Make an old HP w1907 LCD monitor non-glare

[loninappleton]

I got an old HP w1907 from the local Craiglist. The fellow delivered it for me and then I saw that the screen is very reflectant as all the old ones and tvs were.

I've seen some film demos on Youtube for an expensive 'Winkie Dink' plastic layer over the surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oOfwF4plcI

I'd not invest in that. I just think I can find some anti glare screen and cut it to shape from scrap.

If I found another old screen (on the curb) could I trim something from that and replace whatever the clear plastic layer is behind the frame? Simply put, just swap a clear plastic layer with an anti glare plastic sheet layer?

The "winkie dink" reference will be lost on anyone who isn't over 70 years old. :/
In the early days of television one of the Saturday morning kid's shows had you buy a plastic sheet to put over the
tv screen. Then over a few shows you's use a crayon to trace a partially revealed solution to a puzzle. See, I told you so.

[Frieren]

Polarizing filter is usually glued to the screen.

Anti glare films are very expensive even from aliexpress/china, making more economic sense to replace the whole lcd panel with matt one instead. You can look for matt lcd panel with similar dimensions and use an adapter for the connection to HP w1907 connection type.

But since this is an cheap/old monitor, I don't think it will make any sense to do any of these.

Buying an external monitor will probably make more sense. Of course you can also try/test anti glare film for window, anti blue light or privacy screen for monitor but cheap ones are usually glossy rather than matt.

[loninappleton]

Thanks for answering. I did find a cast-off LCD tv on the curb. I just wanted something with a circuit board in it to practice soldering before I attempted a different repair. I did save the layers of the LCD screen. But since I never had the thing turned on I'm only guessing there is the anti glare layer. That one looks too opaque but maybe I did not have it in good contact just holding it up to take a look. As I disassembled it I saved what I could and took the metal shell to the metal
recycling.

The old monitore itself has a fine picture. The reflectant screen is just a nuisance

[Cornucopia]

LCD screens already include the equivalent of a polarizing filter in their layer substrate. Adding a polarizing filter on top of that would very likely either warp the image coloring & brightness levels, or possibly even blank out the screen entirely (depending of if using linear or circular polarizing sheets). DON'T DO IT.

If you want an old-school way of reducing glare, they used to have micro-slot lenticular barrier sheets (aka super-thin vertical strips that would act as "blinders" like on a horse). But I've only ever seen ones sized for a 15-24" monitor, not a full size TV.

My recommendation is that you just remove the SOURCE of the glare (bright lights, unshaded windows, etc)...or get a newer TV.

<edit> I see you did finally get rid of the TV. Probably a good idea. Gonna leave this up here anyway for others.


Scott

[loninappleton]

Hi Scott,

Yes, now that I know more about how the screens are made, it's best left alone. I try wax paper. Another failure.

The old tv was always just for parts so I could practice soldering a bit before attempting to repair a different monitor--another ancient HP. The only thing I could do with that is look at the capacitors for blow outs. I found a likely target on that
one but have had to replace a soldering iron etc. These are just hobby repairs. Things to keep my mind active in old age.

[pandy]

You can try https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracing_paper?useskin=vector - thinnest and the most transparent one you can find.