Sony Monitors with X-Brite

We have both a desktop monitor and a laptop with this "technology." We've
been very happy with it on the monitor, it doesn't seem to be as sensitive
to off axis viewing, and the colors and contrast are excellent. The laptop
seems more sensitive to directional viewing, but, again, color and contrast
are excellent. We use the monitor for editing, the laptop for
presentations.
BTW, I believe this is licensed from Toshiba, so their monitors and laptops
will be similar.

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
 >> Stay informed about: Sony Monitors with X-Brite 

Skip M wrote:
> it doesn't seem to be as sensitive
> to off axis viewing, and the colors and contrast are excellent.

That's a real plus. My biggest concern I think is the exposed surface.
It looked to me as though much of the clarity and contrast were being
gained by a very highly polished exterior surface almost as if the
polishing is somehow acting like a partially silvered mirror and
reflecting back into the screen, that would be quite simple so you're
right to put "technology" in quotes. I've seen my LCD screens
deteriorate over time using even the best cleaning cloths and
techniques. Have you noticed any degradation of the X-Brite aspect
over time. I know that's hard to do without putting a new one next to
it but a subjective answer would be fine. I ask because I've recently
compard two identical notebook screens with one being heavily used but
only a little over six months old and there was noticeable degradation
especially at lower brightness settings. The older had been cleaned
with only water and a correct cloth and then not very often. Thanks.
 >> Stay informed about: Sony Monitors with X-Brite 

<babalooixnay.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1144593535.442706.119130@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
>
> Skip M wrote:
>> it doesn't seem to be as sensitive
>> to off axis viewing, and the colors and contrast are excellent.
>
> That's a real plus. My biggest concern I think is the exposed surface.
> It looked to me as though much of the clarity and contrast were being
> gained by a very highly polished exterior surface almost as if the
> polishing is somehow acting like a partially silvered mirror and
> reflecting back into the screen, that would be quite simple so you're
> right to put "technology" in quotes. I've seen my LCD screens
> deteriorate over time using even the best cleaning cloths and
> techniques. Have you noticed any degradation of the X-Brite aspect
> over time. I know that's hard to do without putting a new one next to
> it but a subjective answer would be fine. I ask because I've recently
> compard two identical notebook screens with one being heavily used but
> only a little over six months old and there was noticeable degradation
> especially at lower brightness settings. The older had been cleaned
> with only water and a correct cloth and then not very often. Thanks.
>
Haven't really noticed any degradation, I was just looking at the Sony
successor to ours, and it looks pretty much the same, without having them
next to each other. We've had it for a couple of years, or so.

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
 >> Stay informed about: Sony Monitors with X-Brite 

babalooixnay.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com wrote:
> Anyone using the Sony monitors with the X-Brite coating or whatever
> the technology is. I was fixed on getting a new Mac monitor but was
> waiting for work to pick back up when today I ran across a Sony
> monitor with an exceptionally brilliant screen. Sales rep said it
> was called something like X-Brite. He pointed out a couple of new HP
> notebooks with the same technology. Startling looking next to a
> regular LCD but looks like a lot of glare and reflection potential,
> really bad in the Staples store with banks of overhead flourescents.
> Looks like there could be a real cleaning, hazing from age issue as
> well. Curious if anyone has any experience with these for photo work
> in terms of resolution and sharpness. My work room is pretty
> controllable so I could probably get rid of any glare issues.
> Staples says you can take it home for two weeks and return it with no
> problems so that is a possiblility but don't want to waste my time if
> there are major issues involved. Thanks.

You are correct in your thoughts regarding glare.
Most any monitor will look crispy and contrasty if you slap a glassy surface
on it.
Another illustration of this phenomenon is the difference in viewing
identical images printed on glossy photo prints compared with matte finish
paper. The glossy looks more "brilliant" etc., but stick them both on the
wall and you'll soon see why glass-less framed portraits are never almost
NEVER printed on glossy paper. -Major glare problems.

That aside...I have a new Sony laptop with a glossy screen. While it is
great in a dim room or one with no lights behind me...I wouldn't choose it
as my main monitor for editing, work, etc. My office is set up specifically
for no-glare photo editing, so it wouldn't matter at home...but most people
don't have such a set-up. Even light-colored items/walls become a real
problem with glossy screens...so it's more than simply light sources (My
walls are dark green, and my furniture is dark wood).

If you have an office or computer room with lighting that is carefully
placed, a glossy monitor may suit you. Most rooms aren't so ideal...so laik
bilong yu...

-Mark
 >> Stay informed about: Sony Monitors with X-Brite 

babalooixnay DeleteThis @hotmail.com wrote:
> Skip M wrote:
>> it doesn't seem to be as sensitive
>> to off axis viewing, and the colors and contrast are excellent.
>
> That's a real plus. My biggest concern I think is the exposed
> surface. It looked to me as though much of the clarity and contrast
> were being gained by a very highly polished exterior surface almost
> as if the polishing is somehow acting like a partially silvered
> mirror and reflecting back into the screen, that would be quite
> simple so you're right to put "technology" in quotes. I've seen my
> LCD screens deteriorate over time using even the best cleaning cloths
> and techniques. Have you noticed any degradation of the X-Brite
> aspect over time. I know that's hard to do without putting a new one
> next to it but a subjective answer would be fine. I ask because I've
> recently compard two identical notebook screens with one being
> heavily used but only a little over six months old and there was
> noticeable degradation especially at lower brightness settings. The
> older had been cleaned with only water and a correct cloth and then
> not very often. Thanks.

If its any encouragement, I just purshased the IDENTICAL monitor to the 20
inch LCD I've had for nearly three years, and there was NO difference. In
fact, both monitors are set to well below their brightest levels during
calibration. Most LCDs are capable of being set FAR too bright, and tend to
be set way too bright at their default settings.

As you compare various monitors, don't forget that deep blacks often look
great UNTIL...you realize you are missing some shadow detail that isn't
really supposed to be black at all. I remember looking at Panasonic TVs
some years ago...when they used to brag about their "deep black" screens.
Since our eyes are naturally drawn to high-contrast images, their screens
looked great at first...until I realized that what was "black" on the
Panasonic TV was really supposed to be a *near-black grey! The Panasonic
was clipping the shadows in order to present a contrasty image.

The settings of most LCD monitors you see in the stores are WAY WAY off.
Almost every single one is set far too bright (because their makers
understand that customers are drawn to bright things). It isn't until you
really take time and care to make proper adjustments that you can really see
whether the quality is there or not. This includes video card driver
settings too...which means you can't REALLY know for sure what you'll get
until you get it home and on your system. --This is why I never buy from
stores that have a restocking fee.

Even worse...many stores don't even feed the proper (native) resolution to
all screens! This makes it absolutely impossible to judge
quality/rendition/sharpness, etc. Further still is whether it's set up with
DVI or a standard VGA connector. My monitor looks very average-to-bad with
the VGA connector, but looks fantastic with the DVI. --Most stores feed
monitors via the VGA connection and completely ignore the far superior DVI
option that many monitors offer.

My 2 cents...
-Mark
 >> Stay informed about: Sony Monitors with X-Brite