Database Users

The screen thread!

So, I've been taunted by the Acer the day before launch at BB and had someone open one up to demo for me. After somehow avoiding the purchase I did more research and found the Asus release date and figured I'd wait. Well we all know how that went..
Anyhow as I sit here reading thread after thread deciding on the Acer now, or Asus later, I am torn about the screen quality. I have heard many things like "as good as Ipad" "way better than Xoom" the amazingly grammatically correct; "it Sux" or just "terrible"
I don't care about the dock....at all. Battery life, build quality and screen crispness i do care about.
I'm hoping this thread can be to discuss the goods and bads about the screen in as unbiased a way as possible. I would love for people who have interacted with both chime in!

The screen "quality" is fine. Text looks great (read for over an hour with no eyestrain). Videos look good. Viewing angles are even fine, which is unusual for a TFT.
But the glare!!! Yikes. I realize that the glare probably has more to do with the glass than the screen technology, but the bottom line is that they both contribute to my enjoyment, or lack thereof, of the screen.
I have a Nook Color and I can place the A500 and the NC right next to each other and the difference is dramatic in terms of glare. Sure, the NC has some reflection, but it's a great deal more muted than then A500 which is practically a mirror.

I don't have any particular problem with the screen. It looks sharp. Runs in 1280x800 resolution.
Some people complain about the grid that can be visible, but I have NEVER seen it during normal use. I didn't even know what people were talking about until I held it at weird angles directly under a light source (as in...10 inches away from my lamp).
The thing is a finger-print magnet though, so if you have OCD issues with that sort of thing you will always need to be replacing screen protectors or having a microfiber cloth in your back-pocket.

I picked one up from bestbuy a few days ago. The screen is very nice. The grid does bother me, but it's not often that I see it.
Games look good, videos look good. Everything is snappy
I don't have a transformer or an ipad to test it against but I think the acer is worth buying if you don't care about the keyboard dock on the transformer.

The screen itself is very good with decent colour and contrast with excellent viewing angles. As others have said though, you do get glare from the high gloss glass panel and it attracts fingerprints when you just go near it. With the right lighting direction I can see the grid in the same way I have seen it on virtually all capacitive screens.
Would I use any of this against the A500? - no. These issues are minor to me but I can see how for some they would be a more major issue.

I think the quality is really good but could use some tweaking. Why in the world are there no apps that allow you to tweak gamma contrast color and all that? Calibrating would make it much better but for some reason we are expected to keep it as delivered?
Also slightly unrelated, has anyone noticed if you use a 1280x800 image as a wallpaper it looks liek crap? What resolution do we need wallpapers to be in? The stock ones are too borring.

volcaicstrad37 said:
So, I've been taunted by the Acer the day before launch at BB and had someone open one up to demo for me. After somehow avoiding the purchase I did more research and found the Asus release date and figured I'd wait. Well we all know how that went..
Anyhow as I sit here reading thread after thread deciding on the Acer now, or Asus later, I am torn about the screen quality. I have heard many things like "as good as Ipad" "way better than Xoom" the amazingly grammatically correct; "it Sux" or just "terrible"
I don't care about the dock....at all. Battery life, build quality and screen crispness i do care about.
I'm hoping this thread can be to discuss the goods and bads about the screen in as unbiased a way as possible. I would love for people who have interacted with both chime in!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look, the IPS display is "better"....that's that. If you need something with a gorgeous screen, wait.
Is the A500 screen terrible, bad, etc.? Not by a long shot. It's bright, crisp and the viewing angles are very, very good. The 'grid' you read people referring to, is barely visible and you'll only notice it on very lightly colored, black or white backgrounds, and that's with your face plastered to the screen. It isn't a deal breaker for many people but it might be for you. If you can afford to wait, wait....and make an informed decision and one you won't regret once you're able to compare them side by side. Unlike the TF, the A500 is in supply and I doubt they'll be running out any time soon so time and supply are on your side (for the Acer, anyway).

here are a few pictures of the iconia and transformer screens. Pics are captured by motorola atrix camera. Hope it can help with the buying decision.

