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Do Later LCDs Need Screen Savers?

Posted by Cliff on from the two-steps-backward? dept.

bwdunn asks: "Do we need to run screen savers again to prevent the burn-in we saw on the very old CRTs? Dell's latest and greatest laptops, the Latitude D800 and Inspiron 8500 both suffer from horrible screen burn-in problems with burn-in visible after as little as 2 hours. Dell claims this is an industry wide problem. The high end displays from Apple also seem to have this problem. I have never seen this problem before 2002. Is this something new due to inferior LCD screen manufacturing compared to screens from just a few years ago?"

18 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. what can save us from burn-in? by kurosawdust · · Score: 5, Funny

    The toasters are going to fly again, gentlemen...

    1. Re:what can save us from burn-in? by Captain+Nitpick · · Score: 4, Funny
      The toasters are going to fly again, gentlemen...

      I wonder if Berkely Systems would be tacky enough to bring the song back with the toasters.

      Flying out of the sun
      The smell of toast is in the air
      When there's a job to be done
      The flying toasters will be there.
      And it's flap! Flap! Flap!
      Now help is on the way.
      This vict'ry song they sing:
      We pop up to save the day
      On mighty toaster wings!
      --
      But then again, I could be wrong.
    2. Re:what can save us from burn-in? by nuggetman · · Score: 2, Funny

      Who can forget the immortal Phlegm Boy

      --
      ...and that's all there is to it.
    3. Re:what can save us from burn-in? by jeffg · · Score: 4, Funny
      I wonder if Berkely Systems would be tacky enough to bring the song back with the toasters.
      First, someone would have to bring back Berkeley Systems.
    4. Re:what can save us from burn-in? by Sentry21 · · Score: 4, Funny

      While this was, of course, just a joke, am I the only one who misses After Dark (and Beyond After Dark)? There were some pretty freaking cool screen savers in that pack, and I'm sorry, but all this OpenGL crap and mazes with psychedelic textures and spermy-floating windows logos and everything just doesn't compare to the thrill you get by mixing the cute little kitten screen saver with the guy-mowing-the-lawn screen saver.

      My mac heritage is starting to show again. :/

      --Dan

    5. Re:what can save us from burn-in? by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny
      The toasters are going to fly again, gentlemen...

      It's POWWWWDEERRREEDD TOAAASSSSTTTT MAAAANNNNN!!!!!
      Bringing delicious Powdered Toast from his pits, to magically coat your LCD and prevent burn-in! And kids! It tastes great, too!

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  2. Re:Ick! Screensavers!? by SN74S181 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's rumored that some people actually turn off the whole computer when they're not using it.

    The Uptime Fashion Police are working on a rigorous ostricization program, however. It's just not cool to turn one's PC off, and it defeats the main purpose of running Linux.

  3. Re:Ick! Screensavers!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    turn a computer off? is that some sort of bleeding edge technology? must cost a fortune.

  4. It's not possible to stop... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...TROGDOR THE BURNINATOR!!!!

  5. Re:Ick! Screensavers!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    But I need to keep my PC on 24/7 to distrubute pirated Japanese pop music over P2P networks! :(

    Yes. Really.

  6. Cut and paste from the docs ... by Glonoinha · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the Apple LCD FAQ :

    3.1 - Q. I have noticed that my screen is showing some burn in when left with the same image for a long period of time. I thought LCDs were immune to 'burn in'. What should I do?

    A. In the event of a mild or even strong burn in, unplug your LCD, lift it off the table and orient it with the screen down, parallel to the Earth. Now shake it all around. The silver powder in the unit will spread all around, returning your display to the original condition. When putting the display back on your desk remember that the two knobs go on the bottom.

    -:-

    Oh wait, that was from my Etch-a-Sketch.

    That said, I read what Apple has to say on the matter and now I wonder - why are LCDs 'burning in' in the first place, and by blasting it with a bright white image to restore the screen ... is that somehow also burning it in a different direction, possibly also causing damage? I would think not, but I thought that LCDs were immune to the effect in the first place.

    --
    Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
  7. Sounds like a new Dell Profit Center to me... by HotNeedleOfInquiry · · Score: 3, Funny

    What with a new $80 shipping and handling charge for warranty repairs.

    --
    "Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
  8. Ummm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sounds crazy to me. Got three LCD panels at work that basically sit around displaying the same thing for 12 hrs a day

    You sure they're not just burnt in?

  9. Yet another reason to run gentoo! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You'll be so busy compiling stuff.... not one thing will be displayed on that screen constantly!

    Kills burn-ins too...
    ---The Gentoo Troll

    1. Re:Yet another reason to run gentoo! by weeboo0104 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thats assuming you compiled your video drivers correctly.

      --
      It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
  10. Burn in an image you at least like ... by 2TecTom · · Score: 3, Funny

    and make sure to pick a design you can live with for the duration ... on this note, why not use your name? That laptop will always be traceable no matter how far it walks or runs ....

    Laptop Rule One: Laptops have legs and will run away as soon as you turn your back on one. especially once you've given it a lot of data.

    --
    Words to men, as air to birds.
  11. Re:sounds crazy by ReelOddeeo · · Score: 4, Funny

    we have Dell LCD's here, and they do burn in... it's *very* irritating. a reboot has fixed it, up to now..

    Yeah. Me to. My LCD has this blue tint burned into it with a hint of lots white text numbers and something that says something about pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del.

    --

    Those who would give up liberty in exchange for security and DRM should switch to Microsoft Palladium!
  12. Re:What they really need are screen protectors by metamatic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Keep calling your girlfriend "dumbass" and the problem will likely solve itself.

    --
    GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak