screens with 65k colors vs screens with 250k+ colors

[fguihen]

ok, i see the new toshiba gigabeat s series pmc player will only display 65k colors. im wondering, on a screen only 3 or so inches in size, will make any difference if it displays 65000 or 650000000 colors? how many colors is the human eye actually sensitive to? would the quality on a 65000 color player be very low?

 

[GSTom1]

Yeah, the difference between a 256K and 65K color screen is definitely noticeable. When the Zen Vision: M was announced in December, there were Vision: M versus iPod debate threads on forums such as Dapreview that lasted over 40 pages! People were skeptical of the Vision: M’s 256K screen and many argued that it looked oversaturated.

Conspiracy theorists surmised that pictures showing the screens of the two players side-by-side had been altered in Photoshop in favor of the Vision: M. Well, when the Zen Vision: M finally came out in January, most people who have seen it agree that it is one of the most beautiful small screens (2.5”) they have sever seen on any device.

Search around and you will find lots of arguments regarding this issue. Here’s a picture (abet 2 months old) comparing the screens of an Apple LCD, Apple iPod and Zen Vision: M. You be the judge.

Flickr also has some other shots comparing the screen and TV lineouts:

Vizion's photos

Doe anyone have some personal comparison shots they can share?

 

[Kirosia]

Some reviewers do say the vision screen is oversaturated. The apple lcd above may be the same. As for the ipod, yes it's definitely undersaturated. The limitations of the amts of colors is obvious as well. (although pics look great) I've never hooked it up to tv, but I'm positive the ipod would look like arse. Both are probably still better than the psp, whose crutch is it's crappy refresh rate. (has a lot of redding brown blurring/ghosting)

I personally wish for screen that tries to stay neutral, I really hate under and oversaturation of colors. But the latter drives me nuts in more. It's really the implementation that matters I think, I'm sure even with 60+K colors the ipod's screen could've been better, but alas they're probably saving that for april . . . Anyways, just check out the players and see which flaw you prefer. I've always wanted to try a zen, but couldn't find any round here.

 

[ILikeMusic]

Does anyone have some personal comparison shots they can share?

I've looked at them side-by-side and there isn't much to compare, the Vision:M is clearly better.

At least until April...

 

[EscaBoi]

here are a couple of shots i took of my Vision M, the quality of the pictures are not great because they were taken with my Cell Phone, unfortunately i dont have a Digicam, other wise i would have taken a ton of pics of the player and the screen itself