It’s reported that Dell plans to transition all of its new laptop displays to energy-saving light-emitting diode backlights by 2010, executives indicated that LED-lit desktop monitors will arrive in the near future.
By Dec. 15, two-thirds of Dell's Latitude E-series laptops will be shipped with mercury-free LED backlighting as a standard feature, including the Latitude E4200, E4300, E6400, E6400 ATG and E6500, as well as the Dell Precision M2400 and M4400 mobile workstations. By the end of 2009, 80 percent of all of Dell's laptops, both new and existing models, will include the LED backlights. The transition to LED backlights will be completed by 2010, Dell said.
Michael Murphy, Dell's senior manager of worldwide environmental affairs, said "Why did we do this? We have been listening to our customers in order to extract customer value, and LED helps to move that agenda along." Dell pointed out that its 15-inch LED displays consume an average of 43 percent less power at maximum brightness, saving approximately $20 million and 220 million kilowatt-hours in 2010 and 2011 combined. Dell has made a concerted effort to "green" both its computers and operations, launching an energy-efficient Dell Studio Hybrid designed to consume much less power than traditional desktops. In August, Dell said it achieved its plan to become carbon-neutral.
From an environmental standpoint, recyclers have balked at processing the small amount of mercury found in the CCFL backlights behind standard LCD displays, Murphy said. Now, Dell can market a totally mercury-free laptop. But the addition of LED backlights also benefits customers, beyond giving them the warm feeling that they're saving the planet.
LED displays also extend battery life: the reduction in power LED backlighting brings can help push a notebook's battery life from an average of 3 to 3.5 hours to something closer to 6 hours, Murphy said. Moreover, shifting away from CCFL backlights allows for thinner panels, making the notebook lighter for the consumer, and saving Dell money when transporting hundreds of thousands of units.
Officially, Dell did not say whether or not it planned to shift its desktop monitor line over to LED backlighting, however. In the past, Dell has asked third-party monitor manufacturers or ODMs to build the Dell-branded monitors themselves. Rivals like Lenovo have recently announced the ThinkVision L2440x Wide monitor, a 24-inch low-halogen, mercury and arsenic-free display which uses efficient white LED backlighting and consumes only 29 watts, making it Energy Star 4.1 qualified.
Dell is working with its broad base of suppliers to enable the shift, the shift to LED backlighting in Dell's desktop monitors is not far off, however. Dell is absolutely committed to driving LED technology in both the notebook and desktop space. “I would call the notebook transition phase one.” Murphy said. "We will have LED optimized desktop displays in the not-too-distant future."
