Electronics

[Moonchilde]

I wonder if others can share thoughts on this -

Whenever you go computer shopping, all of the screens in the store are turned to 100% brightness. They look good, of course. But I have always wondered - if you leave your monitor set at 100% from Day One, what happens when that brightness starts to fade (as I assume it will) 2, 3 or 4 years down the road? If you've always had it at 100%, you would, I think, be stuck with a machine whose screen can never be bright enough again for as long as you have it (I wouldn't replace the screen/light, wouldn't think it would be cost effective).

I typically keep my iPad screen at about 60% at home. I have my new Dell set now at 75%.

Has anyone had the same laptop for 4-5+ years that they have run at 100% the whole time? What has been your experience?

[millieshops]

My laptop (the only computer I own) is nearly 4 years old and has run at 100% brightness always.  I don't notice a change, so if there has been one it must be gradual and/or slight.  Not a problem at all right now.

Because the average life span of a laptop is 4 years, I'm not going to worry about the brightness.

[chickenbutt]

Hi Moonchilde!   

I use only laptops and keep mine fairly bright.   My oldest laptop that is still in commission is over 8 years old and it's perfectly fine.  All I find that it does is use the battery a little quicker, if you're using the battery instead of electricity.

I'd keep it however it is comfortable.  I don't think it's like a light bulb or something that will die.  I could be wrong, of course, but I think it's more about the power (battery or electricity) than anything else.

[Moonchilde]

Thanks for your replies. Funny that I keep the iPad screen dim-ish because of battery life, and haven't worried about it dimming with time, but I do think about it with laptops. I think because my new laptop is a Dell and a previous Dell wasn't all that bright after time.

As far as the "lifetime" of the device, while a working woman I have always had the $$ to upgrade every few years when needed, but I will soon be retiring and both cost and longevity will need to count. That's a reality of life.

[gardenman]

Pretty much every device uses LED's these days and they don't tend to dim, so you really shouldn't notice much of a difference until you get past 50,000 hours or so when one or more LED's are likely to fail.

[chickenbutt]

Thanks for the correct information, Gardenman!    

[Nightowlz]

That's like the TV's they sale now. The backlight is always turned all the way up when you get it home. With it turned all the way up makes your TV not last as long. I don't like bright light so I always have mine turned way down. When I use my iPad at night it's turned down all way. Sometimes I wish I could turn it down more. I have to turn it up more when I'm using it in the car.

[Moonchilde]

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@gardenman wrote:

Pretty much every device uses LED's these days and they don't tend to dim, so you really shouldn't notice much of a difference until you get past 50,000 hours or so when one or more LED's are likely to fail.

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Thank you, @gardenman, I suspect the old laptop was LCD and that was my previous issue. I won't worry about it any more.