home screen landscape and portrait

thickness and back. For some reasons, I can't upload the video

Wow the one on the right looks so much better. Orange county area? I live in Tustin lol. Where did you get your hands on a transformer?

keroppilee said:
Wow the one on the right looks so much better. Orange county area? I live in Tustin lol. Where did you get your hands on a transformer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahaha, nice to have a neighbor on this forum. Yep, the transformer has the best screen but the iconia is not that bad. I got my TF at Fry's. I saw an employee there carried 3 TFs to the stock room. I jumped on them right away, got one for my best friend and one for my brother. Both of them want the TF so bad. As for me, I am settled with the iconia at Best Buy. I just like the build quality and how it feels in my hands. If I knew, I could have got the last TF for you

appreciate the thought
I'm still deciding between android or I pad. I really feel I pads polish in multimedia is a big plus. I'm trying my roommates xoom and youtube doesn't even run without stutter :/
Netflix is nice on I pad too
I do love the PC I sh feel of android. Much more customizable

Back light bleed through
Some transformer owners have complain about back light bleed through when watching videos.

hey in the past week i have tested the view sonic gtablet , the archos 101 and the playbook . the view sonic and the archos dont even come close to what the acer is i picked up the acer after i saw it at best buy today and i was impressed i also picked up the xoom last week but returned it after 24 hrs because the price 599 was on my mind the whole time i was playing with it .
the screen i feel is like the apple ipad which i have . i really can not notice the difference. and if anyone is thinking about the gtab and the archos dont get them if your not holding it at the right angle all the time your not going to see much.

I had the gtablet for 3 weeks and recently sold it and picked up the Acer A500 yesterday. I was also comtemplating on buying the Xoom at Bestbuy, but after playing with both tablets I couldn't justify spending the extra $ on the xoom so I went with the Acer and so far so good. It's like night and day compared to my old gtablet.

texonex said:
home screen landscape and portrait
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LoL. Please clean the screen of the Iconia What a difference...

I'm a Transformer owner, but over the weekend I had a chance to play with both the Xoom and the Iconia in store.
The screen on the Tranformer is definitely the best of all three tablets, and this was clearly evident even without having the Transformer to hand to compare side by side.
However, I would still rate the Iconia's screen as "very good" (the Transformer's screen would be rated "excellent"), and significantly better than the screen on the Xoom (which I would rate as just "ok").
Regards,
Dave
P.S. Just an FYI, but I'm keeping an eye on the Iconia forums because I'm thinking about getting an A100, not to troll regarding A500/Transformer comparisons!

if you want to see the real difference between the Iconia and Transformer, take a pic from the side with about a 150 deg angle.

MCWatter said:
. Viewing angles are even fine, which is unusual for a TFT.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It not a regular TFT screen , in fact there are 4 differents technologies ( TN, MVA, PVA, IPS )
Acer choosed PVA for the A500 , it provides the highest contrast ever measured on a tablet (1126:1) when the Ipad and its IPS Screen is rated (960:1) , but the latency is not as good as its competitors (even if asus came out with a trick , to correct that , by inserting a black picture every 3 images )
People tends to think that IPS is superior , but in fact it depends of the usage.
A500's screen might not be the best screen in the world , but it is for sure a very good one.

Problems with my new iconia tab

Just picked up my Iconia today at staples.... after playing with it a few hours I have found some issues.
1. One stuck green pixel
2. Two bright white pixels
3. Screen randomly turns on
4. Tablet says it's charging when it's not plugged in
EDIT: Staples replaced my Tablet... no dead or stuck pixels this time but I am having some minor light bleeding on the right side of the lcd.

Ill make this simple for you. Take it back for a new one. You can't fix dead pixels and as far as I know I haven't heard of anyone else having any out of the box.
Sent from my Droid using XDA Premium App

You're certainly not alone with the random screen-on thing. It's a known issue and Acer is working to fix it. As for the dead pixels... return it and get a new one!

rjmarsan said:
You're certainly not alone with the random screen-on thing. It's a known issue and Acer is working to fix it. As for the dead pixels... return it and get a new one!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I haven't seen any threads about bright or stuck pixels so I figured it was a fluke. Going to try to trade it in for a new one tommorow.

