Chi Mei preps 16:9, LED-backlit notebook displays
updated 10:50 am EDT, Fri March 27, 2009
Chi Mei 16 9 Notebook LCDs
Taiwan component maker Chi Mei is planning to delve deeper into notebook LCDs with multiple extra-wide, LED-backlit models launching this year, sources for DigiTimes say. A 13.4-inch panel for thin-and-light notebooks is due that would include both the thinner, more energy-efficient LED light along with a relatively vivid 500:1 contrast ratio. It's also being complemented by a 15.6-inch display that would only be marginally larger than taller 16:10 displays but would have a sharper 1600x900 resolution, a 250-nit brightness and a comparatively quick 8ms pixel response time.
Other displays are reportedly in the works but have been given less details. A second 13.4-inch display would even be thinner and manufactured this spring; while the company is already making a thin 5.2mm (0.2in) thick 14-inch LCD, it plans an even thinner 3.6mm (0.14in) such screen. An 8.9-inch touchscreen designed for small netbooks is also due before the end of June.
Neither the sources nor Chi Mei has said which companies are likely to adopt any of the new displays, though Dell currently uses both 13.4-inch and 15.6-inch screens on a small number of its PCs.
