Worth knowing about the Dell Axim x50v/x51v screens

[Menneisyys]

On Sunday, I had to stay in bed and used the free time for browsing on my Dell Axim x51v. I had to resort to the WM5 x51v because my favourite Pocket PC Web browser, Opera, only works on WM5 without frequent lock-ups, unlike on my WM2003SE Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox 720 (PL720). That is, I can tell you some first-hand experience about the long-time usability of the Landscape mode on the x51v.

While it's possible to use the great Sony LCD of the PL720 in Landscape screen orientation for even 10-15 hours without any pauses (I've already done this on occasions), the x51v screen is far-far inferior. It's impossible to browse the Web for more than, say, an hour (or two) with the x51v in Landscape mode.

I've even found blocking one of my eyes with something so that it couldn't see the screen while browsing Web pages in landscape was easier on the eyes - something that has never happened with my PL720.

The (standard) Portrait orientation, on the other hand, has no problems like this – the x51v can be used for hours in that orientation without any need to be switched off/taken down.

The reason for this is pretty simple, which you can also very easily find out.

Take your Axim into a dark room with a white wall and you switch on your PDA, displaying (an almost) white image (for example, the Start/Programs screen) and turn it to be parallel with the white wall. Look at the projection (the whiteness on the wall); you'll see that there will be a really limited area with very strong backlight concentration in the center of the the screen, while the other parts of the projection will be much darker.

All this will only apply to the light distribution along the longer side of the screen, not the shorter one showing the distribution of the backlight is pretty the same along the X axis (the Y - vertical - position being the same), unlike with the opposite.

You may repeat the test with other PDA's; preferably ones that you find very easy on the eyes in the Landscape orientation – for example, the above-mentioned PL720, the iPAQ hx4700, the M600 (see this review for more information/comparative screenshots on the spectacular screen of this model) or any of the HTC Phone Edition combos with 2.8" QVGA screens. The HTC Universal is also said to be much better in this respect; I haven't personally checked this at yet.

You'll see that none of them has so centralized a light concentration in the center area of the projection – they all have a much more even light distribution.

This shows that the two eyes get an entirely different picture when you stare at the x51v screen in Landscape mode. The left eye see an image that has a considerably lighter left and darker right side; the right eye sees exactly the opposite (a lighter right and a darker left side). This is why staring at the Dell Axim x51v (or, for that matter, x50v) screen can/will be very straining.

Note that this nothing has to do with the color saturation of the screen. The (comparative) lack of saturated colors on the x51v won't cause similar problems.

All in all,

if you plan to use your PDA for extended lengths of time (more than 2-3 hours a day) in landscape mode and you still haven't bought a PDA, think twice before going for the VGA Dell Axims. It's the best to ask a friend to loan his or her PDA for some time to you or use the money-back guarantee of the particular PDA shop to see whether you can live with the screen of the device. I also highly recommend a side-by-side comparison of the Axim with a PDA that, in this respect, has a far superior screen – for example, the above-mentioned PL720 or the iPAQ hx4700.

Give you several hours of Web browsing sessions in Landscape so that you can see whether your eyes are as "sensible" to the uneven light distribution as those of many of other Pocket PC users.

I, personally, I won't ever use the x51v in Landscape mode again – it puts just too much strain on the eyes when compared to my PL720. (Even when I need to resort to using slower Web browsers – for example, NetFront – on the WM2003SE PL720 or end up buying a iPAQ hx4700 if its WM5 upgrade proves to be usable.) In addition, it caused not only a lot of strain on my eyes, but also a slight headache I'm still feeling. It's something I had after some minutes of using a Virtual Reality helmet (a very expensive helmet with two LCD screens in front of the two eyes) back in 1996-1997. I haven't paid attention to adjusting the eye correction then. The result was a week-long, very bad headache. I feel something similar right now – fortunately, at a much lower intensity.

Note that, while I don't particularly recommend the HTC Universal (for various reasons; size, weight, generic slowness and price being the most important ones) as a "generic" PDA, the "old", but still very good iPAQ hx4700 may be reborn: it will receive the WM5 upgrade today. If the upgrade proves be a good one (that is, much better than the close-to-useless WM5 upgrade of the Dell Axim x50/x50v and not having the common problems of the WM5 upgrade for the HP iPAQ hx2xxx series), then, the hx4700 will again become a highly recommended, up-to-date VGA PDA, unlike the PL720, which doesn't receive the WM5 upgrade.

Also note that it's highly likely that the two forthcoming Fujitsu-Siemens VGA models, the C550 and the N560 (the latter being a device with really good specifications) will most likely have the same high-quality screen as the PL720. That is, if you don't want to go for the Dells and wouldn't get the "old" hx4700 either, it may be worth waiting a bit more to see whether the screen quality of the two new F-S devices are worth paying for.

Recommended reading

Some opinions on the hx4700 and its usability as a book reader: 1; 2

Some questions/links

Another (highly heated) thread on this problem causing headache

Generic (one-on-one) comparison of WM2003SE VGA Pocket PC's; the information there also applies to the x51v, which has the same screen as the (non-early) x50v. (Early x50v's had a vastly different, even worse screen than later ones/the x51v.)

