T5 screen types... more than one?

[gummycat]

There has been a lot of discussion about the different screen types for the T3. I have personally seen both the types. One did not have the orange "stage lights" and the screen was just a hair dimmer around the edges and in the corners than it was in the center of the screen. The one with the orange stage lights, however, was flawless with no difference in brightness everywhere on the screen.

So far, every T5 I have seen (Staples, CompUsa, OfficeMax and Circuit City) have all had the screen with no orange stage lights and have been dim around the edges.

Personally, I would only want one with the orange stage lights. But finding one has proved elusive. After getting used to my T3 screen, the dim spots just stand out so much to me on the T5.

Has anyone seen a T5 with the orange stage light screen? Where did you see it? I am wondering if they are only using one manufacturer now.

Thanks!

Mike

[slinger]

When Gekko bought his T5 from the PalmOne retail store he said his had the stage lights, but so far that's the only report I've seen that would indicate a possibility of a different screen. All the display units I've seen have had the lower quality screen, including my own unit, which is why I switched the screens from a T3 that had the better screen.

-Robert

[Jempen]

did you actually put the T3 screen in the T5? or am I a dumb ***

[jjesusfreak01]

Indeed, he switched the screens. The T5 and T3 use the exact same connections, and work with the same screens, so if you dont mind killing your warranty, it is possible to switch the screens.

All T3 units came with one of two different screens. One made by Sharp, and one made by Sony. The Sharp is more dim, but is more white, in a sense. The Sony screen is brighter and more clear, but it has what they call the orange stage lights. They shine right at the bottom of the screen, barely noticable.

[SuperSaiyan]

I just picked up my T5 today and dont notice any uneven lighting/dimmness at all....but I dont see the orange stage lights either....hmm?

[jjesusfreak01]

I just picked up my T5 today and dont notice any uneven lighting/dimmness at all....but I dont see the orange stage lights either....hmm?
Then you are content with your screen and their is no further need for review.

Dont worry.... Be happy...

[gummycat]

I just picked up my T5 today and dont notice any uneven lighting/dimmness at all....but I dont see the orange stage lights either....hmm?

Where did you buy it?

Thanks!

Mike

[FullAction]

Doesn't matter. I got 2 T3s, one good screen and one bad screen, out of the same batch. It's like playing in the lottery, if you can't afford to lose, don't play.

[zenlon]

All T3 units came with one of two different screens. One made by Sharp, and one made by Sony. The Sharp is more dim, but is more white, in a sense. The Sony screen is brighter and more clear, but it has what they call the orange stage lights.
Please forgive me for my slightly off-centre post, but the big picture is all becoming clearer by the day.

Apparent facts:
- Sony pulls out of US (leaving palmOne the sole palmOS hardware maker)
- No Sony-made screens available on T5s

It looks as though Sony and palm[1/Src] had a falling-out. The PDA market isn't huge, and so players want to own their market niche, palm OS PDAs in this case. So while p1 is fighting its corner to dominate its niche, it better ensure it grows the palmOS niche or it will end up pulling an Apple.

Before some of you fire up your flame grills and aim them at me, please pay attention. I am pro-Palm and pro-Apple. I believe I am also taking a cold, hard look at these two players, and, from a commercial perspective, it seems palm[1/Src] are walking a bit of a tightrope at the moment. I really hope they make the crossing, because two Apple-like miracles are hard to come by.

[GadgetGuru]

First, Sony isn't the only one leaving the US PDA market...so is Toshiba. The PDA-standalone market is shrinking, so the pie left maybe not profitable in itself...HP, Dell, and the others doesn't make much off their PDA, the represent miniscule part of their businesses, PalmOne is increasingly relying on the smartphone part to sustain their business. Sony's smartphone strategy is based on Symbian-powered P800 and its successors so it makes not much business sense to say in the US PDA Market. Note too that Sony is still making PALM-POWERED Clies in Japan...so much for the fallin' out theory.

As to not using Sony's screen, it might come down to supply and price. If Sharp could supply them at a cheaper price and meet the demand, there's no sense in using two suppliers. Two suppliers would only add to the support cost, besides, it is cheaper to buy in bigger quantity from just one supplier instead of two (most of the time, that is).

I believe PalmOne still utilizes the Sony screens for their Zire72, Tungsten E, and maybe the Treo 650 line.

As to walking the tightrope, PalmOne is okay, as long as its smartphone line sells. It could even move to Windows Mobile if Palmsource goes under. Of course, it will be hard on the company's officers given that most of them sort of 'founded' Palm.

