Looking for Small Cheap Color LCD, maybe touchscreen, 4.3" or 3.5"

edlikestoboogie

I was wondering which touchscreen/non-touchscreen LCD to get for my parallax propeller
project, either the 3.5" or the 4.3" that Ray's Logic is selling. The factor that is most
important to me is future availability of these LCDs, and their controller boards, the lifecycle.
Are these LCDs still being manufactured? I don't want to design a
system around one of these LCDs, and then find out that when I want to
make 1000 of them, there are no more LCDs left. What do you guys recommend?

thanks,
-Edward

localroger

I think one of Ray's goals was to ensure continuity by making the breakout board a buffer between the control logic and changes in the LCD. LCD drive standards are hopelessly unstandard and there isn't an easy fix for it. Bill Henning has sourced some 7 inch displays which he claims will be available for a long time and which take NTSC or VGA but they're a lot larger, power-hungrier, and pricier than the 3.5 and 4.3 inch screens.

Rayman

I just replied to your email, but I'll reiterate my opinion again here...

Both types are very popular in the marketplace right now. There are several variations from different manufacturers. The exact pinout may vary, but the basic RGB interface is the same.

In 100 to 1000 QTY, you can still get these exact same units from the manufacturer. I've seen the 3.5" screens for sale on other websites in low quantity also.

My own supply of 4.3" screens is dwindling, but I have access to lots of 3.5" screens.

So, I'd recommend using whichever is best for your application. If a 3.5" would work, that's probably better because it's smaller, lower cost, and a better fit for the Propeller's resources.

Bill Henning

Hi Edward,

Like localroger said, I have some 7" displays - actually I also have 5", and can get pretty much any size, with and without touch screens.

I can easily beat Digikey, Futureelectronics, Newark etc on price for similar OEM modules - however I cannot beat ebay no-name mass producted consumer electronics prices, as I buy actual modules and analog boards meant to be integrated into OEM equipment.

Actually, I might even be able to beat ebay prices too, as long as I get an order for more than 10k displays

By far the best deal I know of is Ray's 3.5" $10 new touch screens; I have some of his 4.3" touch screens and one of his PSB's - great little screens.

First, decide what you need for your application - NTSC, VGA, or parallel RGB (raw) interface. Then, decide how many displays you can order at once.

Regards,

Bill

edlikestoboogie wrote: »

I was wondering which touchscreen/non-touchscreen LCD to get for my parallax propeller
project, either the 3.5" or the 4.3" that Ray's Logic is selling. The factor that is most
important to me is future availability of these LCDs, and their controller boards, the lifecycle.
Are these LCDs still being manufactured? I don't want to design a
system around one of these LCDs, and then find out that when I want to
make 1000 of them, there are no more LCDs left. What do you guys recommend?

thanks,
-Edward

edlikestoboogie

Yeah I'm going with Ray's 3.5". $10 is too good of a deal to pass up, I told my friends about that price and they were equally as ecstatic.

Rayman

Just to clarify: The $10 3.5" touchscreens are new. The $18 4.3" screens are used. However, I do have a small amount of "like new" 4.3" screens that are available with purchase of a PSB board.