Overpriced LCD Screens ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Benny33
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 13, 2012, 08:11:51 am
content: Hey ,I'm new to these forums and pretty new to EEVblog.I'm still fairly new to electronics . I decided to make a project that involved a LCD , I wanted something similar to the iphone size of 3.5 inches .During my research of my options and what would be the best and stay within my budget . I looked at many LCD screens that were available for electronic projects . I looked at many different websites and many different types .What I seem to notice about these products was the price , they seem to be overpriced in my view (especially if it is a hobbyist project) .Why do I think these LCD's are overpriced ?There are many comparisons I can make .For example the price on spark fun for a 4.3 inch screen with a 480 x 272 QVGA resolution for $131 .http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11075If you go have a look at deal extreme you can actually buy A whole GPS with exactly the same screen for less than half that. $55 .http://www.dealextreme.com/p/4-3-lcd-windows-ce-6-0-atlasiv-533mhz-arm11-gps-navigator-with-av-in-usa-maps-2gb-sd-card-51440Now you may be saying that the sf 4.3 does processing , has a type of operating system and IO pins etc , While that is true , the DX GPS does run the windows CE , it comes with flash memory, Arm process and even a GPS chip.You may also argue that these DXGPS are mass produced therefore reducing the manufacturing costs , this is true but does it justify for around 60% increased price?Another example I can give you is the price of the actually LCD screens for largely manufactured devices such as the PSP and Iphone/ipod screen .You can buy a PSP Screen for $40 , and a iphone (3gs ) for $30 .These screens do not have there driver built into them.I know these devices are mass produced but there is a big different in price.I'm not expecting to get a LCD for around $40 but why can't I buy a decent product with a good LCD screen and a driver that I can easily interface with and program for example with Ardunio or something similar for around the $60 mark . Why if I want a decent screen do I have to pay $130 for ?I could be total wrong with my arguments , if you don't agree please explain .What are your thoughts on this subjectThanks

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2012, 09:49:32 am
content: The sparkfun screen is not just a screen, it's a screen with touch panel and a (relatively powerful) GPU attached.Here you can find touch panel digitizer itself:http://www.dealextreme.com/p/repair-parts-replacement-touch-screen-digitizer-for-4-3-gps-33563and an LCD using a common ILI9325/9335 controller:http://www.dealextreme.com/p/replacement-lcd-screen-for-dingoo-a320-36475

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2012, 10:51:41 am
content: i was searching for product case in ebay last time, particularly "DMM like" case. well, buying a new complete and functional DMM is cheaper than buying the unpainted case alone. nasty business, i guess it went through the 4th, 5th and 6th person/dealer already, thats why maybe.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2012, 10:54:18 am
content: LCD screens are available cheaply if you look around.Here's a Samsung 4.3" for $24 but as already pointed out, all you get for this price is the screen. The driver hardware is still required, and is provided on a unit such as the Sparkfun one.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2012, 12:29:54 pm
content: As has been noted, if you buy a bare LCD, you then have to find a way to drive it. This isn't exactly trivial on the most part.You complain about the price of the sparkfun product, but think of the development time, parts and labour costs and suddenly it doesn't look that bad.The GPS on dealextreme is likely based on a tried and tested, then resold and purchased design, then manufactured as cheaply as possible, with low quality parts.At the end of the day, unless you want to deal with ARM/FPGA/DSP, your only real option is an LCD with a controller/driver on board. It's still going to probably use one of those anyway, or maybe a custom ASIC but at least you don't have to bother with it. Just remember though, someone else did have to bother, and there's more parts, and depending on where its made, higher production costs, and it all adds up. It's not very common to get cheap and easy together, especially for a high res 3.5" LCD that you want.

author: A-sic Enginerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2012, 12:49:15 pm
content: Volume.All those products you mentioned are MASS produced. Suppliers start giving pretty significant price breaks when you start talking the volumes those products are made in.I didn't bother to go look at the exact display you mentioned, but I'd be willing to bet that if you even went to just like digikey and find it (or similar) and take note of all the price breakpoints for the volumes. And you know the mfg of those products don't go to digikey. They go directly to the mfg. for those displays and get them even cheaper.I am with you at least in part though. I was pretty floored the first time I went looking for a display.