Why are LCD's on laptops clearer than standalone LCD's

[kisk]

I'm thinking about buying an LCD monitor and I went up to staples today just to look at what they had and they looked pretty nice, but as I was leaving I passed by a couple laptops and the clarity of the laptop LCD's were 110% better than the standalone LCD monitors. What contributes to this? Is it a different type of LCD or what?

[lil Jimmie]

I would think it may be the quality of video card/settings or that the monitor settings needed to be adjusted.

[i3OSS]

the ones out on the shelves, the picture is on a splitter so its quality is not as good as the laptops where they are independent from each other giving a better picture output.

[kisk]

Yea I messed with the settings on each separate monitor to try and get it to look good, but none of them even came close to comparing to the clarity of the laptops.

So I shouldn't base my decision on what the 'on-shelf' LCD's look like? They were all hooked up to one computer which I was able to set the color to 32-bit and a max of 1024x768 (there were only two options for the resolution so I know there wasn't a nice video card installed.

I'm looking for a 19" viewable LCD, and plan to set the resolution to 1280x1024 if I don't have to squint.

Anyway, based on that info, what else can you guys tell me? =)

Thanks,
-- kisk

[CaptTuna]

Hitachi has a new model CML 174, a 17 inch that is quite impressive.

[glc]

Laptops are digital displays - the standalones on the shelves probably are hooked to standard analog VGA, and may not be running at native resolution. For a great display, get a 19 inch DVI and hook it to a video card that has a DVI output, and run it at native 1280x1024. My favorite 19 inch is the KDS RAD-9, and it's comparatively cheap if you can find one - it's discontinued.

[kisk]

Yea the native resolutions for all the standalone TFTs there were 1280x1024 ... and whadaya know, the maximum resolution output on their test computer that sent the signal to all the other monitors on the shelf was 1024x768. So I'm sure that had a part in it.

Thanks for the info about the DVI too =)

Seems I'm going to have to invest in a new vcard to take advantage of the DVI, but that's not too big a problem... I'm trying to get away from my MX series pci card. I'm thinking about going for the GeForce4 TI 4800. There are a couple advertisers at pricewatch selling it just over the $150 mark. Hey, if anybody knows where to beat even that price please let me know =)

As for the TFT, I was hoping to get at least between 17-18"(viewable) unit, and definately buy it from someone who has excellent warranty options(eg. concerning dead pixels). Let me also say I'm still in college so my budget is more than limited. I wasn't wanting to spend any more than $500. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks =)
-- kisk

[glc]

Every manufacturer's warranty I've seen you have to have 8 or more bad pixels. I think if you buy it at Best Buy and get the extended warranty coverage, they will honor one dead pixel. Right now I think $500 is only going to get you a 17 inch by the time you get done with tax and extended warranty, and it may not have DVI.