Staples replaced my Tablet... no dead or stuck pixels this time but I am having some minor light bleeding on the right side of the lcd.

I bough t mine the day after it came out in morning no issues for me
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

Just got my iconia: dilemma

Well just got my a500
tested it straight out of the box and sure enough I have one tiny dust spec under the screen.
Otherwise no other issues.
I can also say looking at this screen against my transofrmer (that has mucho light bleed and also a dust spec and is creaky) that the screen is definitely not as nice. It is cooler in color though ironically with better blacks. Also the viewing angles while acceptable are not as nice.
Well Now I have a dilemma. I got a 32gb Acer for 30$ more than a 16gb Transformer.
Transgormer has nicer screen but suffers light bleed a dust spec and is a bit creaky.
IT is a bit lighter with over all nicer screen. IT also has the keyboard dock potential for future.
Second option is I keep the iconia which has more storage usb prot feels better in the hand and better built, but also has dust spec under screen.
I am not sure what to do. Afraid to exchange the iconia as given the track record on all these tablets, I run the risk of getting some light bleed or dead pixels etc.
SO do I just suck it up ignore the little pixel sized dust spec and live on?
Do I gamble and exchange? DO I return both wait till availability on transformer is better and perhaps with time they work through the build quality issues?
Or just use nothing, wait a month and get the galaxy tabb.
One thing for certain is galaxy tab will have nice or nicest screen will be thinnest and lightest and by being samsung will likely have more accessories like cases etc for it.
IT will likely cot a bit more (not too big an issue) and might not have much expandibility which may or may not be much of an issue as there will likey be accessory to dock to allow usb host etc.

Did you not buy them locally? If it's a local store, open it in the store and make sure it's up to par. If not, I'm not sure what I'd do either.

I have couple of the dust particles too. I'm exchanging mine today.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

SO do I just suck it up ignore the little pixel sized dust spec and live on?
Do you notice the dust when you're not looking for it?
I've used my Iconia for a couple of weeks now, but it wasn't until this post that I thoroughly inspected the screen and found six(!) tiny dust particles under the screen. They're all 2-3 mm from the edge of the screen, so they're really not an issue. Imho light bleed is much more annoying.

muqali said:
Did you not buy them locally? If it's a local store, open it in the store and make sure it's up to par. If not, I'm not sure what I'd do either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Impossible to tell in store really dust and screen might bleed as the tabs are in this special.plastic and the lighting in store makes.seeing.small defects hard. Got both via staples which only has them available to order via online here in Canada.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App

skabbrev said:
SO do I just suck it up ignore the little pixel sized dust spec and live on?
Do you notice the dust when you're not looking for it?
I've used my Iconia for a couple of weeks now, but it wasn't until this post that I thoroughly inspected the screen and found six(!) tiny dust particles under the screen. They're all 2-3 mm from the edge of the screen, so they're really not an issue. Imho light bleed is much more annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it was near an edge would beless of an issue. Orbison however mid screen on right third so see it easily when background is white.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App

ahhh crap, i noticed i got 1 dust spec after reading this post.

2nd transformer and now backlight issues

This is the second transformer I have purchased, received directly from amazon not even a reseller... This one the box has nasty finger smudges all over it and looks as if the box had been opened... but
Anyways... The issue being with this one is that (4) of the backlights are visable at all screen brightnesses. I did not have this issue on the other one I had (screen was flickering like short in the unit somewhere, so decided to return and order new one seeing as it would be faster then RMA)
Not sure if this is normal or if this is another reason to return this device as it seems like quality control seems to be an issue with this product.
Just seems annoying that is what I focus on all the time and not sure if this is normal or if I got yet another defective unit...
Please let me know if yours looks like this otherwise I believe I am returning this one and ordering another. This is unacceptable to me.

