Post #3976352

2026-07-21 03:33 UTC

When did active matrix LCDs become a thing in consumer #electronics? I think I've stumbled on an unasked and unanswered question in #retrogaming history and the answer hinges on the above question. #AskFedi

Replies (1)

@Kazinator@mstdn.ca 2026-07-21 03:46

@timixretroplays@digipres.club I remember it was around Y2K. Laptop computers with the slow, old style LCD screens appeared in the late 1980's, not active matrix. These were so bad that for desktop computers, CRTs continued to be used for another ten years. LCD "flat screen" monitors started to appear in maybe around 1998 give or take and by Y2K were starting to take over. TVs came next. In 2003 I bought a LCD TV: a ViewSonic 720p thing from Costco for around a $1000 CAD. That was maybe the tipping point year for CRT to LCD: reasonably cheap LCD TVs were now available with good picture you could watch from across the room. That the TV carried the brand name of a computer monitor company is telling; the LCD revolution was nucleated by computer monitors. And for a good reason, because computer monitor users tolerate smaller screen sizes, and don't require brightness for viewing from a distance.

Open ##3976351