Palmsource is in harder straits, it is increasingly reliant on PalmOne. If they don't get a good partner. The company itself is not too profitable, and having a hard time extricating itself from red ink. Palmsource's reliance on outside technology is also hampering it's operating system and revenues. Netfront, Versamail, and a host of other company get a share of the already small price of each OS sold. Palmsource should develop these core technology themselves or switch to open-source ones (Firefox on Palm, anyone?).

[indigenous]

Hey, do I have one? When I hold my T5 at an angle (top more towards me than normal) and look at the base of the screen I see four lit spots otherwise unnoticeable ... and yeah ... they do have a slightly orange-ish cast to them.

I bought mine at the Fry's in Anaheim, California last Friday along with a hard case. :)

--
Indi

[FullAction]

It looks, you got lucky. Rejoice!

[indigenous]

Woohoo! (Indi does a little "I've got an orange stage light display" dance) :D

[Tam Hanna]

Erm, no, the T5 screen looks smaller physically.... . I was in a computer store today and compared the T5 to my T3 side by side...

[applejosh]

Erm, no, the T5 screen looks smaller physically.... . I was in a computer store today and compared the T5 to my T3 side by side...

Someone here actually swapped out screens between their T3 and T5, so I don't know why it would look smaller (unless the bezel is wider or something).

[indigenous]

Does anyone but me have a T5 with the orange stage lights? The screen is bright, even and clear ... but I haven't done a side by side comparison with a T3 or other T5s.

--
Indi

[Tam Hanna]

erm, I had the feeling that the aerea that gets white is smaller on a T5 then it is on a T3. Of course I didnt have much time as my classmates were bugging me(look at the freak, trying to compare Pilots,...).
My eyes arent that good, but I have the feeling that the unlit border is broader on the T5, thus wasting screen space.

EDIT: My T3 is already on its way to service, so I can't measure it anymore. Anybody posting measurements will be most welcome...

[STBXXL]

Does anyone but me have a T5 with the orange stage lights? The screen is bright, even and clear ... but I haven't done a side by side comparison with a T3 or other T5s.

--
Indi

Well. My T5 also does have the four orange stage lights. :D

There're barely visible. I had to turn of the light in my room and only discovered it when I started reading eBooks at night 2 weeks ago. I bought it at Staples in San Jose, CA in the beginning of November. I agree, the screen is bright, even and clear. I like it a lot (in particular when I compare it with my old T|T).

Cheers.

[edeab220]

The T|T5 I had for review didn't have stage lights, but it's screen was brighter than my T|T3's. See the pics in my review (somewhere in the middle):

http://www.dailygadget.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=4306

Didn't want to directly link to the pics since they are 1600x1200 :p.

[indigenous]

Hmmmm ... good point Tam, I never noticed the unlit portion around the T5 screen. THANKS SO MUCH for pointing it out (said in a jokingly sarcastic voice) :)

[Tam Hanna]

Hi indigenious,
thanks for the compliment. Won't you maybe give us some measurements instead of posting content worthy of PIC's best posters(said in a sarcastic voice too;-P)..

[indigenous]

Well, since you asked so nicely :), the lit area of the screen on my T5 is approximately:

2 3/32" x 3 5/32"

Hope this helps someone.

--
indi

[Tam Hanna]

Thanks, when my TT3 gets back from service and I dont forget, I will post my data troo. But it will be in CM-sorry, I am an austrian...

[indigenous]

OK, to make comparison easier, the lit area of my screen is approximately:

5.3 cm x 8 cm

I finally got to use the functionality of the built-in calculator! In case any out there don't know yet, when you bring up the calulator on the T5 (earlier models??), you can cycle through different calculator types by hitting the left and right sides of the 5-way control or by choosing Advanced Mode in the options menu.

The advanced calculator modes include:
Math
Trig
Finance
Logic
Statistics
Weight/Temperature
Length
Area
Volume

You can also choose to show history which you can then view by hiding the Graffiti input area.

--
Indi

[Tam Hanna]

Thanks..
BTW, can the new calculator also do graphs? I am using these very often(technician),a dn can't live without them...

[indigenous]

"BTW, can the new calculator also do graphs?"[I]

Alas, no. And neither can the built-in documents to go module "sheet to go" even though it is an Excel work-alike. Apparently that function is available in the premium edition ... but it looks like it isn't compatible with the T5 yet.

--
Indi

[Tam Hanna]

Ah, from what I know, you only need the SmartChart.prc to enable charting...