I just recieved another transformer from amazon today too. I sent the other one back and purchased this one. Both of the transformers have the same light bleeding like what you have. The one i just recieved today has a lil more light bleeding than the one i sent back. I'm keeping this one. Not going to send it back anymore.

That looks pretty bad. I have some backlight bleeding, but I have to go out of my way to see it (max out the brightness in a dark room).

Here is a picture of mine. And this is basically the worst possible combinations of maximum brightness, completely dark room, and solid black wallpaper.
The light bleed is only a little noticeable on the lower left side and maybe a bit in the upper right. But what is annoying me is if you look closely there is a small light color blotch in the middle lower area of the screen. Argh!
This is the second Transformer I had and the second one with some really odd screen defect.

already requested to ship back to amazon... this sucks!!! but when trying to watch a movie the bleed is horrible.
I wish my original one from walmart didn't have a short in the screen (as you moved it the screen would turn on and off) because that one was otherwise perfect 100% no screen bleeding even on 100% brightness!

Ravynmagi said:
Here is a picture of mine. And this is basically the worst possible combinations of maximum brightness, completely dark room, and solid black wallpaper.
The light bleed is only a little noticeable on the lower left side and maybe a bit in the upper right. But what is annoying me is if you look closely there is a small light color blotch in the middle lower area of the screen. Argh!
This is the second Transformer I had and the second one with some really odd screen defect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd return that. That looks horrid. You pay for something and expect to be flawless. Now I mean if this was on display and someone tried to sell you it, you wouldn't have bought it if it came with that flaw now would you.

Yeah, I'm going to return mine. I bought it from a local Fry's Electronics and I got about 10 more days left to do the return. And they don't have anything in stock to exchange with.
I'm still struggling with if I want to exchange or get a refund and buy something else instead. Need a few more days to think it over (and maybe a look at a few more Galaxy Tab 10.1 reviews).

Ravynmagi said:
Yeah, I'm going to return mine. I bought it from a local Fry's Electronics and I got about 10 more days left to do the return. And they don't have anything in stock to exchange with.
I'm still struggling with if I want to exchange or get a refund and buy something else instead. Need a few more days to think it over (and maybe a look at a few more Galaxy Tab 10.1 reviews).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing will be 100% problem free... just look at the ipad 2 screen issues... the transformer and its dock are a 1, 2 punch... and they said for any future transformer line the keyboard dock will fit, thats a +

Thremix said:
Nothing will be 100% problem free... just look at the ipad 2 screen issues... the transformer and its dock are a 1, 2 punch... and they said for any future transformer line the keyboard dock will fit, thats a +
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand. But it seems like my odds of getting a defect free tablet may be higher with some manufactures than others.
My iPad was perfectly fine, first try. I've had two Xooms, both were perfect pieces of hardware (just too heavy and too expensive). My luck hasn't been as good with ASUS though.
Problem is both of the tablets I want seem to have manufacturing problems. I like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 too (though the lack of micro SD is why I bought the Transformer). But even Samsung seems to be having manufacturing problems with theirs too. Seems like far too many Google IO owners have their glass popping out of their bezel. Ugh. And it's looking like the production Wifi model has this issue too.

Well i deliberately wasnt lookig for issues and i can say the bleed is worse on the tf than my ipad 2. Also, of all sites, this forum craaaaaawls on it. Laggy as hell

XDA seems to really hate Android browsers. Haha. Opera Mini works MUCH better here though.

I thought I'd post a sample of the light bleed vs iPad 2. Both at 100% which frankly I'd never use this dark. However, the other shot is 50%.
I kept them small rather than two megs each. IMHO neither is acceptable at the price point. The tf changes with pressure the iPad 2 doesn't. The transformer is worse.
I have bad luck with screens. Also there are about ten stuck pixels seen on a black screen, I'm sure more if I run the color range.
Would you keep it? Don't think I will be. :/ and the iPad is getting exchanged.

