Dell Latitude XT displays compared: daylight viewable vs. LED

When Dell's long-awaited Latitude XT finally hit the scenes, many were captivated by the idea of a daylight viewable screen on such a portable rig. Up until now, however, there's been little analysis over which was actually superior. Granted, we aren't saying that you can't disagree firmly with GottaBeMobile's assessment, but after checking each out for an extended period of time, Rob Bushway actually concluded that the LED-based machine was preferable. Aside from coming in a few ounces lighter, the LED-equipped unit didn't seem to perform noticeably worse than the DLV counterpart, and even battery life was practically the same for each. Don't take our word for it, though -- check out the entire writeup (video included) in the read link below.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:09AM]

I took a look at the two pics and right away perfer the one on the LEFT - it just looks brighter.

Since I didn't bother to check which one is the LED and which is the daytimeviewable, I think this is a good comparison.

[fourthletter @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:23AM]

Yeh obviously you judge that from a badly taken photo D'OH!

DLV is just a filter put over the screen, maybe the extra brightness from the LED backlight ends up with the same result.

[JJV @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:19AM]

There isnt really much difference between the two.

[Slacker @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:25AM]

The left one is the DLV. It looks like it has much deeper blacks to me, which is great.
On the other hand, looking at the pics it seems quite a lot fatter, and it does weigh a bit more.. I'd go LED based on that comparison i think..

[majortom1981 @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:33AM]

I hope you guys arent comparing too much since the two laptops dont use the same vista theme.

They should both have black task bars not one black and one with aero enabled.

That makes the one on the left seem like it has better color.

[Beastage @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:52AM]

You actually spotted that?! nice work ... I cant see squat on those pictures

I guess these guys missed the whole hires image thing.

[wrabbit @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:55AM]

Or you know, it could be that they're using the same theme, and it's just that the two laptops are at different angles to the camera and the screens are different - which makes the taskbar on the left look darker - it's so crazy it might actually be true.

[majortom1981 @ Jun 3rd 2008 10:04AM]

wrabbit you obviously have not used vista. The task bar on the laptop on the left is black while the taskbar of the one on the right is blue with aero enabled. come on do i have to make a picture with paint to point it out.

[wrabbit @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:12PM]

Oh please do make a picture with Paint, it's gonna be fun... well at least for me :D

[Godzilla @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:50AM]

zomg how can you possibly not tell the difference?!one! If I were to use that one, I would totally go blind, it's just so hideous, it's like comparing a Yugo to a Lamborghini.

Oh, and for those who forgot their morning bowel movement, /sarcasm, as I find little to no different, and certainly not enough to shit over it all. Oh and yea, you need to compare apples-to-apples, make sure that the screen of both units is displaying the exact same configuration at the same depth, etc. You have heard of spin-doctoring, right?

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 3rd 2008 10:43AM]

It would be a good comparison if we were to compare this to another computer company's tablet as well. How about Apple ? How does the lighting stack up to Apple's tablet ?

I heard that the screen rotates around like something out of the Exorcist. I heard that the battery life is 12 hours on a 4 cell.

What ? That can't be true ! Apple must have a tablet offering. They invented pc's (oops computers"") didn't they ? They must have one of these.

Oh.. what.. what did you say ?...they won't bring one out until they can truly innovate. You say ""innovate as in... do something the same but different. Like they did by ripping off the HTC Touch.

Hey ! That is not fair ! They put an alloy chassis on a laptop. That was innovative. That was real innvoation. I love my macbook thing, it is so....well alloyish. I still look and marvel at my transparent plastic CRT monitor. Now that is good.

So come-on Dell, innovate something new and leave a gap so that Apple can "innovate" better. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of kids out there that want and need something shiny to show the other kids at school.

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 3rd 2008 10:45AM]

Oops wandered a little off-topic. Sorry. Could..not...help...my..selffff. Must...try...hard...urgghh

[dobba @ Jun 3rd 2008 10:56AM]

Wanker.

[CosterMonger @ Jun 3rd 2008 10:46AM]

I can see why the LED is preferred, they look the same brightness outdoors, so much for the DLV.

[Walt_Mink @ Jun 3rd 2008 11:23AM]

The reason they have a DLV version is for outdoor light viewing. You won't see a quality difference until the ambient light is bright enough to wash out the LED version. That is where you'll see the 220nit vs. 400nit difference. Also, the DLV version has an ALS (Ambient Light Sensor) that allows the system to automatically adjust the brightness of the screen.

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 3rd 2008 12:29PM]

@dobba,

that is really unkind. you have been away for such a long time, and now you just walk back in the door and blow me away with your rabid comment.

I would not dream of calling you a tosser in return. and certainly not the manner in which I would like my childish behaviour to be conveyed.

[mxlplx @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:59PM]

I don't know what you guys are talking about. The DLV looks better in daylight than the LED, which is kinda the selling point of DLV. I can actually make out the icons in the photo. The LED is a bit of a blur by comparison.