Monitors outside + sun = nope

[Tisy]

Other than using a fully enclosed black hood over my head to the screen, is there any way to use a laptop or PC monitor screen outside and actually see what's on the screen? Even with the display settings at max brightness the text is still unreadable unless I stick my eyeballs 2cm from the screen. I've had a look online for bright high lumen screens for outdoor use but they all seem to be eleventyzillion pounds.

It would be nice to kill two birds with one stone and enjoy the sun/vitamin D and work online at the same time but seems I can only do one or other, not both. . Surely in the year 2026 someone must have come up with a solution to this problem?

[Jo-say8k]

Put the screen in the shade? Like in a deep box?

[tog]

I'm not sure about monitors, but press and sports photographers need to use laptops outside routinely, and there is kit to do the job.

https://www.photospecialist.co.uk/think-tank-pixel...

https://neilturnerphotographer.co.uk/2015/08/07/te...

[.:ian:.]

https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

You'll be sweating like Jimmy Saville at a junior disco though

[Red Firecracker]

These are the best ones I've used:

https://togtech.co.uk/

[Tisy]

Thanks. Those "VR" glasses are an interesting idea I'd never even considered. I guess you don't even need a screen at all then. It's specifically for a (mains) 24" monitor, not a small laptop so would need something bigger than those offerings. I wonder if I can knock up some sort of Heath Robinson contraption with cardboard and velcro to shroud the screen from the sun. Cutting some holes for the wire and slit for the stand in a suitably sized old cardboard box might just do the trick at zero cost.

[cobra kid]

Not helpful I know... but during COVID, we had to work longer, but less days. 12 hours at a time. Those who could work from home, had to.

I went into the meeting room for a Teams call and saw one guy on the screen, sprawled out in his garden in the sunshine.

I walked out and refused the meeting. It's taking the piss.

[ARH]

I use one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406167305095?_skw=lapto...

I purchased it from Aliexpress for about £20 less, but that is not much good as summer will be over before Aliexpress can deliver Check prices on Amazon and eBay as there will no doubt be cheaper ones.

Oh and that AI picture is misleading check the sizes.

[Funky Squirrel]

The type of screen makes a big difference, a shinny finish can even have problems with room lights, but a Matt or laser etched screen is readable in mild sunlight.

[gangzoom]

Tisy said:

Thanks. Those "VR" glasses are an interesting idea I'd never even considered.

Quest 3 does a reasonable job, but you look like an absolute plonker sitting in the garden wearing one. I'm also not sure how much actual 'Work' you can get done on one. Some people on here have the Vision Pro which might be better, but even than you cannot get past just how 'Special' you look.

VR glasses might help with not looking so 'Special' .

[jimothyc]

By something from Amazon, anything will do. Then throw it away and take the massive box it came in and use that to make yourself a monitor sun shade.

[bodhi]

cobra kid said:

Not helpful I know... but during COVID, we had to work longer, but less days. 12 hours at a time. Those who could work from home, had to.

I went into the meeting room for a Teams call and saw one guy on the screen, sprawled out in his garden in the sunshine.

I walked out and refused the meeting. It's taking the piss.

Seems a massive overreaction imo.

Anyway OP the bigger issue you might find is keeping the laptop you're using cool, especially with current temperatures. Any time I took my company issued Dell outside it didn't take long for the fans to hit full speed and the laptop to eventually slow down to a crawl.

I'd find a shady spot, or even better get a tablet.

[noyb1966]

jimothyc said:

By something from Amazon, anything will do. Then throw it away and take the massive box it came in and use that to make yourself a monitor sun shade.

this

i've used a removals box before or a clothes basket, see no reason for buying something

[unzippy]

.:ian:. said:

https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

You'll be sweating like Jimmy Saville at a junior disco though

Think of the tan lines!