You have to go see this photo...

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.infosync.no/news/2002/n/1976.html">http://www.infosync.no/news/2002/n/1976.html</a><br /><br />Since I don't like it when other sites rip off our content, I won't do the same to my pal Jorgen over at infoSync. Suffice it to say that he has a photo up on his site that shows an iPAQ 38xx side by side with the new 39xx and its swanky transflective screen. Go look. The important thing to notice when you look at this photo is the complete lack of reflection on the 39xx, and the uniform brightness. The 38xx screen looks positively pathetic in comparison, and this reinforces my opinion about the 39xx screen when I saw it a while back - it's simply gorgeous, reminding me very much of the lovely Casio EM-500 screens of yore...want a 3970? <a href="http://www.dreampages.com?aff=pocketpcthoughts&page=bcomippocpc.html">Pre-order one today.</a>

[Jonathan1]

Thanks but I think I'll save about a $100 and go with a Loox when it comes out. :D It has transreflective tech too. Don't ya love that word? Transreflective. Its got a distinctive Star Trek sound to it. :lol:

[Dave Conger]

That difference is really quite amazing. I wonder, is transreflective suppose to work better in outdoor (bright) conditions as well? Also, how does transreflective effect the battery preformance of the device?

[vetteguy]

I would love to preorder one, and will probably buy one, as soon as they announce a model with integrated Wi-Fi.

[Xyress]

The screen looks great, but the iPAQ still looks like it was designed by a 5-year-old. Ugh - why do people think it looks nice?

So the LOOX has the same screen? Hook me up! That's the best-looking device that's been announced so far. The D-pad's still in the middle, but with the lack of Gameboy-button-style layouts, I might have to live with that.

[Foo Fighter]

People are raving over the display. I'm feeling tempted to order one just for the screen! Must fight temptation...[*reaching for credit card*]...must fight temptation. :?

[klinux]

Casio E-125/EM-500 screen is still better than the new iPaq's indoor, IMO.

[brntcrsp]

Casio E-125/EM-500 screen is still better than the new iPaq's indoor, IMO.

except that you can't see the e-125 outside. ever. (save for night, of course) but who goes out into the sun anymore.

[Robotbeat]

who goes into the sun anymore
;) So true.

Actually, since my iPAQ is getting fixed in the shop (my shop at work), I am using my good ol' e115. The display on it is absolutely gorgeous! It actually looks better and has richer color (although my e115 only is 16-bit...) than the TFT LCD I use for my desktop! I am serious. They have about the same contrast. And my e115 is a little bit brighter.

However, you can see just barely the e115's display in direct sunlight. In direct sunlight, it doesn't matter if the display's backlight is on or not. It kind of reflects, a teeny bit, but it is only good for locating the buttons on Windows Media Player.

[Wackyman]

I have played with a real 3970 today at the TECHXNY. the screen looked actually better than the picture you saw here. Tapping on the screen is like tapping on a piece of glass, very very smooth, just like the tactile feedback you get on the Toshiba screens. I compared the screen of the new iPAQ against the latest Clie, Clie's was weak!

Man, how I wanted to swap that babe with my 3850 right there! The screen was amazing!

[cyngon]

In thought the 3900's would say HP. Why does it say Compaq at the top of the device?

[Chris Dunphy]

I checked out the 3900 at PC Expo.

Indeed, the screen is great, as reported. The most amazing thing about it is how bright it is - the backlight is massively powerful. It definately has flashlight potential. You get very nice true whites.

The colors were just as nice as the Sony NR70. The max brightness was higher. The resolution (of course) was much less than the NR70.

But...

I discovered the downside. You only get this beautiful brightness when plugged in to wall power.

The default brightness when on battery is actually around 10% of the default when plugged in to the wall.

At that brightness the screen is no longer nearly as impressive. It actually looks rather dull, and whites have a strong yellowy tinge.

You can adjust the default brightness, of course. It remains to be seen just how much of a price in battery life you will have to pay. I'm sure that Compaq had its reasons for setting its default so low....

On the other hand, the NR70 screen at minimum brightness looks just a tad bit blueish, but the color is still gorgeous and the whites look great.

- chris