Preserving laptop screen brightness...

[rsdmems]

Hi! I noticed that over the three years that I intensively used my IBM T20 laptop, the screen brightness gradually began to fade a bit. Well, I just bought a new laptop (a Panasonic Toughbook W2 which is really cool, but that's another story), and I am intent on trying to preserve the display brightness on this one for as long as possible. So, here are my questions:

1) Will it help to make my Windows desktop theme "icons floating on a black backround"? My thinking here is that this will minimize the amount of lit pixels, and thus prolong their life. On the other hand, though, when I do this, I still notice some light eminating from the base of the screen. I presume that this is the backlight, and this makes me wonder if gradual "screen fade" is due to the lifespan of the backlight, rather than the pixels. Is this the case, and thus would using the black desktop theme not help any?

2) Would using the display's least acceptable brightness setting help to prolong its life for when I *do* need all the brightness (i.e., in outdoor conditions), or will the brightness fade at the same rate regardless of what setting I use?

3) Is it possible that the display won't fade at all, and that my IBM situation was a fluke? (I put a LOT of hours of use on my screens.)

Thanks for any and all responses!

[A.K.Arkane]

well over the last 3yrs they have made alot of advancements on LCD/laptop screens. and are made alittpe different know days/.. so Its kinda hard to say. but you might not leave the screen on. if your now going to be unit.

[A.K.Arkane]

well over the last 3yrs they have made alot of advancements on LCD/laptop screens. and are made alittpe different know days/.. so Its kinda hard to say. but you might not leave the screen on. if your now going to be on it.

[SeanC]

I think it's normal for laptop screens to start fading over time. How much were you using it though?

Sean

[rsdmems]

Hi Sean,

I used it pretty extensively-- I'd say the screen has about 15,000 hours on it. That's why I'm wondering if using a blacked-out desktop would help; i.e., does the brightness of LEDs decline over time, or is the brightness decline due to a fading backlight? And does a backlight fade over time or, like a lightbulb, just keep burning at the same intensity until it "conks out" one day?