonably protected again a "What if?" situation. My experience is that happens quite infrequently. Fingerprint and glare reduction, on the other hand, are important - especially if you have an indoor/outdoor screen. I don't know anything about the materials, but I do know that the indoor/outdoor screens tend to pick up your fingerprints and can get really smudgy which makes them harder to reader in certain lighting conditions. You don't have to get a screen protector right away, but if you start noticing dirt and smudges and glare, don't be afraid to put one on your tablet.

Bottom line - It's not a necessity, but people who put screen protectors on their tablets have some more protection and a better viewing experience when their tablet is used heavily.

[Robert Carnegie]

Comments:

By me, you should inquire carefully into landscape use if you want to use it, and maybe virtual screen area and compatibility, and software compatibility with unusual resolutions. Not all Tablets are equal here, at least in Windows XP. These words were written in Fitaly on-screen keyboard on a Samsung Q1 UMPC in 480x800 landscape. This device has 800x600 scrolled and pixel-compressed modes, but not landscape.

I've also read that first-generation UMPC displays are not power-efficient, having been made for automobile equipment where power is less restricted, with an impact on battery life. I don't know if that's right, but maybe data on screen power use should be checked.

Touch stylus users - with on-screen keyboard, say - may find they do scratch or wear holes at particular screen locations, so a protector is worthwhile, and maybe even a protector protector - specially made film (such as iPod protector), plus inexpensive Scotch tape on top in heavily used locations. As the Scotch wears away, you can replace it without discarding the proper protector. But dirt and scratches on the film will show up real bad.

[willem]

A comment on screen protectors: i absolutely advise to put on a screen protector before any use. preferably by the seller.
why? scratches!
i own a M1400 with view anywhere and during normal use (4 hours a day) over a year i got scratches probably because the plastic pen tips picked up dirt from my desk or from inside pockets of jackets etc.
ONE scratch is enough to change the feel of the pen on the screen. this happened several times, and the lesson learned is I need a screen protector and be careful on the pen itself
I love my view anywhere screen and in that respect I fully agree with the advise to spend some money more.
the motion has another smallissue: dirt under the side protecting band on the screen.I would like to see motion to improve the way it is mounted: a seal between the view anywhere screen and the greybluish plastic rim, something like a thermoplastic seal.

[pdavsong]

i gather that no-one can do pen input and text recognition with any of the passive touch (stylus style) screen options. any one know any different or know of things in train? (and will vista co-operate with this input anyway? - i gathered not)
i ask as someone who hates the wacom remote/detached feel to writing and who loved/loves the newton mp2100 experience in this respect.
peter

[Steve S]

Peter: See my comments about the TabletKiosk i440D which features a dual-mode screen:

http://www.gottabemobile.com/forum/f...ID=23858#23858

...As you will see, you can write using the passive (touch) option; it just doesn't give you the best results. I believe that some people disliked the HP TX1000 for the same reason; when HP replaced it with the TX2000, they added an active digitizer...