Low Quality Notebook Screen Causing Eye Strain?

[hcour]

I recently bought an ASUS G75VW-TH71 from TigerDirect. Afterwards I found out that this model is exclusive to that vendor and as such it may have a lower-quality screen than other models. (For one thing it is max 1600x900 res as opposed to 1920x1080 of the other models.) I have also read poor reviews of the screen of the BBK model, which was sold exclusively by Best Buy. I have contacted TigerDirect and asked for all specifications on the screen for that model G75.

I am experiencing very uncomfortable eye strain using this notebook even for brief periods. I do not experience this issue with my desktop LCD monitors, though I do use a lower res and higher dpi settings on my desktop monitors. (Setting dpi too high or res too low on the notebook screen distorts the formatting in a lot of programs and web pages.) Could a low quality display on this notebook cause eye strain like this?

If so, I may have to sell this on ebay and just take a loss.

 

[alikhan]

To my knowledge eye strain is more related to refresh rate of monitors. As a rule, the higher the refresh rate, the better for your vision, although some sources report no noticeable difference above a certain range. As a starting measurement you should consider a 60 Hz refresh rate at the low end of the comfort scale.
In most cases it has nothing to do with the display resolution, it seems to be caused by the LED backlighting.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

While I'd have to be looking at your screen to tell it for sure, yes, it isn't uncommon for a laptop to have a crappy screen. Although why did they think was a good idea to place a crappy screen in a gaming laptop is open to debate. I'll start with standard troubleshooting, to be sure that it isn't an user error.

First thing, go download the latest video driver and install it. Then set screen resolution to the max and screen luminosity as low as practical (less light from screen, less eye strain). Then go and recalibrate cleartype (write "adjust cleartype" in the search box of the start menu to find the setting).

If that didn't fix it, you have two additional options other than selling it on Ebay

Call up Tigerdirect and tell them you don't like it because of its screen or whatever and ask for a refund. With enough insistence. Which is the easiest solution, assuming their customer support does not suck.

Find a better screen for it and swap the thing yourself (and sell the current one for profit). Shouldn't cost too much (compared to the loss on selling it on Ebay). For example, the last two in this site have the resolution you are looking for. Note that it lists both Glossy and Matte screens of both kinds, so do some research on what kind of screen you like more.
And this site tells you how to disassemble your laptop like a pro.
It is likely that this will void warranty though (check with TigerDirect), so it's not that recommended if you care about warranty.

 

[hcour]

Thanks for the suggestions.

The refresh is set to the default 60hz.

I have the latest video drivers, max res, brightness at a reasonable setting (not too bright) and cleartype calibrated. No improvement.

I like the idea of replacing the screen. Not too expensive and doesn't look that complicated. I've emailed the linked site and asked them to confirm that the 1920x1080 glossy will work with my model.

I would like the very highest quality screen I can get as a replacement, cost is not an issue, within reason. As far as you know, are these the best I can get? Thanks again.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I'm surprised that 1600 X 900 is that bad -- after all loads of laptops have the standard 1366 X 768 res screens which aren't too horrible even on 15.6 inch laptops.

Perhaps you should change the standard fonts / windows display options via the display properties. On a laptop flickering isn't likely to be a problem --that was a real problem with old fashioned CRT screens where IT admins would not let users change the refresh rate and flickering on some screens was absolutely terrible --especially in areas with 50 HZ mains supplies. Modern laptop screens don't work like old fashioned TV's / CRT screens.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[hcour]

Just to be clear, I don't think it's the resolution. I think it's a cheap quality screen overall. Apparently this is common with vendor-specific models. Thanks.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

I like the idea of replacing the screen. Not too expensive and doesn't look that complicated. I've emailed the linked site and asked them to confirm that the 1920x1080 glossy will work with my model.

I would like the very highest quality screen I can get as a replacement, cost is not an issue, within reason. As far as you know, are these the best I can get? Thanks again.

I'm sorry but I have no idea, with screens it's nearly always a game of luck. The site I linked was the easiest to find on Google that was a confirmed pro. I said it was just an example after all.

As far as laptop screen replacing goes (as I did quite a bit, although on far less-expensive models) whoever sells you the screens is NOT the one that is manufacturing them nor does (or has the means to do) any real testing to make sure that they don't look like crap.
So the most important thing to look for is someone that allows you to send it back and get a refund in case it is crappy too (or arrives broken, as a naked screen is pretty fragile).
Paypal payment or through other ways that provide similar insurances is preferred.

So yeah, it can be time-consuming, but isn't that hard.

 

[hcour]

But aren't there certain definable components that go into higher quality screens - it uses X instead of Y, and A instead of B, and so on? I'm googling around but I can't seem to find what the components of a high quality screen are vs a low quality one.

For instance on the linked site it says that LED backlighting is better than CCFL backlighting. That's the kind of thing I'm trying to find out. What components define a better, higher quality screen?

 

[bobafetthotmail]

Afaik, the degree of quality that makes most of the difference in image definition/color fidelity/viewing angles is in the pixel part of the screen, the backlighting is less important.
This wikipedia article talks more about the kinds.

The best in computer screens should be IPS, but I never checked that stuff in my job (I was replacing damaged screens for cheap, not trying to improve their quality, as long as it didn't look bad it was fine for me).

 

[hcour]

Thanks for the link. Some good info.

Hell, maybe I just need bifocals...

 

[maxie]

Thanks for the link. Some good info.

Hell, maybe I just need bifocals...

You have actually hit the nail on the head there .... I have very bad eye sight too , So i asked my Optician what he could do to help as i had to use my computer a lot at work at the time this was some years ago. ..... He stated that special glasses would be needed for this which i got problem solved .... But you are using a Laptop which is kind of different as its not that far away ..... So Bifocals might be the answer for you .