VisorCentral.com - 2-bit vs. 4-bit monochrome?

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VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Visor & Deluxe (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)
-- 2-bit vs. 4-bit monochrome? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=18364)

Posted by jeremyf on 09-17-2001 04:39 AM:

2-bit vs. 4-bit monochrome?

Hey, I'm looking to buy my first PDA soon and I'm wondering the difference in resolution between the 2-bit Visor Deluxe and the 4-bit other Visors (specifically Neo/Platinum). Should it be a consideration when buying? I've seen the 4-bit Edge and such but never seen the Deluxe in action.

THANKS

Posted by dampeoples on 09-17-2001 04:48 AM:

I think all the Palm platform computers resolutions are the same (except the handera), I think that the difference between 2&4 bit is 4&16 shade grayscale, but maybe I can be corrected on this.
Sterling

Posted by bradhaak on 09-17-2001 05:37 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by dampeoples
I think all the Palm platform computers resolutions are the same (except the handera), I think that the difference between 2&4 bit is 4&16 shade grayscale, but maybe I can be corrected on this.
Sterling

Correct.

2-bit = 4 levels of gray, which are black, white, light gray and dark gray.

4-bit = 16 levels of grey.

All you need to do is square the number of bits to get the number of colors (or gray levels on mono displays). This is why 16-bit color like the Prism and m505 use is 64K (65,536) colors. 16x16=65,536.

Posted by dampeoples on 09-17-2001 06:47 AM:

I have been educated. Thank you.

Posted by jeremyf on 09-17-2001 07:42 AM:

Well, I knew the Deluxe had 4 shades vs. 16 shades but I didn't know this was the only difference, thanks

But has anyone had experience from actually using the two if the difference in shades actually makes a big difference? I can't tell how many shades are being used on normal programs on the Edge etc. Tks!

Posted by potter on 09-17-2001 12:40 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by bradhaak
All you need to do is square the number of bits to get the number of colors (or gray levels on mono displays). This is why 16-bit color like the Prism and m505 use is 64K (65,536) colors. 16x16=65,536.

16x16 is 256. It is not square the number, but take 2 and raise it to the number. It just so happened that 2x2 = 2^2 = 4 and 4^2= 2^4 = 16. However 2^16 = 65,536 and 16^2 = 256.

Posted by ernieba1 on 09-17-2001 01:59 PM:

I have a 2 bit deluxe, and when I try to see pictures, there isn't much to see. I hear that it is much better with 4 bit.

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Posted by bradhaak on 09-17-2001 04:39 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by potter
16x16 is 256. It is not square the number, but take 2 and raise it to the number. It just so happened that 2x2 = 2^2 = 4 and 4^2= 2^4 = 16. However 2^16 = 65,536 and 16^2 = 256.

Thanks - My bad

I knew what I was going to say and then in the process of typing, my brain-to-finger connection f***ed up. I helped define most of the video mode timings that are on your computer (I'm can't beleive I screwed this up). A lot of ex-coworkers would never let me live this one down.

I guess it's a good thing that my handle looks nothing like my real name.

Writing late at night, it's a good thing that I wasn't trying to explain the 8-bit from a twelve-bit palette mode on the Palm IIIc, or you would probably still be picking up pieces.

jeremyf - If you tend to mostly run text apps, you will probably never even notice the difference. A number of graphics viewers (like FireViewer I believe), will program the hardware on a Visor or Visor Deluxe directly to give a 4-bit display and you will definitely see the difference. For games, a few will use the 4-bit mode, but most won't. But if you are playing a lot of games, you will probably want to get something fastyer than a Deluxe anyway.

Posted by thorin on 09-17-2001 04:42 PM:

the vdx CAN do 4 bit (16 gray. just get fireviewr. the only diff. is that 4bit support is not built into the OS (3.1h). This means that programs can be written to display 4bit images, just like an platinum, neo or pro, its just more work for the programmer, so most dont bother. Dont get the VDX unless you simpply must have a Ice/orange/green case, or price is a HUGE issue.

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