So, what do you see when you open up a laptop?
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Written by Atila on July 27, 2008 – 3:44 pm
So, what do you see when you open up a laptop? On nearly all current machines, the top half presents just the screen and nothing but. To be a bit more precise, a supporting frame around the screen holds it in place and a protective surface across the front of the screen guards against damage and deflects glare.
The very first electronic computers were essentially very large and very complex calculators. Remember those old sci-fi movies where the space cadet or the mad scientist would prance around in front of a console full of flashing lights? No screen, no printer: just light bulbs. Today’s personal computers and laptops are very different: they’re graphics-based devices. Although deep within its electronic chips the machine is still manipulating numbers, as a user you’re working with pictures.
A screen is essentially an interactive television; you see a picture of a set of words, or a picture of an Internet web site that’s based on the computer’s conversion of numbers into an image. Going the other way, the computer is capable of interpreting the movement of an on-screen pointer to receive instructions from you.
The electronics for the LCD screen are enclosed within the upper part of the clamshell and they’re relatively simple: a web of tiny wires that crisscross the screen at right angles to carry current that darkens or lightens specific spots (called picture elements or pixels), and on most machines a very small lamp that illuminates the screen background.
The brain that determines which pixel should be light or dark is located in the lower part of the laptop. There’s not a whole bunch to say about the back (you might call it the cover) of the upper part of the laptop. Its purpose is to protect the LCD screen within, but don’t mistake it for a bulletproof shield. Never place a heavy load on the cover – it’s simply not that strong and you could end up cracking the screen or its wiring within.
Finally, hinges attach the upper part to the lower part and a flexible ribbon of wires connect the electronics of one to the other. These low-tech mechanical devices are a dangerous potential point of failure. Always use a gentle hand when you open or close the clamshell, and avoid hyperextending the screen too far back from an upright or slightly obtuse angle.
You can adjust the appearance of your LCD screen four ways. Two of the methods are physical adjustments, and two are electronic settings; it’s up to you to find the best combination for your style of work and your tired eyes.
You can make a number of adjustments to the screen resolution, number of colors displayed, and other settings from Display Properties settings within Windows – although I recommend that you take a very cautious approach here. The very nature of a laptop as an all-in-one box means that the computer, the graphics adapter, and the screen have all been matched by the designers and they’re probably given the proper settings.
You can get to the Display Properties dialog box several ways, including choosing Start->Control Panel. The quickest way, though, is to right-click any blank area of the desktop and then choose Properties from the pop-up menu. Here are your options.
