screen brightness issues

[Headgamer]

Now that I have joined the group here and am looking at the TG50, get ready for a flood of questions from me...;)

I have read a couple of quote talking about how bright the TG50's screen is, so much so "it almost blinds you," according to one poster. However, I found out my local Staples just got in some TG50's and Zire 71's, so I went to check them out. I turned up brightness on the Zire and on my Prism and they were rather bright, even considering the Prism was always knocked for its brightness in bright light. The TG50 looked awfully dim to me, so I thought I would turn the brightness all the way up. When I finally figured out how :p , I discovered that it was already turned up as high as it would go. It clearly was dimmer at full brightness than the Zire71, and pretty comparable (if even a little dimmer) than my Prism. I was shocked at this and disappointed. Was I looking at a poor TG50, or was I looking at a poor screen that will be typical of all TG50's? I like my color screen nice and bright, and this was disappointing to say the least...

Any comments folks?

HG...

[SHaubner]

As a new TG50 owner, I have to concur with your assessment. I've also owned a Visor Prism and find that the TG50 is not quite as bright. However, in comparison to the T665, NR, NX and SJ's, the TG50 is the brightest of the lot (wavy line backlight problem not withstanding). Only the NZ outshines it (pun intended) ;)

I have to say I'm also impressed with the new Zire71 and T|C screens. They're just as good as the current iPaq's. That said, I think Sony needs to upgrade the quality of its screen production to meet the competition...

[SHaubner]

...

[TechnoCat]

Originally posted by Headgamer
I have read a couple of quote talking about how bright the TG50's screen is, so much so "it almost blinds you," according to one poster. However, I found out my local Staples just got in some TG50's and Zire 71's, so I went to check them out. I turned up brightness on the Zire and on my Prism and they were rather bright, even considering the Prism was always knocked for its brightness in bright light. The TG50 looked awfully dim to me, so I thought I would turn the brightness all the way up.
It's not quite a fair comparison. We have a Zire 71 which we don't turn up above halfway. It's not that the TG50 isn't bright, it's that the Zire 71 is ludicrously-bright at all-up.

Don't forget that Staples is very brightly lit, so you perception of "bright" will be unnaturally low. I consider the TG50 more than sufficient, and the Zire 71 more than sufficient, and the fact that the Z71 is more more than sufficient is nice but irrelevant.

(My wife would happily trade the top 30% of brightness on the Zire for another 20% audio volume on MP3.)

[Headgamer]

Yeah, techno, you may be right... but I really like mine very bright... 8^)

And the other thing that is making it difficult for me is the size of the TG50's screen - it is SO small! Compared to my Prism and the Zire71, it is noticeably smaller. I just wonder if the smaller screen, with the smaller icons/text (because of the higher resolution), will eventually be difficult as my eyes age...LOL...

$400 may not be a lot to some folks here, but it is to me, and I just want to be completely happy with my purchase when I do get around to getting a new one.

Has anyone heard any rumors of Sony introducing MORE new models soon? I'd be interested to see them if they are...

HG...

[TechnoCat]

Originally posted by Headgamer
And the other thing that is making it difficult for me is the size of the TG50's screen - it is SO small! Compared to my Prism and the Zire71, it is noticeably smaller.
Is it really? My wife has the Z71 at work right now, so I can't compare, but I think it's about a 2.0 inch/side for the TG50 vs 2.1 inch/side for the Z71. (These are dwarfed by my IIIc, of course.) While that is a difference, it's only a 5% one.

But if you don't strongly desire the keyboard, the Zire 71 is probably the better system. It's less expensive, feels quite small, and has a dedicated input pad. If you do strongly desire a keyboard, the Zire 71 isn't even in the running.

[Headgamer]

Heh... decisions, decisions... but really the Zire71 isn't even in the running. Not so much because of the keyboard, though. I like that idea though some people here hate it (and I may too after I use one for a while... who knows?). It's a feature on the Zire71 I DON'T need, and a feature that is MISSING on the Zire71 that I WANT. The needless feature is the camera. Neat gadget, but that's just it - a gadget. For what I use mine for (scheduling, diagnostic information, Bible, ebooks, pocket quicken, etc.), a camera simply is a wasted feature for me. And wireless connectivity would be a boon to have. I like that bluetooth is built in on the TG50. I guess I could eventually get a bluetooth/wi-fi SD card for the Zire, but then what would I do with my SD card I would have for all my software/data that I would need to access? Oh, and the built in screen cover is VERY nice on the TG50 (wish Palm would do that).

So, really, the Zire71, while nice, is not for me right now.

I think I will either end up:
1) going with the TG50 and get used to the smaller screen
2) waiting out a little longer for the next Clie's to come out to see if they have a bigger screen
3) taking a look at the Palm Tungsten C - it looks like it may have what I want - wireless connectivity, plus bigger, brighter screen

Like I said....decisions, decisions...

;)

HG...

[TechnoCat]

Originally posted by Headgamer
<snip>And wireless connectivity would be a boon to have. I like that bluetooth is built in on the TG50.<snip>
3) taking a look at the Palm Tungsten C - it looks like it may have what I want - wireless connectivity, plus bigger, brighter screen

Define connectivity carefully. The TG50 has bluetooth, but that's only wireless connectivity in the most austere and technical sense. You won't be surfing the web from four rooms away or from in the patio, nor from in an airport or Starbucks. The T|C could enable you to do all those.

But the T|C is 33% bulkier than the TG50 also, which makes a big difference for tossing in a shirt pocket.

[graph101]

You will wanna turn it down when you're about to sleep and you just wanna jot down something in the dark.

TG50 is brighter than t665c PLUS it has more range from darkest to brightest. (t665s darkest and brightest isnt much different)
i would probably turn it up all the way in daylight, turn it all the way down in complete darkness and TURN OFF BACKLIT ( WHICH ZIRE CANT DO) OUTDOORS.

[graph101]

Headgamer, waiting is what im gonna do. i wont miss out on anything anyway coz i still have a pda to use. Im waiting for sonys upcomign 2 handhelds. if its just a bunch of NX cam and NX with no cam then i'll get the tg50. im sure by that time it will be cheaper or will come with free accessories.

[Headgamer]

Graph...

I'll probably wait too for a while. My Prism is still going - with the Memplug I can run most stuff off my smartmedia card. I just replaced the battery because it wouldn't hold it's charge. It still seems to be draining too quickly, so I think there may be something hardware wise that is the problem. But it still works and should hold me off until I see the newer Sony's...

Speaking of them, you mention their 2 upcoming models. DO you have any information I haven't been able to find? Like what style they may be, or when they may be introduced? I am very curious...

HG...

[graph101]

I saw some posts a while ago about having an NX body with 1megapixel cam. if it isnt an NZ then its most likely to have a version of it withoutcam which makes it 2.

but maybe, just maybe they will will come up with a TG50 FIX.

[orol]

i personalley would love to see TG55 with an px255 200mhz bus CPU and solid and rubber keyboard :o)