O.K. mine issues:
Light bleeds on bottom right and right side of screen (on bottom left there is not such bleed as on picture this is kind of photo rendering issue)
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7805/32268220.jpg
Two defective spots of pixels on dark screen only
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/3120/22912128.jpg
Zoomed defective pixels..
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/7434/72512206.jpg
But I notice this in only %1 in my daily use, because I am not using it in dark room on dark screen at full brightness
What bothers me more is speaker disbalance (right is normal left is only 30% as loud as right). But if I have to wait for RMA I won`t take it to RMA because I just love it too much and don`t want to wait for stupid RMA.. Maybe I will give it to RMA after 23 months (in Lithuania there is 2 Year warranty)
BTW I contacted seller and waiting for answer and if they will not exchange it i will live with these issues
P.S. speaker test:

yah i noticed thatpressure on the back increasesthe bleeding but my photo was with no pressure. And dam this site lags on this transformer.
Still returning...sadly

just received my 3rd one in today. few dead pixels throughout the screen and then one big area that is washed out about the size of my thumb.
amazon refused to exchange this one and now says i have to go through asus. BULLSH**

i have to return mine due to the backlight as well, its got a bleed that seems like its getting worse every day.
also from amazon! i really dont want to send it back either

h00ligan said:
Well i deliberately wasnt lookig for issues and i can say the bleed is worse on the tf than my ipad 2. Also, of all sites, this forum craaaaaawls on it. Laggy as hell
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go to the bottom of the page on this site there is a arrow down box that says XDA 2010, switch it to XDA Classic and the website runs really smooth then.

thanks!
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

this is exactly how my current (3rd) is. the other two had bleed, but not as defined as this one's is. the others were more diffused.
Spider210 said:
This is the second transformer I have purchased, received directly from amazon not even a reseller... This one the box has nasty finger smudges all over it and looks as if the box had been opened... but
Anyways... The issue being with this one is that (4) of the backlights are visable at all screen brightnesses. I did not have this issue on the other one I had (screen was flickering like short in the unit somewhere, so decided to return and order new one seeing as it would be faster then RMA)
Not sure if this is normal or if this is another reason to return this device as it seems like quality control seems to be an issue with this product.
Just seems annoying that is what I focus on all the time and not sure if this is normal or if I got yet another defective unit...
Please let me know if yours looks like this otherwise I believe I am returning this one and ordering another. This is unacceptable to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

yah returned the 3rd one. amazon refuses to send me another one. says its likely to be DOA based on my past experience... wtf...

[Article]-Xoom screen = BAD

ouch...
http://www.droid-life.com/2011/06/22/motorola-xoom-display-is-low-end-and-poorly-calibrated-according-to-displaymate-showdown/

Say it aint so. Heh
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

Just a repost of what Xoom owners have known since they first bought their tablet.
The screen is garbage.

almostinsane said:
Just a repost of what Xoom owners have known since they first bought their tablet.
The screen is garbage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like mine but that crap about the screen dimmer is true and it is annoying

Yawn neeeeeext!
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

The screen is just as good as any regular average computer monitor.

Transformer= cheap p.o.s. build quality & ****ty battery (tablet only, who really cares about it's performance as a netbook? if i wanted one i'd buy one)
Ipad2= nice, but like being on house arrest, or watching tv with everything over PG on parental lock. far too many limits.
I'm very happy with my Xoom and it's "bad" screen.

Hi all,
Well the first thing i did when i set my Xoom up was turn off Auto Brightness as i do on all my devcies and turned brightness on full and found the screen on the Xoom to be bright and sharp. Then i strated reading all these posts about how poor the Xoom screen was and just couldn't understand it at all as my experiences are totally different. Only when i turned on the Auto brightness did i suddenly see what the compliants where about as it made the screen horrible. But really the fix is so simple just don't use Auto brightness and its all good IMHO.
Marc

Actually, if you read carefully through the test results, none of the displays did all that well. What really put the XOOM screen in last place was screen reflections and poor viewing angles, in most other critical tests, results were equal to or close to the competition.
If you put an anti-reflective screen protector on the XOOM, it compensates well for the XOOM's biggest shortcoming, screen reflections - (I use Boxwave Cleartouch Anti-Glare on the XOOM) the difference is pretty amazing and the screen looks quite good.
I am surprised that these professional reviewers made no mention of the two versions of the XOOM screen. So we don't even know which screen version they reviewed.

i llike the zoom screen. With autobrightness on.