[scochran]

Interesting post.

Totally at odds with my direct experience of reading books on my X51v in landscape mode without significant eye-strain.

But interesting.

[ladytonya]

I don't have VGA as I have an X51 mid, but I have absolutely no problems reading my screen for hours on end. I have an easier time reading from a computer/PDA screen than from a book most of the time, and my Axim has never bothered me one bit. I would assume that the VGA screen would be even better then mine. Interesting data, but I don't buy it..........

[Ray1200]

On Sunday, I had to stay in bed and used the free time for browsing on my Dell Axim x51v. I had to resort to the WM5 x51v because my favourite Pocket PC Web browser, Opera, only works on WM5 without frequent lock-ups, unlike on my WM2003SE Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox 720 (PL720). That is, I can tell you some first-hand experience about the long-time usability of the Landscape mode on the x51v.

While it's possible to use the great Sony LCD of the PL720 in Landscape screen orientation for even 10-15 hours without any pauses (I've already done this on occasions), the x51v screen is far-far inferior. It's impossible to browse the Web for more than, say, an hour (or two) with the x51v in Landscape mode.

I've even found blocking one of my eyes with something so that it couldn't see the screen while browsing Web pages in landscape was easier on the eyes - something that has never happened with my PL720.

The (standard) Portrait orientation, on the other hand, has no problems like this – the x51v can be used for hours in that orientation without any need to be switched off/taken down.

The reason for this is pretty simple, which you can also very easily find out.

Take your Axim into a dark room with a white wall and you switch on your PDA, displaying (an almost) white image (for example, the Start/Programs screen) and turn it to be parallel with the white wall. Look at the projection (the whiteness on the wall); you'll see that there will be a really limited area with very strong backlight concentration in the center of the the screen, while the other parts of the projection will be much darker.

All this will only apply to the light distribution along the longer side of the screen, not the shorter one showing the distribution of the backlight is pretty the same along the X axis (the Y - vertical - position being the same), unlike with the opposite.

You may repeat the test with other PDA's; preferably ones that you find very easy on the eyes in the Landscape orientation – for example, the above-mentioned PL720, the iPAQ hx4700, the M600 (see this review for more information/comparative screenshots on the spectacular screen of this model) or any of the HTC Phone Edition combos with 2.8" QVGA screens. The HTC Universal is also said to be much better in this respect; I haven't personally checked this at yet.

You'll see that none of them has so centralized a light concentration in the center area of the projection – they all have a much more even light distribution.

This shows that the two eyes get an entirely different picture when you stare at the x51v screen in Landscape mode. The left eye see an image that has a considerably lighter left and darker right side; the right eye sees exactly the opposite (a lighter right and a darker left side). This is why staring at the Dell Axim x51v (or, for that matter, x50v) screen can/will be very straining.

Note that this nothing has to do with the color saturation of the screen. The (comparative) lack of saturated colors on the x51v won't cause similar problems.

All in all,

if you plan to use your PDA for extended lengths of time (more than 2-3 hours a day) in landscape mode and you still haven't bought a PDA, think twice before going for the VGA Dell Axims. It's the best to ask a friend to loan his or her PDA for some time to you or use the money-back guarantee of the particular PDA shop to see whether you can live with the screen of the device. I also highly recommend a side-by-side comparison of the Axim with a PDA that, in this respect, has a far superior screen – for example, the above-mentioned PL720 or the iPAQ hx4700.

Give you several hours of Web browsing sessions in Landscape so that you can see whether your eyes are as "sensible" to the uneven light distribution as those of many of other Pocket PC users.

I, personally, I won't ever use the x51v in Landscape mode again – it puts just too much strain on the eyes when compared to my PL720. (Even when I need to resort to using slower Web browsers – for example, NetFront – on the WM2003SE PL720 or end up buying a iPAQ hx4700 if its WM5 upgrade proves to be usable.) In addition, it caused not only a lot of strain on my eyes, but also a slight headache I'm still feeling. It's something I had after some minutes of using a Virtual Reality helmet (a very expensive helmet with two LCD screens in front of the two eyes) back in 1996-1997. I haven't paid attention to adjusting the eye correction then. The result was a week-long, very bad headache. I feel something similar right now – fortunately, at a much lower intensity.

Note that, while I don't particularly recommend the HTC Universal (for various reasons; size, weight, generic slowness and price being the most important ones) as a "generic" PDA, the "old", but still very good iPAQ hx4700 may be reborn: it will receive the WM5 upgrade today. If the upgrade proves be a good one (that is, much better than the close-to-useless WM5 upgrade of the Dell Axim x50/x50v and not having the common problems of the WM5 upgrade for the HP iPAQ hx2xxx series), then, the hx4700 will again become a highly recommended, up-to-date VGA PDA, unlike the PL720, which doesn't receive the WM5 upgrade.

Also note that it's highly likely that the two forthcoming Fujitsu-Siemens VGA models, the C550 and the N560 (the latter being a device with really good specifications) will most likely have the same high-quality screen as the PL720. That is, if you don't want to go for the Dells and wouldn't get the "old" hx4700 either, it may be worth waiting a bit more to see whether the screen quality of the two new F-S devices are worth paying for.

