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IBM Solves Major Problem In LCD Monitor Production

Posted by michael on from the LCDs-for-everyone dept.

nublord writes "IBM has an article up on their website that really caught my attention. They've managed to solve the most troblesome problem when manufacturing LCD monitors: getting the liquid crystals to line up correctly. The old process was invented 95 years ago and required a velvet cloth to line up the crystals - a very error prone process. The new process uses a beam of ions to create atomic-scale channels that the liquid crystals connect to easily. IBM states that this will save LCD makers millions of dollars each year - and give us more LCD monitors of better qualtiy at much lower prices. Maybe I can finally have a wall of LCD monitors without having to rob a bank!"

4 of 13 comments (clear)

  1. LCD shortage? What shortage? :) by Snowfox · · Score: 3
    You can find the Apple Studio LCD all over the net for $399 apiece.

    These displays are DVI, and work on a PC with a $97 Geforce 2 MX card. So $500 and shipping gets you a 1024x768 all digital display with a fast video card.

    The only downside to these, as compared to non-Apple DVI displays, is that they're soft-powered, so the power button has no effect. I set my systems up to use power management after 3 minutes, so I need only get up and walk away, and the things shut themselves off.

  2. This is good, but I still need to get one by corran__horn · · Score: 3

    The question about LCD's is are they worth all of my hard earned money vs buying a better computer?
    I don't think that is possible, plus seems better to have the ability to buy a better motherboard, but I guess if they were cheap enough *looks at sony et all* I would most certainly buy it.

    If people can connect to one another even the smallest of voices will grow loud.

    --

    If people can connect to one another even the smallest of voices will grow loud.
    --Serial Experiments Lain
  3. Organic LEDs by boltar · · Score: 3

    Even with this new advance LCDs will still be too expensive, too complex and too power hungrey (the backlight). Organic LEDs are a far better technology in very respect (except for maybe viewing in direct sunlight) and the sooner they start appearing in monitors the better.

  4. A bit more about LCDs by PicassoJones · · Score: 3

    An interesting whitepaper on display technologies: http://www.euro.dell.com/countries/ie/enu/gen/topi cs/vectors_1999-displayt.htm I'd also like to mention that Liquid Crystals were first discovered in 1888 by Austrian botanist Fiedrich Reinitzer who discovered them by melting a type of cholesterol. Now, if someone could find out what they were rubbing with velvet in 1900, I'd appreciate it! :)