Yep, I've turned off auto-brighness and have an anti-glare, anti-fingerprint screen protector and I've never looked back. I have zero complaints about the screen now.

Who actually compares screens side by side? It's a bit like a ****-length contest. I'm happy with mine but I don't feel the need to wave it about next to others to impress....

ed.dark said:
Who actually compares screens side by side? It's a bit like a ****-length contest. I'm happy with mine but I don't feel the need to wave it about next to others to impress....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. I completely agree. This whole thread seems like not much more than an exercise to justify someone's choice to sell the Xoom for another tablet.
I use A LOT of devices during my work day....and in terms of day to day use I have been very happy with the Xoom's screen.

ed.dark said:
Who actually compares screens side by side? It's a bit like a ****-length contest. I'm happy with mine but I don't feel the need to wave it about next to others to impress....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree. There will always be something bigger ( so to speak) and better what I find funny is that they didn't mention the bleeds and dust specks people are having on those other screens. There screen might be better but mines clearer oh and it works like it suppose to.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

I went to Bestbuy on Sat and looked at the SGT10.1 and iPad 2, played with both for a good few minutes, I'd say the iPad is at the top in terms of screen crispness and picture quality, iPad OS in general is very polished ... the SGT and Xoom imo is a close second, I have an anti glare protector on my Xoom so it does reduce the picture quality obviously. As said above set the brightness to 50-60% and you will see the Xoom screen pop.
All in all the Xoom will stay with me for two reasons ... SD card access (I have mine rooted so no crying about lack of SD access) and 2ndly it is so versatile having access to ROM's and Kernels, this kills my desire to ever want an iPad, I hate to be boxed in.

It's funny, the screen was one of the major reasons I returned my iPad2. I hated it because the resolution was too low, which made text look horrible.
The Xoom screen is brilliant as long as you take the brightness off auto.

abn.geek said:
The Xoom screen is brilliant as long as you take the brightness off auto.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That! Think that this was the first thing that I did on my Xoom.

I was using an ipad 2 the other day and yes the screen is far clearer but my xoom feels more like a mans toy rather then a childs toy.
dont mind having a worse screen when my battery lasts 4 days and i can do what i want with it and not controlled my apple.
also wouldnt get the transformer due to the speaker locations makes it to wide.
you get what you are happy with.

i love my xoom. i came from the viewsonic gtab so i naturally love the xoom screen compared to the gtab.

nthknd said:
I totally agree. There will always be something bigger ( so to speak) and better what I find funny is that they didn't mention the bleeds and dust specks people are having on those other screens. There screen might be better but mines clearer oh and it works like it suppose to.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's silly the "guru" of displays didn't review the GTab 10.1, since it's using a PLS screen which is Samsung's competitor to IPS.
Regarding the 'comparison' comments however: I was recently seated next to a woman on a flight from NYC and she had an iPad2. As I sat there and looked at a magazine on my xoom, I couldn't help but notice that her screen had outstanding viewing angles. When I put the xoom onto my lap and looked at it, the colors washed out and looked terrible. I ended up returning it and bought a GTab instead.
So - I think comparisons are valid, here. Especially in an environment where a direct comparison could be made. In my case it was on a plane, where I happen to be a lot.
The GTab's screen is fantastic. As good as the iPad2. The build quality on my unit is fine, but there are a lot of complaints about dust under the screen, and so on. I would gladly go back to the 'thicker' xoom if they came out with a higher quality screen. The xoom felt great. But in the end, the screen sucked (I had the Sharp with bad light leakage) and that was, in a word, unacceptable - no matter how many people trumpet out that screen bleeding on tablets is normal. It's not.