--- Tom Roth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > OK, with all the talk of power inverters for active > or passive matrix screens I'm going to have to show > my ignorance and ask a question or two. Just what > is the difference between an active vs. passive > matrix screen? Can I tell which I have just by > looking at my PowerBook's (or any laptop's) screen? >
You betcha! A passive matrix screen, although quality has gotten much better over the years, has always seemed very blurry, when there is animation or movement... If when you move your mouse, it blurs out or becomes hard to see, cahnces are you have a passive matrix. Likewise, if the screen is hard to view from any angle, it is likely passive matrix. Generally, machines designated with a CT or C after the model number are Active Matrix and a CS designates Passive Matrix. The main difference is in the construction of the screen. An active matrix screen works much like your standard computer monitor... It shows color by mixing small dots of colored light on the screen. This makes everything crisp and clear and refreshes through motion, so animation and what not doesn't get blurry. A passive matrix screen is composed of multiple panes of glass, the color is formed by shining it through this glass panels. For this reason, it is only sharp and clear when viewed straight on and doesn't animate well. You can generally see a horizontal line running straight across the middle of the screen on a passive screen. This is most visible at system startup when the screen is cold. Sometimes this line will be more visible on one machine than another... again, that just goes back to manufacturing... THis wasn't really a technical description of active vs passive, and I didn't want to get technical to try and keep it easy to read. Some of these things are generalizations to make them easier understood, but I think you can get the jist of it. Cheers, Sionnach __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com -- PowerBooks is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PowerBooks list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/powerbooks.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/powerbooks%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
