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buying_computers [2021/04/15 10:12] – [Screen] niklasbuying_computers [2024/02/14 12:20] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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   * Portable (obviously)   * Portable (obviously)
   * All-in-one solution including screen, keyboard etc   * All-in-one solution including screen, keyboard etc
-  * Goon when there is an unreliable electricity supply+  * Works when there is an unreliable electricity supply
  
 ===== Common considerations for desktop and laptop ===== ===== Common considerations for desktop and laptop =====
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 ==== Battery ==== ==== Battery ====
 The battery obviously determines how long the computer will work without being plugged in. There are two sides to this: the total capacity of the battery and how energy efficient the laptop is, particularly the processor. The manufacturers often give a figure of how long they think the battery lasts, which is to be taken with a pinch of salt. Reviews will tell you how well it stands up to real world tests. The battery obviously determines how long the computer will work without being plugged in. There are two sides to this: the total capacity of the battery and how energy efficient the laptop is, particularly the processor. The manufacturers often give a figure of how long they think the battery lasts, which is to be taken with a pinch of salt. Reviews will tell you how well it stands up to real world tests.
-===== Screen =====+===== Screens =====
 There are many different aspects to the screen. There's the size, the resolution and various aspects of quality of the picture. There are many different aspects to the screen. There's the size, the resolution and various aspects of quality of the picture.
  
-The most obvious thing is the size of the screen, measured in inches. This also determines the physical size of the laptop, ie bigger scren means bigger laptop. For work purposes 13" is pretty much minimum, but for comfort, you'd probably want an external screen. 15" is the maximum to keep it portable, once you get to 17" it really is too cumbersome.+==== Size ==== 
 + 
 +The most obvious thing is the size of the screen, measured in inches. For laptops it also determines the physical size of the laptop, ie bigger scren means bigger laptop. For work purposes 13" is pretty much minimum, but for comfort, you'd probably want an external screen. 15" is the maximum to keep it portable, once you get to 17" it really is too cumbersome. 
 + 
 +==== Resolution ====
  
 The second thing that is usually advertised is the resolution. Higher is better, although for those with bad eyesight, high resolution might require changing some settings to get fonts to be large enough. The cheapest laptops would typically have the resolution 1366x768. This is on the low side, particularly if the screen is bigger than 11" or so. The picture will not appear as clear.  The second thing that is usually advertised is the resolution. Higher is better, although for those with bad eyesight, high resolution might require changing some settings to get fonts to be large enough. The cheapest laptops would typically have the resolution 1366x768. This is on the low side, particularly if the screen is bigger than 11" or so. The picture will not appear as clear. 
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 Apple's Retina screens, which became a kind of standard for what a high quality screen would be, have a density of around 200 pixels per inch. That means a resolution of 2304×1440 for a 12" screen. In practice, many people won't necessarily notice the difference. The downside of higher resolutions, other than cost, is that they consume a lot of battery power. Certainly for screens less than 20" 4K resolution screens is overkill (Apple doesn't do 4K for laptops), and other factors are more important. For laptops, full HD, 1920x1080, or close to that, is probably good to aim for, but could compromise a bit for smaller screens. Apple's Retina screens, which became a kind of standard for what a high quality screen would be, have a density of around 200 pixels per inch. That means a resolution of 2304×1440 for a 12" screen. In practice, many people won't necessarily notice the difference. The downside of higher resolutions, other than cost, is that they consume a lot of battery power. Certainly for screens less than 20" 4K resolution screens is overkill (Apple doesn't do 4K for laptops), and other factors are more important. For laptops, full HD, 1920x1080, or close to that, is probably good to aim for, but could compromise a bit for smaller screens.
  
-For those that work with print publishing, the colour coverage is very important. Otherwise, it becomes very difficult to get the screen to match +==== Colour coverage, brightness etc ==== 
 + 
 +For those that work with print publishing, the colour coverage is very important. Otherwise, it becomes very difficult to get the screen to match with the printed matter. This is particularly important for professional print colour jobs.  
 + 
 +For colour coverage there are two standard measurements. One is sRGB which is less demanding, and where really any screen used for print layout should manage to get to the high 80s or 90s. The other is Adobe RGB where the best screens are in their 80s and 90s. Even for black and white printing it could be necessary. Here black level, gamma and contrast ratio will be the important measurements. 
 + 
 +If planning to use a laptop screen outside or inside with direct sunlight, you want the screen to manage a high level of brightness and contrast ratio. Also, you'd want a matt, rather than glossy finish, as the latter reflects background light. 
 + 
 +All these makes for a lot of variables, but a good review should cover all these aspects, and explain where the screen, whether stand-alone or part of a laptop, falls short.