Something Annoying about the PSP Screen

[suckerpunch5]

Please forgive me if this topic has been done, but I searched, and didn't find anything.

When I'm outside, I can't see my PSP screen at all!! Direct sunlight makes it impossible to see. I freakin hate it. I was walking to work, listening to music on it, and I couldn't see the song list. This is the only tech problem I've had with my PSP so far, but Grrr...

Anywho, my GBA SP screen looks great in direct sunlight. Does anyone know the technical differences between these two screens? What makes it so that you can see one, and not the other?

[dbiersdorf]

SP would be back-lit, while the PSP is front-lit just like the DS.

[zmweasel]

SP would be back-lit, while the PSP is front-lit just like the DS.

They're all backlit, actually.

-- Z.

[dbiersdorf]

Are you sure? If that were the case then the PSP and DS backlights are different in some style.

[zmweasel]

Are you sure? If that were the case then the PSP and DS backlights are different in some style.

DS specs, from Nintendo's own website (http://www.nintendo.com/techspecds):

Upper Screen: Backlit, 3-inch, semitransparent reflective TFT color LCD with 256x192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch

Touch Screen: Same as upper screen, but with transparent analog touch screen

GBA SP specs, from Nintendo's own website (http://www.nintendo.com/techspecgba):

Screen : (diagonal) reflective TFT color LCD
Resolution : 240 x 160 pixels

Sony's tech-specs page doesn't specifically mention the PSP's backlight, but I'm not aware of anyone disputing that it's a backlit screen.

-- Z.

[Jibbajaba]

SP would be back-lit, while the PSP is front-lit just like the DS.

You have it exactly backwards. The SP is a front-lit reflective TFT, which is why it looks really good in the sun. Back-lit screens like the DS and PSP look like shit in the sun because it washes them out. The Lynx and Game Gear also had back-lit screens, and therefore also looked like peepee outside. All of the color gameboys have had reflective TFT screens, so they all look great outside.

Supposedly the GBA micro will have a backlit screen, so no outside fun with that one.

Chris

[l_lamb]

I thought the GBA SP had a front lit screen to conserve power. The GBA's reflective TFT screen was made to reflect light back through to make the screen appear brighter.