1.What kinds of screen backlight are available?

There are two backlight systems in use today: CCFL and LED.

CCFL – Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light, uses a daylight specter fluorescent tube and need an inverter to supply power.

LED – a newer backlighting system, does not need inverter, and uses a strip of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) instead of fluorescent tube.

2.How do they work?

CCFL – always need a high voltage inverter to power the bulb inside the screen.

LED – uses light emitting diodes to light up the screen. Most of the LED screens also require an inverter, but the inverters of the two types are completely different. Inverters of the LED backlight are attached to the bottom of the screen.

3.Are they interchangeable, CCFL backlight and LED backlight?

The replacement screen must have exactly the same backlight type as the old screen. So it’s impossible to install a CCFL screen into a laptop that uses LED screen, and vice-versa.

LED and CCFL laptop screens are not interchangeable, because they use different connectors and power sources. Laptop’s motherboard will have to be replaced in order to upgrade the laptop from CCFL backlight type to the LED backlight type.

4.Is LED backlight better than CCFL backlight?

LED is a newer type of backlight which allows the screen to consume less power, does not heat up as much as CCFL based screen, and is thinner and lighter.

5.How to know the backlight type is CCFL or LED?

The best way to determine which backlight type screen is in your laptop, you can remove and examine the screen. Or you can check your laptop manual, check specifications online at your laptop manufacturer’s Support section, or contact your laptop manufacturer.

LED screen can never be used to replace a CCFL screen.

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The BenQ Joybook S42 is Classic Victorian style with a blue vine pattern on the cover, it looks elegant and perfect.  The BenQ Joybook S42 is excellent with strong performance  such as 14.1-inch LED screen, full size keyboard,Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology and Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics card etc.

BenQ Joybook S42 specs:

14.1″ LED-backlit, widescreen LCD (1280 x 800)
5.5 hours battery life
2.40GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
nVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT and Intel GMA X4500HD
512MB – 4GB RAM
120/160/250/320GB hard drive
4-in-1 card reader
Noise-cancelling microphone
Built-in 2.0-megapixel webcam
4 USB 2.0 ports
RJ-45 Ethernet port
RJ-11 Modem port
HDMI output
D-Sub port
ExpressCard slot

As the BenQ Joybook S42 is equipped with the LED screen, so the BenQ Joybook S42 just weighs 3.33 kg with standard 6-cell battery, which is a little lighter than the average laptop with 14.1 inches screen. The BenQ Joybook S42 is thick 1.52 inches which is thicker 38.7mm than the average 14.1 inches notebook in order to ensure proper ventilation.

BenQ Joybook S42 comes with a 14.1-inch LED screen with the resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. With the LED backlight, the BenQ Joybook S42 will save more power and brighter than the laptop with CCFL-backlit.

The keyboard of the BenQ Joybook S42 is in full size. With the large keyboard of the BenQ Joybook S42, we can type quickly and comfortably. While the function key  is on the lower left corner, which is not very convenient for people to use it, and we should spend some time in adapting it.

The traction of the BenQ  S42 touchpad is good, while the single piece of metal that acts as both the left- and right-click buttons was problematic. The result is a higher-than-usual rate of mistaken clicking that would be easy to avoid by properly marking the two buttons out.

The BenQ Joybook S42 comes with a 6-cell Lithium-Ion Battery, 52 Whr (4800 mAh). In the performance code of BenQ Joybook S42, the battery life can last 3.5 hours, while the battery life can last for 5.5 hours in power-saving mode.

BenQ Joybook S42 notebook is powered by a Core 2 Duo P8400 processor (2.26GHz) with GM45 chipset (integrated GMA X4500 graphics), a 2GB DDR2-667 memory and 320GB 5400rpm hard drive, DVD burner machines and 5300AGN wireless module, ExpressCard/54 slot and 4 USB ports, a 4-in-1 card reader. The BenQ Joybook S42 notebook also features a 2.0MP webcam with noise-cancelling microphone for VoIP applications.

The BenQ Joybook S42 is with Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology‘s 1080p video decoder, you can enjoy a wonderful image with good quality and can enjoy full HD movies, and you can expect a longer-lasting battery life.

The BenQ Joybook S42 features not only GMA X4500 integrated graphics but also 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics card (GDDR3).  When you activate discrete GPU, BenQ Joybook S42 enables strong performance in most games and other demanding applications; the BenQ Joybook S42 offers the clearest and most vivid color and special effects. And when your laptop is at an iGPU mode,the BenQ  S42 will save 50% of the total power.

The BenQ Joybook S42 supports the switch between its two graphics card without turning off the laptop thanks to the new Centrino 2 platform with Hybrid Graphics technology.  When you charge the laptop with AC adapter, the laptop can switches automatically to the Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics card, and when you run the laptop with the battery, it will activate the integrated Intel video processor.

The nice laptop, you can not miss it!

Related aticle about BenQ laptop:

BenQ U101 Netbook Review

Toshiba announced a variety of new notebooks joined the Windows7 systems in the Japanese market, some models come with WiMAX technology.

DynaBookSSRX2 ,new models join Windows7 Professional operating system, 12.1-inch LED screen. 2SU9400 Core processor, 4GB memory and 250GB hard drive configuration, 128GBSSD hard. An optional WiMAX module.

DynabookUX, equips with Windows7, 250GB hard drive and 1GB of memory, optional WiMAX module, configuration AtomN280 processor.

DynabookTV series of notebook choose Celeron or Core Duo T3000 processor, 2P8700, with DVDCombo or Blu-ray drive. Using a 16-inch screen you have the 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive. Still with Windows7 system. Built-in TV tuner.

QosmioG60 starts configuring 2P8700 Core Duo processor, with 18.4 inches screen with 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive, two TV tuners, Blu-ray drive. It is first listed by the end of November in Japan.

In addition to the above these models, Toshiba has also introduced a 13.3-inch DynabookMX/43 and 11.6-inch notebook MX/33. MX/43 notebook configurations Core 2SU9400 processor, with 2GB memory and 250GB hard drive. 10 hours with the battery life.
Configuration Windows7HomePremium operating system.

MX/33 notebook with 1.3GHz Celeron 743 GHz processor, other configurations is  roughly the same with MX/43. Both products will in the Japanese markets in the October 22.