Recommended reading

Some opinions on the hx4700 and its usability as a book reader: 1; 2

Some questions/links

Another (highly heated) thread on this problem causing headache

Generic (one-on-one) comparison of WM2003SE VGA Pocket PC's; the information there also applies to the x51v, which has the same screen as the (non-early) x50v. (Early x50v's had a vastly different, even worse screen than later ones/the x51v.)

Intresting topic.

[Zatx]

I had noticed the eye strain when using Internet Explorer in landscape mode. Never really understood what the problem was. After reading the article I still don't really understand what the problem is, but at least I know Im not the only one now.

For me looking at the screen is like watching one of those old 3-d moves with the red and blue plastic glasses.

But I only ever experience this when in Internet Explorer. If I'm using iSilo to read a book I can read for hours and not expierence this effect.


/shrug

[Menneisyys]

Please note that in no way would I want to discourage people from buying a x50v/x51v. (I, personally, also have a x51v and am pretty happy with it, not counting in the crappy BT stack and screen). It's just that I, who have several Pocket PC's so I do have other PPC's to compare to, recommend the same to other people wanting to buy Pocket PC's.

Some (not necessarily all!) people are sensitive to the problems I've described - just follow the links in the 'recommended links' section to see some examples of them. Therefore, it's useful for everyone to check out the screen before paying money for it.

[rlarson_mn]

Interesting post.

Totally at odds with my direct experience of reading books on my X51v in landscape mode without significant eye-strain.

But interesting.

This has been my experience also. I do not live in landscape mode but I spend a significant amount of time using it with no issues IMHO.

[drcj]

I use landscape all day in school, and in the car with zero problems, maybe you need some glasses?!

[bluevolume]

I use landscape all day in school, and in the car with zero problems, maybe you need some glasses?!

This whole thread is about standards and preference -- there's no definitive statements here. The facts are that the x5x(v) series have had two different screens used in their manufacture. The first was in the original x50v, up to hardware rev A04 or A05. It was replaced with a new screen (which is also being used in all x51v's) that is supposed to be more viewable in direct sunlight, at the cost of some contrast and a slightly less eye-pleasing color temperature. This newer screen also has a bit less 'polarization' when used in landscape mode.

When compared to VGA screens on other devices, in some areas the x5x(v)'s stand out and in others they lag behind. Its no different then comparing a wall of TVs in a store, and looking back and forth between them to determine the absolute best picture. Once you take one of them home, you don't have the others to compare it to, and chances are you'd be happy with any of them. The Axims do not have the best screens available, but at the same time they are built to target a low price point. I realize the OP was trying to share some things he had figured out, but all this thread is really going to do is confuse a lot of people and make them think their Axim's are inferior.

[MCMANNUS]

Its not an issue with glasses. Many people have noticed this. It has to do with the viewing angle of the lcd vga screen. Remember old laptops when u would move a bit left or right from in front of the screen, the image would darken or lighten. Well vga screen in the x51v is cheap. Compare it to other ppc vgas and this will become apparent. Its still a good screen. To cut corners it appears the screen manufacturer didnt correct for this "polarizing" effect vertically on the screen. This drastically reduces the viewing angle, so much so that one eye sees a slightly different image than the other. It is very slight as the eyes are not very far apart, but some people have the acuity to pick this up. this would definitely cause strain. Another possible factor why some people don't notice this, is that is the distortion may vary slightly with each paticular screen.

[c00lk1d]

I have my backlight on lowest,
I seem to be able ot use it without any problems.
On birghtest i do get some stain afther a 1h or so

[myrcgarage]

I read a post a week ago that somebody got a replacement that his screen doesn't have this problem anymore. Could somebody confirm this? Could Dell use a different screen from a different manufacturer?

[l0l]

Menneisyys,

What you observed is exactly what I experience. I'd fall asleep in less than half an hour, that's how bad it is. In portrait mode, I can use it for >6 hrs without any problem.

C00lk1d mentioned "backlight on lowest ... use it without any problems; brightest do get some stain". It does help a bit.

MCMANNUS: "but some people have the acuity to pick this up this would definitely cause strain." This is definitely true. All our eyes are different from one another.

I noticed that if I read with the Landscape mode turn upside down, I don't have a problem. There are certain apps (PocketTV) that allow this. I think they call it "left side down" instead of the default "right side down".

Glad you brought it out.

[Menneisyys]

I noticed that if I read with the Landscape mode turn upside down, I don't have a problem. There are certain apps (PocketTV) that allow this. I think they call it "left side down" instead of the default "right side down".

The OS itself allows for this - just choose 'Left-hand Landscape' in Settings/System/Screen instead of the default 'Right-hand Landscape' .

I can confirm that working with my x50v in landscape mode is all but fun. It is not possible to look at it straight, instead I have to tilt it and look slightly from right in order not to have the aforementioned effect, i.e. one eye sees different from the other. That makes reading and browsing and watching movies hard and tiring.