Specifications
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Technical white paper | HP ZBook 17 G2 Mobile Workstation
Display options
As a mobile workstation customer, we know that viewing your work precisely
is critical to your success. You need the right display in order to accurately and
eciently get your work done. Our HP ZBook 17 G2 oers dierent display
options, so that you can get the best visual experience. On top of that, our
mobile workstation allows you to dock and take advantage of our HP Z Displays.
We know that many times people can get lost in the technical jargon and measures when it comes to comparing displays;
however, this section should give you the basic knowledge to understand all the terms and measurements involved when
evaluating dierent displays. After we give you an overview on the technical bits, we will tell you how to choose the best
display option for your HP ZBook 17 G2. And, since we know many of you will also dock your HP ZBook and utilize HP Z
Displays, we will go over choosing those as well.
Display technology background and information
There are many dierent measures used to understand or express the performance of a mobile workstation-level
display. Display resolution would be the most obvious measure as you would want the best resolution for your tasks;
however, there are other measures of a display that should be taken into account. Screen brightness, viewing angle,
response rate, and bit-precision are all important factors that need to be considered when choosing a display.
TN vs IPS displays
The two most popular types of displays are the Twisted-Nematic display (TN) and the In-Plane Switching display (IPS).
TN displays are the most common display type, but use older technology. TN displays provide great response rates, high
brightness, and low power consumption. You may experience color shifts, though, when viewing at wide angles on a TN
display. However, if you want a fast, bright display and have low power needs, then a TN display suits the bill.
IPS oers a great solution for a display that does it all and has taken the stage as the best display technology. IPS
displays use newer technology and improve on many of the shortcomings seen with TN—most noticeable, better color
reproduction and viewing angles. If color, larger viewing angles or a well-rounded display is important, then you will
want to go with an IPS display.
Brightness
Luminance and brightness, while being dierent terms and measurements, represent the same thing. While brightness
is a relative measure, luminance is an exact measurement of light output from your display. Luminance is measured in
candelas per square meter (cd/m
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) often referred to as cdm or the shorthand nits. Simply put, a cdm is how much light
a screen is producing with the size of the screen already taken into account. This allows the comparison of a 24" display
to a 13" display in nits directly without having to adjust for dierent screen sizes. Another benet of measuring screen
brightness in nits is how easy the scale is to understand, the more cdm equals the brighter the screen.
While luminance is an important value to keep in mind, you don’t always want the brightest monitor. If you work outside a
lot, or work in a bright environment with lots of windows and natural light then a brighter monitor is benecial. However,
if you work in a lower light environment, such as an oce or cubicle, then a bright monitor can sometimes cause eye
strain, headaches and other negative health eects. This should be scrutinized heavily as eye strain from a bright
monitor can be detrimental.
Viewing angles
When looking at a TN screen from an angle, the images on the display often look dimmer or disappear completely. This